Timeline for a 2022 player

CMMom1740 · Aug 24, 2016

OK, you experts out there. Can you help a sister out?

DD is a 2022 (currently 7th grade). Primary position is catcher, secondary is RF/CF. Throws and hits left. Power hitter.

Seems a little nutty to be thinking about recruiting already, but as I told my husband, I don't want the reason she doesn't get recruited to be because I didn't do my homework. So, I want to do my homework.

What I've done so far? Well, I guess the major accomplishment was getting DD onto a true A level team for this year (first year of 14U). College camp next weekend at Mercer Univ. here in GA (whole team is going).

So, what are my marching orders? Bonus points if you know insider stuff about GA and the SE in general. What should I be doing and when? What should DD be doing herself and when?

Thanks in advance, folks.

CoogansBluff · Aug 24, 2016

It's not nutty to think about it, but I don't think there is much to do for a 7th grader unless she's off-the-charts good. For example, I went to a camp at Univ. of South Carolina a couple of years ago, and there was a 7th-grader putting balls over the fence. That girl probably has a different timeline than my DD did.

For the rest of us, I'd just be making sure that she's playing good competition, which she apparently will be, and that she's educated about the process. She's going to Mercer, so encourage her to soak up the experience. If she intends to play in college, she'll be going to several camps. This is good practice. For now, they help her learn about what college softball is like, meet coaches, players, see the campus, envision the future. She can email the coach and tell her she's coming. She definitely should stand in the line afterward and introduce herself to the coach and say 'thanks.' She can email her afterward and say thanks again.

But as far as a more aggressive game plan of picking out 20 schools and emailing them regularly and going to a bunch of camps, I don't think that needs to happen until she's probably in 9th grade or so. And may depend on her potential, which is hard to gauge at this point.

CMMom1740 · Aug 24, 2016

CoogansBluff said:
It's not nutty to think about it, but I don't think there is much to do for a 7th grader unless she's off-the-charts good. For example, I went to a camp at Univ. of South Carolina a couple of years ago, and there was a 7th-grader putting balls over the fence. That girl probably has a different timeline than my DD did.

For the rest of us, I'd just be making sure that she's playing good competition, which she apparently will be, and that she's educated about the process. She's going to Mercer, so encourage her to soak up the experience. If she intends to play in college, she'll be going to several camps. This is good practice. For now, they help her learn about what college softball is like, meet coaches, players, see the campus, envision the future. She can email the coach and tell her she's coming. She definitely should stand in the line afterward and introduce herself to the coach and say 'thanks.' She can email her afterward and say thanks again.

But as far as a more aggressive game plan of picking out 20 schools and emailing them regularly and going to a bunch of camps, I don't think that needs to happen until she's probably in 9th grade or so. And may depend on her potential, which is hard to gauge at this point.

Good to know. She did attend camp at Univ. of Alabama last summer (my alma mater: Roll Tide!) and would like to do so again this year (assuming no conflict with TB). She'll be old enough to be in the older group this year (for ages 13-17).

JAD · Aug 24, 2016

Which organization is your DD playing for? GA Impact, Atl Vipers and ECB will get you the most name recognition.
When your DD starts HS make sure you emphasize grades. The HOPE scholarship is HUGE, and Zell Miller is even better.
Start attending camps now as you are able to get your DD on the coaches radar.
When she starts HS put together a skills video to send to coaches.
Create a Top-10, 2-3 dream schools, 5-6 good possibilities, 2 fall back options.
When she starts HS email coaches her skills video, game schedule, and profile page.
Keep coaches updated on where DD will be playing and how she is doing.
Realize your Top-10 will change as teams show interest and interest wanes.
Regardless of the TB team your DD plays for, take ownership of the recruiting process.

CMMom1740 · Aug 24, 2016

JAD said:
Which organization is your DD playing for? GA Impact, Atl Vipers and ECB will get you the most name recognition.
When your DD starts HS make sure you emphasize grades. The HOPE scholarship is HUGE, and Zell Miller is even better.
Start attending camps now as you are able to get your DD on the coaches radar.
When she starts HS put together a skills video to send to coaches.
Create a Top-10, 2-3 dream schools, 5-6 good possibilities, 2 fall back options.
When she starts HS email coaches her skills video, game schedule, and profile page.
Keep coaches updated on where DD will be playing and how she is doing.
Realize your Top-10 will change as teams show interest and interest wanes.
Regardless of the TB team your DD plays for, take ownership of the recruiting process.

Just joined up with ATL Premier (AP). She tried out for ECB; he doesn't believe in lefty catchers :-(. If Impact or Vipers took any new players this year at all, it was certainly only one or two.

riseball · Aug 24, 2016

Congrats [MENTION=13497]CMMom1740[/MENTION] you have definitely have your act together with the recruiting process. I wish there were more parents like you.

JAD · Aug 24, 2016

CMMom1740 said:
Just joined up with ATL Premier (AP). She tried out for ECB; he doesn't believe in lefty catchers :-(. If Impact or Vipers took any new players this year at all, it was certainly only one or two.

AP has some good teams, they are just newer than the big 3. Good luck!

Mom_Coach_Fan · Aug 24, 2016

CMMom1740 said:
Just joined up with ATL Premier (AP). She tried out for ECB; he doesn't believe in lefty catchers :-(. If Impact or Vipers took any new players this year at all, it was certainly only one or two.

Congratulations! Here is to a great season for your DD.

mudrunner · Aug 24, 2016

Good information to know here. DD is a 2022 grad also. I'm thinking we are going to wait another year before we begin the process. She has been to a few camps, mostly to pick up a few things and get extra work in. Most of the more advanced camps around here are 8th grade and above, so we plan on hitting a few of those next year. I believe the org she plays for starts getting into exposure stuff a little bit at second year of 14U. There is a lot of time between now and then for her to figure out where she wants to go and what she wants to do, but at the same time we don't want to be behind the 8 ball and miss a window of opportunity.

catcher22 · Aug 25, 2016

JAD, when you say "profile page" what exactly do you mean? where is the best place to setup a profile page?
thx

JAD said:
Which organization is your DD playing for? GA Impact, Atl Vipers and ECB will get you the most name recognition.
When your DD starts HS make sure you emphasize grades. The HOPE scholarship is HUGE, and Zell Miller is even better.
Start attending camps now as you are able to get your DD on the coaches radar.
When she starts HS put together a skills video to send to coaches.
Create a Top-10, 2-3 dream schools, 5-6 good possibilities, 2 fall back options.
When she starts HS email coaches her skills video, game schedule, and profile page.
Keep coaches updated on where DD will be playing and how she is doing.
Realize your Top-10 will change as teams show interest and interest wanes.
Regardless of the TB team your DD plays for, take ownership of the recruiting process.

Timeline for a 2022 player

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