Well, I have to say for the past few years it has been pounded in my head to make sure your daughters are playing on a showcase team, or at least a team that is playing showcase tournaments when they are 16. "16, going into her junior year in HS is their most important year" ........... This year, 16u, We luckily found a "Premier" team that played in mainly showcase tournaments. It was the absolute highest level of competition my dd's have ever played in. It was nice seeing the game played as we all wish the game could always be played (minimal errors with EVERY player in every position contributing and seeing actual base hits, small ball, teams who makes the least amount of mistakes wins.)
THE DISAPPOINTING DISCOVERY WAS that we found this type of team a little later than we should have ...... I talked to a handful of large D1 coaches this summer and happened to sit next to an SEC head coach at tonight's Akron Racer's game. The majority of the Big 10, SEC, and larger D1 schools are done recruiting their 2015, 2016 players .... they are almost done with their 2017 recruits and are now looking at 2018 - 2019 recruiting class ...... do the math, these are girls who are going to be 8th and 9th graders this fall. IF YOU FEEL YOUR DD HAS THE ABILITY TO PLAY AT THE NEXT LEVEL, START LOOKING FOR COMPETITIVE TEAMS / ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE GETTING INTO THE SHOWCASE TOURNAMENTS, PLAYING IN QUALITY TOURNAMENTS, AND HAVE THE RESPECT OF THE COLLEGE COACHES. DO THIS SOONER THAN LATER.
There is absolutely no problem with the girls who simply want to play, above average, competitive, softball but have minimal desire to take their game to the college level. For those who truly have the desire to play the next level, bite the bullet and find a team / organization (with coaches, players, and families that have similar goals). The window of time is smaller than you think.
THIS OPINION IS ASSUMING YOUR GOAL IS TO GO TO A BIGGER SCHOOL ... THERE ARE STILL MANY SMALLER DI - DII SCHOOLS LOOKING FOR 2015-2017)
Regardless of the team you find ...... always have fun, respect the game, respect each other, play hard and great things will happen!
Good Luck to everyone out there searching for their teams.