I'm entering that phase of the journey with my DD that some of you have already gone through and that many more hope to someday go through when their DD reaches HS, the college recruiting process. I've gone through it twice before with boys, but what I've noticed so far is that the process with baseball is different than it is with softball. Softball, to this Dad, seems to require much more work and planning.
With baseball, there are several very high profile MLB hosted events throughout the country each year along with two or three "Perfect Game" events. Each of these events draws hundreds of both college and pro scouts. Players, who are lucky enough to be invited to these events, stand a very good chance of being noticed early on and move up the recruiting boards of the colleges. My youngest son was one of the players who was invited to all of these events and did very well for himself at each of them. Because of this, there really wasn't much that we had to do to promote him individually to different colleges. The colleges all contacted us and made scholly offers that met or exceeded what we needed. My oldest son knew what school he wanted to go to early on, they were interested in him early on and his talent level fit well with that school. He was offered an opportunity that we could live with, so there wasn't really any recruiting process to go through with him at all.
What I would like to know, from those who have already gone through this with your DD is, what do you feel were some of the biggest contributing factor to your DD getting noticed and ultimately being offered an opportunity to play at the collegiate level? Did she get noticed because of playing on a top travel team, was it a particular event she participated in, recommendation from her trainer, HS Coach, Travel Coach, you mailed out hundreds of letters, mailed out videos, attended a camp at the school that recruited her, etc.? Obviously she was ultimately recruited because of her talent, but what else went into getting her noticed in the first place?
IN
Thanks... Yeah, I knew it was there. I was just trying to spur a little conversation here in the Indiana forum. I'll play by the rules the next time, sorry... 
- The Farm
- Posts: 40
- Joined: Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:45 am
- Location: Indiana
I do appreciate it. I had checked that forum out this past week. Lots of good info there. I really was just trying to start a new topic here. I'm sure everyone is all tied up with the HS season getting started and figured this might be a topic that was fresh on some parents minds.Good luck to all the DD's here. Hopefully everyone has a great season and all the parents are able to make it through it too!!!
- The Farm
- Posts: 40
- Joined: Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:45 am
- Location: Indiana
Travel Team by far. For about 10 different reasons.
- RiseballCoach
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2011 8:09 am
can you list about 10 reasons...My mind reader is broken. I hope to get it fixed soon. With 2 daughters and a wife things get a little confusing without it... 
- clayface74
- Posts: 277
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:24 pm
Spaz, and others, I posted a comment over in the Recruiting Forum yesterday, but that forum doesn't seem to get a lot of traffic. I want to post it again here to make sure the IN folks see it. It explained a lot to me after I was made aware of this rule.
I was talking to a D1 recruiting coordinator the other day and we were discussing the differences between SB recruiting and BB recruiting. I told him I see a lot more BB coaches throughout the summer than I do SB coaches... He told me that in SB, they are only allowed a total of 50 days to recruit. If they send the HC and RC to a 3 day tournament, that counts as 6 days against their 50 total. He did say, and I forgot to mention this in my post in the other forum, that they can go to as many HS games as they want and it does not count against the total. The problem with this is that their college season is going on at the same time as the typical HS season so it makes it difficult to see many HS games unless it's on one of the college's off days.
BB coaches have several weeks/months throughout the year that are designated as non-recruiting periods. They classify them as "quiet periods" or "Dead Periods". These times typically run mid November through the end of February with a few days or weeks scattered here and there throughout the rest of the year. Overall however, they have the luxury of many, many more than just 50 total days to recruit.
It doesn't seem right or fair to me, but it does explain why I don't see as many college SB coaches hanging out at the local weekend tournaments like I do with BB. College SB coaches have to really do their homework and make sure they are going to the right events to see everyone they want to see.
Just wanted to pass this info on. Maybe you all were already aware of this, but it really cought me off guard.
I was talking to a D1 recruiting coordinator the other day and we were discussing the differences between SB recruiting and BB recruiting. I told him I see a lot more BB coaches throughout the summer than I do SB coaches... He told me that in SB, they are only allowed a total of 50 days to recruit. If they send the HC and RC to a 3 day tournament, that counts as 6 days against their 50 total. He did say, and I forgot to mention this in my post in the other forum, that they can go to as many HS games as they want and it does not count against the total. The problem with this is that their college season is going on at the same time as the typical HS season so it makes it difficult to see many HS games unless it's on one of the college's off days.
BB coaches have several weeks/months throughout the year that are designated as non-recruiting periods. They classify them as "quiet periods" or "Dead Periods". These times typically run mid November through the end of February with a few days or weeks scattered here and there throughout the rest of the year. Overall however, they have the luxury of many, many more than just 50 total days to recruit.
It doesn't seem right or fair to me, but it does explain why I don't see as many college SB coaches hanging out at the local weekend tournaments like I do with BB. College SB coaches have to really do their homework and make sure they are going to the right events to see everyone they want to see.
Just wanted to pass this info on. Maybe you all were already aware of this, but it really cought me off guard.
- The Farm
- Posts: 40
- Joined: Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:45 am
- Location: Indiana
Frarm, I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for, but I'll give you my thoughts. Let me know if it helps. If it doesn't, perhaps it will aide someone else down the line.
The most important thing to do to initiate the process is determine what your daughter wants. That is, make sure it is her desire to play softball in college and not just yours. Once you mutually agree, I would encourage her to set goals for her school season, her travel season, etc.
My daughter set a goal at 10-years old that she wanted to play softball at the D-1 level. She set several other goals along the way, including academic goals. From there, we mapped out a plan that we thought would take her where she wanted to go, but we really had no idea what we were doing and I didn't really know anyone who had been through the process. I talked to several people along the way. Don't be shy.
Although there were many unexpected changes on the map, each change was positive and ultimately ended with my daughter trying to decide which D-1 offer to take.
The most important thing your daughter can begin doing now is getting herself physically and mentally ready to play at each level. I might suggest getting her into some type of softball program that is going to challenge her as a player (over and above practicing with her travel team). My daughter has always worked with the same hitting/fielding instructors, but the challenge level of her training has always increased without losing focus on basic fundamentals. My daughter also worked with various speed and strength trainers and we found this to be very helpful. Whatever you do, don't be afraid to challenge your daughter or take her out of her comfort zone - it will only make her better in the long run.
If your daughter wants to play D-1 softball, I would suggest that you find a team that she can grow with, that plays the best competition, and that offers a strong "exposure" schedule. There are many college coaches looking at 14Us and the place to be is the 14U ASA A USA Nationals (not so much the regional Nationals). If you can locate a team whose ultimate goal is 16U ASA A USA Nationals and/or Premier, you are on the right track. If your daughter wants to play at the D2, D3, or NAIA where she plays and the team she plays on are probably less important.
As far as exposure tournaments are concerned, there are many, but Colorado (Louisville Slugger - Independence Day) is likely the best for D1 (in addition to the 16U ASA A USA Nationals). This tournament is by invitation only so you'll need to confirm that the team is invited. There are other exposure tournaments in Colorado, but they are not as good. Other popular midwest exposure tournaments include Elgin, IL; Chesterfield, MO; Murfreesboro, TN; etc. During the Summer there are NFCA Exposure Camps/Tournaments that are very good as well. Even if your daughter’s team is not going to some of these camps/tournaments, you can oftentimes go on your own. That is, some exposure tournaments offer individual players the opportunity to sign up as an extra player to be picked up by teams needing players.
In order to maximize your daughter's exposure, you should strongly consider taking her to winter/summer camps at different colleges/universities. Not only does this give you the opportunity to receive good instruction, you also get to visit the schools to determine if your daughter has an interest. It further provides your daughter a chance to show off her "skill set" in front of the coaches and it affords her the opportunity to interact with the coaches. If you can forge a bond early, it cannot hurt you. By way of example, even if the school doesn't need a cathcer there is a good chance that the coach knows another coach who needs one from your daughter's graduating class. After the camps were over we always waited around and my daughter talked to the coaches on her own and discussed what she could do to improve, what tournaments the coaches would attend to recruit, etc. There are also clinics out there that have multiple college instructors and these camps/clinics offer great opportunities to be seen as well. It all depends on what you can do from a scheduling and financial standpoint.
Just remember, you cannot rely on these camps/clinics as your daughter’s sole "exposure" to the coaches. The coaches are going to want to see your daughter play. This being said, the most important thing to do is to get with an organization that has a strong reputation of being competitive, that has solid coaching, and that has well-respected coaches who have strong relationships with college coaches.
One last word of advice would be to make sure your daughter plays two seasons of 16s (do not move to 18s too early). The second year of 16s is, by far, the key recruiting age for the bigger D1 programs.
There is a lot of work and there is no time like the present to get started.
Good Luck.
The most important thing to do to initiate the process is determine what your daughter wants. That is, make sure it is her desire to play softball in college and not just yours. Once you mutually agree, I would encourage her to set goals for her school season, her travel season, etc.
My daughter set a goal at 10-years old that she wanted to play softball at the D-1 level. She set several other goals along the way, including academic goals. From there, we mapped out a plan that we thought would take her where she wanted to go, but we really had no idea what we were doing and I didn't really know anyone who had been through the process. I talked to several people along the way. Don't be shy.
Although there were many unexpected changes on the map, each change was positive and ultimately ended with my daughter trying to decide which D-1 offer to take.
The most important thing your daughter can begin doing now is getting herself physically and mentally ready to play at each level. I might suggest getting her into some type of softball program that is going to challenge her as a player (over and above practicing with her travel team). My daughter has always worked with the same hitting/fielding instructors, but the challenge level of her training has always increased without losing focus on basic fundamentals. My daughter also worked with various speed and strength trainers and we found this to be very helpful. Whatever you do, don't be afraid to challenge your daughter or take her out of her comfort zone - it will only make her better in the long run.
If your daughter wants to play D-1 softball, I would suggest that you find a team that she can grow with, that plays the best competition, and that offers a strong "exposure" schedule. There are many college coaches looking at 14Us and the place to be is the 14U ASA A USA Nationals (not so much the regional Nationals). If you can locate a team whose ultimate goal is 16U ASA A USA Nationals and/or Premier, you are on the right track. If your daughter wants to play at the D2, D3, or NAIA where she plays and the team she plays on are probably less important.
As far as exposure tournaments are concerned, there are many, but Colorado (Louisville Slugger - Independence Day) is likely the best for D1 (in addition to the 16U ASA A USA Nationals). This tournament is by invitation only so you'll need to confirm that the team is invited. There are other exposure tournaments in Colorado, but they are not as good. Other popular midwest exposure tournaments include Elgin, IL; Chesterfield, MO; Murfreesboro, TN; etc. During the Summer there are NFCA Exposure Camps/Tournaments that are very good as well. Even if your daughter’s team is not going to some of these camps/tournaments, you can oftentimes go on your own. That is, some exposure tournaments offer individual players the opportunity to sign up as an extra player to be picked up by teams needing players.
In order to maximize your daughter's exposure, you should strongly consider taking her to winter/summer camps at different colleges/universities. Not only does this give you the opportunity to receive good instruction, you also get to visit the schools to determine if your daughter has an interest. It further provides your daughter a chance to show off her "skill set" in front of the coaches and it affords her the opportunity to interact with the coaches. If you can forge a bond early, it cannot hurt you. By way of example, even if the school doesn't need a cathcer there is a good chance that the coach knows another coach who needs one from your daughter's graduating class. After the camps were over we always waited around and my daughter talked to the coaches on her own and discussed what she could do to improve, what tournaments the coaches would attend to recruit, etc. There are also clinics out there that have multiple college instructors and these camps/clinics offer great opportunities to be seen as well. It all depends on what you can do from a scheduling and financial standpoint.
Just remember, you cannot rely on these camps/clinics as your daughter’s sole "exposure" to the coaches. The coaches are going to want to see your daughter play. This being said, the most important thing to do is to get with an organization that has a strong reputation of being competitive, that has solid coaching, and that has well-respected coaches who have strong relationships with college coaches.
One last word of advice would be to make sure your daughter plays two seasons of 16s (do not move to 18s too early). The second year of 16s is, by far, the key recruiting age for the bigger D1 programs.
There is a lot of work and there is no time like the present to get started.
Good Luck.
- 23Skidoo
- Posts: 33
- Joined: Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:11 pm
"One last word of advice would be to make sure your daughter plays two seasons of 16s (do not move to 18s too early). The second year of 16s is, by far, the key recruiting age for the bigger D1 programs."
It was a few years ago (2009 grad), but my kid skipped 16s with the idea of having her play with/against players much better than her would result in her improving her game faster/more. She was seen by pretty much all of the colleges she cared about even though she hadn't ever been to Nationals. In retrospect, I don't believe she would have been better served in any way playing 16s and I think playing 18s worked as intended.
That being said, every kid/situation is different and the above should not be misconstrued as any evidence that not playing 16s is the best choice. Just providing a different perspective.
Shaky Squirrel
It was a few years ago (2009 grad), but my kid skipped 16s with the idea of having her play with/against players much better than her would result in her improving her game faster/more. She was seen by pretty much all of the colleges she cared about even though she hadn't ever been to Nationals. In retrospect, I don't believe she would have been better served in any way playing 16s and I think playing 18s worked as intended.
That being said, every kid/situation is different and the above should not be misconstrued as any evidence that not playing 16s is the best choice. Just providing a different perspective.
Shaky Squirrel
10 years from now I'll wish I felt like I do these days.
-
Blind Squirrel - Premium Member
- Posts: 1138
- Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:02 am
23skiddoo,
Very good explanation of the process. Sounds like a lot of work, but if that's what it takes to reach a goal, I'm sure it's all worth it.
Just think, 15 years ago a college coach would actually have to go out and find players on their dime. Now, the HS parents are taking care of the financial aspect of recruiting. Div 1 athletic programs are bringing in millions of dollars, yet can't fund a softball/baseball recruiting budget? Fishy.
Very good explanation of the process. Sounds like a lot of work, but if that's what it takes to reach a goal, I'm sure it's all worth it.
Just think, 15 years ago a college coach would actually have to go out and find players on their dime. Now, the HS parents are taking care of the financial aspect of recruiting. Div 1 athletic programs are bringing in millions of dollars, yet can't fund a softball/baseball recruiting budget? Fishy.
- DLauck
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:11 am
DLauck wrote:23skiddoo,
Very good explanation of the process. Sounds like a lot of work, but if that's what it takes to reach a goal, I'm sure it's all worth it.
Just think, 15 years ago a college coach would actually have to go out and find players on their dime. Now, the HS parents are taking care of the financial aspect of recruiting. Div 1 athletic programs are bringing in millions of dollars, yet can't fund a softball/baseball recruiting budget? Fishy.
You have mentioned that before. Not sure there is a single softball program in the nation that brings in a million dollars let alone several. Times have changed. 15 years ago how many softball players were there actually?? The competition for the scholarship has increased dramatically, as the cost of tuition as increased also.
BTW: Coaches still go out on their own dime. They use all of their alloted 50 days of recruiting. So the players are now going to them at the camps and clinics to show the coach they really want to play for the school.
Softball is a losing money sport for any university. They are supported by other more "popular" sports. So be thankful that they have programs at all.
You should know this, just on a smaller scale at your high school. (Maybe not yours, but the public schools)
- BigPappy
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Tue Jun 22, 2010 7:38 pm
18 posts
• Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2
Main Menu
User Menu
Login
