Questions to Ask Coach

[jonriv]

Div III Coach has given my daughter the "green light" regarding her academics and has now been encouraged to apply early decision

My wife wants to talk to the coach to fully understand the process-

Any recommendations on questions she should ask?

[Surehitter]

If you have not already be sure to do the following below. We did with a Div III school that had actually won the conference and advanced to the championship game for Div III. My daughter was blown away at the level of play ( her comment - my high school team could beat them ) after staying in the dorms with one of the players and attending school with her the next day she said " no thanks ".

Go watch the team play ( more than one game )

Stay in the dorm with a current player.

Attend school the next day with that player.

[jonriv]

Where was the school your daughter looked at?

[Surehitter]

S.CA - No school names as no reason to throw anyone under the bus. Everyone has a different need from the school they attend and softball they play. My daughter was put off by half the team drinking the night before local games and bitching about having to play rather than looking forward to it.

[jonriv]

Thanks

It seems that as great as CA Div I school softball programs are- the Div III are wanting. It seems that there are stronger Div III in the east-maybe because there are more of them


Thanks for the feedback

[Surehitter]

I imagine the Div III schools back East have a much better coaching staff and group of players than S.CA. It seems Div III in S.CA have alot of coaches trying to climb the ladder and players trying to do the same and for whatever reason a group of players that had no other choices.
Best of luck with your search for the right fit !

[Sam]

Where does she want to go? Did she contact this school initially? Who else is she looking at? What is the interest from other schools?

[Hilliarddad3]

Some possible questions:

1- Foreseen playing time by Freshman
2- Coach's acessibility/ relationship with professors for travel issues
3- Expectations on workouts/ the teams availabilty to the equipment
4- Practice times many start at 6 am....
5- Travel costs raised by team or supported by school
6- Expenses covered during the travel trips
7- Minimum GPA needed to continue playing if borderline.
8- Exams schedules conflicting with game times? Relates to #2

Great advice to spend a night and really see what is happening with the team....

It's best to have your dd have a notebook and let her do all of the talking until the coach specifically asks you for input.