Playing at the next level......

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I would assume that Louuuuu is meaning that most students learn more and stay focused if there is a smaller Prof. to Student ratio in the class rather than some of the larger "auditorium" style classes with 200 + students attending that you find at large colleges.
 
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Remember what Joe said... many college coaches have people with them that is watching for the girl's "dugout demeanor" with her teammates at college showcases and do it on the sly. He stated it "told" alot about the girl herself as to the way she acted at college showcases in her own dugout and how she might act around a whole new team coming into her college freshman year.

Food for thought: I'll add "parking lot" demeanor to that. From the time your DD's feet hit the ground at a showcase, she MAY be under scrutiny. Is she arguing with dad? How is she talking to her parents and teammates? If a recruit doesn't respect her parents/teammates, how can a coach expect her to be "coachable"?

Attitude is also a part of practice. If you practice a poor attitude, you may just get pretty darn good at it!
 
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For the sake of argument, let's talk about getting scholarship money. I'd like to make this for people so that no stone is left unturned.

I don't have first hand experience on this topic yet because my daughter has just started down this process as a freshman. But my opinion on this topic is, if you (as a parent) are prepared to pay for your daughters college education (softball or no), then take the scholarship off the table and focus on what is the best fit(s) college option first and let the softball take care of itself.

My opinion would probably change if my dd was a 'blue chipper' or if our financial situation was such that a softball scholarship was the only way that she could get to college.

What this has done for my dd is she gets just as excited to receive a letter from Dennison, Otterbein, Mount Union, or any other DIII as she does from DI school (about being invited to a camp). She researches schools, wants to go and see the campus, etc... It is allowing her to explore all the different options/possibilities that softball might help her to achieve.

She is still going to all the showcase camps, showcase tournaments, sending profiles, letters etc.... We (my wife, DD and I) have decided to keep the focus on playing at the next level and leave the level and what that means in the way of $ for down the road.
 
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Food for thought: I'll add "parking lot" demeanor to that. From the time your DD's feet hit the ground at a showcase, she MAY be under scrutiny. Is she arguing with dad? How is she talking to her parents and teammates? If a recruit doesn't respect her parents/teammates, how can a coach expect her to be "coachable"?

Attitude is also a part of practice. If you practice a poor attitude, you may just get pretty darn good at it!

I have talked to both of my dd's about their fb account. How do they talk? What's their "profile" like? More importantly, who are thier friends on fb.
 
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Hitter provided these words of knowlege. :).

Google NCAA recruiting process and become familair with when you can start talking to the coaches via email texting and verbally. Know the rules as to the process.

Grades play a huge factor, so make sure she understands that. It is also full time job as she will spend 20 to 30 hours a week on softball related activities and that includes working basketball games and sending letters out to friends and family asking for money....it never stops.

The big issue is how far a way does she want to be from home? This is a huge decision! I have had girls turn down full rides because she was too far from home. Get that answer ASAP and it limits or factors in where she will attend school. Softball comes in second to education in my opinion.

Get that answered and then take her to the school and walk around the campus, go to more than one games and pay attention to how the coaches coach and that will be another factor. look at the number of kids that leave the program after two years or less and ask yourself why the turn over rate is so high....coaches style is usually the answer and the girls spending 20 to 30 hours a week is next.

Time management skills should be being taught as we speak! Next are life skills, such as doing laundry, checking her oil, putting air in tires, a triple A membership. If she is taking prescription drugs, how will she get refills, if she gets sick where does she go and does she have a co pay and will they take her insurance card.

Finally look at the campus at 10 PM and is the parking lot lighted and does she feel safe or does she have to run to the dorm rooms? Check with the,local police as to rapes,break ins, thefts. Miami of Ohio is not well lighted and history and crime has been proven there in my opinion.

A support network of family and friends is required for an 18 year old leaving home and possibly for the first time being on her own. Set standards and limits now as a teen and explain to her there are people who will take advantage of her as a freshman because they know she is alone and lonely. It happens! I have had 80 kids in college and know all the stories good and bad.

From this day forward always tell her there is a coach in the stands looking at your attitude on the field, after you make an error or give up a home run and how you are handling yourself. I get phone calls from some coaches asking for details and one thing I have learned is to tell the truth or I will not get another phone call.

Also go the high school consular as that is there job to guide them and provide resources...it is the internet age.

Thanks again, Hitter.
 
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If your big focus is on "the scholarship dollars", you will almost certainly be disappointed. The focus SHOULD be on WHAT EARNS that scholarship - great softball skills that a certain coach values. There is a huge difference.

If you are TRULY a skilled softball player, there is certainly a place for you on a college team. If you also market yourself to the right coaches at the right time, you will also certainly earn a decent amount of money to pay for your college education. Yes, it is a LOT of HARD work. But with the proper plan for skill improvement (the biggie that many take shortcuts on), and a diligent recruiting effort, there are significant rewards.

P.S. Any recruit should be very careful using social networking websites. Educate yourself about the negative impact they may have on your recruiting efforts. While it may seem harmless to you, it could be like getting a swastika tattoo in the middle of your forehead. Just not worth it.
 
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More sound advise Sammy, Thanks.

And thanks to all who have had input and Catalyst for starting this thread.
 
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As stated above they are interviewing her not you, but as with any interview, make sure she is prepared. Ours would go with a notebook of specific questions she would ask when asked if you have any questions? A kid is not going to remember all the things she wanted to ask sitting there being nervous, so be prepared. When done with the visit on the ride home, have her immediately list what she liked and didn't like about the visit on a sheet so as not to forget what she saw or thought.

Believe it or not the coaches are not monsters during the interviews, they all were welcoming and tried to make her as comfortable as possible...
 
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Cathi Aradi's book, Preparing to Play Softball at the College Level, is a great resource. She also has a website - http://www.fastpitchrecruiting.com/.

I have recommended this book so many times... it was the Bible for our recruiting effort. It will answer 99% of recruiting questions.

All softball coaches know that an 18 yr. old kid is going to be nervous. The coaches are used to it, and there's nothing wrong with a kid being nervous!! It's a huge step in their life!

Great advice Hilliarddad. And just like anything, the more "interviews" the kid participates in, the easier it gets. Look at it this way - If the coach is female, she too was once sitting across the desk from a college coach just like you!! She KNOWS what you're going through - so relax and take it in stride. DD's coach was a very warm and genuine caring person, and she showed it. She was very good at making our DD feel at ease.
 
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As JOEA said:

"When I think about the girls I coached who signed D1 or D2 for any significant amount of money, they all had something specific to offer as a player. They were all either (1) an excellent pitcher; (2) someone who could hit the ball a country mile and hit for a decent average; or (3) they could get on base and fly. If you can't do one of those three things, or maybe be a great catcher or a consistent .375 hitter against D1 or D2 pitching, then what do you have to offer to make those programs better?"

Joe- Once again very good advice to get an objective view. As you point out, the player with the skill to play D1 should really stand out and an objective observer would see that they are special.

I took my son to a college baseball camp a number of years ago and the coach running it gave the following advice (that I think is really appropriate for softball as well):

1. Find a school that fits your needs in terms of having the programs you want, provides the support you need, and is comfortable to you.

2. Remember that very few people make a living from baseball; that is why it is important o [pick a field and school that helps you succeed. If baseball can fit in with #1 that is great.

3. If you are picking a school only because you can play baseball there that is a tremendous mistake (see #1 and #2)
 
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I hope alot of people understand there is no such thing as a full ride!

DD's a junior doing much of this college search. Just some food for thought:

make sure your DD knows her field of study. Don't change your major just to play at some university. Your DD can also visit the school's websites. there's financial information, student life profiles, questionnaires, etc.
Girls can also see their prospective teams. know their coaches names. when they send that email, they need to have information about that school that shows they've been interested in that school. Look at the girls profiles. if they are all lanky blondes and your DD is a short brunette, maybe that's not the place for you. if the girls are all thigh-master army-looking recruits, they will know before they even see them play on the field.
Watch your attitude. bad attitude kills. hating your life and posting it on FB. not good.
Make a visit. see the girls in their natural habitat. schedule a visit, see a practice.
Grades--get that ACT score up!
playing in the winter helps. if your team is actively playing in the winter, chances are you're on the right team, and i dont mean the batter's box. Ft. Wayne, Spano, etc...
coaches have said they like quick skills videos which can be posted on youtube. look into it!
DD has been asking the college girls at camps loads of questions. like how they handle the workload, and how much work goes into it. college girls are awesome because they are living the life and know first hand what it takes, at whatever level. The Indiana girls this past weekend were alot of hlp for my DD
but picking the right school is important. if your Dd blows a knee first practice, she better love that school. if she gets there and cries to her coach that she's done with softball, she better love that nursing program!
 
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I hope alot of people understand there is no such thing as a full ride!

DD's a junior doing much of this college search. Just some food for thought:

make sure your DD knows her field of study. Don't change your major just to play at some university. Your DD can also visit the school's websites. there's financial information, student life profiles, questionnaires, etc.
Girls can also see their prospective teams. know their coaches names. when they send that email, they need to have information about that school that shows they've been interested in that school. Look at the girls profiles. if they are all lanky blondes and your DD is a short brunette, maybe that's not the place for you. if the girls are all thigh-master army-looking recruits, they will know before they even see them play on the field.
Watch your attitude. bad attitude kills. hating your life and posting it on FB. not good.
Make a visit. see the girls in their natural habitat. schedule a visit, see a practice.
Grades--get that ACT score up!
playing in the winter helps. if your team is actively playing in the winter, chances are you're on the right team, and i dont mean the batter's box. Ft. Wayne, Spano, etc...
coaches have said they like quick skills videos which can be posted on youtube. look into it!
DD has been asking the college girls at camps loads of questions. like how they handle the workload, and how much work goes into it. college girls are awesome because they are living the life and know first hand what it takes, at whatever level. The Indiana girls this past weekend were alot of hlp for my DD
but picking the right school is important. if your Dd blows a knee first practice, she better love that school. if she gets there and cries to her coach that she's done with softball, she better love that nursing program!

Statman what would you call 80% athletic and 20 percent academic?

In my world that is 100 percent.

What do you call a full academic ride and walking on and making the softball team? Full ride! :D:D
 
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To keep this thread rolling in the right direction, I'd like to ask a few more questions for all of us craving this knowledge.

1. Age each age group, what showcases have you found to be the most beneficial in displaying your players' abilities?

2.At the younger ages many college coaches aren't in attendance, but has anyone found a particular showcase that does focus on the lower ages?
(We all know that their are people who don't like the 10's, 12's, and even 14's in showcases, but let's just accept this as a necessary "evil").:).

3.If a team is accepted at a premier showcase then it probably has developed a name for itself among it's peers. Certain organizations have greater name recognition, has anyone experienced more exposure based upon the name recognition of the org you play for? Do College coaches really care if you play for "so and so elite" or "joe average"?
 
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To keep this thread rolling in the right direction, I'd like to ask a few more questions for all of us craving this knowledge.

1. Age each age group, what showcases have you found to be the most beneficial in displaying your players' abilities? There are a lot of exposure events, just depends what your intentions are for your dd's future. If she wants to go to a small Ohio school, no need in going out west or traveling. A lot of variables.
Surf City, Rising Stars, Ronald McDonald, Pennsbury, Sparks, Murfeesburo, St. Louis, Homer Hawks, Akadema TOP 50, Stingrays, Queen of diamonds, Scenic City, are a few and certainly not all of the quality events.


2.At the younger ages many college coaches aren't in attendance, but has anyone found a particular showcase that does focus on the lower ages?
(We all know that their are people who don't like the 10's, 12's, and even 14's in showcases, but let's just accept this as a necessary "evil").:).
Colleges dont show up to watch 10s, 12s, and 14s. Hence no "showcase". Half of 14s stop playing. The best at 14u, might not be a starter at 17. You can "showcase" your dd at camps though.

3.If a team is accepted at a premier showcase then it probably has developed a name for itself among it's peers. Certain organizations have greater name recognition, has anyone experienced more exposure based upon the name recognition of the org you play for? Do College coaches really care if you play for "so and so elite" or "joe average"?
Absolutely name recognition is a huge key. It makes the process easier. But it also doesnt make "Joe average" not recruitable.

Also there are "Full Rides". Remember that athletic and academic money are two separate indenties. If you recieve a Full athletic scholarship, and are a presidential scholarship winner = spending money.
 
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To keep this thread rolling in the right direction, I'd like to ask a few more questions for all of us craving this knowledge.

3.If a team is accepted at a premier showcase then it probably has developed a name for itself among it's peers. Certain organizations have greater name recognition, has anyone experienced more exposure based upon the name recognition of the org you play for? Do College coaches really care if you play for "so and so elite" or "joe average"?

What they want to see is a prospect playing in a highly competitive environment. If your "Joe Average" is playing in a highly competitive environment and not getting the snot kicked out of them every game, then they will probably be okay. That's why Showcases are picky about what teams get into their tournament. They want the best competitive environment so that the girls can strut their stuff for the coaches.

I have heard of college coaches telling very good prospects that they need to find a more competitive team to play on if they are serious about playing at the next level.
 
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ASA/USA 14u nationals in Moline last year had a number of big name schools and coaches. Tenn, UCLA, Arizona, Washington, Oklahoma St, Witworth (for you Joe A).

But for the most part you have to play up to be seen other than that.
 
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Statman what would you call 80% athletic and 20 percent academic?

In my world that is 100 percent.

What do you call a full academic ride and walking on and making the softball team? Full ride! :D:D

Good point Hitter.
We recently took a trip down south and meet with a head softball coach of mid-level Div. 1 school. He stated that if you were to ask his players,
"who has a full ride scholarship", he meant athletic scholarship, all would raise their hands. But he said, no player has a full ride athletic scholarship.
Rather, they have a combo of scholarships. The highest percentage of an athletic scholarship was a girl who had 80% of her scholarships was athletic.
All but one of his players are full rides through various scholarships.
And his team is year after year in the top ten in terms of academic performance. They were 7th this past year.
Just food for thought.

BD
 
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I would like to know what everybodys definition of "Full Ride" is. To me, if you get a full tuition schollarship with a combination of Acedemic and Athletic money, a lot of people think its a "Full Ride", when really its not. To me a full ride is you don't pay a penny to go to college, no book fees, no room and board fee's, no tuition of any kind, everything is handed to you...everything. Can people really honestly say there is very many of those out there unless you are top NCAA Division 1 ranks?

So What is a "Full Ride"
 

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