Do you think the University of Florida is overrated?

You dont need to go to their camps, and 3 hrs isnt far away at all for what you are talking about. We have a local camp every year near us with ~20 regional schools from D1-D3 represented. Players and teams come from as much as 8 hours away and stay the weekend for it. Camps are about instruction though, not recruiting. You shouldnt go to a camp expecting to get noticed, thats not what its for.

Many top Div 1 schools do recruit heavily west coast players, theres just so many. Competitive girls fastpitch softball started out there in the 1960s and spread to the rest of the country fairly slowly. There are still pockets where the hot activity and good coaching, and competitive teams come from, some of these were the first areas that began fielding teams back in the 70's and competing with California. Of course Cali's real benefit is the sheer overwhelming # of people on top of that softball history.

A quick look at 2009 14U ASA national top 20 finishers shows 13 from CA, 3 from GA, and a couple various others. The Atlanta Ga area has become an area producing competitive teams, and no doubt teams from there would catch recruiters eyes at showcases. But, its easy to see why a lot of recruiting will focus on west coast programs, thats where theres just an overwhelming number of good players.

fortheloveofsoftball12 said:

I totaly wish that I could play for University of Florida but I can't go to their camps cause im so far away. Every girl on my softball team loves Florida State but I think that they aren't even compariable (not a word? ) to University of Florida

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It IS a word. Just remove the i.

mudbug said:

You dont need to go to their camps, and 3 hrs isnt far away at all for what you are talking about. We have a local camp every year near us with ~20 regional schools from D1-D3 represented. Players and teams come from as much as 8 hours away and stay the weekend for it. Camps are about instruction though, not recruiting. You shouldnt go to a camp expecting to get noticed, thats not what its for.

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Actually that was happening more and more with the short D1 window. Camps were being thrown together with few participants with the real purpose being to see some kids work out that you missed or didn't see much of during the fall window on campus where they can talk to them. Even at a straight up camp, you ARE in front of the coaches and it IS an opportunity to wow them. If you say you are sneeze quick from home to first, I bet they will find a stop watch and check for themselves. Run mid 2's and you bet they will sit up and take notice. Been there done that but watch doesn't usually back up the claim.

No doubt a standout would be noticed. There are often also some local "college exposure" tournaments where a bunch of regional colleges are represented, and players are divied up and play games in front of them, while being coached by college coaches.

I know we have 2 near us, within an hr or two each fall. Might check eteamz or local forums for those.

Looks like "only" 7 of 18 players on UF came from California.

If they make it to the final game of the CWS, I wouldnt say that they are weak. Neither is much of the SEC.

No other area has the softball legacy that california does though, or the player base to draw from. Thats a fact.

wow! I did noticed that many of their people come from California! They need to take notice of people close to them, like me
Mark H: I sincerely do run 2.6-2.7 seconds. Many people tell me that I should run track rather than play softball because I could carry on my school's legacy of having a female in GA state tournament but my passion is not with track it's with softball. (cheesy) My daddy was a football player in highschool and he ran the fastest 40 yard time on the team as a freshman. Back then our school was known for football and the guy my daddy played with played for the Atlanta Falcons his whole career. My daddy was suppose to go to Florida State (they offered him a partial scholarship) but my grandparents still didn't have the money to send him off and pay for his college.

The education is more important than playing softball or running track. Think about what *you* want to do after college, and then find some schools that fit you. Then, go talk to the schools that you've picked about softball.

Playing softball at a D1 school isn't what people think it is. It is a 4-10 hour a day job. Playing at a quality D3 school is a lot of fun and you can also get a great education.

PERFECT - Sluggers is telling you EXACTLY what ALL of us tell our players, yet did not talk to you about..... College is about getting an education..... your education is what carries you for the rest of your life.... MOST softball players SOFTBALL careers end in their early 20s and earlier, yet you'll work for decades after your softball career ends.
- I won't repeat what Sluggers said, but will tell you LISTEN and plan your college and softball around EXACTLY what he told you.

Yes! I know that education is very important more important than playing softball either but I've always wanted to attend FSU since middle school and then our christian club went to their football game and I fell in love with their campus and the energy of the area. When I found out they had a ranked softball team that was an even better plus! The story of how I want to play for the Gators is even better. I had been cheerleading ever since I was 10. But then one day I was switching through the channel and seen the gators playing Alabama. I had never been interested in playing softball! I had only played once on field day and only picked to play that cuz we had to choose from that or basketball and I don't like basketball (playing it.) I just stood in the outfield with my right handed glove on my right hand complaining that it didn't fit right and how hot I was. I didn't like softball the first time I played it. But I started watching this game and they started showing the players and they were playing Alabama for the SEC trophy and the players all said "when we win the trophy..." they talked so surely I thought they had already won! Then they switched back to the game and I seen someone hit a homerun I believe that won the game for Gators if I recall correctly. I remember the alabama girls crying into their coach's arms. Then I wanted to play. Then I trained during the summer and trying to get advice from everyone so I would be prepared for my high school's tryouts in August. And I made it. {Long reply}!!!

did you see the College World Series? Florida's 3 run home run with 2 out in the bottom of the 7th against Alabama? (In Oklahoma City)... I was there... and actually called Megan Bush's walk and THEN Ali Gardner's Homerun BEFORE Megan got up to bat!
Bama fans around me were really mad at me! It was VERY Exciting!

Good luck to you. Work hard and MAKE SURE your GRADES stay high!

Oh! So that's what happened! I was thinking the homerun had put them just up a point (memory). That's the moment when I wanted to play softball