Fastpitch
Recruiting Web Source
FAQ with Cathi Aradi
Home page | Links | Book | Article |Archived Articles
Please note that the
questions below were posted over the past ten years. Some of the topics/answers may have changed
as recruiting has evolved and collegiate softball has grown. If a question/answer is confusing or your
feel an answer is inaccurate, please email me at info@fastpitchrecruiting.com. I will check out the post in question,
correct or update it and send you the most current answer. If you have other
questions about the recruiting process, feel free to email me as well.
Check out the Archived Posts page to see additional
information relevant to the college search process. (This page was last updated: 11/8/2008.)
RECRUITS, COACHES AND PARENTS SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THAT NCAA RULES AND GUIDELINES CHANGE
REGULARLY, SO A QUESTION POSTED IN 2001 MIGHT GENERATE A DIFFERENT RESPONSE IN
2009. USE THE LINK ON MY HOME PAGE TO ACCESS THE NCAA’S WEB SITE FOR THE MOST CURRENT
INFORMATION ON RECRUITING REGULATIONS.
Question: Must We Go to a National
Tournament?
I am asst. coach of a
very local (but talented) travel team comprised of girls entering 10th and 11th
grade. Our team plays 18u PAL and PONY 16u summer travel. In order to go to go
to a recruiting camp, must a player have participated in a national event? Is
this always the case, or can one apply to attend a camp and be admitted without
this accomplishment?
Our team has lost a few
core players who have chosen to try out for more high profile teams for
recruiting purposes. We have decided to stay independent and enlarge our player
recruiting efforts. We have enlisted our head coach (former college player) and
our outside batting coach (nationally recognized) to help replenish our roster.
In your opinion, have we set a course that will eliminate our players from any
real chances at playing college ball via scholarship or walk-on?
Answer: Must You Go to a National
Tournament?
Where the recruiting camp is concerned, that will vary depending on who is
sponsoring it. I usually advise kids to apply and see what happens anyway.
Where scouting and
recruiting are concerned, it's pretty impossible to generalize an answer to
this type of question because of all the variables that factor into recruiting.
It is true that many coaches, particularly those at bigger programs (Div. I,
top Div. II, etc.) will focus their recruiting efforts on players with a
certain level of experience. It doesn't necessarily have to be an ASA national
tournament, but it certainly helps when a coach can see an athlete competing
against other top athletes. And most coaches who scout a lot during the summer
will focus on the larger tourneys that attract players from all over the
country or region. (Some coaches, particularly those at smaller schools,
however, do not scout as much, and their travel may be limited by budgetary or
other constraints.)
Another aspect of
recruiting that may affect your girls is that most Div. I coaches, and many
Div. II and NAIA coaches, won't recruit players they haven't seen in action in
person. (All coaches prefer this, but coaches at very small schools, many Div.
III schools, etc., who are limited in their travel options, may be more willing
to recruit based on a skills video alone.) Because of this, most kids who think
they are good enough to play at a Div. I program need to be sure the coach at a
given school is going to have the chance to see them at a tournament. (Note: as
of this time, D-I coaches cannot have kids on campus for a "tryout"
or "workout" per se.)
So if your team won't be
at any of the tournaments where coaches (they are writing) would be scouting,
it's likely they would have to consider walking on at that D-I college as
opposed to being actively recruited. The advantage that NAIA and NCAA Div. II
coaches have is that they ARE allowed to have prospects visit and work out with
their teams. So if a coach at an NAIA or D-II school gets a video from a player
and is really impressed, he/she might invite her to visit and use that
opportunity to see the player in action. So kids on travel teams that do not
get out to top tourneys may want to focus a lot of their college search in this
direction.
The bottom line is
recruiting isn't fair and never will be. Coaches tend to follow certain
patterns when recruiting, out of habit, convenience, experience, etc. And there
are just too many good players these days for coaches to consider all of them.
So the smart player looks at her college search realistically, and then she
focuses her efforts on the types of schools most likely to consider her an
impact player, and/or who are more likely to recruit her because they can see
her in action one way or another. And remember, whether you go to a big
tournament or not, if a coach doesn't know to look at or for a player, there's
a good chance she'll be missed completely.
Hope this helps!
Question:
Contacting Colleges Via Email?
Does your book include e-mail addresses? Is it
appropriate to e-mail coaches about your interest in their program?
Answer: Contacting Colleges Via Email?
My book includes email addresses where the coaches have sent them to me and
indicated they wanted them included. While it's totally fine to email coaches
about your interest, not all coaches treat email equally. Some read it
regularly; some read it occasionally; some rarely read theirs. Some coaches use
it to gather player information; others do not. And email addresses can easily
change or be incorrect (even when posted on a college web page!) However, some
college web pages also have contact forms built into them so that a player can
contact a coach about her interest in the school directly from the web page.
I still believe in most
cases, a written introductory packet is more personal, harder to lose, and more
likely to get a response from more coaches. (It's also difficult to include a
video in an email--at this time any way!) Letters (email or written) alone will
usually only generate a form response that asks for a video, unless a coach is
already in contact with you, has seen you play, etc.
Hope this helps.
Question: 16U vs 18U As a Junior?
My daughter will be
starting her junior year soon and she will still be eligible to play 16U travel
ball next summer prior to her senior year of high school. She has an
opportunity to play on an 18U team next year instead of 16U. She would be the
number 1 pitcher on the 16U team and would probably be the number 3 pitcher on
the 18U team. From a recruiting perspective, how can I help her make the
decision between these two teams?
I'm afraid that another
summer of 16U will not give her the exposure that she could get at 18U. Her
overall playing time would probably be the same on either team. Do you think
that going 16U again would be a big disadvantage?
Answer: 16U vs 18U As a Junior?
I get asked this question all the time, and with very few exceptions, my answer
is an unqualified, "Play 18/U!!!!!!" The qualifications--e.g.,
reasons to play 16/U--would include:
1.
She's
not strong enough to play on the only good 18/U teams in the area.
2.
There
are emotional, financial or other significant personal reasons that make
playing on the 18/U team difficult.
3.
The
only good team in the area/region is a 16/U team, and it's one of the top 16/U
teams in the entire state or part of the country.
4.
There's
no other choice.
5.
She's
already scoped out the college situation and plans to play locally, not play in
college, go to a JC, go to a specific school whether or not she plays ball,
etc.
That said, it's
extremely difficult getting enough exposure to college coaches playing on any
18 U or Gold team (except for the top teams in any given area and even then
sometimes it's tough to be seen.) And these days, D-I coaches will almost never
recruit a player they've not seen in person. D-II and NAIA coaches tend to be
the same way, BUT, they have the advantage of being allowed to have players on
campus for tryouts. So if they can't see a player at a tournament, it doesn't
necessarily eliminate her as a prospect for that school. D-III coaches also
like to see kids, but tend to travel less, and so are more likely to factor in
a well-made video if they cannot get to see a prospect.
Sometimes the choice is
out of your hands. Sometimes you have to work around this obstacle. And you can
certainly do that. But if at all possible, have her play 18/U. Coaches want to
see kids competing UP, rather than DOWN. Hope this helps!
Question: Fully-Funded Programs?
Can you tell
people how many D-I schools (particularly in the northeast) are fully funded and
what that means.
Answer: Fully-Funded Programs?
I can tell you what fully funded means, but I can't say with authority how many
Northeast schools are fully funded. For Div. I, fully funded means the coach
has a TOTAL of 12 scholarships. How many or what percentages are available in a
given year will depend on who graduates, what amount of money they're getting,
etc. Fully funded at a Div. II school means the coach has a total of just over
7 scholarships. Again, how much is available in a given year will depend on
who's graduating.
It's important to
understand what these numbers mean because even a fully-funded program (for
example Michigan and Florida State are probably fully-funded), can't
give every player a full ride. If the coach carries 18-20 kids, you can do the
math. If all 18 kids got the same amount, everyone would be getting 60-70
percent. But in all likelihood, there are a few major impact players--pitchers,
perhaps catchers and shortstops, maybe the big home run hitter or the
base-stealing outfielder--who are getting close to full rides. That means on
the other end of the spectrum are kids who aren't getting anything, or who are
only getting a few thousand dollars. It's also a pretty safe bet that many, if
not most of the smaller Div. I programs in the Northeast are NOT fully funded.
At the Div. II level,
even a fully-funded program would only have 7 or so scholarships. With 18-20
kids on the team, you won't see many full rides there. And you'll see even more
kids who are getting just small amounts. Also, there are many Div. I and II
programs where the coach only has 2 or 4 or 6 scholarships to share among all
the players. So parents expecting to get off scot-free are generally in for a
rude awakening unless their athlete is among the tops in the region and has
great travel ball visibility.
NOW, on the flip side,
academic money is more plentiful, so many coaches--particularly at private
schools--will try to package offers for players. Where a lot of parents get
confused and make recruiting mistakes is when they hear some guy telling
another guy that his kid got a full ride to--you name it: St. Peter's or Holy
Cross or La Salle. What the dad isn't telling you--or spelling out--most of the
time is that she got $8000 in need-based money, $10000 in academic money
(because she's a 4.0/1380 student), she got some work-study, some loan money,
and $7500 in softball money (and she's an impact player for them!).
Inexperienced parents hear this and think, "Well, my kid is better than
his kid, so my kid will get a full ride offer from them too." Then they
have a hissy fit when the coach says, "We can offer you $7500 in softball
money and whatever else you might qualify for." The parent knows he won't
get more than a few thousand in need-base money, and his kid is a 3.0 student
with 990 SAT's, so she's not getting a lot of academic money. Now he's fried
because he thinks the coach is trying to put one over on him, when in reality,
the coach offered his kid the same amount of athletic money as the other girl
received. It's just that she doesn't qualify for the other types of money, thus
less money is available to her.
Hope this helps.
Question: What Do Scouts Look At?
I have played softball for 9 years, and we moved to travel ball 6 years ago
because we thought that that is what scouts and recruiters would look at. But
recently a parent has told us that scouts look at your high school ball more.
So which one do scouts concentrate on when it comes to recruiting?
Answer: What Do Scouts Look At?
Your resource really isn't correct in saying college coaches look at HS ball
more. While it's impossible to generalize, most coaches, particularly at Div.
I, top D-II programs will tell you that they look at your travel ball
experience first and foremost. They scout more at travel tournaments, and they
generally consider that the more consistent experience for players. This is not
to say coaches never look at high school teams or players, because they will
occasionally go to state championship tournaments for high school or watch
players on high school teams that are considered among the best in the state or
region. But as a rule, if a player wants to focus on college ball, she should
try to be picked up by the very best travel team she can--one that attends
large regional or national tournaments where college coaches are likely to
scout. If you have any doubts about this, ask some Div. I or top Div. II
coaches in your area where they scout. And visit web pages like those for ASA
Nationals or the Radisson Colorado Fireworks and you'll see there are
several hundred coaches that attend. Hope this helps. Good luck!
Question: Academics and Recruiting
Love this Q & A and love your book! Very insightful. Here's the question:
Will coaches look harder/search out a player who is National Merit Scholar -
Top 10% of class ranking, etc.? Do they look at these potential players as a
"free" type of player where they will definitely be receiving
academic dollars and therefore, coaches will not have to reach into their athletic
funds? Should we be pushing/marketing her academic excellence as hard as we
can? And if these type players are on the border line between being D I and D
II, will D I look twice because/due to academic strengths?
Answer: Academics and Recruiting
Coaches will definitely take into account a student's academic record, and at
many schools, coaches do look for kids with top grades and test scores. These
players are more likely to be eligible for academic money, for fee waivers, for
special scholarships, etc. Coaches at private schools really appreciate
students who help them make the college more affordable! And coaches at schools
like the Ivy Leagues have to put grades/test scores first even before athletic
experience and ability. I always encourage parents of strong students to
investigate all options for scholarships and aid because there is more academic
money available than there ever will be athletic money.
Good grades alone won't
be enough for all schools, of course. And you can't generalize along the
divisional lines because there are top D-II programs that are stronger than
small D-I programs. So a player who might not necessarily be a scholarship
candidate at a strong D-II, but who has excellent grades/scores might be
recruited by a smaller D-I program with limited athletic money available. Being
a top student might get you admitted to a UCLA or a Stanford, but it at top
athletic programs, it won't guarantee you'll make the team. Still, when push
comes to shove, if a coach is having to choose between two players who are
similar athletically, but one is significantly stronger academically, most of
the time the coach will lean towards choosing the player who is the better
student.
Hope this helps! Best of
luck to you.
Question: College Summer Camps
How important (if at all) are the Summer Softball Camps offered by colleges??
My daughter plays Travel Ball around the same time these camps are held and I
am not sure which is a better investment in her time. I see this as a possible
opportunity to get exposure within a small group?
Answer: College Summer Camps
Camps can be a lot of fun and worthwhile IF the player and her family
understand that this is an experience that is only guaranteed to provide--at
best--good skills work. Yes occasionally, there are players who go to a camp
and are "discovered". But it's not common. I suspect there are lots
of kids --probably some of them very good--who go to Arizona or UCLA or similar camps thinking
the coach will see them and really pay attention. But from my experience, it's
not particularly common.
Most of the kids who are
ultimately going to be recruited by a top 20 D-I college will be playing travel
ball for top Gold teams during the summer and won't be attending these camps.
So it's probably a long
shot in terms of recruitment. However, if a player has a particular college
that she really wants to attend--even if she can't play softball there--then
going to a camp at that school might not be a bad idea. She could show enough
to the coach to get some sort of idea whether or not she might have a shot at
walking on or something like that.
The tough thing is that
to be recruited by a top D-I college, your player generally needs to be
showcasing her skills against top Gold pitchers, hitters, etc., and in game
situations. She's not likely to find that at a college camp, so even if the
coach is impressed with her athleticism, talent, etc., he/she is probably going
to want to see her at a tournament in all likelihood before making any
commitment to recruiting her.
Hope this helps!
Question: When Is It Time?
My Daughter is a soph. in HS. She plays
great ball, and has begun asking about colleges. (She wants to play for ARIZONA STATE, and I support her, I think anyone
can do anything if they try hard enough) This past summer I have looked over
the rules for NCAA and Recruiting, and I have looked into recruiting companies.
1) I would like to hear
from anyone who has benefited from sending out early portfolios of their
child's athletic and academic highlights.. (NCAA cannot reach out to you until
July of kids' junior year)... so I guess I'm asking is it worth sending out
portfolios before junior year?
2) Are recruiting
companies good?... And of what benefit are these companies, can't parents do
just as well?
Answer: When Is It Time? (Note: This answer is directed at the 85-90%
of all players who will not commit
early—e.g., as freshmen or sophomores.)
To answer your questions, my personal feeling (based on 20 years of working as
a recruiting consultant) is that the very best "window of
opportunity" for starting the college search begins during the junior
year. This means SAT/ACT tests in the winter-spring, video shot, edited and
copied in the early spring, and letters/resumes and tapes/CD's sent out to coaches
with a summer travel schedule by May. If a player wants to do anything earlier
than this--say at the end of the sophomore year or start of the junior year,
postcards to a coach conveying basic information and upcoming travel ball
schedule will be just fine. As you are aware, active recruiting really can't
begin much before the junior year and contact recruiting--as in personal home
visits, meetings at tournaments, phone calls, etc.--can't start until after the
junior year.
While it's true that if your player is TRULY going to be the next Lisa
Fernandez coaches would want to know this early--say when she's a sophomore--in
reality, doing too much very early may work against some kids. Many players
aren't nearly as strong physically, experientially, etc., at the start of their
sophomore year as they will be at the end of their junior summer. So making
videos, expecting answers or decisions from coaches on recruiting early on can
be discouraging because most coaches won't even be looking seriously at sophomores.
They may be gently encouraging because they know nothing is serious that early
(for them). But 95-98% of all college coaches will have to see a player at the
end of her junior year--playing competitive travel ball--before they'll go any
further.
If your player is hoping to make the team at a highly competitive college such
as a Pac-10 school, her best bet is to follow a good conditioning program, get
top grades and play on the most competitive travel team she can--playing
"up" even at the Gold level if possible as a sophomore.
Unfortunately, recruiting -- like life -- isn't fair, and many coaches tend to
follow certain patterns when recruiting. Players who don't fit into those
patterns will probably have a harder time getting noticed and therefore actively
recruited.
Also by starting too early, kids often get burnt out or tired of the recruiting
process. Many, if not most kids are still pursuing colleges, making phone
calls, sending out tapes, etc., well into their senior year. Starting early
won't necessarily change that, and continuing a high-intensity college search
for two years can be very tiring. You'll likely get the same or better results
by waiting until the mid-junior year to start!
As for recruiting
companies, yes, parents can do it themselves and be just as effective at a much
lower price. Follow the guidelines in my book religiously and be very
dedicated--remember, when the time comes, she has to make the phone
calls because coaches aren't recruiting you, her mom or any recruiting service!
And, beware of expensive
companies that want your money when she's a sophomore and promise to
mass-market her to 1000 schools. She'll get some feedback, but it's very
unlikely to be from the schools you think she can play at. And again, when
she's a senior and it really counts--when coaches are actually likely to be
recruiting her--most of these companies have done their part and are nowhere to
be seen. Before spending any money be sure to talk to people who've used a
service for softball and who felt they got their money's worth.
Question: Late Start on Recruiting
I’m a senior in high school and have been giving collegiate softball some
thought. I had planned on having schools come watch me during my junior year. I
was out most of the season with a shoulder injury and was unable to have
college coaches come watch. Because of this injury I was also unable to play on
a summer ball team to get noticed that way. I really don't want to give up on
my chances of playing but I'm at a loss as to what to do. I've heard many
people tell me its too late, others say it's almost impossible now... Is this
true? I really don't want to give up on my dream. Is there any advice or
guidance you could give me as to what to do?
Answer: Late Start on Recruiting
It IS very late to be getting started, but, it's not an impossible task. You
need to learn all about the college search and then begin to market your skills
and experience to college coaches around the country. It's much like finding a
job. You CANNOT wait for them to come to you--you have to go
out and find them. Your best bet is to get a copy of my book, Preparing to Play
Softball at the
Collegiate Level. It is published by the Natl Fastpitch Coaches Assoc. (the
college coaches' organization). You can call them at 662-320-2155 or email www.nfca.org to order the book. I will also be
glad to mail you a brochure (if you send me a snail mail address).
The book will take you and your family step by step through the college search
process and tell you everything you need to know and to do to find the college
and team that are right for you. Recruiting is extremely competitive and there
is no "magic bullet" for most kids. Hard work, dedication, a
determination to play in college and the willingness to look at lots of
different kinds of college teams is the best way to ensure you find a school
that wants you. This process includes playing very competitive travel ball,
writing lots of letters, sending out skills videos, making follow up phone
calls and showing coaches how serious you are about playing at the college
level.
However, since most coaches won't offer money to kids they can't see in person,
I would suggest that you consider focusing on either local colleges that might
see you play fall ball OR on Div. II and NAIA schools. You should rush to get a
good video shot, edited and copied and then put together packets with the
video, an intro letter and a resume. (You may also want to mention your injury
and that you are completely recovered.) Then send these out ASAP and follow up
with phone calls within two weeks
after mailing the packet.
The benefit of focusing on D-II and NAIA schools is that THEY are allowed to
have you come on campus and work out or tryout with their teams in the
fall--and for NAIA's all year. So a coach who likes your video won't
necessarily ignore you just because he/she can't see you play in person. If
they like the tape--and get it soon enough--they can invite you on campus for a
tryout. That's why these schools are great for kids who may not have had the
exposure they need over the junior to senior summer.
My book will enable you to do all these things--if you are willing to go for
it, you should be able to find a team. Best of luck!
Question:
Early Signing
What percentage of Div l & Div ll softball players sign letters of intent
during the early signing period (Nov.)...75%,50%, 25%???. I have a tentative
offer at a Div l school which I will be visiting during the week of early
signing. I feel pressure to sign early, but I'm concerned that I have not
visited any other schools. The coach has indicated that if I don't sign
early the offer will go to someone else. I do have offers to visit schools in
January, but those schools are D-II and can't match the academics of the school
that wants me to sign early. Any advice, and what's the percentage that sign
early??
Answer: Early Signing
I wouldn't want to guess at the exact percentage of kids who sign early, but, I'm fairly comfortable saying that
the majority of kids who do eventually commit to or sign at a school (and that
includes D-I, II, III and NAIA as well as JC programs) will make those
commitments in the spring. It's possible that half of the kids who will
sign at a Div. I program sign early because D-II and NAIA schools as well as
JC's often tend to sign kids later. But many D-I schools will also still
be looking at kids after the early signing.
What's difficult is to get new coaches to look at you or pursue you as winter
progresses. Since they won't have really any opportunities to see you in
person (except local coaches who might see some HS ball), it can be tough for a
coach to make a decision to recruit you. Videos are crucial to this
process, but some coaches still will want to see you in person.
My advice, however, to all players is this. If you've visited a few
schools in the fall, and you've found one you love, don't NOT sign because you (or mom and dad)
want to know if bigger, better offers/schools might come along. On the other
hand, if you've visited a couple of schools--or a lot--and really don't feel
you've found a good college match, definitely don't sign just because you're
afraid there won't be any other offers. When kids are hesitant to
sign--money aside--I've found there's usually a good reason. Hope this
helps. Good luck!
Question: Small-town Players
My daughter is in her Grade 11 year in a small town in British Columbia. She has been playing
competitive ball for the last 5 years and would like to pursue college ball in
the U.S. In our small town we
aren't sure if there will be enough girls to carry an 18u travel team.
The girls don't get the exposure the bigger centers get. My question is
does this have great bearing on college recruiting? We keep stats on my
daughter who is a pitcher. We are in the process of compiling a resume
and video. I would appreciate any advice.
Answer: Small-town Players
Basically most recruiting decisions college coaches make are based on (grades
and work ethic aside) a player's performance when the coach is watching.
This may be through a skills video. But more often that's a starting
place and coaches prefer to recruit a player based on seeing her in
person. Since Div. I and Div. III coaches cannot have players try out
for them or work out with their teams, most coaches will prefer to see a player
with her travel ball team. It's not just whether you have a small travel
ball club, but even what tournaments they attend. It's not fair, but it
just is the way it is.
If an athlete is unlikely to be able to attend many tournaments where
college coaches will be scouting, I usually encourage her to send her skills
tape to a lot of Div. II and NAIA programs because these coaches are allowed to
have players try out on campus (under certain conditions for D-II.) This
makes them more likely to pursue a player whose tape they really like even
though they know they won't be able to see her at any tournaments.
Realistically, statistics only matter in a school media guide. Stats may
look impressive on the page, but in softball they are very subjective and
relative to the caliber of competition. So not a lot of recruiting is
done based on statistics alone. Hope this helps.
Question: Scholarship Funding Amounts?
I’m new to the recruiting process. What percentage of the cost of college
is covered under a typical softball scholarship? 100%, 50%, 25%, etc.?
Answer: Scholarship Funding Amounts?
This is an excellent question, but one that's impossible to answer--at least I
can't give one general answer to it. A true "softball"
scholarship--e.g., factoring in only athletic-based aid--could be any amount of
money. A top Div. I program might offer a player a full ride scholarship that
covers books/tuition/room/board. (These aren't very common, by the way,
despite what you may hear at the ball park!)
Far more common are "partial" scholarships, and they will vary from
player to player and school to school--even year to year. Two schools
might offer tuition--at a state school, this might be $3800 and represent 30%
of the cost of attendance. At a private school, this might be $17,000 and
represent 60% of the cost. Because D-I's are limited to 12 full rides (total,
not annually)--and most D-I's don't have the full 12--and D-II's are limited to
around 7 total, realistically, almost all players receiving only softball-based
aid are getting partial scholarships.
What's important to keep
in mind, however, is that there are many other sources of funding. There
is a lot more academic money available than softball money, and there's also
need-base and ethnicity-based money as well as other grants and loans. So
investigate all options when your athlete is looking into college funding. Hope
this helps!
Question: Statistics for a Pitcher?
What pitching statistics will college coaches be expecting to see? What
will they likely ask for in an informational profile? Should statistics
be broken out for high school and travel ball, or should they be
combined? Should we present statistics for only the current year (or most
current year), or should they include all four years of high school? Do you
have a good example we might follow?
Answer: Statistics for a Pitcher?
College coaches will look for basic pitching stats such as innings pitched,
walks, strikeouts, hits/extra base hits, earned runs and ERA. They may
also be interested in the teams she's pitched against in summer ball.
Stats should be recent...don't go back to freshman year in HS...doesn't mean
anything...and definitely separate high school and travel ball
I have a sample resume and letter of introduction in my book, but always keep
in mind, coaches recruit players based on their performance when the coaches
see them, in person or on video. Other things like grades, attitudes,
experience, etc. also factor in. Stats look nice in a college's media
guide, but don't mean much in the final accounting when it comes to recruiting.
Hope this helps!
Question: Specific Skills for a College
Catcher?
My daughter's best friend would like to pursue a college softball
scholarship. What specific softball skills do college coaches look for in
a catcher who is seeking an athletic scholarship? In addition to their
defensive skills, what are coaches looking for with regards to batting average
and base running? This girl is a sophomore and wants to know what
specific skills she needs to become proficient in.
Answer: Specific Skills for a College
Catcher?
The tough part about your question is that all coaches have "ideals"
about what they want in a catcher or any position player. But what each
coach will settle for and what each coach gives highest priority to will differ
from coach to coach.
The things coaches tend to look for are: 1) top grades; 2) good size (being a
5'1" catcher is hard at the college level); 3) quick feet behind the
plate; 4) a strong arm with a quick release!!!! (usually they should be able to
make the throw to 2nd base certainly in under 3 seconds from hand to
glove. That's where the quick release comes in because a player can have
a strong arm, but take 5 seconds from the time the ball hits the glove until
the throw leaves her hand. She won't throw many runners out.) 5)
Excellent blocking skills, particularly on low throws and drop ball pitches; 6)
The ability to relate well to and communicate with pitchers; 7) PERHAPS MOST
IMPORTANTLY, a strong knowledge of the game and excellent leadership skills.
(Being able to guide the team and understand strategy and situations will often
make an average athlete into an outstanding catcher. And a big strong
catcher who doesn't know the game and is tentative and quiet behind the plate
won't inspire confidence in her team.)
As for offensive skills, you can't generalize about averages because it really
depends on the caliber of competition a player faces. Coaches do want to see
that the player has the most competitive travel ball experience possible, and
usually a coach looks for a catcher who is a power hitter. Coaches look to see
if a batter has proper hitting mechanics, good discipline at the plate and the
ability to hit the ball hard against really good pitching. Catchers aren't
usually the fastest runners on the team, so coaches don't worry as much about
speed, but baserunning "smarts" always help.
My advice to your friend is to develop her skills to the best of her potential,
and then when it's time to look for a college team, look for a coach who feels
she can really contribute. Don't worry about whether or not it's the best team
in the country. Tell her to work to become the best player she can, and someone
will think she's a good prospect!
Comment re Home Schooled Student Athletes
My daughter who was home schooled, received a full-ride athletic scholarship to
[a Division I university.] And yes it's discriminatory, however as Cathi
indicated you have to fill out forms and a board of the college reviews
it. The Athletic Director at the university was very helpful for
us. My son also played on [a full football scholarship at a Div. I
college]. He first went to a small college, then transferred. The
Div. I college was great with him as well. Guess the Lord blessed
us. But it is a lot of work and well worth it. My wife has all the needed
info and would be happy to answer any questions.
Question: How to Get College
Exposure?
My daughter is a junior in High School. She has been pitching for 8
years, taking private lessons for the last four. Currently she is stuck
behind an All-State pitcher and is getting very little game time during her
high school season. This has been very discouraging for her as well as
me. She has played summer travel ball for the last 3 yrs and will be
again this year. Besides summer tournaments, talking with the college
coaches where she wants to go to school, and making a video, is there anything
else we can do to get exposure? How important are overall high school
stats for pitchers? He pitching instructor (A D-1 college coach) has
indicated she is D-II/III or NAIA level pitcher. How late do colleges
"recruit" seniors? Perhaps she is better trying to be a walk-on
as a college scholarships may not be needed? Unfortunately, do to her
high school experience, she may decide not to play in college.
Answer: How to Get College
Exposure?
Well, the first thing you and your daughter should do is read my book!
The reason is that it will open her eyes to the world of recruiting, and it
should hopefully help motivate her to keep going as well as provide the tools
you/she need to find a college and team that are a great match for her.
The second thing you need to do is understand that while high school softball
is important for continuing skill development, extra work-out and playing time,
and socialization, most college coaches these days look first and foremost at a
player's travel ball experience. High school ball varies too much from
region to region, even county to county, in terms of consistency of
competition, coaching, etc. Your daughter can view HS ball as her time to
get ready for summer ball while contributing whatever she's asked to her team
and school.
HS stats are minimally important, because unless a college coach knows the
level of HS competition, they really don't say much about the player. A
pitcher with a 1.9 ERA who's in a really tough HS league with lots of top
travel ball hitters might be good Div. I prospect, while a pitcher with 0.02
ERA who's playing in an essentially "slow pitch" type of league might
turn out to be someone who just throws a 54 mph fastball and nothing else.
It's very important to remember that when it comes to playing in college, the
athlete's motivation has to be very strong, and things like sitting the bench
can't deter her from doing it. She may well sit in college, at least as a
freshman, so she has to want to be there for the love of the game. As for
her college search, you can follow the guidelines in my book for contacting
coaches, sending out tapes, making follow up schools, etc. But the most
helpful information may be on how to find her best "target zone"
colleges.
If she has her heart set on going to specific schools only, she may have to
give up college ball--if she wants to go to a big D-I school, for example, and
she's a good D-III or NAIA prospect, then she probably won't be playing ball
there. But there are so many schools looking for good pitching, that she
has lots of choices. The key is marketing her skills to the right schools
for her!
She can try out as a walk-on at
a big program, but since 80% of ALL college teams are Div. II, Div. III or NAIA, if she's going to help
that kind of team, she has lots more schools to choose from. If you are
fortunate enough to be able to help with the cost of her education, that opens
even more doors, as Div. III schools--and many smaller D-I, D-II or NAIA schools--don't
have athletic scholarships. This factor combined with solid pitching
skills may make her a terrific prospect for a lot of coaches!!!!
If she loves the game and really wants to play, don't be deterred by an
unfortunate HS situation. Send out 40 or 50 packets with a letter (see my
book), resume (see my book) and video (ditto!!!) and then start following up in
the fall with phone calls. Smaller programs are often still looking over
the winter and into the spring of the player's senior year! Hope this
helps. Best of luck!
Question: Committing Without A Letter of
Intent?
If you are being recruited by a Div. 1 school without an athletic scholarship
is there a formal signing process? Without a letter of intent, how do you
know you are more than a walk on?
Answer: Committing Without A Letter of
Intent?
Basically you have only the coach's word on this. There ARE no guarantees, and you do not sign
any kind of letter--or at least anything you sign would be meaningless.
However, if the coach has treated you like a "recruited" walk-on as
opposed to just any walk-on--e.g., if you've gone for an official visit, if the
coach has assured you have a spot on the team (assuming you "do the
work" when you get there), you're probably okay. It would be a good
idea to do an informal "poll" of current team members and ask them
whether the coach is as good as his or her word. Ask them how many
walk-on's make the team, how many were recruited ahead of time versus those who
just showed up. Answering these kinds of questions can help provide some sense
of security. HOWEVER, be aware that it's really up to you--e.g., how hard you
work and so on. And there is definitely an element of risk. But every
coach needs good, committed walk-on's! Just be sure you're going to the college
because that's where you want to be. Don't go there just because it's Div. I or
has a "name."
Hope this helps.
Question: Softball Pitching/Recruiting
If your daughter is a premier
pitcher and is in the newspapers all the time--League MVP, Scholastic All Star,
etc., should you assume that colleges are looking at her or should you be
contacting colleges about her? She is a junior this year, and I'm not sure what
to expect. Everyone thinks she will get a scholarship, but I'm a little bit concerned
whether it's all hype.
Answer: Softball Pitching/Recruiting
Coaches are always looking for top pitching prospects, but they also focus
closely on players' experience at the competitive travel ball level. High
school ball isn't quite as important, so while honors achieved there are
terrific, they don't guarantee recruitment. It's usually unwise to assume
coaches "know" about any athlete (no matter how good she is), and to
believe that they will automatically recruit her when it's time. There
are just too many really good players out there, and even good players get
overlooked. My advice...read my book and follow the guidelines for
conducting a thorough and aggressive college search. By covering every
base, no matter what happens, you will always know you did the best you could
for her. When she makes a college choice, it will be based on her having
looked at a lot of different options in order to find the school as well as the
team that's right for her. Hope this helps. Good luck!
Question: Div. III schools and scholarships
I've been hearing conflicting
stories about D-3 colleges giving athletic scholarships. My daughter has
been getting a few calls from D-3 coaches. However, these schools are too
expensive for us unless she gets money. Her grades are not good enough to
get an academic scholarship. Do we just come right out and ask these
coaches instead of guessing?
Answer: Div. III Schools and Scholarships
It's not unusual to hear conflicting stories because many parents tend to
s-t-r-e-t-c-h the truth a bit when discussing their athlete's financial aid
situation in college. Tuition scholarships become full rides; aid
packages based on need, ethnicity, academics, become athletic scholarships; and
so on. However, Div. III schools cannot offer athletic-based aid, period. Each school
administers financial aid differently though, so a D-III school with generous aid based on
need may, for example, have a certain amount set aside for students with
special talents other than academics.
But no matter what you hear, a coach
at a D-III school simply will not come up to you and say, "We can get
Susie athletic money." You will probably have to go through the
financial aid application process at each school to see what they might
offer. Don't be afraid to do this or assume you won't qualify.
Private schools vary GREATLY in how much they give and how they administer
funds. So while one school might offer you $5000 out of $23,000, another
might give her $9000 out of $14,000. Also keep in mind that most athletes
getting softball scholarships are getting partial amounts only. Often the aid
package a D-III school puts together may be better than the pure
"softball" money a D-II or D-I might offer. Hope this
helps. Good luck!
Question: Scholarship Package Negotiations
Thanks to the great info. in your
book, we are now talking to several coaches & planning visits. Your book
was essential because she didn't get any exposure last summer at the tourneys,
and coaches are coming to see her because of the tape & follow-ups
only. My question is this: What is the S.O.P. regarding scholarship
package negotiations. What do you get in writing? Are scholarships usually
guaranteed for 4-5 years barring injury? What happens in the event of an injury
that prevents play for a season? Is every detail spelled out in a written
contract?
Answer: Scholarship Package Negotiations
All softball scholarships must be
renewed on an annual basis. No matter WHAT a coach tells you about four
years guaranteed or five years guaranteed, technically, they can take a
scholarship away at any time and the scholarship must be renewed every
year--before July 1, I believe. However, most coaches go into this
with honorable intentions. If they offer your athlete a scholarship, you
can expect it will be renewed every year unless she doesn't live up to HER end
of the bargain. But you need to understand the "terms" going
into it. As for four years vs. five years, some schools can afford the
extra year, some can't. Some will give her money towards the fifth year,
but make her work in the Athletic Dept. or as a coaching assistant. It
really does vary, and it is BY NO MEANS a given--many schools simply don't have
a scholarship budget for a fifth year. As for injuries, this is a
question you should ask each coach offering her any scholarship money--e.g.,
What if something happens? Most schools will honor the scholarship and
have her red-shirt that injury year if possible. But you need to ask
because, again, this may differ from school to school and they are not under
any obligation one way or another.
Finally, this will not necessarily
be written down anywhere. Her Natl Letter of Intent will reflect her
scholarship money for one year only and she'll renew at the end of her
freshman, sophomore and junior years. Some schools will make formal,
written offers, but other than the Natl Letter of Intent, nothing she signs or
reads would be binding. (And one suggestion..... Don't approach
this as a "negotiation." Most schools offer a player a given
amount based on a) how much THEY have available and b) HER perceived impact on
the team. Since this can differ completely from one type of school to the
next, getting into comparisons or trying to "haggle" is extremely
risky. Many coaches will at that point, simply say, Best of luck to you
at the other school) Hope this helps. Good luck with your
athlete!
Question: Coach vs. Parent and College
Contacts
I have read your book (which is
excellent), but I have a few questions. My daughter is a junior in high school
and plays summer travel ball on a team I coach. She has received some
written materials from several schools, and I understand she can have no verbal
contacts until her junior year is complete. I believe as a travel ball
coach, I could talk to college coaches about members of my team regardless of
their grade in school. Am I, as a coach prohibited from talking to college
coaches about my daughter who plays for me? In addition, my daughter and
I may have the opportunity to travel to a college tournament in February.
There will be several schools participating that she is in interested in, but I
assume that she is not to make contact with any of the coaches. Again, I
assume that as a travel ball coach I could approach coaches and discuss my
players, but in this context could I discuss my daughter's abilities as a
player on my team? Finally, as a family we are in the process of
conducting college searches for my older daughter. Some of the schools we
visit are also schools my younger daughter (the junior) may be interested
in. While we are on campus, can the younger daughter make an appointment
and talk to the softball coach and is this advisable? Thank you for the
book and the web site. They provide a wealth of useful information.
Answer: Coach vs Parent and College Contacts
Basically, you shouldn't be talking to coaches about recruiting your junior
daughter until July 1 (June 15th for Div. II schools), but if you have any
questions about this call the NCAA When you visit the schools with your
older daughter, if your younger daughter wants to contact the coach and see if
the coach will set up an appointment to talk to her about the school, she can
do this, but the coach still shouldn't be talking to her about
"recruiting" her. What I recommend to parents who are also
coaches is that you let your assistant coach talk to college coaches about your
daughter when possible. If you start (or a college coach starts) a conversation
about the team and its players, you might want to preface any comments you make
by saying, "My daughter is #12, the SS." She's a 2006 graduate,
so you might want to talk to my assistant if you want more information about
her. Or we will be happy to send a resume and video and to call you at
the appropriate time." This way you cover yourself and don't risk
getting into any "gray" areas.
When you go to the tournament in
February, you could take some team books/rosters along and hand them out to
coaches there. You could tell them some of your players--including your
daughter--will be sending tapes, resumes, etc. and would like to learn more
about their programs. I know rules like this get STRETCHED and BROKEN all
the time, both by parents and coaches. But my motto is better safe than
sorry. I wouldn't want my daughter's eligibility jeopardized by something
I did or a college coach did, and if a school is a good "fit" for her
and vice versa, she can make sure the coach knows she interested via the proper
channels and proper follow-up when the time is right. Hope this
helps...good luck!
Question: Recruiting Dead/Quiet Periods
What's the difference between a
'DEAD' period and a 'QUIET' period?
Answer: Recruiting Dead/Quiet Periods
A "dead" period is a time when coaches cannot have any contact other
than phone contact with players they are recruiting. Typical dead periods
include the NCAA D-I Championship tournament, the time immediately before and
after the initial National Letter of Intent signing day, and the time during
the NFCA convention. Coaches can't scout, visit players' homes, bring recruits
in for visits, talk to them in-person, etc. A "quiet" period is a
time when coaches cannot scout. They can still bring recruits in for visits,
talk to them, and so on, but they cannot attend games, tournaments or practices
where they might scout or evaluate talent. The D-I coaches have a recruiting
"calendar" which marks specific time periods during which they can
scout at travel ball tournaments. (At this time, high school games/tournaments
are not be affected by the recruiting calendar.) Hope this helps!
Question: Academic support for college
athletes
I am a junior and have 3.2 GPA. I
have had learning disabilities all my life, but I study hard to get the grades
I get. Could you tell me if they have tutors to help athletes? I have been a
starting catcher on my high school and traveling team since I was a freshman,
and I made the all City Team in my sophomore year. Any help would be
appreciated.
Answer: Academic support for college athletes
The key to making it in college as a softball player with learning disabilities
is to plan ahead and to start early to overcome the obstacles in your way. For
example, you need to get complete documentation of your learning disability so
you can arrange to take the SAT and ACT under "special circumstance" testing conditions. You
need to get mom and dad to start looking into this right now if you're a junior
because this is a process that takes time. (Call the SAT and ACT Boards for more
information.)
You also need to be sure you're
taking NCAA core classes to meet eligibility requirements. The NCAA does have
some special provisions for LD students, so have mom or dad call the NCAA to
find out more about this. (913-339-1906). Then when you begin to contact
colleges, be sure to let coaches know about this situation and to send copies
of transcripts, etc. so that they can see from the very beginning how good your
work ethic is and how you have successfully mastered your high school classes.
Many colleges have great resources
for LD students (and for athletes as well!) that include tutors, study halls,
grade-checks, and much more. You might consider looking at smaller colleges
with good student-teacher ratios, and possibly at smaller softball programs
with schedules that aren't as hugely demanding as some of the big D-I schools
can be. This may allow you a better chance to succeed both on the playing field
and in the classroom. Hope this helps. Keep up the good work. It will pay off!
Question: Working out with a college team
I have a girl who is a senior, and a
Division II school has asked her to work out with them. I want to know if this
will be permissible. Thanks, Joe.
Answer: Working out with a college team
It is permissible for athlete's to work out with D-II teams, (but not D-I or D-III). However, they must be seniors and
they can't work out during their traditional high school season. Call the NCAA
for details and more information. Recruits may also work out with NAIA school
teams if invited to do so. Good luck!
©Collegiate
Softball Connection 2008