Questions to ask colleges.

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What are some key questions to ask college coaches before making a decision on where your DD will attend?

 

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These are the questions we asked before making a decision:

1) What is the year-round schedule and time commitment expected?
2) Based on what you've seen so far, what would you see her playing time being both hitting and pitching/defensively?
3) Do you have or require study tables?
4) Do you have any one-eyed umpires in your conference?

 

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These are the questions we asked before making a decision:


4) Do you have any one-eyed umpires in your conference?

They are everywhere.

 

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What majors are offered?
Study table schedules?
Tutoring/note-taking offered for student athletes?
Parking for students and parking fees?
How much are they able to give in scholarship monies?
Game schedule and division?
What is red-shirt policy?
What positions are they looking for?
What are their athletic facilities like and how available are they for VARSITY SOFTBALL PLAYERS, not just athletes?
How far do they travel for league games?
What is used for transportation to and from games for varsity softball (sometimes the football travels in class, but NOT the softball teams)?
If given room/board as scholarship, where can foodcards be used (at Kent they were very limited to where they could be used)?


I would say think of the everyday things that will affect your dd and be sure to ask those questions. You will get bombarded with the team facts and the school successes, but they don't always give you the details and those are the important things.

 

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Very funny. The coaches know when you sleep and eat. They know when your classes are. All else, they own you and will take advantage of it. Enjoy!!!

 

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How can I help your program?

I offer that just to encourage people to get in the mindset that this is what the college coach is trying to figure out on your visit. While potential players need to many of the questions listed above, they are also usually selling themselves to the coach and that shouldn't be forgotten.

I would be leery of asking questions that can easily be answered on the school's website. For example, if I'm asked whether we have an Athletic Training major, I know that family has not done any research into our school.

Also, make sure you are fully aware of whether it's NCAA or NAIA, which division if it's NCAA and the general rules for athletic scholarships at each level.

I would also ask any coach how they view their own coaching style.

 

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I want to add that each recruit ideally will have some idea of where they stand in relation to the interest of that coach. Will you be a walk-on or are you pretty much guaranteed a full ride? This affects your visit, but no matter what, you still want to make an impression that leaves the coach wanting you more than he/she did before the visit began.

This is true even at the D3 level. For example, we are adding 4-6 players from the 2010 class, including probably two outfielders. We will end up picking between some excellent players. The impression we are left with after their visit will sway us one way or the other.

 

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I would be sure to ask how committed the coach is to the program and where the coach sees themselves in the next 4 or 5 year and what will keep the coach at the university.

 

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A very important question the player should ask themselves: "If I were NOT playing softball, would I want to attend this university?"

Joe touched on an important viewpoint, which I would describe this way: "Ask not what the softball program/university can offer you, but what YOU can offer the softball program/university".

Joe's right about finding most answers on the university's web site. Lots of other questions are covered under NCAA/NIAA rules. IMO, although playing time questions may be a valid concern, I'd avoid those like the plague - unless you want to give the impression of entitlement. Never a good impression on a coach.

I'd suggest questions about academic support opportunities - "If my DD falls behind in a certain class, what help is available for her?" Nearly all freshman are required to attend study tables until they can prove to the coach that they can maintain a solid grade point average.

What I found from visits was that with all the assistance nearly every university provides scholarship athletes, the student has to TRY to fail! After all, it's in the coaches best interest to keep the student-athletes eligible. We talked very little about softball in three of our visits with coaches. Most of our conversations were about course offerings, facilities, school surroundings, part-time job opportunities, etc.

 

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Don't forget to talk to the players. Coaches can change from a visit to when the coach "owns" you. Make sure the player(s) you speak with are not freshmen who have not experienced a full season with the coach.