Class of 2008 Recruiting Opportunities

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I really think that bottom line has to be what is the best fit for your DD's educational goals.....My DD played for an organization since she was 12u that sent out the message the "If your not playing D1 ball, your not playing top level ball"....to a certain extent she believed this postion and consequently began her college search wanting to only play D1 ball, "If a D1 school doesn't want me I must be aweful"......Frankly this is fair from the truth....DD is an All Ohio Pitcher, her HS won it's conference for the first time in 10 years and she was Conference MVP, not to mention Team MVP and first team everything up to Regionals, she also has been a very successful travel ball pitcher for a prominent organization, including one NSA National Championship.....but in reality she is only 5'3" and is velocity challenge when it comes to running and frankly most D1 schools are looking for that 6' tall pitcher, no matter how good they are, size matters......She did get interest from D1 schools and even had and official visit...but after all was said and done her 2 best offers came from D11 schools......Since her goal is to be a Doctor we looked @ premed programs and then looked @ school rosters.....one of our first question alway was are any of you players premed or biology majors.....and frankly most D1 programs the answers were a bit shaky or no.......alot of trainers, criminal justice, ect., not that there is anything wrong with these career choices, but because the time commitment, in a D1 school , it can make the more demanding courses of hard science , premed , or biology very difficult to do and play full time....frankly I think it is very difficult at any level of college .....not that there aren't premed students playing D1 ball...and my hat is off to them and wish them success.....
She finally committed to a large D11 school with a very good softball program but honestly one of the deciding factors is that the pitcher she is replacing is graduating this spring with her biology/premed degree and has I believe been accepted to med school and was supported by her coach throughout her college playing career per the player and her parents.....so I guess bottom line remember it is DD educational goals that has to take priority in the decision. Thankfully DD also came to the decision that this school is the best fit for her goals and is now very happy and excited with it.....
I wish everyone going through this process with their DD the best of luck and congrats when the decision is made.

 

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My daughter had always wanted to play DI. Knowing her, I knew that for her as a student, DI would probably not be the right fit for her. However, it needed to be her decision. Once DI schools started showing interest in her, she began thinking about what she really wanted. Her number one school on her list was a DIII school that she fell in love with both the school and the coach.

Right before she was going to verbal, she was contacted by a coach from a DII school. She fell in love with the school--it is beautiful and in the mountains. In addition, she was offered an incredible academic scholarship plus athletic money. She knew when we drove onto the campus that it was the place she wanted to attend school.

We have learned that different conference make scholarship limits as well. The new conference my daughter's school is in does not have as much athletic scholarship money available. The coach was pleased when he saw my daughter's grades and ACT score. Believe what everyone tells you about grades and test scores.