default
Member
What is the importance to play your last year of Summer ball before heading to college? Recruiters? Being noticed?
default
Member
I think the most important aspect would be to play at the highest level possible so you can get ready to compete for a position on your college team. You can't just decide not to play once you've committed to a college, this isn't the end, it's the just the beginning!
default
Member
I'm assuming from your post that you aren't already signed to play in college & that you want to. How would you be recruited if you weren't on the field to be seen?
If you have been recruited already, your college coach will expect you to play unless they want you to heal an injury before reporting in the fall.
default
Member
And if you have already signed for college, all the pressure is off. The last summer was our very best year by far. My daughter was playing with mostly other college signees. They played hard and won a lot of games, but the entire team of girls got along famously. I think that knowing where they were going to college made that summer all the more relaxing for all.
When I think of summer ball, that is how I want to remember it.
When I think of summer ball, that is how I want to remember it.
default
Member
Hey we even had one girl who was going to a D-1 school and ended up signing with another when the coach moved on..... So it's never too late before that first school day in the fall....
default
Member
This may sound weird, but...
For some of those girls it may be the last chance they have to play just for themselves and the FUN of it.
When you play in college you may as well look at it this way, you are an emplyee of the school, and there are others whose job may depend on your performance.
D3 is a little bit different, but even in that level coaches are released and non-renewed because of team performance on the field and academically.
I have mixed feelings, but I also know that I have had several girls over the years that wouldn't trade that final season for anything, because of preparation for school and because of friendships and experiences.
I am pretty sure there is not a right or wrong answer, but I am certain with the anticipated new ASA rules about collegiate players, these graduating seniors will be a huge factor in 18Gold, 18A ASA Nationals, IMHO.
For some of those girls it may be the last chance they have to play just for themselves and the FUN of it.
When you play in college you may as well look at it this way, you are an emplyee of the school, and there are others whose job may depend on your performance.
D3 is a little bit different, but even in that level coaches are released and non-renewed because of team performance on the field and academically.
I have mixed feelings, but I also know that I have had several girls over the years that wouldn't trade that final season for anything, because of preparation for school and because of friendships and experiences.
I am pretty sure there is not a right or wrong answer, but I am certain with the anticipated new ASA rules about collegiate players, these graduating seniors will be a huge factor in 18Gold, 18A ASA Nationals, IMHO.
default
Member
CincyStorm said it.
My daughter loves playing fastpitch, but she now is protective of her time away from the school and takes breaks during the off season due to the demanding schedule she faces during school.
It isn't the actual practices and games that take up so much time. It is all the time required of her by the trainer who makes her go twice a day for therapy during season at about two hours each time. He tells her if she misses one of the therapy sessions that the coach will be informed that she shouldn't play. I don't believe there is a time limit for therapy, and it really cuts into her study time.
My daughter loves playing fastpitch, but she now is protective of her time away from the school and takes breaks during the off season due to the demanding schedule she faces during school.
It isn't the actual practices and games that take up so much time. It is all the time required of her by the trainer who makes her go twice a day for therapy during season at about two hours each time. He tells her if she misses one of the therapy sessions that the coach will be informed that she shouldn't play. I don't believe there is a time limit for therapy, and it really cuts into her study time.
default
Member
Daughter just completed freshman year in college. After her senior year of HS I supported her decision to not play summer tournaments. Up to that point she had sacrificed all the HS grad parties and weekend activities for the rigors of a typical summer travel team. At that point she had her college ball plans taken care of. I encouraged her to enjoy the things she missed before leaving for school and starting the work that goes with playing in college.
She understood the importance of doing her work to stay sharp...it just was't in game situations. It all worked out great and she was able to do some things that summer she was never able to.
She understood the importance of doing her work to stay sharp...it just was't in game situations. It all worked out great and she was able to do some things that summer she was never able to.
default
Member
I support girls not doing all the traveling and saving their families the money in that summer after senior year, but if they don't play any tournaments, they had better be working hard at their games. In Ohio, you can play tournaments without doing any traveling, so I'd be less generous if I coached in Ohio.
When our players arrive in a couple of weeks, we will begin a month of practices and it will be possibly the only time we get outside until our season starts in February. Any girl who plans on using the fall to get into playing shape isn't considering that the coaching staff's first impressions of our 2011 squad will be made this fall. When we get done in October, we will have a depth chart that will be in our minds for the next 3-4 months.
Cincy Storm's post should be well-taken by girls reading this thread. There are others whose job depends upon your performance, as he indicated. And even though it's a bit different at D3, it's not drastically different. On visits, often girls or parents will try to gauge just how serious a D3 program will be to see if it fits their desires (although by now the various travel ball teams out here know we are serious). I tell girls and parents that "do you think I left all my friends and relatives in Ohio after living there my entire life to move 2,000 miles away and not be completely serious about building an excellent softball program? No, we don't put in the time that a D1 would, but any girl coming here thinking it won't be much more than a glorified high school schedule is coming to the wrong place."
When our players arrive in a couple of weeks, we will begin a month of practices and it will be possibly the only time we get outside until our season starts in February. Any girl who plans on using the fall to get into playing shape isn't considering that the coaching staff's first impressions of our 2011 squad will be made this fall. When we get done in October, we will have a depth chart that will be in our minds for the next 3-4 months.
Cincy Storm's post should be well-taken by girls reading this thread. There are others whose job depends upon your performance, as he indicated. And even though it's a bit different at D3, it's not drastically different. On visits, often girls or parents will try to gauge just how serious a D3 program will be to see if it fits their desires (although by now the various travel ball teams out here know we are serious). I tell girls and parents that "do you think I left all my friends and relatives in Ohio after living there my entire life to move 2,000 miles away and not be completely serious about building an excellent softball program? No, we don't put in the time that a D1 would, but any girl coming here thinking it won't be much more than a glorified high school schedule is coming to the wrong place."
default
Member
Great post JoeA. Good luck this season.
Pay attention people, JoeA knows what he's talking about. With JoeA's post along with CincyStorm, all questions should be answered on this subject. Quality answers from quality people.
Pay attention people, JoeA knows what he's talking about. With JoeA's post along with CincyStorm, all questions should be answered on this subject. Quality answers from quality people.
default
Member
Joe.. what happens when they get injured in that final year of playing fun summer ball?
If I had a scholarship for softball to go to college... there is no way I am going to take a chance and play just to have someone injury me with some unorthadox slide into a base.. Especially now since the girls wear steal cleats.
There would be no way any daughter of mine.. after receiving a scholarship... would be playing ball her last summer. No way !!!! All the hard work.. just went down the drain over a fluke injury BEFORE college.
Enjoy your last summer before college... do the things that you never got to do the Summers before.
But, work and practice to keep your game sharp. Maybe go a weekend or two as a "guest" player.
But, a full schedule of summer ball. NEVER !!!
If I had a scholarship for softball to go to college... there is no way I am going to take a chance and play just to have someone injury me with some unorthadox slide into a base.. Especially now since the girls wear steal cleats.
There would be no way any daughter of mine.. after receiving a scholarship... would be playing ball her last summer. No way !!!! All the hard work.. just went down the drain over a fluke injury BEFORE college.
Enjoy your last summer before college... do the things that you never got to do the Summers before.
But, work and practice to keep your game sharp. Maybe go a weekend or two as a "guest" player.
But, a full schedule of summer ball. NEVER !!!
Similar threads
