The BIG LIFE S5E5 | Conference Play, College Soccer Reality + Coach Alyssa Deloice

September is here, conference play is around the corner, and Paige Thompson and Jaiden Rodriguez are checking in on where they really are both individually and with their teams.

Paige and Jaiden talk rankings, results, the frustration of creating chances without scoring, what they wish they could replay from their latest games, and the specific parts of their own games they want to improve. Paige is focused on being more vocal and demanding the ball, while Jaiden has one very clear goal: find the back of the net.

Then Paige's Alabama assistant coach Alyssa Deloice joins the show. A former Mississippi State midfielder and captain, Alyssa shares her own path from Texas Tech into the transfer portal and ultimately Mississippi State — and why finding coaches who saw her as a person, not just a player, became so important to her.

They get into what young players don't always hear about the jump to Division I soccer: the speed of play, learning patience, balancing the physical demands, and understanding that freshmen don't have to constantly prove they belong. Alyssa also shares how playing through an ankle injury taught her the hard way that there's a difference between being sore and being hurt.

They also talk leadership, Alyssa's transition from player to coach, what coaches actually see when they review film, and how players can take more ownership of their development.

And for players going through recruiting, Alyssa has some particularly good advice: know your non-negotiables and talk to the players already inside the program. A coach is naturally going to tell you their culture is great. The players living it every day can tell you what it actually feels like.

In this episode:

Paige + Jaiden's weekly Rose, Bud & Thorn

Rankings vs. focusing on the next game

The start of conference play

Honest self-evaluation as a college player

The jump from club soccer to Division I