Short answer: a soccer recruiting profile for college coaches should be one page in English that a coach can scan in about 30 seconds, with facts and numbers only. It covers roughly 12 standard fields. Japanese players can stand out in four places:
- Graduation year. Write your "Class of" year correctly.
- Competition level. Explain Japan's competition levels, such as the Premier League and Prince League, in one English line each.
- Units. Convert height and weight to feet/inches and pounds.
- GPA. Show your 評定平均 on its original 5-point scale, with the scale stated.
This guide reflects common recruiting practice as of October 2026. These are widely shared conventions, not official NCAA rules.
For the full picture of studying and playing in the U.S., see our U.S. college soccer guide. This article covers the document that serves as your first business card with a coach.
What is a recruiting profile? The 12 standard fields
A recruiting profile (player profile or soccer résumé) is a one-page English document that lets a coach evaluate you quickly. Attach it as a PDF to your first email and repeat the key points in the email body. Coaches get a lot of email, so keep it to one page that reads top to bottom.
The 12 fields (checklist)
- 1. Full name, romanized and ordered exactly as on your passport
- 2. Graduation year, e.g. "Class of 2027"
- 3. Positions: primary and secondary, in English
- 4. Dominant foot: right, left or both
- 5. Height and weight in ft/in and lb, with cm and kg alongside
- 6. Current club and school, plus the league name and a one-line English explanation
- 7. How to find you on film: jersey number and kit colors
- 8. Film links: a highlight video and at least one full match
- 9. Upcoming schedule: competition names and dates
- 10. Academics: GPA with its scale, intended major, and English test score or test plan
- 11. NCAA ID: your 10-digit ID and status, if you've registered with the Eligibility Center
- 12. References and contact details: club and school coaches, player and parent email, and your time zone
With these 12 fields, a coach can tell within a minute where you play, at what level and when you graduate.
Example layout (fictional player)
Below is a sample layout for a fictional player. Every number is an example only. Replace it all with your own details.
TARO YAMADA (Example) — Class of 2027 — Center Back / Defensive Midfielder (6)
Right-footed | 5'11" (180 cm) | 159 lb (72 kg)
Club: Example FC U-18 — Prince League Kanto (regional top-tier U-18 league, tier below the national Premier League)
School: Example High School, Tokyo (graduating March 2027; seeking Fall 2027 enrollment)
Jersey: #4, blue kit (home) / white (away)
Highlight video: [link] Full match (vs. Example SC, Sept 2026): [link]
Upcoming: Prince League Kanto, Nov 8 & Nov 15, 2026 (JST)
Academics: GPA 4.1 / 5.0 (Japanese 5-point scale, unweighted) | Intended major: Business
English: TOEFL iBT planned Dec 2026 | NCAA ID: 1234567890 (Example)
References: Head Coach, Example FC — email (English OK)
Contact: taro@example.com | Parent: parent@example.com | Time zone: JST (UTC+9)
Two details matter here. The league name comes with a one-line English explanation, and the graduation month and target enrollment term are both stated. Most U.S. coaches don't know how Japanese youth soccer is structured, so a league name alone tells them very little.
What does "Class of" mean for a Japanese student?
"Class of 2027" means "graduating from high school in 2027." If you are a 高校3年 (third-year high school) student graduating in March 2027, you are Class of 2027. U.S. high schools usually start in late summer or fall and finish in spring or early summer. A Japanese March graduation therefore falls naturally in the same graduating class as U.S. seniors that year.
| Japanese grade (as of Oct 2026) | Expected graduation | Write | Typical fall entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 高校3年 (HS year 3) | March 2027 | Class of 2027 | Fall 2027 |
| 高校2年 (HS year 2) | March 2028 | Class of 2028 | Fall 2028 |
| 高校1年 (HS year 1) | March 2029 | Class of 2029 | Fall 2029 |
| 中学3年 (JHS year 3) | March 2030 | Class of 2030 | Fall 2030 |
For reference: the U.S. "junior year" (11th grade) is 高校2年, and "senior year" (12th grade) is 高校3年. NCAA rules treat 中学3年 as "school year nine."
If you plan a gap year or a January (spring) start, state the graduation date and the target enrollment separately, e.g. "Graduated March 2027; seeking January 2028 enrollment." That avoids confusion.
Translating Japanese soccer for a U.S. coach
Give each league or tournament a short factual English description, and never claim it is "equivalent" to a U.S. league. It's tempting to compare with ECNL or MLS NEXT, but the structures and selection systems differ, and the comparison can mislead. State the facts and let the coach judge.
| Japanese term | Suggested English description |
|---|---|
| 高円宮杯 JFA U-18 プレミアリーグ | National top-tier U-18 league in Japan (EAST and WEST, 12 teams each in 2026), mixing J.League academies and high school teams |
| プリンスリーグ (e.g. Kanto) | Regional top-tier U-18 league (9 regions), one tier below the Premier League; promotion via playoff |
| 都道府県リーグ | Prefectural U-18 league, below the Prince League |
| 高体連 (high school soccer club) | High school soccer under the All Japan High School Athletic Federation |
| Jクラブユース | Youth academy (U-18) of a professional J.League club |
| 街クラブ | Independent (non-professional) youth club |
| 全国高校サッカー選手権 | All Japan High School Soccer Championship (national winter tournament) |
| インターハイ | Inter-High (All Japan High School Athletic Meet), summer national tournament |
According to the JFA, the 2026 Premier League has 24 teams: 12 in EAST and 12 in WEST. Numbers can change from year to year, so check the current season before you write. For position terms (e.g. ボランチ → "defensive midfielder (6)"), see describing your position clearly to U.S. coaches.
Height, weight and your name
Write height as 5'11" (180 cm) and weight as 159 lb (72 kg), U.S. units first with metric alongside. The conversions: 1 inch = 2.54 cm, 1 foot = 12 inches, 1 kg ≈ 2.2046 lb.
| cm (example) | ft/in | kg (example) | lb |
|---|---|---|---|
| 165 cm | 5'5" | 55 kg | 121 lb |
| 170 cm | 5'7" | 60 kg | 132 lb |
| 175 cm | 5'9" | 65 kg | 143 lb |
| 180 cm | 5'11" | 70 kg | 154 lb |
| 185 cm | 6'1" | 75 kg | 165 lb |
Inches are rounded to the nearest whole number. Use recent measurements and don't round up. Coaches will check when they see you in person.
Use the same romanization and name order as your passport. If your name differs across the Eligibility Center, your application and your I-20, verification can take longer. If you switch to given-name-first order for English readers, use that order everywhere.
The academics and eligibility block
Show your 評定平均 on its original scale, e.g. "GPA 4.1 / 5.0 (Japanese 5-point scale)", and don't convert it to a 4.0 scale yourself. Conversion methods differ by school and by credential evaluator. The NCAA evaluates core courses under its own standards, and colleges may rely on an evaluation report. A homemade conversion can create mismatched numbers later. See English transcripts and GPA evaluation.
- Intended major: "Undecided (interested in business)" is fine.
- English test: List your score if you have one, or the planned test date if you don't.
- NCAA ID: If you've registered with the Eligibility Center, include your 10-digit NCAA ID. Coaches use it to add you to their institutional request list. See Eligibility Center registration timing.
The film and schedule block
Include two kinds of film, a highlight video and a full match, and always state your jersey number and kit colors so a coach can find you in the full game. Open every link in a private (incognito) window to make sure it plays without a login. For how to write the first email and send film, see recruiting film and coach emails.
For upcoming matches, list the date, the competition and the time in JST. Add a livestream link if one exists.
Common mistakes
Most mistakes come down to three problems: the profile is out of date, inflated or hard to use.
- Old material: film or measurements more than a year old.
- Unsupported numbers: figures without an official source, such as sprint times, listed with no source.
- Mismatched names: different spellings of your name across documents.
- Unclear dates: no "Class of" year, or the graduation year confused with the enrollment term.
- Bad file names: a Japanese-character PDF file name or just "profile.pdf". Use something like "Taro_Yamada_Classof2027_CB.pdf".
- Unexplained awards: honors with no context. Explain them, e.g. 県選抜 → "Prefectural select team (U-17)".
Free consultation: Along with player evaluation, NextPitch helps players build their English recruiting profile. Start with a free consultation.
When to build it and what to add by grade
Make a first version early, then add detail as you move up each year. It doesn't need to be perfect on day one. Just choose a layout that has room for what comes later.
| Timing (example) | What to do | Fields to add or update |
|---|---|---|
| Winter of HS year 1 to spring of HS year 2 | Build version one; start collecting film | Name, Class of, positions, club, measurements |
| Summer–fall of HS year 2 | Begin first contact with coaches | Highlight video, GPA, intended major |
| Winter of HS year 2 to spring of HS year 3 | Register with the Eligibility Center; take an English test | NCAA ID, English score, references |
| Summer–fall of HS year 3 | Apply and deepen coach conversations | Latest full match, upcoming schedule, latest grades |
Timing is an example only. Contact windows and application deadlines vary by division and school.
Where to put it and how often to update
The core format is a PDF attached to email. Keep the same information on any online profile and in your social media bio, so coaches who look you up find consistent details. Update it at the end of each season (for example, summer and winter) and whenever new film or grades arrive. Put the date in the file name.
What parents can do
Parents can help by checking facts and setting up communication. Ideally the profile is in the player's own words, but the family can support it:
- Sources: keep transcripts, passport details and measurement records together, so every number has a source.
- Email: set up a parent email address so coach replies aren't missed.
- Replies: agree on a reply target that accounts for the time difference (for example, within 24 hours).
- Proofreading: find someone to check the English, such as a school English teacher or a club coach.
Final check before you hit send
Before you send it, reread the profile for 30 seconds as if you were the coach. Send it only when every box below is ticked.
- One page, and the top shows who you are, when you graduate, your position and your level
- Your name matches your passport and application
- Leagues and tournaments have English explanations
- Height and weight are shown in both systems and are up to date
- GPA shows its scale ("/ 5.0")
- Film links open without a login (tested in a private window)
- Jersey number and kit colors are listed
- Contact details include a parent email and "JST (UTC+9)"
- The PDF file name is in English and includes your name, class year and position
- Someone has checked the English
FAQ
Do I need a photo? It's not required. Some players add a small one because it helps coaches spot them on film. If you include one, keep it recent.
Japan doesn't keep many official stats. What should I list? List only numbers that can be verified, such as appearances, goals and assists, and say where they come from (for example, the league's official records). Don't estimate.
Weighted or unweighted GPA? Japanese 評定平均 is normally unweighted. Label it "unweighted", state the scale, and let evaluators or colleges handle any conversion.
Should I mention a gap year? Yes. State your graduation date and what you're doing now, e.g. "Graduated March 2026; training with Example FC." Check each division's rules for any eligibility impact.
Do I need both Japanese and English versions? Coaches only need the English version. A Japanese version is useful for reviewing the content with parents and coaches in Japan.
Can I send a profile if I'm not being recruited? Yes. If you are considering walking on, your profile is what a coach will use to evaluate you. See the college soccer walk-on and tryouts guide.
Bottom line
A recruiting profile isn't there to make you look impressive. It's there to help a coach evaluate you accurately. That means all 12 fields, an English explanation of Japanese leagues, both sets of units, and your GPA with its scale. That gives coaches a basis to compare you on fit, not on name. No document can guarantee an outcome, but a clear, accurate profile can start the first conversation.
Free consultation: We can review your English profile and help you work out your fit with target schools. Book a free NextPitch consultation.
Sources and references: JFA, "Takamado Cup JFA U-18 Premier League 2026 league overview"; NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete 2026-27 (NCAA ID and international student-athlete definitions); general recruiting-practice guides (e.g. NCSA). Information as of October 2026.