Softball Recruiting Advice...

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The purpose of this thread is to share softball recruiting advice that you may have learned throughout the years. Feel free to add anything you think would be helpful, no matter how obvious

Example:

* Start e-mailing coaches early (8th/9th grade year). This is when you get on their radar. Make sure you e-mail more than the head coach- this years assistant coach may be next years head coach- possibly at a different school.

* If you attend college camps PRIOR to your chances of being "realistically" recruited by those schools (at an early age), realize that the Coach that is there now may not be there in a few years (i.e. Auburn, Purdue, Eastern Michigan, are all looking for new coaches next year). Be smart with your $$$$)

* Don't waste your $$$ flying across country to attend showcase tournaments at age 13/14u...very rarely 8th and 9th graders verbal- only the top .5% absolute studs will and these kids are usually playing 16u. Save that money for later years. Do a Nationals but that's it.

* Realize that recruiting is NOT fair.

 

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Look at track and field, golf or bowling if you want a ton of scholarship money... The avg is about 30% athletic and academic for softball. If you get 50 or better your the exception and not the rule.

Softball has at the very least doubled in popularity in the mid west over the last 10 years. Thats twice as many kids looking for basically the same amount of money that was out there 10 years ago.

There is a place for a kid that wants to play ball in college. Be realistic at 12 everyone is going to play D1..... at 16-17 reality sets in and its a hard pill to swallow for some. Know your talent level and apply to those schools that you can help.

Major first then softball. If a school dosent have what you want ball dosent mean much.

Dont pigeon hole your self looking only at D1and 2 schools. 3,s and NAIA can sometimes be a better fit financially. Vist as many schools in different divisions as money and time allow starting your sophomore year.

Private schools are expensive and the parental contribution is going to sting. Be aware that FASFA is not user friendly nor realistic about what it thinks a family of 4 can live on

 

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You never know when a coach is watching

If you are attending a showcase tournament or camp, it is probably not a good idea if parents wear clothing with a college logo on it

Music to a coaches ear: "Parents are rich" or "Parents are dirt poor"

Play for the best team that will give you playing time

 

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A few more:

* Certain traits lend themselves to being a recruited athlete: exceptionally fast athlete; hit for power (coaches like big strong power hitters); pitchers who throw very hard (If you are throwing over 60 mph you have a chance to be recruited at the D1 level. If you actually know how to pitch so much the better). IF YOU DON'T HAVE THESE TRAITS- BE A GREAT HITTER!!! Hit, Hit and Hit more.....work with a qualified instructor and develope into a CONSISTENT hitter that can hit to all parts of the field.

* GRADES- If you have great grades (3.9+) you will have a leg up on getting the looks.I can't tell you how many times i've heard a parent say "well my little Susie is way better than Mary, I don't know why Mary got an offer from State and my little Susie didn't" (Mary had a 3.9+ GPA whereas Susie was a 3.3 student)

* If you play for a team that does not have the college connections, getting recruited will be that much more difficult.

* Poor attitude from you, your parents, your coaches or your teammates (YES YOUR TEAMMATES) may cost you! Nothing turns a college coach away faster.

* Be a Multi-Sport ATHLETE

 

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I've heard this many times-be careful of what you or your friends post on social media accounts.

 

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beat me to it.....

Great stuff above.

If you are on their radar screen - so are your social media accounts.

I've heard this many times-be careful of what you or your friends post on social media accounts.

 

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Steer clear of a coach who thinks you should be an "athlete-student" as opposed to a "student-athlete".
Coaches talk to one another...don't badmouth anybody
Be open to change...(position, hitting style)

 

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Great info guys. As a parent with a 13 year old this will come in handy very soon. Where has the time gone?

 

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Have a list of questions to read from versus trying to remember during a visit. It shows you prepared and let the child do the talking unless the parent is spoken to........

 

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Great info guys. As a parent with a 13 year old this will come in handy very soon. Where has the time gone?

That is exactly why I posted this thread- there are alot of people out there that I am sure have learned a thing or two over the years...I'm just trying to get them to share it. advice is just that, advice. you can take it or leave it. my hope is that when parents/coaches read some of the advice, it will give them some pause or perspective. never forget that a coaches job depends on their ability to pick the correct recruit...its a business and everyone wants the most bang for their buck. Each coach has their own view of what will give them the most "bang"

 

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Great post/advice! My dd being 13 the times drawing near where she needs to be "realistic" on her college choices. This advice is great. I've also heard.....

Make a list of 5-7 "realistic" college choices, ( for most of us, UCLA, ARIZONA, & OKLAHOMA ARE NOT REALISTIC.) I know that hurts some folks feelings but it is what it is. I consider my dd a great catcher, but those schools and ones like it are more than likely not in her future. Now its time for dad to be "realistic". And as stated earlier, there's is absolutely nothing wrong with D2/D3 schools. I'm going to be a proud (and completely heartbroken) dad when the day comes for my "little girl" to go off to college. Again awesome thread, didn't mean to veer off course.

 

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While we're being realistic, realize that there are a TON of players in college who, for various reasons, opt out of the program before they graduate. Because of this, make sure you're in love with the school and not just the ball field.

'Want proof? Pick a few college rosters in the fall of this year. Then check again in two years and see how many names are repeated.

I'm not saying it's good or bad - It's just the way it is.

 

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Great post/advice! My dd being 13 the times drawing near where she needs to be "realistic" on her college choices. This advice is great. I've also heard.....

Make a list of 5-7 "realistic" college choices, ( for most of us, UCLA, ARIZONA, & OKLAHOMA ARE NOT REALISTIC.) I know that hurts some folks feelings but it is what it is. I consider my dd a great catcher, but those schools and ones like it are more than likely not in her future. Now its time for dad to be "realistic". And as stated earlier, there's is absolutely nothing wrong with D2/D3 schools. I'm going to be a proud (and completely heartbroken) dad when the day comes for my "little girl" to go off to college. Again awesome thread, didn't mean to veer off course.

This should probably a thred unto its self but you hit on some pretty important issues.And it started me thinking. Alot of thought is given to getting to college and even some thought of what the kid has to do to stay and be successful in college but little has ever been said about the effect that the dd leaving has on her family.

When you drive away and see her in the rear view with her stuff on the curb. The wife is in a state of utter depression and panic and( you almost are tempted to put her on the suicide watch list ) you have mixed feelings about leaving your daughter to go it alone. Just remember its college she diddnt join the French Foreign Legion. You can see her as much as time will permit. Make sure you do that . Talk on the phone or text daily. Go to see her even when its not softball related. Go and take her out to dinner. ( just be prepared for a few of her softball buddies that may tag along ).

Keep her supplied in snacks water and the little things that make her feel at home. You will never stop missing your dd but you will soon come to realize shes made new friends, and as time goes on a new life. The crying time on the phone will be replaced with laughter. And the memories she makes away from her family as an adult living on her own are hers.

Then before you know it ball season will start, then finals and shes home for 3 months and you will once again see that lump in her bed or a butt sticking out of the fridge complaining theres nothing to eat in this house. ( and trust me she will eat you out of house and home )

Time will start to fly at a faster pace and before you know it shes now a junior in college, loads her own car up and drives herself back to school. And you start to enjoy that empty nester feel, and the freedom of just having to show up and watch a game.

You then realize as she calls you to let you know she got back to school safely that you did a pretty good job all in all of raising her and letting her grow up and be an adult.......

Tim

 

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This should probably a thred unto its self but you hit on some pretty important issues.And it started me thinking. Alot of thought is given to getting to college and even some thought of what the kid has to do to stay and be successful in college but little has ever been said about the effect that the dd leaving has on her family.

When you drive away and see her in the rear view with her stuff on the curb. The wife is in a state of utter depression and panic and( you almost are tempted to put her on the suicide watch list ) you have mixed feelings about leaving your daughter to go it alone. Just remember its college she diddnt join the French Foreign Legion. You can see her as much as time will permit. Make sure you do that . Talk on the phone or text daily. Go to see her even when its not softball related. Go and take her out to dinner. ( just be prepared for a few of her softball buddies that may tag along ).

Keep her supplied in snacks water and the little things that make her feel at home. You will never stop missing your dd but you will soon come to realize shes made new friends, and as time goes on a new life. The crying time on the phone will be replaced with laughter. And the memories she makes away from her family as an adult living on her own are hers.

Then before you know it ball season will start, then finals and shes home for 3 months and you will once again see that lump in her bed or a butt sticking out of the fridge complaining theres nothing to eat in this house. ( and trust me she will eat you out of house and home )

Time will start to fly at a faster pace and before you know it shes now a junior in college, loads her own car up and drives herself back to school. And you start to enjoy that empty nester feel, and the freedom of just having to show up and watch a game.

You then realize as she calls you to let you know she got back to school safely that you did a pretty good job all in all of raising her and letting her grow up and be an adult.......

Tim

I don't know about the rest of you, but it just got a little dusty here in my office.

 

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"Allergies, eh?"

 

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I sat talking with a D1 assistant coach in Michigan this past weekend.

They relayed a discussion they had with a girl they knew who was not getting recruited hard and she wanted to know why.

The coach said:

"I have sat here and watched you for 3 games and you have walked slowly out to your position every inning to a fro and you are the catcher. We are not interested in any played that does not hustle or have HUGE passion for this game" And the player did not believe the coach.....

The point is that the coaches are always watching and they are looking at a few things:

- how you catch and throw
- your swing and how you hit
- your attitude and how you interact with your teammates

I have been told this by probably 10 different college coaches at all levels. They want to make sure you have good fundamentals and an AWESOME attitude.

 

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Great post/advice! My dd being 13 the times drawing near where she needs to be "realistic" on her college choices. This advice is great. I've also heard.....

Make a list of 5-7 "realistic" college choices, ( for most of us, UCLA, ARIZONA, & OKLAHOMA ARE NOT REALISTIC.) I know that hurts some folks feelings but it is what it is. I consider my dd a great catcher, but those schools and ones like it are more than likely not in her future. Now its time for dad to be "realistic". And as stated earlier, there's is absolutely nothing wrong with D2/D3 schools. ...

I prefer an approach of choosing 5 dream schools, 5 that are a stretch and 5 that are high probability. The criteria for each category should be a mix of academic, athletic and financial. Update the list at least annually and any other time that a school comes up or drops off.

The top softball programs recruit and get commitments a couple years ahead of the others, so it's okay to have them on your dream list while they're active for your DD's grad class. You can drop them off when you see they're finished with that class. Good references for tracking D1 verbals are GoldFastPitch.com and Ultimate College Softball. I personally like the way UCS groups the schools by conference because it shows the recruiting timeframe for each one. Unfortunately, he hasn't cleared of the 2012's yet.

 

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Take ACT prep classes, practice tests, and test early and often.

 

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"French Foreign Legion...:lmao:"

 

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Was doing something the other day that was totally NOT softball related but it quickly became that discussion. Was chatting with an admissions advisor for Kent, she works primarily with football student-athletes but her advice for all athletes was this:
1. have a major in mind before selecting a school just because the coach wants you to play
2. choose the school by the major most you are interested in
3. be sure to ask the coach if there are any NCAA eligibility issues if changing majors or transferring schools during the 4 years