FASTPITCH RECRUITING

WEB SOURCE

 

 


About this site…

Hello! I'm Cathi Aradi, softball recruiting consultant and owner of Collegiate Softball Connection. I'm an active member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, and I work with athletes and colleges all over the U.S. Over the past twenty years, I've worked directly with more than 2500 athletes, and I have helped thousands more through my book, Preparing to Play Softball at the Collegiate Level. I also conduct workshops on the college search process, and I'm considered one of the very best resources in the country on collegiate (softball) recruiting by players and their families, youth and college coaches alike. 


NEWS FLASH!         In 2007, StudentSportsSoftball.com polled over 250 of the top youth coaches in the country to find out who they consider the most influential people in fastpitch.  Coaches were invited to nominate 3 people, and StudentSportsSoftball.com put together a list of the “Ten Most Influential People in Softball.”  Catharine Aradi was number eight on the list which included Olympians Jenny Finch and Lisa Fernandez, former UCLA head coach Sue Enquist and USA Olympic coach Mike Candrea.  Coaches call Cathi’s book, Preparing to Play Softball at the Collegiate Level, the “Bible of Fastpitch Recruiting.”

Talk is cheap…good advice is priceless!      Sit in the softball stands, and you’ll hear hundreds of stories and opinions. But how do you separate fact from fiction?  If you feel in charge of your player’s college search, but have questions you want answered by an expert, CSC now offers low cost phone consultations!


This page is designed to help college-bound softball players gain a competitive edge during their college search. The information offered here will help athletes as well as their parents and coaches. The Fastpitch Recruiting Web Source includes:  

  1. A featured article on the college search process!  The July-August article is entitled: OUCH, THAT HURTS!  WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE INJURED DURING YOUR COLLEGE SEARCH

 

  1. It’s just my opinion, but…  (Not quite a blog, more like an editorial page.)  Updated 6/20/09.

 

  1. Information about my book, Preparing to Play Softball at the Collegiate Level and how to order the current edition online at www.nfca.org or http://www.nfca-services.org/store/Shelf.asp#139   

  2. Collegiate Softball Connection and You! Celebrating 20 years of experience and thousands of happy ball players!  If you want an experienced guide to work with you through your college search, read more about CSC.  (Phone consultations now available.) This page also includes signings/commitments by CSC clients. 

  3. Recruiting Workshops -- Information about upcoming clinics or about presenting a clinic.  I will be attending the CO Fireworks (6/29-7/5).  I will also be attending (and may do a workshop at) the 18/U ASA Nationals in Las Vegas, NV July 28-August 1, 2009.  If you would like to chat with me at these venues, please email me.

  4. Recruiting FAQ with Cathi Aradi -- Various questions and answers on issues related to recruiting and the college search process for student-athletes. There's also a link to archived questions and recruiting-related articles.     

  5. Archived Web Articles on the college search process.  (If you have a recruiting question, please email info@fastpitchrecruiting.com. Thanks!)

  6. Which CSC alumni are doing well?  Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find out!

LINKS to terrific web sites that will provide helpful college search information!

 

 National Fastpitch Coaches Association  This site is a key resource for information about the NFCA and college softball in general. You can order my book on-line there! 

 

  NCAA Home Page  This is the link for general NCAA information. (For eligibility, see link below.)

 

  NCAA Eligibility Center Page  A direct link to the NCAA Eligibility Center and all current academic and recruiting guidelines.

 

  National Letter of Intent  This web site will provide information, including signing dates, on the National Letter of Intent.

 

  NAIA Home Page  For all NAIA guidelines and regulations and other relevant information.

 

  Student Sports Softball.com   Fun and informative web site for college-bound prep high school and travel ball families as well as youth and college coaches.

 

  NJCAA Home Page  For junior college guidelines and regulations and other relevant information (excluding Calif).

 

  NWAACC Home Page  For junior college guidelines and regulations and other relevant information for WA-OR junior colleges. 

 

  Calif. Community College Softball Home Page  For guidelines and regulations and other relevant information for Calif. Comm. Colleges. 

 

  College Board Online  A link to the organization that administers the SAT.


  ACT.org  On-line ACT registration and review, with tips on successfully preparing for this test. 

 

  FAFSA on the Web!  This site will take you through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (where it all begins) and allows you to complete the form on-line after January 1.

 

  CAL GRANT on the Web!   This web site will provide California students with information on that state's special aid program for good students from low and moderate income families.

 Smart Money    An article on boosting your financial aid package.      

 

 Las Vegas Junior Olympic Classic   This is the biggest of the early summer showcase tournaments, and it officially kicks off the summer scouting season in the West.  An NFCA Recruiting Camp is held in conjunction as well as a workshop on the college search.  Between 300 and 350 college coaches attend every year.

 

  Radisson Colorado Fireworks  The web site of one of the nation's premier recruiting tournaments. This tournament is attended by coaches at all levels of college competition every year, and it is simply the best! Unfortunately, getting into the tournament is tough--impossible late in the season. It fills up by fall with a waiting list. In 2007, over 400 college coaches attended, and more are expected in 2008. Eighty-five percent of the games are held at the state-of-the-art 12-field Aurora Sports Complex. The NFCA runs a recruiting camp prior to the tournament, and with practice games, this becomes a week-long event.  With two other major tournaments running concurrently in the area, Denver becomes the softball capital of the world this week.

 

  Valley Invitational Tournament  The premier Northwest Recruiting Tourney, this event features an NFCA Recruiting Camp and the top teams from the NW region and Western Canada.

  Spy Softball The most widely visited softball “blog” with information on all levels of competition, particularly travel and college softball.

 

  Embark.com  Apply to college online and find information about colleges, scholarships and more.

 

  College is Possible  Great resource site for information on choosing a college, financial aid and more.

 

  SAT Prep Plan  Excellent resource site for SAT preparation and review.

 

  Free Financial Aid Documents  Web listings of free information on financial aid resources.

 

  FinAid  An index of financial aid resources.

 

  Excite Scholarship Search Site  A site with information on searching for scholarships and aid.  

 

  EStudentloan.com Search Site  A site with information on searching for the best college loans and other aid.  

 

  College BOT (Search Engine)  A site with information on finding information on lots of different colleges.

 

  Fastpitch USA  Great on-line fastpitch magazine. Check it out. 

 

  Online Softball Resource Directory  A site with a variety of resources for fastpitch softball.

 

  Blood Donations Save Lives     Visit the Red Cross for information on how you can donate!   (In fond memory of John Gimbel and Jenny Eller.)

 

  The Milo Foundation    Helping Pets in Need—my pet project.


Check out FAQ and my book Preparing to Play Softball at the Collegiate Level, or just email me.

 

  Miscellaneous 2009

 

CSC 2009 Alumni collegiate honors:  Marnie Koziol, Washington, Blair Williamson & Carlyn Re, Oregon: All-Academic Pac-10 Honorable Mention; Maya Burns, Stanford: All Pac-10 Freshman Team; Allison Ford, Bucknell: 1st Team All Patriot League; Kyrie Timbrook, Caldwell: All-East Region D-II/2nd Team; Maile Kim, Hawaii Pacific: All West Region D-II/1st team; Ashley Trotter, CSU Mont Bay: All West Region D-II/2nd Team; Kelsey Wood, SF State: All West Region D-II/ 2nd Team; Mindy Bean, Towson: All Mid-Atlantic Region D-I/1st Team; Caitlyn Jackson, Marshall Univ.: All Mid-East Region D-I/1st Team; Jackie Heide, Portland State: All Pacific Region D-I/1st Team; Jenna Garcia, Providence: All Big East 2nd Team; Bailey Ouellette, Northern Illinois: 1st Team All-MAC; Shalene Petrich, Ohio: 2nd Team All-MAC; Ashley Eliasson, Jacksonville State: 2nd Team All Ohio Valley Conference; Jackie Heide, Portland State: All PCSC 1st Team and Co-Player of the Year; Cathy Wineinger, San Diego & Brianna Knight, Santa Clara: All PCSC Honorable Mention; Paige Freiberger & Lauren Hope, Canisius: All MAAC 2nd Team; Mindy Bean & Emily Gould, Towson Univ.: All Colonial Athletic Association 1st Team; Sarah Hurlbutt & Emma Holden, Cal Baptist: Alll-GSAC 1st Team; Ashley Trotter, Cal State Univ Monterey Bay & Kendra Wood, San Francisco State Univ.: All CCAA 1st Team; Ashley Jackson, San Francisco State Univ.: All CCAA 2nd Team & ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team; Kyrie Timbrook, Caldwell College: All CACC 1st Team. Brittany Vanegas, Kenyon: D-III All-Central Region 3rd  Team; Sarah Neuhaus, U of Chicago: D-III All Great Lakes Region 3rd Team; Laura Chapman, Tufts: All New England Region 1st Team, NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year & NCAA Regional All Tournament Team; Kendall Peiguss, Emerson: D-III All Northeast Region 3rd Team; Jenni Holtz, Mercer: Atlantic Sun Championship All-Tournament Team; Lauren Hope, Canisius: MAAC Player of the Week; Shalene Petrich,Ohio: MAC East Player of the Week; Andrea Stevenson, Towson: Colonial Athletic Assoc. Rookie of the Week; Melissa Pura, Cal Poly: Big West Player of the Week; Dominique Ortega, Towson: Colonial Athletic Assoc. Rookie of the Week; Melissa Decker, Henderson State: Gulf South Conf. Div. West Pitcher of the Week; Paige Collings, Drexel: Colonial Conference Rookie of the Week; Lizzy Gatto, Canisius: MAAC Rookie of the Week.  

 

©Collegiate Softball Connection 2009