If your kid dreams about playing college soccer, it helps to hear from someone who actually did it.
Coach Justin sat down with Emily Blanchard, who played college soccer at Utah Tech University in St. George, Utah, and asked her what it really took to get there. Not the highlight reel. The real habits, choices, and work behind the offer.
Who is Emily Blanchard?
Emily Blanchard played two years of college soccer at Utah Tech University. She was recruited as a wing and played mostly on the wing through her career. She started soccer as early as she could, around three years old, and grew up in a soccer family in Southern Utah.
Her mom is from Argentina and loves the game. Her brothers played too. Emily said the biggest difference between her and a lot of talented players around her was simple: how badly she wanted it, and how much work she put in outside of team practice.
When did college soccer start to feel real?
For Emily, college soccer started to feel possible when she got into ODP and training became something she chose because she wanted to get better.
Freshman year of high school, coaches started pushing players to email colleges. Emily was not even sure yet. Then she had a strong freshman season and realized college soccer could actually be an option.
That shift matters for parents. Hoping is not a plan. Treating recruiting like a goal changes what a player does every week.
What did Emily do outside of regular practice?
Beyond team practices, Emily built a real training lifestyle:
- Strength training three to four times a week
- One-on-one technical sessions
- Keeping a ball at her feet at home, on family walks, and whenever she could
She also started strength training early to help prevent injuries. She still believes that is one of the most important things a young player can do.
How did Emily get on college coaches’ radars?
Emily put herself out there through:
- A strong club team
- ODP
- Emails to coaches
- ID camps
For Emily, ODP is what first got her exposed. An ID camp helped turn interest into a real opportunity.
Her advice for families: choose ID camps wisely. If a college coach invites your player to their camp, that is usually worth doing. It is an easy way for the coach to see your player and for your player to see campus.
What do college soccer coaches care about most?
Emily said coaches were not looking for flash for flash’s sake.
They cared about questions like:
- Can she play simple?
- Can she play quick?
- Can she read the game?
- Is she good with the ball without holding it too long?
- Can she stay composed when the game gets uncomfortable?
Those are trainable traits. Parents and players can build them long before signing day.
Do grades matter in college soccer recruiting?
Yes. Emily’s grades were good, and she said that matters.
Coaches are not only chasing a transcript. Strong grades show a player can handle being a student-athlete. Character shows up off the field as much as on it.
What would Emily tell her 14- or 15-year-old self?
If Emily could talk to her younger self, she would say:
- Weight train
- Run
- Sprint
- Work speed and agility
- Do as much as you can on your own
That is the recruiting story in plain English. Desire. Extra work. Putting yourself in the right places. Showing coaches you can play the game the right way. Building a body and mind that can handle the next level.
What should soccer parents take from Emily’s story?
If your player wants to play college soccer:
- Start treating the habits now, not someday
- Add work outside of team practice
- Make strength, speed, and injury prevention non-negotiable
- Get into competitive environments like ODP, strong club soccer, and the right ID camps
- Teach simple, smart soccer, not just highlight-reel moments
- Keep grades part of the plan
College recruiting is not magic. It is consistency, exposure, and the willingness to do more than the minimum.
Train with STG Soccer Skills in St. George
STG Soccer Skills helps players in St. George build the habits college coaches notice: technical work, strength and speed, and a real training culture.
If your player has that dream, start now.
