The untold story of D1 college softball!

[Softball_Dad]

5 hrs a day lifting, practice and lectures. The hour lecture from a coach who really doesn't know the game, can't coach it and never could hit fastpitch. A coach that's got no comprehension of over-use injuries and uses you for a human pitching machine.

A coach that schedules four straight weeks of Fri,Sat,Sun tourneys, so the kids miss Thurs and Friday classes. Very tough to pass when you miss half of your classes. Trust me, there's no special treatment for athletes, and some professors even despise athletes and athletics.

There's also all the BS the coaches feed you when you visit. You'll get this tutor and that. You've got an athletic advisor that will make sure you are on track academically. I've got news for you, it's not in the college's best interest for you to graduate on time. College is big business and they will squeeze you for as much money as they can get out of you.

The sad things is I've talked to several girls that graduated or are close to graduating that say they have no desire to ever pick up a sb glove again. They've had the love for the game sucked right out of them by these knuckleheads.

It's not all its cracked up to be! JMO

[DonnieS]

You mean there are people who tell you they know what they are doing and have all the answers and people believe them and then they find out its not true. That's a first. Its only 4 years, but hopefully there will be better options next time.

[sb junkie]

Wow!What D-1 is this? Squeeze what money ?Softball for the most part doesnt make money for the university.Yes the coaches are under pressure to compete but I have to know so I can make sure Suzy does'nt go there and get her education paid for.

[GIMNEPIWO]

My experience is very limited ... but I will tell you what I have heard and what I know and what I think;

what I have heard- I was told by a Father who had a DD playing D1 with scholarship money that the school told them to expect to take 5 years to get the degree. He said what they didn't tell him is about all the time that she would have to spend on non-related "softball" things ... working concessions/ selling tickets blaa blaa blaa ... for in their case, the football program etc. ... He opined to me that he thought it would have been cheaper to pay for his DD to go to a school for 4 years ... There are others on this site that will dispute this point and I may be one of them ... Others have mentioned that it may depend on what the Major is and how applied the Student is as to the length of time required to graduate ...

What I know- One of my DD's is a Freshman playing D3, not because she preferred D3 to D1, but because she didn't receive any offers from D1 and she thought her chances of playing would be better at D3. There is a Fall season ... there are off season non-mandatory/ mandatory duties like fund raising, running clinics for local kids, workouts and conditioning, additional pitcher/catcher workouts etc. etc .. ... all which place strains on the time she has for school work ... in addition, they still have an open tryout in Jan/Feb at which you compete for a roster spot to make JV or Varsity ... At one point when DD was struggling academically I suggested that she consider dropping off the team ... no go, she said it was the only thing keeping her sane ... she has limited time for the partying and many other extra curricular activities that are enjoyed by other students ... but, that is her choice ... her College experience, for this year anyway, is about academics and softball ... we pay for her edumacation ( along with the academic scholarships ) and she gets to play the game she loves ... D1 plays twice as many games as D3 and there is often more traveling ... so I'm sure there IS more pressure on the student athlete but you should have been aware of this ...

What I thinkYou sound a little bitter and PO'd at the moment ... but maybe this is something that has been festering ... but before anyone on this site will take your criticism of the Coach serious we will need to know what you wore to the HS games, whether or not you own a pole-barn and if your DD's name is Dani ? ...

[anonlooker]

Sounds like somebody isn't very pleased with their choice of colleges.

Real World 101: "Nothing is Free"

Yes, college softball is a lot like having a job, only you get paid in credits. Which happens to be an arrangement/obligation/responsibility you agreed to when you enrolled.

It is not the school's responsibility to keep you on track to graduate. That's like saying it's the government's responsibility to keep you clothed and fed. And any notion that athletic participation in college would somehow ease the academic load is naive.

But here is some good news:
You don't have to stay.
If you do stay, you don't have to play. But then you will have to pay.
If you do stay (playing or otherwise) and graduate, you can then go out and get a new, and better, job...

...at least in theory. But you'd best be prepared for Real World 102: "It Don't Come Easy"

[DonnieS]

Sounds like somebody isn't very pleased with their choice of colleges.

Real World 101: "Nothing is Free"

Yes, college softball is a lot like having a job, only you get paid in credits. Which happens to be an arrangement/obligation/responsibility you agreed to when you enrolled.

It is not the school's responsibility to keep you on track to graduate. That's like saying it's the government's responsibility to keep you clothed and fed. And any notion that athletic participation in college would somehow ease the academic load is naive.

But here is some good news:
You don't have to stay.
If you do stay, you don't have to play. But then you will have to pay.
If you do stay (playing or otherwise) and graduate, you can then go out and get a new, and better, job...

...at least in theory. But you'd best be prepared for Real World 102: "It Don't Come Easy"

My comments were actually not about softball, I had just been watch headline news on CNN.

[Tucson]

You can add - having a lot of stress into the mix, also. There is always someone better, stronger, younger trying to take your spot on the roster.

You only go around one time. I wouldn't let my DD be miserable. She can always play elsewhere.

U of A just took a senior walk on, this year. She caught the 5th inning of last night's blow out.

Oh, and there are no jobs out there in any major, anyway, so you might as well have fun in college. j/k

[Softball_Dad]

I know, you want a little cheese with that wine!!! Just expressing my frustration! Every year you think things are going to get a little better and they just don't. IMO we are getting the recruites, however the coaching is falling short. If there's anything a coach should be able to do, its to teach hitting. It's not rocket science. Last year we were last in our league in BA and HRs. Not one kid hitting over 300. It's not starting out any better this year. So far this weekend we have hit into 3 or 4 double plays. Has the coach ever heard of the sack bunt? I forgot, know one knows how to bunt either!

While I know its about the education, it sure would be nice to compete and at least be 500 for the season. The biggest thing the ticks me off is missing all the classes. You don't need to leave early and go to all these far away, big dog tourneys when you can't even compete with the little dogs. Getting your arses constantly throttled does nothing for team moral or play. JMO

[umpinva]

What I thinkYou sound a little bitter and PO'd at the moment ... but maybe this is something that has been festering ... but before anyone on this site will take your criticism of the Coach serious we will need to know what you wore to the HS games, whether or not you own a pole-barn and if your DD's name is Dani ? ...

...and......how well do you get along with the umpires.

[Tucson]

Softball Dad, Did you guys play AZ. last night?

The missing classes is awful, but at least here, the guidance office (or whatever) helps the girls set up their classes, so that they have very few of them on Friday afternoon.

Did n't you see your DDs team play, before she went there?

I would agree that there are more than a few rotten programs in D1. I grew up around several in IL. But, on the other hand there are many very good JC programs.

Maybe you will get lucky and the coach will resign.

Good luck.