Get Noticed, Receive Scholarship Money

[Converse Kid]

I have heard various opinions on the best way to get our kids noticed by college coaches/Scouts. Am curious to know if they are noticed by the performance of their Rec School Leagues or if the best way to get noticed is through Travel Ball? If travel ball is the clear choice, do these girls have to play on the big club teams and the elite tourneys? Do the smaller D-1, the D-2 and 3's scout most of the tournaments looking at players? Also, if anyone can recommend any tips, clinics that are must attend, or any other helpful information on the subject is appreciated. Thank you,Softabll Dad looking for tuition money,

 

[ApogeeDemon]

1 post...and a question that has been answered 45476544653445896348956348563475334 times on this site. Now the original poster will come back with "People are so rude, I really want to know! Then someone believes them and then answers the same question again and again and again.
Here is the top list of questions that don't need to be answered any more!
1) Should my kid play in college?
2) Should I hire a hitting instructor?
3) How many tryouts should I attend and how long should I wait until I commit?
4) Should my kid play for the high school even though the coach sucks?
5) Should my daughter play a gold schedule?
6) My daughter team brings in replacement players for tournys, should we be mad?
and you know the rest.....

 

[Converse Kid]

Sorry ApogeeDemon, I am new to this site and dont mean to beat a dead horse. Just looking for answers. I am happy to hear you are so smart!

 

[CoachTEA]

I have heard various opinions on the best way to get our kids noticed by college coaches/Scouts. Am curious to know if they are noticed by the performance of their Rec School Leagues or if the best way to get noticed is through Travel Ball? If travel ball is the clear choice, do these girls have to play on the big club teams and the elite tourneys? Do the smaller D-1, the D-2 and 3's scout most of the tournaments looking at players? Also, if anyone can recommend any tips, clinics that are must attend, or any other helpful information on the subject is appreciated. Thank you,Softabll Dad looking for tuition money,

Looks like a spammer hijacked your post. My oldest DD plays college softball (albeit NAIA, but she is getting money to do so) and whereas I don't claim to be an expert, I have some knowledge and experience in that space. Last spring I developed a PowerPoint presentation that "borrows" from the seminars I attended and what I have learned talking to different coach coaches and scouts. If you are interested Private Message me and we will get in contact. In 15 years of coaching I have *never* seen a coach or scout at a Rec league game and because the seasons overlap, you won't often them at HS games either. That truly leaves travel ball, camps, and showcases and it also involves actively pursuing the dream.

 

[SoCal_Dad]

1 post...and a question that has been answered 45476544653445896348956348563475334 times on this site. Now the original poster will come back with "People are so rude, I really want to know! Then someone believes them and then answers the same question again and again and again.
Here is the top list of questions that don't need to be answered any more!
1) Should my kid play in college?
2) Should I hire a hitting instructor?
3) How many tryouts should I attend and how long should I wait until I commit?
4) Should my kid play for the high school even though the coach sucks?
5) Should my daughter play a gold schedule?
6) My daughter team brings in replacement players for tournys, should we be mad?
and you know the rest.....

Unfortunately, all the previous answers to these questions are unavailable due to the Great Crash. It's such a shame too because the answers evolve over time.

You could add face masks to your list, however the general attitude on them is quite different than it was 5 years ago and I expect it will continue to change going forward.

 

[SoCal_Dad]

I have heard various opinions on the best way to get our kids noticed by college coaches/Scouts. Am curious to know if they are noticed by the performance of their Rec School Leagues or if the best way to get noticed is through Travel Ball?

Travel ball develops the skills necessary to get noticed by most colleges. Players with extraordinary skills can get noticed by local/regional schools via HS ball if their team contends for a state title and/or the player is recognized with major honors. Travel ball generally provides much better and wider exposure.

If travel ball is the clear choice, do these girls have to play on the big club teams and the elite tourneys?

I'm not sure what you consider "big club teams and the elite tourneys". Regardless, neither are mandatory. However, they can increase your chances of getting noticed.

Do the smaller D-1, the D-2 and 3's scout most of the tournaments looking at players?

Schools go where they're most likely going to find players with the ability to play for them and they have a goof chance of recruiting. So, those types of schools will be at most decent events, but they'll be in greater numbers at events with their type of players.

Also, if anyone can recommend any tips, clinics that are must attend, or any other helpful information on the subject is appreciated.

Cathi Arati's book, Preparing to Play Softball at the Collegiate Level, is probably still the best guide. Sue Enquist is another authority on the subject and has educated parents for a number of years. You can start by googling both of them for info that's been posted online. Caveat - don't sign up for any recruiting service, including NCSA, without first learning everything about college recruiting and how it differs at each age level. Only then can you make an informed decision of whether it is worth your time and/or money.

Thank you,Softabll Dad looking for tuition money,

D3's aren't allowed to give athletic scholarship money, just academic and need-based aid. Softball can be helpful in getting into a highly-selective schools.

Academics (i.e. high GPA and test scores) can be extremely helpful in getting recruited by a school. Coaches don't have enough athletic scholarships to cover the entire team, so many coaches are looking for players that can qualify for academic money.

 

[coachjwb]

One clarification ... of all of the tournaments put on in Ohio, ages 16-U and 18-U, please understand that college coaches may be at no more than maybe 10-20% of them. There are only a few tourneys put on each year where there will be multiple college coaches "scouting". And most of the time college coaches are at a tourney, they're not there to just see if they can "discover" someone ... they're there looking at individual players who are usually playing on some of the more elite teams in the state who have told them they're interested in attending their school. Just because your DD plays 16-U or 18-U travel ball does not mean she is going to be seen. I can assure you that there are many 16-U/18-U teams out there which are playing in lower tier tourneys and who can't even get into some of the top tourneys and who may not have a college coach watch them play all summer. Clinics put on by schools are definitely another place to be seen though you should also assume the primary reason for these clinics is that they are fundraisers.

 

[Converse Kid]

Re: Yeux Neuer feuille propre ?tape du Bayern|yeux neuer feuille propre ?tape du baye

Scram Spammer!

 

[Converse Kid]

Great info SoCal Dad! Thank You!

 

[Converse Kid]

Re: Yeux Neuer feuille propre ?tape du Bayern|yeux neuer feuille propre ?tape du baye

Thank you all for the great info!

 

[bucketime]

Re: Yeux Neuer feuille propre ?tape du Bayern|yeux neuer feuille propre ?tape du baye

Good answers, first I feel that it wouldn't concern you as much to where she is going to play, but where she is going to get the best education. then when you see that fit look at the softball program. When she has a list of colleges of where she wants to go to then have her start writing to them (mine started in 8th grade). Then try to go to camps they are attending or if they have a camp of their own attend it. Also, there are tournies out there that do have several colleges come here. I feel this can be done on her own does not need an scouting agency; and of course hard work on and off the field; and if the coach has been around long enough also the colleges will contact him/her asking if there are any players that should be considered. Colleges are recruiting girls going into the 9th grade so it is never too early to start.

 

[rapp49]

Converse Kid... I am new too this sight too( 10 minutes). I used to experience these same super smart d-bags on an similar Adult Slowpitch site. I am not happy that the first thread I read has them here as well. It is too bad that people looking to better their daughter have to deal with these internet bad-*sses. Good luck to you and your daughter.

 

[wvanalmsick]

I have heard various opinions on the best way to get our kids noticed by college coaches/Scouts. Am curious to know if they are noticed by the performance of their Rec School Leagues or if the best way to get noticed is through Travel Ball? If travel ball is the clear choice, do these girls have to play on the big club teams and the elite tourneys? Do the smaller D-1, the D-2 and 3's scout most of the tournaments looking at players? Also, if anyone can recommend any tips, clinics that are must attend, or any other helpful information on the subject is appreciated. Thank you,Softabll Dad looking for tuition money,

Before you jump onto a travel team, please sit down and talk with a knowledgeable travel coach. If you PM me, I can recommend a couple in your area.

This is my 12th year in travel ball. My DD is not playing anymore but I am still with a travel organization. I do not recruit any girls for our organization but I can explain a lot of the processes that you would want to do in order to get your DD exposure or I can put you in touch with someone (within or outside of our organization) that can also explain the process.