Recruiting: THINGS EVERY SOFTBALL PLAYER MUST DO

[Play_Ball!]

1. Know the game. Develop a clear understanding of NCAA rules and core course requirements. Create a recruiting game plan, then execute it with the same dedication you bring to your sport and your academic work.

2. Get verified. Make sure to have information about your athletic ability and academic qualifications verified by a source that college softball coaches trust and make sure it's available online. This can vastly increase your chances of being discovered.

3. Get your video out there. Make sure that your highlight video and full game footage is viewable online or available in a format that can be easily distributed over the web as soon as a college coach requests it. This will help you target the right softball programs and help coaches find you more easily.

4. Contact 50-100 (right-fit) schools. Take a realistic look at your academic qualifications and athletic ability and set your recruiting targets accordingly. There are 289 Division II and 412 Division III schools that offer softball and or academic scholarships, and they can be great options for student athletes with the commitment and drive to play at the college level. Then go after them, you need to contact 50-100 realistic programs to get recruited.

5. Take control. You and your family and not your high school or club coach are ultimately responsible for the outcome of your recruiting process.

 

[The3dm]

I will also add, pick the school for the academic program and not the softball program. You are going to school to learn first and play ball secondly. Make sure the major you choose will work with athletics, some courses of study are too rigorous to do both unless you are a top tier student.

 

[Play_Ball!]

Exactly, I always stress academics and career goals ahead of athletics to my clients and players. I see all too many girls choose a school for the softball program and then not get the education they need moving forward after college. And as we all know, a very very small percentage will go pro or have the chance to compete for team USA.

 

[Westler33]

That is the biggest thing I stress to my dd is that college is going to use you for softball you need to use softball to get a college education and a career for the rest of your life.

 

[flarays]

4. Contact 50-100 (right-fit) schools. Take a realistic look at your academic qualifications and athletic ability and set your recruiting targets accordingly. There are 289 Division II and 412 Division III schools that offer softball scholarships, and they can be great options for student athletes with the commitment and drive to play at the college level. .

412 Division III schools that offer softball scholarships...? You mean have softball programs, right?

 

[flarays]

With the advent of youtube and the other video posting sites the recruiting process has actually improved. Most of the work can now be done from your own laptop and changed when necessary. Much easier these days.

 

[Play_Ball!]

Thanks for catching that! Should be: softball and or academic scholarships available

 

[Play_Ball!]

Exactly, it is easier these days if you know how to market yourself well.

 

[Uber_jones]

I'm confused about your DIII Athletic scholarship comment... Can you clear up what your saying there?

 

[Play_Ball!]

What I mean is there are great DII and III colleges that offer softball scholarships ( DIII in the form of Academic)