so it is an unecessary waste of time to mention that some D2/NAIA etc can beat some D1 schools but it is somehow a totally knock out argument that Kent might have a handful of majors out of hundreds that are higher ranked than an elite academic school like Case Western or some other D2/D3/NAIA school (and I'm not picking on Kent or raving about Case Western- they are just two that have way different academic standards for admission, etc.)? It sounds like you have the flip side of the complex that you are accusing others of having.
No one balks at a mere "mention" of D1 schools. If you think that, you are the one who is super sensitive. What some people have a problem with is the clear obsession with D1 schools and only D1 schools as a be all end all indication of your skill level in softball. Anyone who plays softball at a high level would be lying if they said this obsession didn't exist. They get it from coaches, organizations, private instructors, other players and other parents. Don't think that the girls don't feel this and get the message. Again, just go back to your own words. You said D1 is the best and anything else is falling a notch or two short. That is what people who want to look out for the girls and their futures object to. You can acknowledge the pros and cons of each type of school based on what the student-athelete's end goal is and then determine what school is best. Flat out statements like D1 is best and the others are falling a notch short is where you are getting yourself into trouble. Again, don't fool yourself into thinking this attitude doesn't pressure players into choosing schools that aren't the best option, rushing into a decision before they even know what a "major" is or waiting on some D1 offer that never comes because D1 is "the best" and that is what is expected of them.
The loser in all of this is the girl on one of those "we place all players in D1" teams who is well into her senior year and still doesn't have any D1 offer and most likely won't who then finds out that she is also too late for most other divisions and might not get to play at all- or if she does find a school still looking that the price tag is too high or her test scores too low.
I would like to find common ground with you, but it's difficult. I am certainly a big supporter of softball at EVERY level (from rec to pros), but yet you seem quite content chastising me about something you can clearly go back and see I did not say -- at least not the way you are stating it was written. I said I want my kids to shoot for the highest level and don't disown them if they don't hit the mark perfectly. You somehow want to lecture me that there is more to life than softball and that what I wrote was pertaining to softball ONLY when it wasn't and I think any fair read of that would confirm it. Again, anyone that knows me knows that I have put my money where my mouth is in terms of teaching my kids to shoot for the best in terms of academics, sports, faith, friends, etc... Softball is a big PART of TWO of my four daughter's lives and yes, in terms of sports, we have always shot for the best. But that has been true for my non-sport playing daughters in what they do which in my family is valued just as much. When you write:
"Anyone who plays softball at a high level would be lying if they said this obsession didn't exist. They get it from coaches, organizations, private instructors, other players and other parents..." you seem to be missing the fact that many get it from themselves. I think in general, you appear to take exception to those who strive for excellence and seem to think it impossible that a 8th or 9th grader could be doing it all on her own. I wonder just how many high-level softball players you know, because most of the ones I know that have made it that far are deeply driven internally. Also, when you write:
"Again, don't fool yourself into thinking this attitude doesn't pressure players into choosing schools that aren't the best option, rushing into a decision before they even know what a "major" is or waiting on some D1 offer that never comes because D1 is "the best" and that is what is expected of them." that can apply to any false standard a kid may set. That's not softball specific... hell, if you were advising my daughter she'd be tens of thousands in debt going to CWRU instead of KSU, because you think you know something about "elite" academics vs. non-elite academics. You talk about those "we place all players in D1" teams, yet I can't think of one in Ohio that does that. I know you are not talking about my org, because I am on the advisory committee that put together our D2/NAIA track that Tim White handles. I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion, but like I have said over and over again, many of us are just interested in seeing softball reach the highest levels attainable in our state. People come on here to learn and to promote... not to make children and their parents feel inferior. If my words somehow are giving you an impression otherwise then you really do have my apologies.
