Identify Your DD

The hard part is not getting recruited to college the hard part is being successful. At being both an athlete and a student. Only 20 to 25 percent of the freshman remain to play their senior season. That in its self should tell you the grind these kids go thru.

Bouldersdad said:

The hard part is not getting recruited to college the hard part is being successful. At being both an athlete and a student. Only 20 to 25 percent of the freshman remain to play their senior season. That in its self should tell you the grind these kids go thru.

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WOW - that a real stat?!?! For all sb players from all levels of colleges?

Bouldersdad said:

The hard part is not getting recruited to college the hard part is being successful. At being both an athlete and a student. Only 20 to 25 percent of the freshman remain to play their senior season. That in its self should tell you the grind these kids go thru.

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IMO, every step of the process is difficult.

I strongly believe it takes a special young lady to succeed at the collegiate level. One attribute that every successful student/athlete possesses is TIME MANAGEMENT, it's imperative. Academics, labs, study hall, community service, practice, lifting, and conditioning. With out time management, failure is eminent.

We as parents and coaches need to be brutally honest with these young lady's. Let's not sugar coat the world of collegiate sports. Yes, it can be a great experience and a wonderful time of their life and I truly hope that's what it will be for all of of our DD's. However It's going to take hard work, dedication, sacrifice, blood, sweat and tears.

Each and ever prospective student/athlete needs to spend some time with current college players and talk to them about their experiences. A no holds barred conversation.

I wish nothing but happiness and success for all of our DD's.

Cannonball said:

I've thought long and hard about this thread and how to word it. I love reading about some of your dd's and your journeys.

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Darrell

Just wanted to let you know how much respect you have and how much I’ve appreciated your posts. There are tons of good posters here but you and Amy, both having Illinois roots, I’ve always paid special attention to your posts.
My daughter would kill me for this but it’s becoming a weekly event so….what’s one more reason

I could write a book so I’ll try and keep this short?

My daughter is a freshman in St. Joseph, IL, so she’s yet to even begin H.S. softball. I have no idea how that will go and honestly, I don’t care. But unlike some schools, we are lucky to have very good coaches. I think I’m one of the few internet posters (or parents) that isn’t overly concerned with H.S. softball or really softball in general. Two things I do like is support my children (3 girls) at whatever they do and simply watching softball just to watch for the fun of it. It’s a fantastic spectator sport especially when you start to understand the game. I enjoy it immensely and know of way too many players around her age. I can tell you players on almost every team she’s ever played against. Like you, I like to follow their progress.

I also, strangely enough, feel very confident the older players in H.S. are better than she is. Her primary position is catcher and the Sr. catcher on the team is absolutely better than she is. I feel like I should join the crowd and bitch she won’t be the starting catcher on varsity as a freshman  She’s not a superstar at all. Just a girl who has really enjoyed playing and has been so fortunate to catch on with a great group of coaches and players. Back as a 9U she was not asked to play on a local 10u “C” level type team. So I took to her to a large tryout for the Bloomington/Normal org and she made the 10U “A” team as a 9U player. Quite honestly she snookered them that year so she stayed down again in 10U the following year when the team moved up. But that first year really helped her confidence and skill level.

Quite a few of those players have been together since 10U. They are going on year 5 together and they are very fortunate to be one of the host teams of the 2013 14u USA/ASA Nationals this year in Bloomington, IL. Very few people have this link (it’s private, or at least was) but it’s a video I made back in their 10U days. Some funny stuff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vALBkP9kZsM

Oh, and the 10U team Black Widows is from your neck of the woods. They are on the video a lot as we played them 9 times that year. Every tournament we went to they were there including Northern Nationals. We got to know them well.

Anyway there’s some brief information.

18 Gold Dad, I know a few kids at Hawaii Pacific U...they are heavily recruited from my DD former travel ball team. Great job! Great team and great location.

As far as the success rate...DD is seeing that first hand 2 of the 7 incoming freshman recruits at her college are gone already. (grades and behavior) My dd may end up red-shirting due to over-use injury from the fall. She gets an MRI next week on her elbow.
There are so many things that can have an effect on your college career once you are there.

Coachmom said:

18 Gold Dad, I know a few kids at Hawaii Pacific U...they are heavily recruited from my DD former travel ball team. Great job! Great team and great location.

As far as the success rate...DD is seeing that first hand 2 of the 7 incoming freshman recruits at her college are gone already. (grades and behavior) My dd may end up red-shirting due to over-use injury from the fall. She gets an MRI next week on her elbow.
There are so many things that can have an effect on your college career once you are there.

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CoachMom,

Thank You! As I mentioned earlier, this was one of her dream schools and the first on her list to offer. It wouldn't have been very prudent of us and her coaches not to have had serious decisions with her about what other offers may be coming and left the decision entirely up to her. School, Academics, Location, Coaching Staff and Program.She's extremely happy with her decision and when she's happy we're all happy

College Life and Athletics can be a beast, it's not meant for everyone. You do the best you can as parents instilling high morals, work ethic and faith in your child. You prepare them as best you can, knowing one day that your going to release them out into this crazy world of ours. When called upon, we're there to support them in anyway we can. As parents, we hope only the best for or children.

I hope your DD fully recovers and is able to continue playing the sport that so many of us love.

18Gold- University of Hawaii is my DD's goal, a lofty one, but her goal. Best of luck to your DD!

Thanks to everybody for sharing your stories. I can only hope I get to continue the great softball experience with my 11 year old (Molly) and 12 year old (Sarah). They both show promise (don't all of our DD's? Lol). But I just love the time I get to spend with them. Last week they played on the same team (usually on different competitive teams). I coach Molly's team and recruited Sarah to play with us when her team had the weekend off. I was sitting on my bucket at the dugout calling in pitches to catcher Sarah, so she could relay the sign in to pitcher Molly. I'm going to cherish that memory forever.

My DD just turned 12. Plays for a Local 12U TB team of all '01 players. Most play in NoCal and NoNevada area. I remember when she was about 18 months old pitcher to her in living room and she could hit then. First started playing when she was 7. I knew she was above the curve when they took grounders at first and threw to home. Everyone had 3-4 hoppers and she threw one right to coaches mitt. Loves to sing and Act too. My favorite thing about her is she is someone you notice at practice as giving the extra effort every time. The next time she doesn't hustle will be her first. Size and speed may hurt her chances at college level, but will easily be a good High School player and someone that any coach who takes to time to watch play will have a hard time not wanting. She truly like practice more than games and will do whatever coaches ask.

Jocelyn will be at 4s Pre-school, St. Anthony's Presbyterian.