Allison Hoff Commits to United States Military Academy at West Point for 2019

Name: Allison Hoff

Age: 16

College: United States Military Academy at West Point 2019 Commit

Years playing: 11

Favorite Position: Midfield/Defense

Hobbies: Playing guitar, singing, exercise

Where are you going to college? And Why?

I am planning on attending the United States Military Academy at West Point in New York as a member of the graduating class of 2023. For me, the idea of serving and being a part of something that is greater than myself is the experience of a lifetime. I want to surround myself with people who are self-motivated and determined like I am. I have never been one to back away from a challenge. In fact, I welcome it. The education and countless opportunities that exist at West Point are second to none!

What are you most excited for?

I’m excited to discover who I am as a person on my own and to see what I’m capable of! At West Point, you’re bound to fail at something. It’s about picking your self up and trying again whether physically, mentally, or educationally. That has been one of my mantras while developing throughout my soccer and high school career. I’m also very excited for the opportunities that await me; leading a squad or a platoon, possibly jumping out of a plane, and traveling, to name a few. The one thing that I’m most eager for is to have earned that feeling of pride. A feeling described and felt by current cadets. I look forward to the “shared sacrifice” experience at West Point. Cadets know full well the road is going to be long and difficult, but through it all they are a team.

What was the recruitment process like?

It was a lot of fun to be honest. I started with a big variety of colleges, D1, D2, and D3. Of course education comes first, so I always kept that in mind. I had emailed West Point about my up-coming tournaments in the spring of my freshman year, and then in the summer going into sophomore year, I attended their camp (which I highly recommend). While I was there I got to experience playing with some of the collegiate athletes as well as some of the junior commits and hear their stories. As the week progressed, I was able to attain a better understanding of their style of play. I LOVED it! From there, I’ve been emailing them about my showcase tournaments and calling to ask for feedback. I had an unofficial visit in the fall and met other recruits. I’ll be visiting again this spring.

Do you have any advice for our athletes who want to pursue soccer in college?

For any athlete who wants to play collegiately, it’s so important for you to keep working at home and to keep developing your footwork. To train is a choice only you can make, it comes down to your own perseverance. Since the speed of play only gets faster as you get older, it’s essential to have fast feet and the ability to hold your own in tight/pressured spaces. Being physically fit is HUGE! All around it makes you a better, faster, and stronger player and it will certainly show on the field. Don’t ever settle at the level you’re at, no matter how far you’ve come in your soccer development, there is ALWAYS room for improvement. College coaches don’t always look for just your skill, they look at your qualities and who you are as a person as well as your character on and off the field.

How did PTS help raise your level of play?

Oh my goodness… where to start… PTS has helped me to become the player I am today. Just training with PTS over the winter and doing coervers at home, my feet have become super quick with the ball. The more training sessions I had, the more I could tell that my technical and tactical ability had improved immensely. The quicker my feet got, the more comfortable I was with the ball. The more comfortable I was with the ball, the easier it was to play in fast-paced games. PTS also focuses on technique in shooting, player’s fitness, and control with the ball all while working on quickness.

What’s the best advice anyone has given you?

Someone once said “For every moment I’m not training, someone else is” ~ Matt Baker

Do you have a saying or motto that you live by?

“It’s hard to beat someone who never quits”

Who is your favorite player?

Meghan Rapinoe

What are your favorite cleats? Color?

I like Nike cleats and bright colors but I’m wearing a pair of Adidas now and their black and yellow sooooo…