Camp Siuggestions

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Jul 25, 2011
680
16
Southern Illinois
Since there seems to be a lot of people discussing college camps and looking for suggestions to help their DD get the exposure they need, I have a few questions.

Here is a little background info.
I've been a member here for some years and we are finally getting to the point of realistically discussing college ball. My DD is in the 2021 class. She is playing up with a 16u team this year as their #1 pitcher. She has really risen to the challenge of playing with older girls and is a standout on the team(especially because of her age). She absolutely loves the team and coach.
Sounds great, right? The only downside to it is that it is a small independent team that is good but predominantly plays local B level tourneys.

Playing on a small independent team we don't have the connections of the larger organizations in our area(we live in rural Southern Illinois). So when we attend camps it is usually in the skills camps open to anyone. In Nov, 7 of our girls are going to a camp at Indiana University. Does anyone have any suggestions on what we can do, as a team, to help our kids get noticed?
I would also appreciate any suggestions on what we can do to help our own kid. She really loves her team, and I don't see her changing any time soon so it's up to us to find exposure opportunities.
Thanks in advance.
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
In Nov, 7 of our girls are going to a camp at Indiana University. Does anyone have any suggestions on what we can do, as a team, to help our kids get noticed?

Do you have 7 girls on 16U 'B' team who are worthy of the attention of a Big Ten head coach?

I don't expect to see any major D-I prospects on a 16U 'B' team unless it's a case like your DD's, where she's only 13 and she's the #1 pitcher and being very successful. So when you ask how to get 'our kids' get noticed, I'm stuck on whether it's realistic for most of them to be noticed by Indiana. Unless there's more to the story. How old are they?
 
Jul 25, 2011
680
16
Southern Illinois
Our team has several sophomores, a few freshmen, and 2 8th graders. They are actually a pretty good team. I feel like the coach will continue to push the girls to higher levels.
This camp is supposed to be a starting point for our team(I'm not sure who came up with IU, but we've never been to a Big 10 camp). North Carolina is my dds "dream" school at this point. So I figure this camp would be a good learning opportunity, and maybe she would like IU.
Too be honest, there are only a couple kids on the team that may end up at a 4 year school, much less a Big 10 school. Being an independent team I know we are going to have to rely on camps for exposure and I'm trying to find ways that will help the girls that
 
Sep 29, 2014
2,421
113
Being independent has nothing to do with it. It is the caliber of girls on the team and the caliber of competition you play. Might take a bit more work without name recognition but its not an excuse.

as for your DD she should go to college camps in the area at this age to get a feel for things, depending what organization she is playing with she might also look for opportunities to play for quality 14U "A" team (again if organization allows) or even 16U A team that needs a pick up player for a bigger tournament...she can let them know and her coach as well that she will not leave the team this season and this is only to get experience it is also for you to figure out how good she really is when she steps up in competition.
 
Last edited:
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
Our team has several sophomores, a few freshmen, and 2 8th graders. They are actually a pretty good team. I feel like the coach will continue to push the girls to higher levels.
This camp is supposed to be a starting point for our team(I'm not sure who came up with IU, but we've never been to a Big 10 camp). North Carolina is my dds "dream" school at this point. So I figure this camp would be a good learning opportunity, and maybe she would like IU.
Too be honest, there are only a couple kids on the team that may end up at a 4 year school, much less a Big 10 school. Being an independent team I know we are going to have to rely on camps for exposure and I'm trying to find ways that will help the girls that

Nothing wrong with going to IU. Should be a fun and good experience. I was just responding to one of your questions, about how to get a group of 7 girls noticed at IU, and realistically, they're not going to be noticed at IU unless they are legit Big Ten players. If they are, then maybe they'll rocket some balls over the fence during front toss, or be the fastest pitcher there, or run a 2.7 to first, or do something really outstanding. If they can't, then their goals shouldn't be getting noticed, but taking in the experience. Notice the level of the other players. How do they fit in? Talk with the coaches after the camp. Stand in line and shake the coach's hand. It's great practice for being assertive. Chat w/ the players who are helping run the camp. Tour the campus. Just soak it all in.

If your DD realistically can play at IU and is interested, then email the coach before the camp, tell her you're coming, hope they read it. IU's head coach gets hundreds of emails a week from TB players. But that's what you have to do. Then send an email or postcard after the camp, thanking them. Lots of advice to be found here on getting recruited.

That's impressive that your DD can be an effective pitcher in 16U as an 8th grader, even if it's a 'B' team. But you definitely will need to consider at some point whether this is the best team to get her recruited. The players that wind up at North Carolina or Indiana are, by the time their sophomores and beyond, if not sooner, are playing with and against that are filled with future D-I/D-II players.
 
Jul 25, 2011
680
16
Southern Illinois
That's impressive that your DD can be an effective pitcher in 16U as an 8th grader, even if it's a 'B' team. But you definitely will need to consider at some point whether this is the best team to get her recruited. The players that wind up at North Carolina or Indiana are, by the time their sophomores and beyond, if not sooner, are playing with and against that are filled with future D-I/D-II players.
We were not exactly ecstatic about her choice in teams. Especially since we are driving over an hour to practice (we knew at some point she would have to travel but was kinda expecting it to be with an A team) But the fact that she gets a chance to be the #1 on an older team playing 16s and 18s is a good opportunity, even at a lower level. The team culture is the best she has ever experienced and she has played her best ball since joining the team this summer.
My DD is still not the most competitive kid in the world. She still plays because she loves the game and playing with great teammates is more important to her now than the prestige of playing with the big organizations in our area. We hope that one day she will want to move up and play for a high level team.
I think she would be fine, and we would be as parents, if she went to one of our local Midwestern schools regardless of level as long as they are competitive. Coming from her dad I think she has the ability to play for a mid major or maybe a lower level ACC or Big 10 school based on her ability. Her competitiveness is a different story.
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
If she's happy and being challenged, I think she's fine where she is. I'm just looking at long term if she wants to play in college. There might come a cross roads. Which I'm sure you see.
 
Dec 11, 2010
4,711
113
It sounds to me that you are in a great place for a 2021 to grow as a player and a person. Enjoy it for what it is and get as much out of the experience as you can. Ride the wave and enjoy it.

Same with the camp. Some will be there solely for exposure. It's ok to be there with the mindset that you are going to learn everything you can and enjoy it. It is a valuable thing for a kid to look around at all those other good players and know that they belong there with other good players.

The day that your dd will have to move on will come. Just from reading this, I am going to guess it might be after this season due to age and possibly skill differences. That's ok, don't stress about it and take each day of this season for what it is. Sounds like it's going to be a blast!

Every kid wants and needs something different out of their softball existence. And that's ok too. No parent or player should ever fault a player who wants something different from their softball experience than a team is able to offer. I hope that makes sense.
 
Aug 26, 2011
1,285
0
Houston, Texas
If you want her skill level measured, track down the next On Deck tryout near you. I have heard nothing but good things. Just another suggestion...and if she is chosen, she will get a reasonable amount of exposure outside of her team.


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