cork34
New Member
I totally agree with Coach Linder on her statement:
Changes in recruiting methods have also been a major source of frustration for Linder.
"Right now everybody's in a hurry to get the next superstar, and we're offering kids scholarships when they're eighth and ninth graders, which I strongly disagree with," said Linder. "But you're put in a situation where if you don't get involved in the recruiting process with that kid when she's a freshman, you're not going to get her. I don't believe in that, and it's extremely frustrating to me."
This is where universities, NCAA, parents and players have totally lost sight of the more important item – Education. The questions I always see on younger players committing early: Are they fully developed as an athlete? Are they going to plateau and not get any better? Will the university live up to the commitment? I believe that these are good athletic questions but totally miss the point of the bigger question about the young person’s education and career after college.
This is a prime example where college athletics are now playing a bigger role, than education, in the universities agenda for female athletes. How many of these 8th / 9th graders that have a verbal commitment know what they will major in while attending the university? I can tell you from conversations with parents and players that have committed very early that they have no idea. The response is “Suzie is going to play softball at University “Y” and how many times they have been to the World Series”. I then ask does Suzie know what she wants to major in. The answer almost always is “It is a big university and she will find something that interests her”. This shows how the world is upside down and not focused on the best interest of the young female athlete. It is all about the Coach winning and fielding great players. The NCAA, universities and the coaches, in most cases, when it comes to your education they only are concerned about what is your current GPA, are you taking enough hours to qualify to play a sport and are you attending all of your classes. Generally they could care less about their major.
After the female softball player throws her last pitch, takes that last at bat, fields that last ball or makes that last out and graduates it all comes down to her degree and career from that point forward. Playing softball in college brings great memories and discussion points. But it does very little, if anything, for you in the business world. The NCAA says they represent the College Athlete. But they have dropped the ball around recruiting and the educational well being of female athletes. Hopefully Coach Linder can help make changes to the College Softball world and put these items back in order as they use to be and need to be.
Changes in recruiting methods have also been a major source of frustration for Linder.
"Right now everybody's in a hurry to get the next superstar, and we're offering kids scholarships when they're eighth and ninth graders, which I strongly disagree with," said Linder. "But you're put in a situation where if you don't get involved in the recruiting process with that kid when she's a freshman, you're not going to get her. I don't believe in that, and it's extremely frustrating to me."
This is where universities, NCAA, parents and players have totally lost sight of the more important item – Education. The questions I always see on younger players committing early: Are they fully developed as an athlete? Are they going to plateau and not get any better? Will the university live up to the commitment? I believe that these are good athletic questions but totally miss the point of the bigger question about the young person’s education and career after college.
This is a prime example where college athletics are now playing a bigger role, than education, in the universities agenda for female athletes. How many of these 8th / 9th graders that have a verbal commitment know what they will major in while attending the university? I can tell you from conversations with parents and players that have committed very early that they have no idea. The response is “Suzie is going to play softball at University “Y” and how many times they have been to the World Series”. I then ask does Suzie know what she wants to major in. The answer almost always is “It is a big university and she will find something that interests her”. This shows how the world is upside down and not focused on the best interest of the young female athlete. It is all about the Coach winning and fielding great players. The NCAA, universities and the coaches, in most cases, when it comes to your education they only are concerned about what is your current GPA, are you taking enough hours to qualify to play a sport and are you attending all of your classes. Generally they could care less about their major.
After the female softball player throws her last pitch, takes that last at bat, fields that last ball or makes that last out and graduates it all comes down to her degree and career from that point forward. Playing softball in college brings great memories and discussion points. But it does very little, if anything, for you in the business world. The NCAA says they represent the College Athlete. But they have dropped the ball around recruiting and the educational well being of female athletes. Hopefully Coach Linder can help make changes to the College Softball world and put these items back in order as they use to be and need to be.