Hello softball family,
New to the HeyBucket world, but not so new to softball. i've been coaching the game for close to 20 years now, and I'm constantly amazed by how much time is wasted in the "off-season". I can understand taking a break from travel or league-ball to not burn out from the sport, but for those who are serious about the game, it's imperative to keep your skills sharp and stay focused on your college goals.
A lot of families i work with ask the question "When should we start with the recruiting process"? My answer, you already have if you have a desire to play at the next level. There is a lot of confusion between "being recruited", and carefully navigating the process. I always encourage my athletes to get in front of coaches early and often, because there is 0 downside to exploring the world of college athletics.
Some of the main ways to stay involved with the game, and relevant with college coaches is carefully picking a few camps that feature a large volume of schools, or if you have your list narrowed down, find that school's individual camp to attend.
As a recommendation for strong STUDENT-athletes, Headfirst Honor Roll Camps seems to be the very best when it comes to receiving exposure from top academic schools from all over the country. I've had a few players commit to some prestigious schools by attending, and heard nothing but great remarks, even from those who didnt end up playing in college. I believe their next camp is in Florida in November, and they usually have close to 50 coaches at each session. Definitely on the pricey side, but worth the investment if your kid is putting in the work on the field and in the classroom.
Best of luck to every one early in the school year, and keep grinding!
-FPF