College Softball Expectations

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As a whole, I would imagine about 80% of the girls playing elite softball have hopes of playing softball at the collegiate level. Some will make D1 while others will be best suited for D2 or D3. Catching the eye of a college coach these days can prove extremely difficult and sometimes never happens. Be sure to tell your daughters that life doesn't end just because her scholarship never becomes reality.

For those of us with a daughter(s) playing in college I'm sure we all speak from the same experiences. This is an extremely difficult endeavor and one that should be thought through thoroughly. This time of year can be taxing on student athletes as they prepare for early Spring schedules as well as learning to study while on the road.

Just this week, my daughter phoned us in a panic because she was informed she has 4 tests in 2 days. Usually, this would already be a heavy load to prepare for but you also have to add in the 2 practices a day. Requesting to skip practice isn't usually an option so these ladies spend many hours under lamps while others on campus enjoy their sleep. Add in the distance from home and sometimes it proves to be too much.

Be sure to tell your daughters that loving the game now can sometimes change down the road when it becomes more of a "job" mentality. There will be ebbs and flows and some sad calls homes. Ensure her that over time this will get easier and that she will adapt. If she's attending the school as a scholar-athlete there are people at the institution that have full confidence she can do it and so should she. Confindence and elite performance put her in this position and she should lean on it to get her through the tough times.

Be a listening board for your daughters. They are calling you to receive advice and sometimes just have someone to vent on. Sometimes they won't always get along with their teammates or coaches but they know they can talk to you. Remember they are out there alone in this big world and at times they think everything is going wrong. This too will pass and most of the time it happens in a matter of minutes.

With all the less than perfect scenarios you will encounter......there is NOTHING like the look you'll get when they touch the dirt in early Spring. These are competetive girls and they will finally be in their element. Sit back, enjoy it and remind her that this is why she spent all of those worrisome hours as a collge ball player.

 

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This makes the travel ball experience look like a piece of cake. When you're able to schedule lessons when it's convenient, when you have a practice or two per week, when the tournament season is mostly in the summer with no school priorities. Lots to think about before committing or making a decision to play ball in college. Great post of reality.

 

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Run26, I could have written that post basically word-for-word as it applied to my daughter when she played in college.

Well put!

 

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I agree, but at same time during high school if your child is multi sport athlete you keep pretty much the same schedule.
wake up at 6am and between practice and extra curricular activities i.e. NHS, key club and whatever other events. Their day didn't end until 9pm or 10 pm.

I reminded DD she has handled this kind of schedule and excelled before and she will again. Of course she misses her MOM's support and calls her every day;& and I think this is the biggest difference ( not having family around).

For now she is excited for her first plane ride in 8 days to play Texas A&M and I hope she listens to me and take all the pictures by cool stadiums since we can't be there.

 

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Boy, does this bring back some memories...

 

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Very good thread- too many don't realize the commitment and demand that playing softball in college entails.
We have 18 year olds trying to adjust to "new found freedom" and college life, along with taking college classes (many find that for the first time, they have to STUDY to get the grade), new roomates- some you like, some you hate, an unfamiliar city, 15-22 new teammates that will be your family for the next four years, running from weight lifting, to class, to practice, to class, to study tables, then back at the dorm with NO time to eat in between...it takes a toll on these kids and the BIGGER you go, the BIGGER the demand.

 

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Well said Run26. We often talk about playing softball at a different level, but the college schedule is truly what is at a different level. One of my DD's B-day was earlier this week, so I texted her an early Happy Birthday and the return text at 5:24am was as follows...

"thanks dad, I love you too! I'll try to call you later but I have the most hectic schedule today. My birthday schedule: practice 6:00 to 9:00, class 9:00-11:50, lifting 12:00-1:00, tutoring 1:30-3:30, video 4:30-5:30 and then class 6:00-9:00...so no fun for me at all"


This is just a small part of why I'm so proud of my kids! BTW, she did find time to give me a quick call later that evening

 

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Do not forget trying to Learn a new system from a new coach. Fighting for a spot. Doing the extra community items the team has to do besides softball and education. Having to work home sporting events. Being a tour guide for new recruits. Probably at least 10 hours a week study tables. The list goes on and on, And somewhere in between conditioning, from 5 to 8am, 20 hours of practice thru the week, going to class and cramming for finals You might find a little time to eat a bite or two. There will be times you trade food for sleep. There will be times you are over whelmed. Your more afraid of being called on the carpet by the coach for bad grades than a bad performance on the field. On your days off you want to sleep but theres that pesky paper that has to be written by tomorrow. Its a job. That is what your expectations should be. If you go in expecting any thing less you will be not only disappointed, You will struggle to keep up. Both academically and athletically.


Tim

 

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Scholarship=Job

 

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Great post! I am definitely sharing this with my daughter.

FYI - parents - if your DD is still in HS, and dreaming of college ball, have her check out the post-secondary program at her high school. My dd will have accumulated almost 40 hours of college credits by the time she graduates, so she will be able to take a lighter class load during the spring. I was pretty impressed with her for thinking of this. (She also wanted to get used to college life early.)

We agreed that if she chose a school where she won't play softball - she would probably graduate a year early - $$ saved. If she plays softball, she can take a lighter work load and that will help her be successful in school and on the team. At this time, she is planning on playing softball at a D3 school and couldn't be happier about it.

 

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My youngest dd asked a similar question concerning balancing studies and athletics at the Toledo camp. After a seemed like 15 minute answer by Coach Beyster (gave a lot of details on the Toledo athletic program), she turned it over to the players. One of the players said, what sold her to Toledo was the fact they housed the student athletes together as one large network and support base. She went onto say it helped get her through some of the tougher times as Tim mentioned with everything going on. Another player also stated that she came here on an athletic and academic scholarship....which means you're basically getting paid to play and receive a free education. She said if you have a choice between a movie night with the girls who aren't athletes and studying for a quiz, your choice better be study as there will be plenty of times to have a girls night out after graduation. I think alot of girls mouths dropped right after that.

 

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My youngest dd asked a similar question concerning balancing studies and athletics at the Toledo camp. After a seemed like 15 minute answer by Coach Beyster (gave a lot of details on the Toledo athletic program), she turned it over to the players. One of the players said, what sold her to Toledo was the fact they housed the student athletes together as one large network and support base. She went onto say it helped get her through some of the tougher times as Tim mentioned with everything going on. Another player also stated that she came here on an athletic and academic scholarship....which means you're basically getting paid to play and receive a free education. She said if you have a choice between a movie night with the girls who aren't athletes and studying for a quiz, your choice better be study as there will be plenty of times to have a girls night out after graduation. I think alot of girls mouths dropped right after that.

Yes! The love of the game is great until college, then its a JOB. You can either love your job or not, but its still a job. Your getting indirectly paid to play softball and paid to get good grades.

I preach this all the time to my 11 yr old DD. Yes we love this game but it is a job to be good at it. It's not all roses and rainbows. I love that we have people on here to help guide our young players on what to expect as a collegiate athlete.

 

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I would disagree that everyone treats this as a job. My DD knows she can walk away at anytime if softball effects her education (which is a job) since she can't walk away from that as easily.
fortunately DD doesn't have 6am practices or had to work at any concessions. She had to participate in couple of autograph sessions but she thought that was pretty cool. She did load up during fall classes so she is lighter during spring.

she gets treated special as an athlete by getting free admission to all sporting events and gets all the free gear she needs.
lot less laundry to do that her non-athletes friends. No she doesn't party like normal students but she is completely ok with that. Luckily she loves her roommate and she probably has a great friend for life and she did get to party with her teammates during fall.

Don't get me wrong, playing D1 sport is hard work especially majoring in biology but like she said, if she had more time what would she be doing? Her words not mine.

 

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As A father of TWO athletes heading off to play D1 softball this fall, we had the talk about whether they were wanting to commit to it. They weren't sure....saying it was like a job. I said, yes it is like a job, but what job are you going to get that is going to give you that much money to pay for college? That was last summer.

They have since bought into the idea of playing the tough D1 schedule and are looking forward to the challenge. I think they both respond better when their schedule is full. Athletes have a busy schedule to say the least, but they also have incredible perks besides the money for education....free tutoring, lots of cool clothing with the school logos, forced study tables (Which I love as a parent) and a "sorority" of friends in their softball teammates. I am looking forward to the next few years of them playing ball at a high level too....and I know it'll all fly by.

 

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I get the point and definitely agree that playing collegiate sports is a lot of hard work and probably means some tough choices, but I tend to agree more with Blue Ice about not equating that to work, as well as MC's comment about many athletes respond better with a full schedule. My DD was only D3 and I know it's a huge difference from D1 ... she definitely missed some parties and nights out during her career because of softball, but mostly she just didn't watch much TV, take lots of naps, play video games, or get in trouble like a lot of college students do. Now if your going to college and want to do all of those things, definitely forget the athletics because you aren't going to be happy!

 

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Very good post Run26,

Your post describes the need for the player to "balance academics with athletics"... and insure their college choices match their long term goals... Unfortunately, a lot of High School settings do not teach the ladies how to do this.
For those that think the curriculum will not be as challenging at DII, DIII or NAIA you may/will be surprised... Instruction delivery is different from D1 compared to the other clarifications but the curriculum can be very soft or challenging at every level of play.
Stay focused and good luck...

 

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Yes! The love of the game is great until college, then its a JOB. You can either love your job or not, but its still a job. Your getting indirectly paid to play softball and paid to get good grades.

I preach this all the time to my 11 yr old DD. Yes we love this game but it is a job to be good at it. It's not all roses and rainbows. I love that we have people on here to help guide our young players on what to expect as a collegiate athlete.

Absolutely! If you quit your job, you lose your paycheck. With certain rare exceptions, same goes for DI college softball. Some people are very fortunate to find a hobby that they love, and get paid for it! That's called the ideal job. That can ALSO be what DI college softball is to many kids. The word JOB only holds negative connotations for those that dislike their employment situation.

I don't care HOW you slice it, or WHAT you call it, getting an athletic scholarship - which is receiving payment for a college education in return for playing a CHILD'S GAME - is an incredible gift that should not be taken for granted. I never let mine forget that.

P.S. Take your daughter out to a construction site and let her watch for a while. Then ask her "Which would you rather do for college money - play ball or this?"

 

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As A father of TWO athletes heading off to play D1 softball this fall, we had the talk about whether they were wanting to commit to it. They weren't sure....saying it was like a job. I said, yes it is like a job, but what job are you going to get that is going to give you that much money to pay for college? That was last summer.

They have since bought into the idea of playing the tough D1 schedule and are looking forward to the challenge. I think they both respond better when their schedule is full. Athletes have a busy schedule to say the least, but they also have incredible perks besides the money for education....free tutoring, lots of cool clothing with the school logos, forced study tables (Which I love as a parent) and a "sorority" of friends in their softball teammates. I am looking forward to the next few years of them playing ball at a high level too....and I know it'll all fly by.

Not to mention a bit of a renewed rivalry of the old GWOC. Now though instead of Northmont Fairborn its Valpo WSU

 

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This topic was one reason why our HS softball program held our inaugural alumni game this year over Christmas break. After the game, we had alumni that had spent at least 1 year playing from D1 to JuCo talk about what it was like and answer questions.

The most memorable thing was from a player at Northwestern that has always been a high-achiever - both academically and athletically. She started off determined she was going to get through it on her own and came to realize she needed the help and support of others. Without it, she said, you end up alone in your room and miserable. She's a junior now and spoke highly of her friends and teammates for the support they give each other - including some prodding when they need to step it up on the field or in the classroom.

 

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all of these are true. that is why in the first post, many CHOOSE D2 or D3, just so they can continue to LOVE the game and not let it become that JOB, in lieu of choosing the D1 school. Of course, there still is a lot of this, but not as much as what you see at a big 10 school. Lots of travel and intense pressure.