Recruiting question .

[manitoudan]

At what year of High School would you say a mid major or power 5 conference D1 makes an offer , or at least heavy interest , should be shown before a player and their family can say it just isnt going to happen ? In a related question how likely do you think it is that mid major offer a girl that never plays at, or near the top of travel ball food chain ? For sake of discussion lets say mid major -- MAC and the player is a Ohio Player . Say the travel team isnt a top 20ish type team . Doesnt ever play Lasers , Rays , Outlaws or even ASA state . I guess its two unrelated questions but might stir some discussion. I dont know if there is any " normal" in recruiting anymore . My guess would be summer / fall heading into JR year of HS ?

 

[HITTER23]

To answer the first question, I'd say youre right about nothing is normal anymore but id have to say for the most part , the summer between sophomore and junior year , your exceptional players are going earlier than that now.

As for your second question, coaches want to see recruits play against the best competition they can in order to accurately evaluate how they would perform at the college level. Not playing any competition doesnt accomplish that.

 

[manitoudan]

Hitter - would it be your opinion that 90% or better of the rosters of MAC players are filled by players who almost exclusively play something like a true showcase schedule ?

 

[HITTER23]

Hitter - would it be your opinion that 90% or better of the rosters of MAC players are filled by players who almost exclusively play something like a true showcase schedule ?

No, I wouldnt say that, you wouldnt have to EXCLUSIVELY play only a true showcase schedule, im sure theres sucessfull teams playing a mix that had a player recruited even tho i doubt its very often.

 

[manitoudan]

Well exclusively might have poor choice of words for what I intended , I meant that the rosters are made up of kids who at some point a few times a summer or fall play in an upper level event .

 

[wpaguy]

If you wanted to play a competitive schedule next year , but not break the bank. Would the events below be High profile enough ? What would you add ?

STINGRAYS
LASERS
PGF OUTLAW BREAST CANCER SHOOTOUT
PGF OUTLAW SUMMER INVIATIONAL
FIRE IN THE SKY
TN SCENIC CITY
IUP USSSA SHOWCASE
BATTLE OF THE BURGH
ASA 16-18U CRANBERRY SHOWCASE
AUNT ROISE
PICK A WS EVENT : ASA VIRGINA BEACH , USSSA OCEAN CITY , PGF ?

 

[Run26]

Well exclusively might have poor choice of words for what I intended , I meant that the rosters are made up of kids who at some point a few times a summer or fall play in an upper level event .

Let me see if I can give you some opinions from my standpoint after having two daughters play D2 softball (yes, I know it's not D1)

At what year of High School would you say a mid major or power 5 conference D1 makes an offer , or at least heavy interest , should be shown before a player and their family can say it just isnt going to happen ?

As with anything, the early bird gets the worm and this holds true with scholarships. When my daughters were playing the golden rule was to get seen whenever possible beginning in the 9th grade and really ramp it up 10-11th. Most players withdraw from travel ball if the offers don't come by the time they are in the fall entering their Sr year. Though rare - the pool of players not intending to play in college at 18U are slight.

In a related question how likely do you think it is that mid major offer a girl that never plays at, or near the top of travel ball food chain ? For sake of discussion lets say mid major -- MAC and the player is a Ohio Player . Say the travel team isnt a top 20ish type team . Doesnt ever play Lasers , Rays , Outlaws or even ASA state .

This is tough to quantify but obviously the top tier travel ball teams are attending the correct tournaments and most elite college teams are only spending their budget to see these players. You may get a smattering of lower level D1, D2 and D3 in say Buckeye Showdown but this is rare. I, personally, believe you have to be playing the best in order to get recruited by the best. The rosters don't lie and most if not all have some sort of club ball information on where their players are from.

I guess its two unrelated questions but might stir some discussion. I dont know if there is any " normal" in recruiting anymore . My guess would be summer / fall heading into JR year of HS ?

I think it would be interesting to read some of the issues you see on the NAIA side that we may not be aware of. Do you struggle to get high level players to commit due to your scholastic designation? How is SS perceived when you're on the circuit. Feel free to PM me if you'd rather keep it between us.

 

[manitoudan]

To WPa guy -- Those are top shelf in my book .

 

[JoeA1010]

I'd say it's likely too late (generally, as I know they are always exceptions) for Power 5 by the end of the sophomore year and maybe a little earlier. Each school is different, as Alabama might be done a lot earlier than Rutgers. With the other D1 schools, I'd say maybe end of the junior year is too late for just about all of them and middle of junior year for perhaps most.

I think just about all players playing D1 (or D2) have played a competitive travel schedule. When I say competitive I don't necessarily mean PGF Nats, IDT, Diamond 9, but I mean at least tournaments like Outlaws, Stingrays, Indy PGF. There will be some at D2 who haven't played those tourneys, but have played Compuware, GAPSS, Recruitfest, etc. Rarely do I see anyone at D1 or D2 who has just played tournaments that almost no college coaches attend. I'd guess that maybe 1-2% of players on D2 rosters are those girls, and probably less than 1% at D1.

 

[DJB11]

DD recruited in June following her Junior year. D1

This past weekend, D1 came to watch our pitcher. Offered yesterday. She graduated in May.

I know it is not the norm, but it happens.

Both are mid-majors by the way.

 

[Xrayaries]

I think it depends on the parents motivation. To get the child seen. I attended 5 showcases with my daughter as a 13yo last year. She is now on recruiting lists from several schools. She has been invited back to showcases this summer and for the fall at no cost. My son was a DI-DII recruit and never played travel ball. We attended a bunch of college showcases. Never go to the meat market that says they will put you in front of 100 coaches. It is a waste of time those coaches are working the events and never actually see your child unless they pass through their drill. All they see is a stat sheet at the end of the day. Every DI showcase I have attended the coach always said not to attend those camps and never use a recruiting service except to host your profile. They just delete the recruiting emails. Hope that helps.

 

[tankerlab]

At what year of High School would you say a mid major or power 5 conference D1 makes an offer , or at least heavy interest , should be shown before a player and their family can say it just isnt going to happen ? In a related question how likely do you think it is that mid major offer a girl that never plays at, or near the top of travel ball food chain ? For sake of discussion lets say mid major -- MAC and the player is a Ohio Player . Say the travel team isnt a top 20ish type team . Doesnt ever play Lasers , Rays , Outlaws or even ASA state . I guess its two unrelated questions but might stir some discussion. I dont know if there is any " normal" in recruiting anymore . My guess would be summer / fall heading into JR year of HS ?

I was told by our high school coach between Soph and Jr. Year. That's when it happened for my dd.
There are lots of factors and exceptions... What did they do to get recruited? Better be on a good travel ball organization! Better e mail coaches constantly. Cc travel and high school coaches... Better go to camps... and camps that have games not winter camps that just do drills and make money for the college... DO NOT waist money on Recruiting organizations, her travel coach and high school coaches do that work along with herself!!! What position they play is HUGE! My dd is a pitcher. Was offered full ride D-1 in OVC. Then after 2 years after verbaling and 6 months after signing her NLI the coach was fired and we reassessed where she wanted to go. Getting released was a pain in the behind!!!! After she was released she had over 25 schools legitimately interested in her.
She started getting 4-6 calls a day from college coaches... bad timing as a 32 ACT and 4.5 GPA did not trump missed academic scholarship deadlines of some schools!!! Missed out on Thousands of dollars!!!
But some schools didn't have deadlines and some schools upped there athletic scholarship money to off set it.
Bottom line she narrowed down her options to 6 schools ( 3 D-1; 2 D-2 and an NAIA) in 14 non stop days we traveled to 6 different colleges in 6 different States, visited them, met with the coaches, received similar offers from all 6 schools and she accepted a similar offer from Eastern Illinois University that she had at Tenn State.
Big relief to know college is paid for!!!
She turned down interest from several D-1 schools simply because of lack of time... and those schools were not in her top 6.
My point is we cramed two years worth of recruiting into two weeks and with only 1 month until fall classes started!!! I believe it all was a blessing from God and can NOT thank the high school coaches and opposing high school coach ENOUGH! As well as travel ball coaches and opposing travel ball coaches for assisting her and putting her in contact with so many opportunities!!! So it can happen at any time! But generally between Soph and Jr. year for the norm.
More advise? Pick a school where she would go to school even if she didn't play softball. Yes coach is important but I can't tell you how many girls I know that the coach left before they got there!!! Pick a school that has her major... pick a school where she just plain wants to go to for her education. If she continues her softball career it's a bonus that only last 4 more years... then there is no softball...
And just think, this kid didn't even make the list on here on 2016 & 2017 high school pitchers to watch!!!

 

[Xrayaries]

I have never heard of any player getting a full ride for softball. With only 12 for an entire team it seams unlikely. I'm sure they crammed academics with sports to create a package deal. With a 4.5 majority would have been academic with say 5-8% coming from athletics. Remind you superstar ladies that going to school just for softball is a waste of time and money. They are there to learn first and play second. If the college does not boast academics and a high team GPA they have absolutely no focus on educating your girls. Use your tools wisely. One recruiting experience will be completely different from the next. Like I said before you don't have to be on a travel team to make a DI school that is ridiculous. If you are talented then all you will need is showcases and camps for eyes to open. Start early though freshman year. Attend the same showcases each year. Get on a first name bases with the players and the coach. Its up to the child and parents to decide how hard they are going to work at getting seen.

 

[tankerlab]

I have never heard of any player getting a full ride for softball. With only 12 for an entire team it seams unlikely. I'm sure they crammed academics with sports to create a package deal. With a 4.5 majority would have been academic with say 5-8% coming from athletics. Remind you superstar ladies that going to school just for softball is a waste of time and money. They are there to learn first and play second. If the college does not boast academics and a high team GPA they have absolutely no focus on educating your girls. Use your tools wisely. One recruiting experience will be completely different from the next. Like I said before you don't have to be on a travel team to make a DI school that is ridiculous. If you are talented then all you will need is showcases and camps for eyes to open. Start early though freshman year. Attend the same showcases each year. Get on a first name bases with the players and the coach. Its up to the child and parents to decide how hard they are going to work at getting seen.

Well I guess there is a first time for everything... Now you can say I HAVE heard of a full ride offered in softball!!!
Her Tenn State offer was a full ride offer.
Out of State tuition was around $30,000.00. In State Tuition was Around $15,000.00. The offer was... If you Score a 21 on your ACT you "Qualify" for in State Tuition. Anyyone can do this that applies at TSU... If you do that, I will pay all $15,000.00 tuition, fees, room & board and books ALL ATHLETIC money...
and yes most offers ARE combined athletic and academic. That's obvious. All schools see what you qualify for academically first then supplement athletic money. If a kid just got 100% athletic money they would have to be as dumb as a box of rocks! Unless it was the situation I described with TSU offer. And like I said you mentioned with a 4.5 ... that didn't matter because she was so late in the process. She qualified for Thousands of dollars and Presidential scholarships with that and 32 ACT but deadlines were past by time she was released by TSU. So schools upped there Athletic money to make up difference. Just curious who you are "reminding" that "Superstar" ladies going to school just for softball is a waste of time and money? I mentioned that and it is pretty obvious most people know that. Also you said you don't need to be on a travel team, just show cases and camps? How do you play a show case without being on a travel team or playing on a travel team? Guareentee one of the first questions a coach at a camp who you "opened" their eyes is going to ask, what summer travel team do you play for? Keep in touch with me, SEND me your summer Travel schedule so I can come watch you play...

 

[Xrayaries]

You obviously have no clue that each college holds there own showcase events. Some have 4-6 other schools that will attend and work the event. Typically 20-100 athletes show up it's a more intimate event with more time in front of the coaches. They assemble teams and play mock games with all pitchers guaranteed 2 innings. They go through fielding and hitting drills all on their field. Most include a tour of the school. They cost anywhere from $50 to $400 which are overnight with the athletes staying with other athletes on campus. This is typical of an event I would send my daughter to.

http://www.kentstatesoftballcamps.com/ksu-softball-showcase-registration.cfm

 

[gatorcoach]

I think it depends on the parents motivation. To get the child seen. I attended 5 showcases with my daughter as a 13yo last year. She is now on recruiting lists from several schools. She has been invited back to showcases this summer and for the fall at no cost. My son was a DI-DII recruit and never played travel ball. We attended a bunch of college showcases. Never go to the meat market that says they will put you in front of 100 coaches. It is a waste of time those coaches are working the events and never actually see your child unless they pass through their drill. All they see is a stat sheet at the end of the day. Every DI showcase I have attended the coach always said not to attend those camps and never use a recruiting service except to host your profile. They just delete the recruiting emails. Hope that helps.

"At no cost" would be a major NCAA recruiting violation!

 

[wow]

These treads are always entertaining. No two stories are the same and somehow the more and more these type of threads the more BS gets spread. There is no one way to get looks. Its about writing coaches, being in the right events, attending camps and combines, following up with schedules, emailing coaches, being on the right teams in the right events, have the right hitting/pitching/catching instructors, and BTW did I mention writing coaches? Is it possible a D1 school happens to see yr DD and they get a full ride. Yep, sad, but it is not a realistic plan for recruiting.

You can get seen at a lot of places. Just make sure you have a plan with the above ingredients and things will head in the right direction. Its great to hear others stories, but don't expect things to happen the same way. Everyone has their own path, that's why it is so elusive!

Once you start the process you will know you are doing the right things because colleges will invite you to camps, follow you on social media, share personal contact info, be eager to hear your upcoming schedule, invite you to meet with all coaches, and you will have seen them at a multitude of your games.

 

[tankerlab]

these treads are always entertaining. No two stories are the same and somehow the more and more these type of threads the more bs gets spread. There is no one way to get looks. Its about writing coaches, being in the right events, attending camps and combines, following up with schedules, emailing coaches, being on the right teams in the right events, have the right hitting/pitching/catching instructors, and btw did i mention writing coaches? Is it possible a d1 school happens to see yr dd and they get a full ride. Yep, sad, but it is not a realistic plan for recruiting.

You can get seen at a lot of places. Just make sure you have a plan with the above ingredients and things will head in the right direction. Its great to hear others stories, but don't expect things to happen the same way. Everyone has their own path, that's why it is so elusive!

Once you start the process you will know you are doing the right things because colleges will invite you to camps, follow you on social media, share personal contact info, be eager to hear your upcoming schedule, invite you to meet with all coaches, and you will have seen them at a multitude of your games.

perfectly said!!!!

 

[tankerlab]

You obviously have no clue that each college holds there own showcase events. Some have 4-6 other schools that will attend and work the event. Typically 20-100 athletes show up it's a more intimate event with more time in front of the coaches. They assemble teams and play mock games with all pitchers guaranteed 2 innings. They go through fielding and hitting drills all on their field. Most include a tour of the school. They cost anywhere from $50 to $400 which are overnight with the athletes staying with other athletes on campus. This is typical of an event I would send my daughter to.

http://www.kentstatesoftballcamps.com/ksu-softball-showcase-registration.cfm

Yes they are called camps LMAO!!!!!
And yes the ones that have games are the ones you want.
The last one my dd attended was a three day overnight at Eastern Illinois University in July. Then came their offer... She has been going to these "CAMPS" since she was in 7th grade. Many of them multiple years and times. Bowling Green, Miami U., Tenn State U, Ohio U, University of The Cumberland's, Belmont, Kent State U, Ashland University, Akron University, Knoxville Tenn Conect camps, Scenic City Chattanooga Camps, Asbury, Ohio Christian... the list goes on... lots of money spent...
( Invested!) she stopped going to them after Tenn. State U made her an offer and she accepted end of her Soph. Year in High School . Then in this May the coach was fired and we started all over again! Yea I'm pretty "clueless". I've been through this process twice! I could write a book!
When you say "Showcase" 9 out of 10 people on here are going to think you mean a Showcase tournament...
(Travel ball)