For young players looking to get recruited into a college soccer program, one of the biggest roadblocks is an unwillingness—or inability—to be versatile on the field. Many players get fixated on their strengths and their preferred position, believing that if they excel in that one role, they’ll have a spot on a college roster.

While playing to your strengths is important, the reality is that college soccer is versatile and adaptive. Coaches are constantly shifting formations, dealing with injuries, and adjusting tactics based on opponents. If you want to increase your chances of getting recruited—and ultimately earning playing time—you need to embrace adaptability.

1. College Coaches Value Versatile Players

In high school and club soccer, teams often build around their star players. If you’re the best center midfielder, you’re likely playing there every game. But in college, it’s a completely different story.

    •    Coaches Need Players Who Can Fill Multiple Roles – Injuries, suspensions, and tactical changes happen frequently. If a coach has to decide between two players of equal ability, they’ll almost always choose the one who can play multiple positions.

    •    Rosters Are Deep, But Playing Time Is Earned – Most college teams carry anywhere from 22 to 30 players, but only 11 can start. If you’re only effective in one position, your chances of breaking into the lineup decrease.

    •    Tactical Adjustments Happen Every Game – A coach might need a more defensive-minded winger one game and an attacking one the next. If you can adapt, you make yourself an asset to the team.

The more roles you can fill, the more valuable you are to a college coach.

2. Being Stuck in One Position Can Hold You Back

A major mistake young players make is refusing to play anywhere other than their “natural” position. While specialization can help you master a role, it can also limit your opportunities.

    •    Your Preferred Position Might Be Stacked – Let’s say you’re a center midfielder, but the college team you want to join already has five midfielders ahead of you. If you refuse to play outside back or winger, you could be limiting your chances of breaking into the team.

    •    Opportunities Come When You’re Open to Change – You might start as a backup in your preferred role, but if you’re willing to fill in at another position, that could be your ticket to earning more minutes.

    •    Some Players Discover Their True Best Position by Being Adaptable – There are countless stories of players who played one position their entire youth career but thrived at a different role in college.

Being rigid in your position can close doors, while adaptability can open them.

3. How Learning New Positions Can Get You Noticed

Coaches pay attention to players who can step up when needed. If you’re willing to take on a new role, you show them you’re coachable, team-oriented, and ready for the demands of the college game.

Here’s How Playing Different Positions Can Benefit You:

    •    You Stand Out in Recruitment – If a coach sees you excelling in multiple positions in your highlight video or showcases, you instantly become a more appealing recruit.

    •    You Gain a Better Tactical Understanding of the Game – Playing different roles helps you understand spacing, movement, and decision-making from different perspectives.

    •    You Make It Easier for a Coach to Fit You Into Their Roster – If a coach is recruiting a midfielder but sees that you can also play right back, they may take a chance on you because they know you can contribute in multiple ways.

Versatility doesn’t mean you won’t specialize—it just means you have more ways to get on the field.

4. The Reality: Your First College Minutes Might Not Be in Your Preferred Position

For many college freshmen, their first real game minutes aren’t in the position they played in high school or club. You might have been a center forward your whole life, but your first college appearance could be as a winger, outside back, or even defensive midfielder.

    •    Injuries and Suspensions Create Unexpected Opportunities – If a coach needs someone to fill in and you’re the most adaptable player, you’ll get the nod.

    •    Tactical Adjustments Might Require You to Play Elsewhere – A coach might switch formations mid-game and need you to drop into a different role. If you can adapt seamlessly, you’ll gain trust.

    •    Your Willingness to Adapt Can Earn You a Starting Spot – Some players break into the lineup by excelling in an unfamiliar position before eventually moving back to their preferred role.

If you’re only comfortable playing one position, you risk missing out on these opportunities.

5. How to Become a More Adaptable Player

If you want to improve your chances of getting recruited and earning playing time, start developing versatility now.

1. Train in Different Positions During Practice

    •    Ask your coach if you can get reps in other positions, even if it’s just for a portion of training.

    •    If you’re a midfielder, practice playing as an outside back or winger.

    •    If you’re a forward, work on playing as an attacking midfielder or even as a wingback.

2. Watch College Games and Analyze Different Roles

    •    Study how players in different positions move, defend, and contribute to the attack.

    •    Take notes on how fullbacks join the attack, how defensive mids distribute the ball, and how wingers track back defensively.

3. Develop a Well-Rounded Skill Set

    •    Improve your weaker foot to be comfortable playing on both sides of the field.

    •    Work on different types of passes—long balls, through balls, and quick one-twos.

    •    Focus on defensive positioning, even if you’re an attacking player.

4. Keep an Open Mind During Recruitment

    •    If a coach says they see you as a fullback instead of a winger, don’t take it as a negative—it could be your best path to playing.

    •    Be willing to embrace different roles, especially in your first year.

Final Thoughts

If you want to play college soccer, being adaptable is just as important as being talented. While it’s great to have strengths and a preferred position, being stuck in just one role can limit your opportunities.

College soccer is unpredictable—injuries, tactical shifts, and lineup changes happen constantly. If you’re open to playing different positions, you increase your chances of getting recruited, breaking into the lineup, and ultimately succeeding at the next level.

Remember, versatility doesn’t mean losing your identity as a player—it means making yourself invaluable to your team. The more adaptable you are, the more doors will open for you in the world of college soccer.