Advice on Recruiting & Teams (Not another stay or go...I promise)

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Jul 22, 2013
23
0
For those of you who have gone through the recruiting process before or are farther along than DD is, looking for your opinion.

DD is a 2020, a solid player and it's HER goal to play at the collegiate level which is something she has the ability and desire to do. We have been through the tryout circuit for the upcoming season and she has several offers to play on 18U Elite teams. In our area these are usually teams made up of 2020 & 2019 players that play a mix of showcases and 16/18U tournaments. These teams tend to carry 13 and sometimes 14 players and some carry 3 catchers (DD's primary position is catcher). They are much more focused on prepping the girls for recruiting etc (at least so they say). Her other option is to stay on her current 14U team (primarily 2020's), play a competitive A level schedule and be the #1 catcher and get essentially unlimited playing time although the coaching isn't great but the girls are wonderful (and most of them talented).

So the question DD is wrestling with and frankly one that I'm struggling with as far as guidance, is should she play another year on a team to refine her skills through a lot of playing time but not be as focused on the recruiting process, or should she dive into that world now by joining one of the "18U" teams. She is a strong player plays multiple positions (C, OF, 1B, 3B) and a strong hitter but there are things she still needs to work on like most every other player I think. So potentially less playing time but prepping for college recruiting or one more year of A level 14U play with a lot of playing and go 18U next season is the question. Thanks folks.
 

rdbass

It wasn't me.
Jun 5, 2010
9,131
83
Not here.
What ever team gets you in the best position for your DD's junior year. I think junior school year/summer is the most important recruitment year for a softball player. JMHO.
 
Feb 15, 2013
650
18
Delaware
My opinion is that she should receive playing time when schools come to watch her play. So a team with 3 catchers shouldn't be an issue. If your DD is sending emails and getting schools to the fence to watch her play the coach should put her in. This is what the manager of my DD's team does. We have 2 catchers and they split time 50/50 unless a coach is there to watch. I also know colleges want to see potential recruits play against the best competition they can so playing up isn't a poor choice.
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
My opinion is that she should receive playing time when schools come to watch her play. So a team with 3 catchers shouldn't be an issue.

Having 3 good catchers on a showcase team may allow those catchers to perform better in showcases. You're liable to be sharper behind the plate and at the plate when coaches come to watch if it's not your 20th inning back there. Plus, the time spent at 3B and 1B also is valuable to development as a player overall.

Not saying you should pick the 18U team based on that. This is just one issue to consider. But I wouldn't rule out the 18U team because of the catching scenario, unless she was considered the third-string catcher and didn't get many opportunities back there at all.
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
One other thing about catchers. I might be wrong about this, but I think full-time catchers can play themselves into a disadvantage in recruiting. I've seen it happen twice. These were solid catchers who were coveted by the many mid-level showcase teams. They became their team's primary catcher, which was fine with them, since they wanted to be catchers. But then they weren't good at other positions. So college coaches would either say, 'she's pretty good, but I've already got a catcher in that class,' or 'She can hit. But can she play another position? Because she'd be a good backup at the level we're playing, but if she can't play somewhere besides 1B/C, then she's a liability to me on the field.''
 
Feb 26, 2016
283
28
Murfreesboro, TN
If I had a 2020 I would want her playing 16U. My experience has been the colleges spend the most time looking at 16Us. There will be exceptions, but that's what I've seen.
 
Jul 26, 2016
32
0
Why would someone even recruit an 18U team
A. If a player is a realistic collegiate player, she'd already be committed or...you can figure out B.

Nowadays there's WAY more recruiting done at the 14U level than at the 16U OR 18U level...
 
Jun 8, 2012
60
0
Illinois
Why would someone even recruit an 18U team
A. If a player is a realistic collegiate player, she'd already be committed or...you can figure out B.

Nowadays there's WAY more recruiting done at the 14U level than at the 16U OR 18U level...

Totally agree, far more exposure at 14/16 than 18. That's why PGF Nationals are done with 10's, 12's, and 18's the first week because it's the college coaches down time. Second week, 1st of August, is when they can get back into recruiting so 14's and 16's play that week because those are the players they are wanting to see. IMO the 18U is a bad idea. Be on a competitive 14U and just play 16U showcases/tournaments. The age title of your team doesn't matter, it's who you're playing against that does.
 
Jul 22, 2013
23
0
Thanks for the reply's. Sorry about the confusion. In our area everyone calls themselves 18U if they are playing in anything other than straight tournaments meaning not many showcases. The team my daughter is considering is made up of all 2020's but will not be playing in any 14U tournaments but all showcases and some 16U non-showcase tournaments with the goal of playing PGF nationals at the close of the season.

So I guess a better way to word my question is at this point/age is it essentially a "must" to join a showcase focused team if her goal is to play in college? She would benefit from a another full season of time behind the plate (and her other positions) before getting in front of college coaches and she would get that on the 14U A level team however this team will play in limited showcases. So if I'm not 100% certain that she is ready for prime time right now, would it be a big detriment to her future options if she didn't start her full focus on exposure and recruitment this year.
 
Jul 22, 2013
23
0
Why would someone even recruit an 18U team
A. If a player is a realistic collegiate player, she'd already be committed or...you can figure out B.

Nowadays there's WAY more recruiting done at the 14U level than at the 16U OR 18U level...

I think there are quite a few realistic collegiate players that just finished 8th grade that are not yet committed. I'm not limiting the definition of realistic collegiate players to the top 25 programs (DD will not be playing for Alabama, FL, Oregon et al but I know she is a realistic collegiate player). I know the best talent in the country who are 2020's are verbally committed most likely but I am not counting DD in that pool.
 

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