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What is better for the college resume? Winning a state title in high school or a top 5 finish at nationals. And is it important to play high school ball if you are playing for a good travelball team?
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Id rather have the top 5 finish. I gaurantee more exposure came out of that than the H.S. achievement.
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Hitter23 I would have to agree with you on that the nationals would look better to a coach than the high school championship. Not that the high school championship is easy, or not pretty unique. I have known ladies that have not attended high school their last few years and still played college ball. Some times the politics, personality conflicts, etc, can cause problems in high school. And as stated so many times before the college coaches will go to a national event where they can see a ton of players on a weekend rather than try to get to see all of the players at the state championships. JMHO
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Simply put - high level travel ball gets you recruited, high school achievements make great copy for the media guide. Look at the roster (web page) of most college teams. Lots of fluff about high school, rarely any club ball details - UNLESS you finished maybe 1st or 2nd at ASA Nationals, and your name is Cat Osterman.
Focus on the big picture. If a kid's goal is to play college ball, play in summer at the HIGHEST POSSIBLE LEVEL of club ball you can. College coaches are wowed by great performances in very challenging game situations. A pitcher striking out 13 batters in a typical high school game IS NOT necessarily a challenging situation. Actually, a coach wants to see how a player reacts in "less than desirable" game situations - a pitcher in an elimination game at nationals, bottom of 7th, up by 1, full count on cleanup batter. The actual outcome of the play is not what is important, it's how the pitcher reacts in response to that outcome.
Focus on the big picture. If a kid's goal is to play college ball, play in summer at the HIGHEST POSSIBLE LEVEL of club ball you can. College coaches are wowed by great performances in very challenging game situations. A pitcher striking out 13 batters in a typical high school game IS NOT necessarily a challenging situation. Actually, a coach wants to see how a player reacts in "less than desirable" game situations - a pitcher in an elimination game at nationals, bottom of 7th, up by 1, full count on cleanup batter. The actual outcome of the play is not what is important, it's how the pitcher reacts in response to that outcome.
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I agree that travel ball is much more important for the resume. We have decided NOT to play for the high school this year after a VERY bad experiance our freshman year. High school ball does have advantages but not enough to warrant putting up with poor coaching, harrassment and assult.
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I somewhat disagree based on talking to college coaches. Keep in mind many very good players don't play on travel teams ( Elite if we want to go there) that go to Nationals or play outside the state. Many different reasons main reason money. Yet they can play for the high school and due to the talent may end up going to the state. Go to some of the high school events in Ashland. Wendy's Classic or East of Chicago and see the talent present and the college's present. Yes they can go to a good travel ball tournament and see many good players. Recruiting is tough so they are looking at different angles. Keep in mind some play travel ball, because they can't play high school based on grades..
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I dont know about your particular situation, but ours wasnt very good either regarding H.S. ball. (We had a teacher with absolutely no qualifications except a teachers union card.) I would think twice about not playing, it IS good practice for the real season 
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Sbfamily all those events you named are "travel ball " type get togethers of h.s. teams, try getting a college coach to come to a regular scheduled h.s. game. The majority ive talked with regard the players SAT'S /ACT'S much more important than what happens in h.s.
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Almost EVERY travel ball coach that I have ever talked to emphisize [highlight]grades[/highlight]. Without the grades it doesn't matter how good of a athlete you are.SBFAMILY said:
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I asked my pitcher, Kaitlin Klopfer (who I have been coaching since she was 12) if she thought a state title in HS would be bigger than the 16u NSA World Series we had won she said...
The HS state title would mean more. Its the whole home town - high school "represent" thing I guess
She has one more shot at that. I hope she gets it. She sure works hard enough for it.
The HS state title would mean more. Its the whole home town - high school "represent" thing I guess
She has one more shot at that. I hope she gets it. She sure works hard enough for it.
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...and presto!! We're back around full circle where college ball is absolutely contingent on grades.
You have to have a completely different mindset for high school ball. Every college coach knows that. Every college coach also knows the difference in competition from high school to advanced club ball. That horse has been beaten to a pulp on this board many times, so I won't even start on that.
I guarantee that a college coach recruiting you will eventually ask a question like "So, how was your high school season this past spring?" Let's say you answer something like "Well, I didn't play for my high school team, because the coach is clueless, and the talent on the team is so poor, they'll never win a game."
Boy - you just said a mouthful that tells the coach a lot about your "it's about me" character. Eventually, the chips will be down on the college team. No college coach wants a kid that refuses to see the forest for the trees. They want team players that will stick with the team through thick and thin, someone to pump everyone up when things aren't going well.
Remember, those high school stats are not recruiting material - but after you ARE recruited, the coach wants that stuff for PR purposes - it's that coaches job to cast the best light possible on their team.
You have to have a completely different mindset for high school ball. Every college coach knows that. Every college coach also knows the difference in competition from high school to advanced club ball. That horse has been beaten to a pulp on this board many times, so I won't even start on that.
I guarantee that a college coach recruiting you will eventually ask a question like "So, how was your high school season this past spring?" Let's say you answer something like "Well, I didn't play for my high school team, because the coach is clueless, and the talent on the team is so poor, they'll never win a game."
Boy - you just said a mouthful that tells the coach a lot about your "it's about me" character. Eventually, the chips will be down on the college team. No college coach wants a kid that refuses to see the forest for the trees. They want team players that will stick with the team through thick and thin, someone to pump everyone up when things aren't going well.
Remember, those high school stats are not recruiting material - but after you ARE recruited, the coach wants that stuff for PR purposes - it's that coaches job to cast the best light possible on their team.
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Answering the original question, I don't think it really matters either way whether one has won a state title or finished in top 5 at nationals. I suppose if a girl was on a team that finished in the top 5 at Gold, a coach's ears would certainly perk up. Otherwise, I don't think it makes much difference how one's team has fared.
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Hitter 23, I do both. I can't recall any travel team talking about grades. I agree 100% with what Sammy stated. This topic has been beat to death , but I have been going to college camps for years and I make a point to talk to the coaches. What Sammy stated comes out in every conversation. The Grade conversation is on another post and from what I'm reading they are not part of travel ball.
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Cathi Aradi has, at one time or another, answered about every question in the universe about college softball recruiting. Get it straight from the horse's mouth. The linked page below answers a few questions. Go to her home page to order her book about the recruiting process. It's the literal bible of recruiting.
http://www.fastpitchrecruiting.com/FAQ.html
http://www.fastpitchrecruiting.com/FAQ.html
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Thanks for the link Sammy.
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I think Beckam hit on the key. We should ask the girls what they think.
Remember, most of these girls will not go to college on scholarship and their fondest memories will be from their highschool years with the friends they have grown up with.
There is a time and place for everything. If you think your DD is good enough to get recruited then play on an elite travel team. But.....don't forget about the special place they will hold in their hearts from highschool...let them play!
Remember, most of these girls will not go to college on scholarship and their fondest memories will be from their highschool years with the friends they have grown up with.
There is a time and place for everything. If you think your DD is good enough to get recruited then play on an elite travel team. But.....don't forget about the special place they will hold in their hearts from highschool...let them play!
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I agree with Katlin K. and so do about eight other players. See you in Ashland.
