I'm signed (woohoo!) so now what . . . . . ?

I think there is a tendency among some kids, parents and even coaches to see signing as a goal but as one wise poster here as stated many times you hope that signing day does not become the best day of your career. Unfortunately, for some it is. I've already seen some freshmen (including the VA Gatorade Player of the Year) walk away from their college teams. This occurred after a travel ball summer that she virtually took off.

I spoke to my daughter about this. She played about 2/3's of the weekends with her travel team prior to her freshmen year. I asked her if there was less pressure. Her response was "absolutely not". She felt more responsibility to perform well to show others that the confidence her future coaches had placed in her was deserved. She said the pressure was especially great when her future coaches were watching. She was smart enough to realize that they were already projecting starting lineups and she wanted to be sure was in the mix.

Some rest is a good thing as the first fall in a D1/2 program will likely be the most physically and psychological taxing experience the student-athlete has ever had. "Coasting" through the summer is a recipe for failure, however.

 

While most college coaches dont demand that there incoming signee's play summer ball, they sure as heck expect it, and to play at a high level,
let me promise all you recent signee's if you think you have worked hard to get where you are, you havent seen anything yet....

 

SEC coaches comment

"if they quit their team and take a summer off I would pull their scholarships"

I have to believe that most schools feel this way. I have seen results from this in the past as several signed Sr's have taken major steps back their last year of school ball.

 

I state it this way "Committing or signing with a college is not the end, but rather a new beginning". I can see playing a little less and not spending as much money as you once did, but the extra time should be used to get yourself in better shape. Most colleges have a regimen they would like for incoming freshman to do and expect them to be at a certain physical level when they arrive.

 

excellent point

it's the first test........
It's very apparent what the answer is, for too many, immediately after the first practice.

 

So now what?.......CMon Duke, give some props to the kids for just getting a chance to sit there at the table and sign their name to an NLI.
I'm sure you were a proud pop when Meredith put her John Hancock sig on the paper.

No doubt its a very special day. Many kids won't get to experience this event.

I do agree with you that signing is a new beginning. I also agree with ChaCha that maybe spending bookoos of money traveling might not be appropriate. And last I agree with Wndmllr, that regardless of traveling, a newly signed kid should work hard to be in her best condition when she steps on the field in the fall.

Nice thread.

Marlin

 

A couple of things

Can't be done. The NLI is a contract that guarantees the player the support stated in the respective grant-in-aid. The player's scholarship cannot be pulled for not playing in the summer or for hitting .000 in Fall ball. As long as the player shows up for class and practice the 'ship' cannot be pulled during year one. That's why it's so important that coaches really to know the student-athlete they are offering.

 

You're certainly correct

I was very proud of my daughter. She worked very hard to get there as have all the kids signing this week. The college experience is far different than anything they have experienced before.

My point in starting this thread is really just reinforce the idea that players should continue to do pretty much what they've done before they signed. It worked, right? If the kid is 'ballplayer' and not a 'girl playing softball' this will happen effortlessly. Ballplayers would rather be playing ball, anyway.

Every signed player should buy a UNC, UNCG, UNCW, JMU, VT, Mars Hill, Gardner Webb, Wingate, ASU, Marist, NC Central. . . . . . sweatshirt, wear it proudly, and then go out every day and prove that they have earned it!

 

Not MY Quote

Just stating what I was told. I don't care to test it.

 

Playing post Sr Year can be a challenge.

Today in the competitive enviorment with most travel ball teams wanting to Build their own resume of accomplished players it is becoming more and more difficult for the the committed High School Sr's to maintain a spot in the line up. We have experienced that most teams want to put the unsigned signed players in the line-up to get them in front of College Coaches and I do agree with this philosphy to some degree.

However once the committment is agreed on those who think the goal has been attianed are grossly mistaken. This is the Begining of the NEXT Level and with less than 1 % of the ladies playing Softball in High School moving on to a D1 or D2 opportunity, it is critical for the future College Player to realize that they are the Freshman and they are about to experience a entirely new level of competion. For most ladies accepting this opportunity for the first time in their Softball Life most of these ladies are about to play against and with an entire team of totally committed Softball Ladies.

If you are a player this is an opportunity you will greatly enjoy and you will be imersed in a whole new level of intense conditioning, physcially and mentally. If you have prepared for this by doing your part you will swim like a fish in this new pond Called the NCAA.
If you dont' you may very well get eaten by the Feeding Freenzy of those who want it. These are the Softball Players and the rest of them are the girls playing softball.

It goes with out saying that if you have the opportunity to play at the D1 or D2 level someone belives you have what it takes and you deserve the opportunity to be among this Ellite Group. So do your part and continue to do the work and get yourself in the best shape you have ever been in and stay in that shape because there will sophmores juniors and seniors that have a 1 ,2 , or 3 year head start on you. If you want to be a player and who doesn't you will have to do more better than any of those upper class ladies if you want to PLAY.

My point being if your DD is committed then her work hasn't even started.
Playing is one of the best ways to maintain you Game. But exploring and educating yourself on the higher level practice techniques and conditioning will be a huge benefit to her in September. Her coach will be impressed if she is a not likle most wimpy freshmen coming in and can hold her own with the upper class ladies, I can assure you there are very few Freshmen playing at the D1 or D2 level who can't meet the standards set by the training and conditioning coaches of any D1 or D2 program.

Has anyone ever heard of a successfull college player that was lazy?
They just don't exist.

To be the Best you have to beat the BEST.