College soccer season length is generally the same for each division despite each having different start dates. How long is college soccer season?
The college soccer season is 13 to 17 weeks long, with teams that don’t qualify for postseason tournaments playing only 13 weeks. Teams qualifying for conference tournaments have a longer, roughly 14 to 15-week season. Division 1 men’s college soccer teams have the longest season, with NCAA tournament finalists playing for up to 17 weeks.
I’m going to cover the length of the college soccer season for each division, including start and end dates.
Click on the link below for a comprehensive guide to the college soccer season.
Related: When is College Soccer Season? Fall and Spring Rules
Table of Contents
How long is college soccer season?
The men’s and women’s college soccer season starts around the same time each year. When is it, and how long does it last?
The college soccer season is three months (or about 13 weeks) long on average, spanning from mid to late August through early December, culminating with the NCAA national championship for men’s and women’s teams. There are roughly 15-20 games in a regular season. The season lasts longer for teams that qualify for postseason tournaments.
Each team’s specific start and end date is determined by division, conference, and competition schedule.
The 13-week average includes preseason dates. Division 1 teams can start preseason earlier than the other two divisions.
Any team that qualifies for conference playoffs has a more extended season than those that don’t. Conference playoffs extend a team’s 13-week season by one or two weeks to a 14 or 15-week season.
The men’s and women’s teams that move on to the NCAA tournament, held from late November to early December, have the longest seasons. Division 1 teams that qualify could end up playing a 17-week season.
Division 1 college soccer teams can play in their first competition of the year before those in other divisions.
More specifically, Division 1 women’s soccer teams start the earliest because the women’s NCAA national tournament starts earlier than the men’s at the end of the season.
Divisions 2 and 3 start the latest but have a similar season length of 10-15 weeks.
How long is the Division 1 college soccer season?
The Division 1 college soccer season is at least 13 weeks long for men’s and women’s teams. It starts with preseason 16 calendar days before the first competition and ends with the last game of the season. The final match of the season could be a regular season, conference playoff, or NCCA tournament game.
Playing in any postseason tournament will lengthen the season. Reaching the national tournament, also known as the College Cup, extends a season considerably by up to four weeks.
Many Division 1 college soccer teams start preseason early enough to reach a 14-week season. Student-athletes at this tier require the highest level of commitment.
Related: How Hard is College Soccer?
How long is the Division 2 college soccer season?
The Division 2 college soccer regular season is 13 weeks long for men’s and women’s teams. It starts with preseason 17 days before the first competition or five days before the first day of classes and ends with the last game of the season. The NCAA Division 2 tournament final occurs in the first week of December.
Like in any other division, the last game of the season could be a regular season, conference playoff, or NCCA tournament game.
How long is the Division 3 college soccer season?
The Division 3 college soccer regular season is roughly 13 weeks long for men’s and women’s teams. It starts 16 weekdays (including Saturdays) before the first competition and ends with the Division 3 NCAA national tournament in December.
Division 3 has the most strict rules regarding season length, including strong policies on when teams can start the preseason.