Is D1 the only news worthy athlete?

Is it a majority feeling that you only rate as a rateable, notable, news worthy, deserving athlete if you are D1 bound?
After reading some posts from TBRers I have been left with the feeling that to a lot of you out there, you only rate as a worthy athlete if you choose, or are chosen by a D1 school. IMO that just plain is not true!
I do not think that it makes you any more or less an athlete to go to something other than a D1 school. Not all athletes choose a D1 school. That does not mean that they couldn't have chosen a D1 school or been chosen by a D1 school! It means that for various reasons they chose another of the various choices. There are D2, D3, NAIA, Junior Colleges, Community Colleges and such for a reason. Not everyone wants to or can attend a D1 school.
You should choose the college you attend for several reasons, not just the athletics, EDUCATION should be the 1st and most important reason! Are you only something special to a coach if you are D1 bound? In the medias eyes do you have to be signed by a D1 school for them to show interest in you? Just because you do go to, or are signed by, a D1 school, does that automatically make you a special or better athlete?
I would just like to hear some feedback on this subject! Not slamming comments!
I know a lot of HS age players read this stuff. I hope there isn't player sitting out there, thinking they aren't as good as someone else, because they don't want to, or won't go to a D1 school!

 

Be happy with the school

Too many people are hugn up on the label of D1. There are many levels of D1 programs, and there are plenty of D3 programs who can beat many D1 programs.

I feel that in NC, most if not all of the state schools are D1, so that is what most parents can afford. In NJ, most of the state schools are D3 and that is where you can find a lot of talent also.

A girl only needs to worry about attending a school that she would like to gradute from with a degree that will get a her a job after college. D1, D2 or D3 should not matter. Be happy with the college because that is where you will be for 4 years of your life.

 

Excellent !!!

The real question is 10 years from now ...is it really going to matter ?? D1 or D3 as long as the kid is getting a quality education and having fun playing ball...WHO REALLY CARES !!!--- Guru

 

Guru is right on. The only thing that matters for the immediate is that my DD is having fun and being the best she can be. All that will matter in the future is the precious time we spent doing something together. As far as perception, it's us and our DD's doing what we enjoy. Whether it's at a top ten D1 or at the local community college. No one is any more important or rewarding than the other in my opinion. If you're too hung up on making it to the very tip top, you may be in it for the wrong reason.

 

Make sure.....

...your signing day is not the greatest day of your career....
Make sure your Graduation day is. !!!

 

This should be a very interesting and entertaining discussion. Thanks for bringing this up, Softball4ever.

After having this discussion with 100's of players and many college coaches, this attitude is found a lot in NC. It is fostered for two reasons.

- There are 16 D1 schools found in NC alone; only Florida, California and Texas have more
- It is fostered by the parents, not the players

The "Blue Chip" athlete has accomplished a lot and deserves the recognition they receive, but the majority of scholarships are available outside of the "elite" D1 schools and there are more athletes competing for those positions.

But here are examples of mistakes that are made frequently during the recruiting process:

- Parents having an inflated opinion of their child's talent level
- Believing that playing for a certain team translates to scholarship offers
- Having an over-protective parent: Coaches don't want the extra baggage
- Whiners and complainers; you better believe a college coach is watching a player's behavior outside the lines

I can say this with absolute certainty. If a player is a terrific student (college material), works hard, has a great attitude and may not have the god given talent of a blue chipper; there is a college in need of this DD; at all levels of college.

Now, to address the talent level between D1 and others. In many cases, there are no or little differences. Sometimes it is just a matter of a DD wanting to attend a smaller school. For example, I challenge anyone to go watch a weekend series with Lenoir Rhyne playing. Those young ladies can compete with anyone.

The small discernible difference in the level of play is usually found in the number of (outstanding) pitchers one will face during a weekend series.

 

My DD is a freshman at Peace College. That was her first school of choice.
That was a school that offered what she wanted in her education. Then she got the opportunity to play for C.D. That was the icing on the cake!!!

 

Life is not fair.....booohoooo

The news media goes after the spectacular, this in turn sells papers...a goal, to achieve.

As for TBR posters, there are post of all kinds of success stories D1 thru JUCO, about players reaching their goal.

Agree, that playing D1 doesn't necessarily mean that you are a better player than some others, however, the D1 schools do seem to have a lot of top notch talent.

Like most people we all want the best, what is best for me may not be best for you. Everyone has goals in life like:
1. Moving out of my roach infested apartment into a crack house.
2. Retiring to the islands.
3. Playing D1 softball.

Our society has placed D1 as a top level over D2 and D3, see the math, so naturally anyone striving to be the best will associate D1 as the best.

Has anyone ever set their goal to play at a community college? Probably Not!

Reality Check...Life is not, nor will it ever be fair, some will accept the challenge while others will embrace the unfairness of it all.
So the question is which will you be?

 

or to attend a D1 school and ride the bench for 4 years vs going to a D2 school and maybe playing all 4 years.

 

Chose D3

I could have went to a well ranked D1 and sat the bench for about 2 years, but I chose to go D3 and was a starter for 4 years.
I looked at it this way, I basically only had 4 more years to play fastpitch softball and did I want to spend two of them on the bench? Well, I already answered that question. I ended up playing two more years of Women's Class A after college, winning states and regionals and playing in a National Tournament. I am pretty satisfied!