What are the playing and practice season differences between DI, DII, and DIII

[kickituphard]

I have a daughter who is looking to play soccer in college and I played DI soccer. What are the difference in the rules? Game limits and practice limits, etc


Help please

[Gregory Sager]

This PDF file contains the NCAA women's soccer rulebook. Your answers can be found in it.

http://www.ncaapublications.com/Uploads/PDF/Soccer_Rules_Finalb4ca211d-4dbd-412c-9865-f928785e8b26.pdf

[kickituphard]

That has to do with playing rules I was talking about visits and actual practice time limits. Where do I find that

[Gregory Sager]

Oh. In that case, you want the PDF file of the D3 manual. The soccer section starts on page 161.

http://www.ncaapublications.com/Uploads/PDF/D3_Manual0c5a4b77-4ccc-4eac-9ae3-c634b0afb89a.pdf

[John Gleich]

In general, athletes who are playing their sport in college will be working on their games year round.  One of the big difference between D-III and both D-II and D-I  involves the contact between players and coaches.  In D-III, this is is limited to select team activities (i.e. teams can be used as examples in coaching clinics and camps, directed by the coach), whereas in D-I and D-II, the coach has the opportunity to do workouts with the players (I believe it's 3 players at a time, though it's been a heckuva long time since I played D-II athletics and the rules may have changed).  Those limits are different between D-II and D-I, I believe.

One major difference between D-III and the NCAA scholarship divisions is that D-III is for the pure student athletes.  These kids are not getting anything for playing (unlike their counterparts in the scholarship divisions) and so the education is definitely as important, if not more important, whereas in D-II and D-I, the student "owes" the university for their education... but the education is in second place.

These, of course, are generalizations.  There are D-III schools where education isn't emphasized and there are D-III schools where it is.  Each school, conference, and situation is different, as are their athletic programs and the specific sports teams.  The demands of the coaches can certainly be inquired about in the recruiting process and discussions with current players can help you to get an idea about what kind of a time commitment is required...

My personal experience, though, is that if a player is just doing the minimum with their teams, then they likely won't cut it.  They'll get passed up by those players who are going the extra mile (not to say that your daughter would do this, but it should be kept in mind that even the practice time outlined likely isn't enough to fully succeed).

[Mr. Ypsi]

Since you specified soccer, I would also call your attention to the specific D3 soccer board.  You might get more focused responses in that venue.