How did everyone look at RR?

[Blind Squirrel]

I spent 25 minutes talking with a coach at a good D2 school while I was at Louis Park and she was looking at 10s and 11s ONLY. She said they wont go down to those younger ages as she just feels it is too early.

I think it just depends on the coach and their philosophy, but you do not need to start geting all nervous when your soph daughter hasnt committed.
I have an 11 pitcher from my team 2 years ago that is unsigned but will have no problems.
Personally, i would not have my 15 year old making a life decision.

Reality: There are situations where/when you have no choice. No decision is in itself, a decision. Major (and many non-major) D1 softball coaches don't just wait around until a parent decides their kid is old enough to choose. The scholarship is given to someone else. The decision every parent has is the extent to which they influence the choice.

John

[Intel]

“ '10 money is all gone, '11 is getting there and they're looking at the '12s and '13s now”

Dittoz, for the top conferences and maybe 25% of all D1 schools that statement is true, for the others it is false.

Their are approximately 300 D1 schools and 200 D2 softball playing schools. Their were less than 70 D1 schools and less than 15 D2 schools at the 16 Nationals. Now either the remaining 410 schools had either finished their 2011 recruiting or were still working on their 2010 this last summer. And if most of the 2010 scholarship money is gone, why do the fall 18’s showcase have more coaches than the 16s?

I have heard estimates of up to 20 to 25% of the verbal 2010 players have not met college entrance requirements from numerous D1 coaches who have inquired about some of our 2010 players. I know of a 2010 player in our area who is schedule to visit 2 PAC 10 schools and 1 SEC school on official visits. All three schools have 2011 verbals and some 2012 verbals, but also have at least one 2010 verbal who will probably not qualify academically.

Let’s not let perception get in the way of reality. “ '10 money is all gone, '11 is getting there and they're looking at the '12s and '13s now” If this statement was true, then most of the college coaches will be at the 16s not 18s this fall because that is where the majority of 12s and 13s are playing. And why would 56 college coaches be attending the Bay Area Showcase which is an 18 tournament this fall?

[Old Darter]

Because the 16's are good enough to be playing up? Let’s not let perception get in the way of reality. With a few exceptions, most 16u's that a college coach (D1 at least) would want to see are playing up.

[artomatic]

Intel you make a good point.

[sftball1]

I think that for the top D1 schools, that statement is probably true. But there are always smaller D1 and D2s that are going right until the last minute to give out scholarships. I know girls that for whatever reason didn't get signed until the summer AFTER their senior year. I know of one in particular, good player and if she hadn't got hurt, she would have probably been picked up earlier. But she gets picked up by a D1 school with pretty close to a full ride in June after she graduated. Granted, it was a smaller D1 school, but she wasn't looking for a big D1 school anyway.

I think if the girls put in the work and are sometimes willing to go somewhere else (esp in CA where it's so competitive), then just about every girl can find a college that she likes and that wants her to play softball. IMO

[Sftbll4ever]

I think that for the top D1 schools, that statement is probably true. But there are always smaller D1 and D2s that are going right until the last minute to give out scholarships. I know girls that for whatever reason didn't get signed until the summer AFTER their senior year. I know of one in particular, good player and if she hadn't got hurt, she would have probably been picked up earlier. But she gets picked up by a D1 school with pretty close to a full ride in June after she graduated. Granted, it was a smaller D1 school, but she wasn't looking for a big D1 school anyway.

I think if the girls put in the work and are sometimes willing to go somewhere else (esp in CA where it's so competitive), then just about every girl can find a college that she likes and that wants her to play softball. IMO

That's just beautiful.

One thing to remember too is that not every player is looking for a top DI program. Some know that they have a better chance at a smaller DI or a DII. Education is first and foremost, softball is just a bonus.

[dittoz]

for the top conferences and maybe 25% of all D1 schools

I think that's a very accurate statement regarding what I heard.
(The initial quote is not from me BTW...)

Now let's disect what you theorize just a bit...

Of the top conferences, yes - that's pretty much where all of the quality softball programs are. Isn't that what this is about in the first place? Sure, it boils down to a quality education, but DD wouldn't be out there showcasing for the bottom conferences, right? Same thing holds true with the 25% of D1 schools. How many D1 schools are there, how many have FP programs and how many attend the showcases? Again, if it weren't about quality FP programs, DD would be showcasing at academic events rather than athletic ones, right?

As to why colleges are attending 18/18G showcases and recruiting from them, don't forget that there are a LOT of sub-18 players there and those are going to be your highest quality 11's and 12's and beyond. 16u Nationals attract a lot of attention too, but 18's are inevitably going to have a better talent pool. Now that's just my opinion, of course. Being from NorCal, what do I know anyway???

[CheckWriter]

Isn't that what this is about in the first place?

For many it is about softball being the "differentiator". The throngs with 4.whatever GPA and 1900+ SAT needs omething "extra" to get into an Ivy or Stanford or Northwestern, etc. Also to have the experience of playing ball.

You guys seem to have the numbers. What percentage of player play in the WCWS much less win the WCWS.

Might as well forget about going to school if you're not going to win a Nobel Prize!

[dittoz]

You could make that your signature line for your posts

Hmmmmmmmm...

[sftball1]

Of the top conferences, yes - that's pretty much where all of the quality softball programs are. Isn't that what this is about in the first place? Sure, it boils down to a quality education, but DD wouldn't be out there showcasing for the bottom conferences, right? Same thing holds true with the 25% of D1 schools. How many D1 schools are there, how many have FP programs and how many attend the showcases? Again, if it weren't about quality FP programs, DD would be showcasing at academic events rather than athletic ones, right?

No, that's not what this is about in the first place. It's about girls being able to get some of their education paid for while playing softball. Every girl at a showcase is not there to showcase for the Top D1 programs only! Realistically, very few girls are going to play for a top D1 program, but that doesn't mean they don't go to school with some monetary help and get a good education!!