Recruiting Questions

[default]

DD pitched at Kent on Jan 5, now she is getting emails and letters from coaches. Questions:

1. Are letters specifically addressed Dear ------ actually interested in her? Or are they just taking the time to make it look personal.

2. Are letters without a player's name just general fishing to promote attendance at the school's winter skills camp?

In her weeding-out process, DD's first on-line look at the school is to determine if they have her major. Since she is interested in DII and DIII schools for campus size and her skill level, very few of them have her major.

3. Any tips on on her next steps as they apply to contacting the coaches and arranging visits?

 

[default]

First need to know where she is in high school. Fresh, Soph, etc.?

 

[default]

DD pitched at Kent on Jan 5, now she is getting emails and letters from coaches. Questions:

1. Are letters specifically addressed Dear ------ actually interested in her? Or are they just taking the time to make it look personal.
I wouldn't consider this personal unless there are personal facts in it (other than her name). IMHO, if they are really interested, they will call her Coach or they will send a hand written card or letter....i'm going to assume your daughter is at least a junior (or really young - 8th grade) and that is why you are getting letters more than just "here is our online questionnaire and here is our camp info"

2. Are letters without a player's name just general fishing to promote attendance at the school's winter skills camp?
More than likely Yes

In her weeding-out process, DD's first on-line look at the school is to determine if they have her major. Since she is interested in DII and DIII schools for campus size and her skill level, very few of them have her major. Excellent- too may kids don't do this.

3. Any tips on on her next steps as they apply to contacting the coaches and arranging visits?

hmmm. for D3, have your daughter send the Coach an email with her information include video, her current gpa and ACT/SAT scores.....its all about grades/scores for D3.

If your daughter got an email from one of these schools (that have her major) have the Coach call the school and try and ascertain their level of interest- i would do this before setting up a visit to the school unless your daughter is okay with going to school their with no prospect of playing softball. You simply contact the admissions office and let them know that you want to arrainge a visit but be sure to let the coaches know as well so they can check to see if they are available to meet with you. Best of luck to you and your daughter


here are some good links that talks about how to tell if you are being recruited- the downside is that it is not softball specific and the recruiting rules for sports are diffferent-
http://www.nsr-inc.com/athletes/are-you-really-being-recruited.php

http://www.athleticscholarships.net...-are-getting-recruited-by-a-college-coach.htm

 

[default]

We just finished recruiting process with our DD she is a Junior. You will be able to tell the really interested coaches by how personal the E mail or letter is. After we checked for academics we looked at how many pitchers they carry and who they have coming in before your DD gets there, the schools that carry 3 pitchers were at the top of the list if her major was there. Our next step was a visit and talked to the coach, we spent an hour and a half in his office and just talked softball, you will see what kind of person they are,remember they have 4 years with your DD. Good Luck it is a fun but Stressful Process !!

 

[default]

Thanks everyone.
DD is a Junior. A little late in starting, she had herself convinced last June that she would never play college ball because she hadn't yet played varsity in high school. She had a long conversation with her summer coach in August and finally came up with a major and a college ball "plan". Now I have a motivated teen with much better grades and focus while mom's gray hairs are growing like crazy.

 

[default]

Thanks everyone.
DD is a Junior. A little late in starting, she had herself convinced last June that she would never play college ball because she hadn't yet played varsity in high school. She had a long conversation with her summer coach in August and finally came up with a major and a college ball "plan". Now I have a motivated teen with much better grades and focus while mom's gray hairs are growing like crazy.

Good luck to you and your DD, just remember it only takes one to like her after narrowing down the target schools. Grades does matter quite a bit and self discipline to prepare for college life as student/athlete.

 

[default]

Travelinmom,

1.) Vikingsix pretty much nailed it.

2.) My daughter thought the same way as yours. 'Didn't crack Varsity until Jr. year due to a STRONG varsity team the previous 2 years - and therefore didn't forsee many college coaches being interested in her. Things changed rather quickly after that. My daughter cranked up her skill level, and the colleges cranked up interest. She didn't commit to one until half-way through her senior year, so there's still time for you.

Another note - I wouldn't judge a college's future needs too much by looking at the current roster. A lot of changes can (and usually does) happen in a couple of years.

:cap:

 

[default]

Travelinmom ... you're definitely not too late in the process given that you're looking at D2 and D3, and you're absolutely taking the right approach in figuring out first which schools have her major. Yes, probably a letter without her name mentioning their camp is mainly just a way for them to get your money, but if it's a school she's interested in, don't let that bother you and definitely attend ... you just never know. Understand also that you have to be proactive in calling those coaches to set up a tme to meet, and they can't return your messages this year (though did I hear that was changing somewhere??). My DD went D3 and couldn't be happier with both her college choice and athletic career, though admittedly my wallet could be a little fatter!

 

[default]

D3 can call, e-mail, text, whatever with any high school student. D2 can do this with juniors and seniors, but has to wait until June 15 after their sophomore year to call or e-mail or text. D2 can talk to frosh and sophomores on our campus or if they call us. We can't even call them back or e-mail them back. They have to keep calling us (thank you, NCAA, for your sheer idiocy). I am not up to date on current D1 rules and I think they are changing soon, anyway. Also not sure about NAIA.

 

[default]

D1 if I remember right is no contact from coach to student until after Aug1 going into their senior year

 

[default]

Joe ... thanks, yes, I knew I remembered reading something. Tim, if that date is the same as before, then I think it's July 1?

 

[default]

and 8th graders are fair game- not considered recruits by any Division assuming the school has not provided them financial assistance or other benefit. that changes as soon as they start classes their freshman year

 

[default]

... I am not up to date on current D1 rules and I think they are changing soon, anyway. Also not sure about NAIA.

D1 if I remember right is no contact from coach to student until after Aug1 going into their senior year

Joe ... thanks, yes, I knew I remembered reading something. Tim, if that date is the same as before, then I think it's July 1?

The current rule is July 1 after junior year (before senior year). The proposed changes from the working group moves the date up a year to July 1 after sophomore year.
http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect...p+makes+final+recommendations+for+first+phase

The NCAA adopted a major streamlining of the D1 Manual on Jan 19. The bulk of the rule changes take effect Aug 1, but the changes to recruiting communication take effect July 1.

13-3, which will eliminate restrictions on methods and modes of communication during recruiting. This proposal is effective July 1.

13-5-A, which will eliminate restrictions on sending printed recruiting materials to recruits. Conferences still will be prohibited from sending printed recruiting materials. This proposal is effective July 1.

See Division I streamlines rulebook - NCAA.org

NAIA doesn't regulate contact with recruits.

 

[default]

OK I am a little confused. If D1 can't communicate until after Junior year, then how are some threads that I read on here stating that 2014s and 2015's have verballed to D1's? Are there tricks to these "verbals"?

 

[default]

and 8th graders (during the school year) are fair game- not considered recruits by any Division. that changes as soon as they are done with their 8th grade year - so summer before 9th grade, they ARE considered recruits.

That is not correct.

13.02.12 Prospective Student-Athlete. A prospective student-athlete is a student who has started classes
for the ninth grade. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective
student-athlete if the institution provides such an individual (or the individual’s relatives or friends) any financial
assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students generally.

 

[default]

The current rule is July 1 after junior year (before senior year). The proposed changes from the working group moves the date up a year to July 1 after sophomore year.
Rules Working Group makes final recommendations for first phase - NCAA.org

The NCAA adopted a major streamlining of the D1 Manual on Jan 19. The bulk of the rule changes take effect Aug 1, but the changes to recruiting communication take effect July 1.

13-3, which will eliminate restrictions on methods and modes of communication during recruiting. This proposal is effective July 1.

13-5-A, which will eliminate restrictions on sending printed recruiting materials to recruits. Conferences still will be prohibited from sending printed recruiting materials. This proposal is effective July 1.

See Division I streamlines rulebook - NCAA.org

NAIA doesn't regulate contact with recruits.

That aug to july rule I had forgot about, Funny how things start slipping away after only a few years. I actually like the rule change if it passes to July after there sophomore season. I think it will cause kids to get off their collective duffs and not wait until their senior year to get started in the recruiting process

 

[default]

OK I am a little confused. If D1 can't communicate until after Junior year, then how are some threads that I read on here stating that 2014s and 2015's have verballed to D1's? Are there tricks to these "verbals"?

Yes there is they can talk openly to a recruit if they come to campus on an unofficial visit or a clinic. Word of the colleges interest is by a 3rd party. TB coach or maybe even HS coach

 

[default]

OK I am a little confused. If D1 can't communicate until after Junior year, then how are some threads that I read on here stating that 2014s and 2015's have verballed to D1's? Are there tricks to these "verbals"?

The rules restrict schools from initiating contact. As JoeA posted, the recruits are allowed to call the coaches. The schools work around it by communicating indirectly via the player's travel coach (that isn't also the player's parent) and going so far as to tell them when to call. The coaches are also allowed to talk face-to-face on their campus. If everything goes well on phone conversations, the player usually makes an unofficial visit to receive the verbal offer.

 

[default]

That is not correct.

13.02.12 Prospective Student-Athlete. A prospective student-athlete is a student who has started classes
for the ninth grade. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective
student-athlete if the institution provides such an individual (or the individual’s relatives or friends) any financial
assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students generally.

As SoCal pointed out- the rule (as applied to those that have not started classes for the ninth grade) has a qualifier in it (that i left out) as long as the school has NOT provided any financial assistance or other benefit- 8th graders are NOT considered prospective student athletes and can receive emails and texts from Colleges (just no free stuff- i.e. other benefits- then they would become a prospective student athlete).

 

[default]

... I actually like the rule change if it passes to July after there sophomore season. I think it will cause kids to get off their collective duffs and not wait until their senior year to get started in the recruiting process

According to an ESPN article, that proposal was tabled by the board and everything else was approved. Here is an excerpt from NCAA starts to simplify rules, including contacting recruits issue:

The only proposal that got tabled by the 18-member board, pending further discussion, was one to allow coaches to start contacting recruits beginning July 1 between their sophomore and junior years.

Emmert said there wasn't a huge objection to the idea, but were concerns from some academic leaders that the early recruitment could be intrusive for high school students. Coaches were concerned about a singular date for every sport.

The rules working group is expected to refine the proposal to include possibly four different dates.