A step-by-step guide for athletes and parents to navigate the recruiting journey with confidence — written by a coach and recruiting parent who's lived every stage of it.
Everything you need to go from "where do we even start" to a confirmed roster spot — in the order you'll actually use it.
Recruiting myths vs. reality, NCAA/NAIA/JUCO explained, and finding the right college fit.
A blueprint for freshman through senior year, so you always know what matters right now.
Recruiting profiles, highlight videos coaches actually watch, and personal branding.
Building your college list, emails that get read, and handling calls with confidence.
Choosing the right events and turning a good showcase into a real relationship.
Supporting without overstepping, budgeting the journey, and avoiding common mistakes.
Developing the mindset and leadership qualities coaches actually recruit for.
Understanding offers, comparing schools, and committing with confidence — plus bonus trackers and templates.
Clean layouts, practical frameworks, and worksheets your family will actually use — not just read once.
Real excerpts, word for word, from inside the playbook.
"Talent alone is not enough. There are thousands of talented athletes. What separates those who get opportunities from those who don't often comes down to preparation, communication, mindset, and having a plan."
"That's where parents play a critical role. Not as the coach. Not as the agent. But as the steady voice, the organizer, the motivator, and sometimes the reality check."
"I coached a player who was one of the most gifted athletes I've ever worked with. Her family assumed the phone would start ringing on its own. It didn't. Once she started emailing programs herself, everything changed within a season."
"When my own daughter was being recruited, it was tempting to jump on every call myself. I stepped back. Coaches wanted to hear from her — and it showed them exactly how she'd carry herself on campus without me."
Instead of asking "What school wants me?" — teach families to ask "Where will I thrive?"
The EMPOWER Fit Formula weighs three things equally: Financial Fit (what it actually costs after aid, sustained for four years), Institutional Fit (would you want this school even if you never played a sport there?), and Team Culture (would you enjoy this locker room for four years?).
"A highlight video should make coaches want to watch an entire game." It should never try to tell your entire soccer story — save that for film, for camps, for the conversations that come after.
"Your first 30 seconds determine whether a coach keeps watching."
Marc has coached hundreds of athletes and worked alongside countless families through the college recruiting process — first as a club soccer coach, then as the parent of a college-recruited athlete himself. He created EMPOWER to give families the roadmap he wishes every athlete had from the very beginning, so they can navigate recruiting with a plan instead of trial and error.
100 pages. Instant PDF download. Everything your family needs to navigate recruiting from freshman year to signing day — with the option to talk it through directly with Marc.
"This is a great guide to help us get started."
"This playbook really helped us with the motivational areas of the book as well as the templates."
Reach out anytime — happy to help before or after you purchase.
marcmccoy@empowerecruiting.com