Text Box: Scroll down for links to terrific web sites that will provide helpful college search information!                                                           

FASTPITCH RECRUITING                                       

WEB SOURCE

ABOUT THIS SITE      I’m Catharine 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. and Canada. In the past twenty years, I've worked directly with over 2500 softball players, and I have helped thousands more through my book, Preparing to Play Softball at the Collegiate Level. In addition, I conduct workshops on the college search process, and I am considered one of the very best resources in the country on collegiate (softball) recruiting by players and their families, youth and college coaches alike. 

Coaches call Cathi’s book, Preparing to Play Softball at the Collegiate Level, the “Bible of Fastpitch Recruiting.”

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 & Lisa Fernandez, former UCLA head coach Sue Enquist & USA Olympic coach Mike Candrea. 

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. Fastpitch Recruiting Web Source includes:  

  1. A featured article on the college search process!  The January-February article is entitled: Could Someone Please Explain GPA’s To Me?

 

  1. In my humble opinion…  (Not quite a blog, more like an editorial page.)  Updated 1/6/10. Getting The New Year Off to a Good Start!

 

  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   

THE 2010 EDITION IS NOw AVAILABLE FROM THE NFCA!  BE THE FIRST ON YOUR BLOCK TO GEt YOUR COPY!

  1. Collegiate Softball Connection and You! Celebrating 20 years of experience and thousands of happy ball players!  If you want a knowledgeable expert at your side throughout your college search, read more about CSC and how I can help you navigate the competitive waters of recruiting.  (Phone consultations are also available.) This page includes signings/commitments by CSC clients. 

  2. Recruiting Workshops -- Information about upcoming clinics or about presenting a clinic.  

  3. 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.     

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


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!

 

Links to terrific web sites that will provide USEful 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.

 

  College Week Live.com   Informative web site for college-bound high school players who are looking at a lot of different colleges.

 

  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 300 to 400 coaches every year, and it is simply the best!  The NFCA runs a recruiting camp prior to the tournament, and with practice games, this becomes a week-long event.  

 

  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 Week Like.com   This web site helps you take virtual tours of colleges, check out campus life, and much 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

 

 

©Collegiate Softball Connection 2010