How would you advise?

Let’s say you have a daughter that is a junior in high school this year. She wants to play college ball and there is interest from some major D1s, smaller D1s, and D2s. She has indicated she doesn't want to sit on anyone's bench for 2 years. What would you advise her to do?

I see athletes sign knowing they will be on the bench at least 2 years out of 4...is it worth it just to sign at a high profile D1? High profile D1s can also recruit all over the country and continuously bring in the 'next great player' so you will probably be looking over your shoulder all the time.

Suppose UNC (could be any major D1) offers you 2 to 3 thousand dollars to sign with them and you know you will probably be on the bench for 2 years. Lets say that a D2 or a Southern Conference (UNCG, Pembroke, App State...etc) offers you a full ride or within a couple of thousand of one and you will have a good shot to play meaningful innings as a freshman...what would you do? Let’s say that a D3 puts together a package that basically pays for everything and almost guarantees that you will play as a freshman...what would you do? I believe some would still be willing to sit on a major D1s bench and turn down the others...how would you advise a kid in this situation?

Should this same kid be interested in a high profile Junior College? Junior Colleges only get a player for 2 years so they expect all of their recruits to come in and make a difference right off the bat. I really like this scenario!

I am not asking these questions with any kid in mind except my own. I have always attempted to push her towards a level and a team that she can play for and make a difference. Who she is doesn't matter...this could be any kid.

I see quite a few kids that believe they can take sitting on the bench for years, but they usually do not last...just my opinion. I value the knowledge and passion of the TBR posters and would like to hear what you have to say concerning this subject.

I just see a trend where it looks like parents and players feel that if their daughter doesn’t sign with a major D1 then they have some how not met expectations and are willing to sit on the bench just to say I signed with a D1. How could anyone that really wanted to play college softball accept an ‘invited walk-on’ status at a major D1 and turn down big money from a D2, small D1 or Junior College?

 

Personal Decision

My daughter decided to attend a DII college, with no help athletically the first year and a little the next. She did receive academic scholarships though.
Playing time was important but the education and the place where she would live for 4 years were more important. She found a school that she fell in love with. She will graduate this year with honors. (And we were able to afford it as expensive as it is) Worth every cent spent!

I believe it is a personal decision that I feel should be left up to the kid. Economics matter as well.
I have several girls that received "full ride" offers to attend a certain school but settled on where the school they felt comfortable with and knew going in they could play and make a difference for much less.

DI, DII, DIII, JUCO, NAIA, it's still about the education first. The rest really doesn't matter after the 4 years are done.

As a manager, I don't hire employees based on how many innings they played in college.

 

Education 1st....

No matter what, she needs to choose the school where she will get the education she wants and that she would be happy at, whether she ever got to play another game of softball or not! (You never know what the future holds injury, change of heart, etc...)
We told our DD to choose the college she wanted to attend, regardless of anything else! She visited and talked with D1, D2, D3, & NAIA schools, had offers from all! She decided on a NAIA school, Montreat! That was the college that she said she liked the best! That is the college that she said I would want to go there even if I got injured and couldn't play softball anymore! So she took their offer and is extremely happy at the college! Hope that helps!

 

Exactly! Couldn't be said any better.

 

A rocky road is the recruitment trail...

The process should be fueled first by academics.
It is about finding the right place for yourself,
not about doing the popular thing, or the marquee name.

The process can overwhelm you and be very tedious.
It is important to focus at the task and have a critical eye during all visits to the schools and meetings with the coaches.

Look beyond the easy choice for the right one.

Parents should be involved in the decision. They have been involved
with every important decision in their son's or daughters lives up to now, and on this one, they are on the sidelines??

Who knows better.... ??

When considering a school, make sure they have the same passion for you, that you have for them.

Beware the early offers and early committments. That's when the real recruiting will begin; expect phone calls... Believe your word is your word.

Last thing.....if a player told me she was ok with sitting the bench the first two years, that would worry me... Players play....

If you truely put the time in, and treat this like a job search, look at all the options, you will find that right place.

You'll know when you know....

 

JUCOs can be the way though

the larger 4 years sound great to some, but with my DD, we knew that she is struggling in the HS arena. Definitely not the 3.6 GPA, 1200 SAT kind of student, but average student. But knew she wants to go somewhere that she won't sit for 1 or 2 years. Has a great opportunity with a JUCO in SC. Where she will get her first 2 years of school for free along with walking out the door in 2 years able to make money and continue her education from there.

She will continue to play college ball and travel and we are adjusting our marketing strategy to showcase her as a JUCO transfer that still has 2 to 3 years of eligibility left in her college career along with showing that she can hold up her grades and the workout regiment required with playing college ball.

JUCOs tend to give those students who struggle in HS the opportunity to show that they can survive in a different learning atmosphere because college is soooo much more different from any learning experience they have had up to that point. Also, just like at the MB early signing tournament that was just held in NOV. I talked to at least 4 JUCO coaches that had 2 - 3 full scholarships available and were just looking for someone to come play.

 

You have to remember that these coaches are counting on their recruits for job security. In the competitive world that we live in, a couple of losing seasons could mean the end to a coach's career at that particular school. Every coach that my DD talked with told her that her scholarship meant that softball was her "job" and that her job was to make sure that they kept their job.

I think that all coaches want every player to be an impact player when they arrive on campus and even though they may be unsure if they will get playing time as a freshman, they should be working as if they are a starter with someone trying to take their spot.

It all comes down to the right fit for the kid, look for the school that will give your daughter what she needs academically, athletically and spiritually!

 

Advise

Lots of good advise from very knowlegable posters! Hopefully by now U have visited all the schools for which U have interest and have interest in you. You have reviewed the majors each offer, the classroom size, the academic excellence or weaknesses each may have, and the dorms security, as well as the campus as a whole. Also, you have narrowed your choices down, much like a job search as U truly do become an employee as such of the college or university and the Coach, your boss! Make sure all the parts fit for U! Everyone is correct that softball maybe over quickly but U played the game because you loved it and the college softball money is just a bonus, right?

Pick a school that is right for U! I think you will know when you visit that school, U will feel comfotable, U will feel the warmth, the "homie" atmosphere. Both my DD's felt that way, although one was just not able to attend her first choice due to cost! She backed off of visiting for a while, then found a home at GWU where she flourished.

Charlie is right, parents much help, must give advise, and help jot down positives and negatives about schools! Also, the parents are forking out money in most situations for tuition, room and board, or some part of the cost. The decision can have a long lasting affect/effect on the life of your child, U better be very involved!

Good luck! A pray might help with your decision making as well!

 

1 thing I forgot...

Also do NOT choose a college for the coach, because you never know when that coach will not be at that college! It is a job for them and people change jobs, more often now there ever before! Yes, it matters if you like the coach and you think they have the same philosophy of the game as you do. As in the case at Montreat, the coach that recruited you, may not be the coach on the 1st day of classes! Choose for the school!