Men's Soccer FAQ
Frequently asked questions on all subjects concerning
admissions, qualifications for the team, tryouts, and related areas of
concern.
Is there soccer year round at Dickinson?
Yes. The fall runs from camp in late August into
the middle of November. Then the players generally take a recuperation
break to concentrate on other things. By the return to classes in January,
though, they are once again raring to go. They play indoor quite independently
of the program, with time in the Kline Center for pick-up games and also
by participating in leagues at the nearby purpose built private indoor
soccer complex. In March and April, official spring training begins outdoor,
with training at least twice each week, along with weight training, and
several spring matches during the later weeks of the term. Athletes participating
in spring varsity sports are excused from this spring camp.
How does team selection take place? How competitive is it?
Pre-season training and roster selection begins
in the week before the main body of freshmen arrive, most often in the
last part of August. Returning players and invited new players, usually
around forty men in all, compete for one of the twenty-two places on the
roster. By the time of registration we would have selected for the season,
so that students can adjust themselves accordingly. The work during this
period is intense, with at least six days of twice daily sessions, since
we are also preparing for our opening matches.
Competition is strong. All players are expected
to re-earn their place; over the past five years, an average of five lettermen
a year did not make the squad. We proceed on the assumption that we are
training men who would have the situation no other way and who would never
want to be a part of a program that did not require the most rigorous selection.
Current program policy allows men cut in the
fall to participate in spring training for the chance to earn a second
look in the following August training camp. Several players have been successful
in this route over the years.
How do I get an invitation to the selection camp?
We try to give every player that we can an opportunity
and we usually succeed. Space is not completely unlimited, however. For
selection purposes, and so that we can know as much about you as possible
before we begin evaluation, I request that you have one or two of your
coaches send me a written report on your qualifications and potential.
(This need not be formal, nor typed) Remain aware that, though we take
notice, the final selection will not be made by how the player looks on
paper, but how he looks on grass.
How often does the team practice? How do I fit in my academics?
You are attending Dickinson College to take full
advantage of its outstanding liberal arts education and to become an educated,
thoughtful, and useful citizen. Your experience as a varsity athlete and
the important lessons you learn about yourself and your companions are
very much a part of these goals. Accordingly, we will never allow
any part of your learning experience to corrupt another.
We practice every week day, from four to six
in the afternoon. Students who are enrolled in classes, most often science
labs, at that time are required to attend those classes instead, without
exception. We expect, also, a commitment from our players to order and
maintain their academic work so that all their obligations to themselves
and their team-mates will be met at the very best level of their ability,
inside and outside the classroom. That the unexpected always happens
with college work I well understand; advice, aid, and assistance can always
be discussed.
In general, I have found that the experience
that many student/athletes have had during their high school years, namely
that they perform actually better academically when in-season than
out, continues through the college years.
Dickinson
College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania