Hey veterans

Very Wise Advice !!

Education first !! Softball is a plus !!

Guru

 

A very wise man

 

....this post is a reply to your PS above.

If a kid is bigtime in love with a school or program, and she can play there, then why wait for the coach to come to you? Why not make the coaches job easier by scheduling an unofficial visit to the school. Sit down with the coach and start the discussion of your DDs future at the school and how she fits into the coaches plans for the future.
Say your DD is a 3B and the team needs to beef up the roster at that spot, if your DD commits early to the school of her dreams and is gonna get an opportunity to compete to play 3B, and accepts some scholly $ as well, then the coach can scratch off one of her position needs and spend her time recruiting kids to play elsewhere.

Fishman

 

Fish: If the scenario plays out like you describe then there is nothing at all wrong with it. And just so there is no misunderstanding I am ceertianly not advocating waiting for any coach to mkae the first move. The player must show some degree of interest.

Our situation played out just exactly like I mentioned above and those helping us with the process felt exactly the same way. It was: "Rachel will always be there" kind of feeling. Let me share a story...

I felt in the whole process of showcase/recruitment that on both sides both the kids and the schools are looking for that situation that was perhaps just a bit beyond their reach. One Ivy coach told me she recruited the same players as Stanford.. well honestly I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing but it illustrates the point.. she wanted athletes of that caliber regardless of whether it was reasonable she would be able to "ink" them. More power to her but when you take everything into account no kid able to play at Stanford was going to play at her school.

The Wellesley coach knew all along where she stood and won us over with love and respect... feelings that have become mutual. And perhaps as I sit here and type this having these feelings become mutual is the best single sign that the next four years will be good ones.

ps: We were also ask numerous times by different coaches: who else is recruiting you? what other offers have you had? It didnt seem to matter a whole lot that Ivy covered U was the dream and we would walk on broken glass to play. There seemed to be the need of a validation or buyers fenzy from their peers. Also, and this is important.. do not doubt that coaches and their staffs talk... I swear it seemed as if they all knew when and where we had been what we had done and where we had stayed. There is a certain value to not being as forthcoming and playing your cards close to your vest... just my 2 cents. YMMV

 

Let me add to above by BothSportsDad, and also to a post Gman has out there:

The number one thing should and always be academics. Without that it doesn't matter what you do. That in itself opens all the doors. In general I would have to think grades are the first thing coaches look at. Then it's what clubs did you belong to (not ball clubs). So what my DD did was take the Fall off to relax and concentrate on her Sports Med stuff she actually got introduced to through TB and her injury. She knows that as she develops and continues to work that there will be opportunities for her to play if she wants to at the next level, but she is looking at education first and ball second. And BTW, she will not have to travel any farther then SC or VA for travel ball to play at the next level.

When it's all said done she will have a good resume when she finishes with school. My Dad was an executive with PepsiCo for 20 years. He had people from all over. Former college athletes from big schools, down to non athletes from small schools. The biggest thing they all had in common regardless of their different backgrounds and varied accomplishments was they were good people, and they had great work ethics.

Have a plan and stay the course for what you believe in. When the time is right someone will believe in you and that's when everything changes. Hope this helps.

 

ACADEMICS!!

My DD has had the opportunity to play at her school of choice and is nearing the end of her collegiate softball career, but not her academic career. She has begun the process of looking into where she may go for a PHD program at the end of her 4 years. During that process she has discovered that most schools that offer masters degrees, PHDs, etc. pay very little attention to, or give any weight at all to athletics. They are more concerned with how you volunteered your time and internships in your field of study.

While collegiate softball does enhance your work ethic, gives you the opportunity to travel and compete in a sport that you love, teaches you how to "work" for good and bad bosses and teaches you time management; the grade point average is still the thing that will advance your DD through life.

Resumes look good with the "College Athlete" label, but they look better with "4.0" and Dr. on them! As Guru said, Academics are the most important thing.

 

Good point

I am of the belief you can have both! Knowing your daughter, I think she has done well so far and will do very well with her plans for PHD.
The quality kids with their values properly placed budget their time and use the skills they mastered in school and softball, mix them together and squeeze the positives to the top.
My DD is out of school a year and a half, is working and every interviewer commented on her college athletic experience as a positive part of her life as it showed she could participate as part of a team for a common goal, could get along with others, and could build on skills she had learned. Check the posts, I have not blown my daughter's horn before but she was an Academic All-America, top GPA for a female athlete at her school, and had an award named after her for academics and was also All-conference as a Freshman. You can have it all and based on all the kids I have seen play this wonderful game, there are more that can do it all than can not! One last comment, we are all different and all have different skills and passions! There are 2.0 GPA's that have become great leaders, contributed to society in many ways, and are wonderful people and friends. My point, education is key and at all levels of the spectrum, these kids get something positive from higher education that will assist them in life. We all have our gifts and thank goodness I was not judged by my college GPA when seeking employment. HA HA!
Cougar Coach sorry I got off subject somewhat, best of luck to your DD, she is special and to all the kids as they either start or finish their softball and academic career. Just running my mouth as usual

 

Exactly right!

My DD had offers to play college ball but not at the school which was her number one. Newer coach which had not seen her play. Looked at her resume and told her the money spots were gone but she had a very good shot at a walk on. Previous coach had recruited her but at that time, she was not interested in the school. Things change! She loves softball but then realized that she didn't want to commit the time that a D1 requires. Her education is foremost. She was a scholar athlete all 4 years in HS as well as all conference 3 years. Anyone that knows her, she gives 200% to whatever she's involved in. LOVES her school and is doing extremely well. Went in with credits that brought her to a sophomore level. Is the only freshman in two of her classes with the rest seniors as she placed into those classes. She is going to play intramural high level softball this spring. There are 3 intramural levels so girls you can play competitive ball while digging deep in your studies.
There are many options to play college ball: varsity, club, intramural (1,2,3).
So you can have it all! She is also on the jiu jitsu team and LOVES that!
Most important thing is VISIT the schools, pick the one that has a good program for your major and FEELS right. The rest will fall into place!

 

Danielle Lawrie national player of the year and pitcher for the NCAA champion UW Huskies made the follwing statement when being interviewed during the WS last year in OKC. When asked why she played softball she said: "because I can't play baseball".

This was one of the most telling moments in our journey when I heard this. I will leave it to each reader as to what they take from her statement.

 

...well, I'm not real sure what to think about her statement. MAYBE: One would be it makes no sense. Two would be she's verbose and much smarter than I. Three would be ......uuuuhhhhh, see #2!

I love when I'm right!
Fishpal