Recruiting Help!!!!

Don't take this wrong but from my vantage, (DD is a 17' OF) D1 Colleges aren't snapping up Sophomore outfielders. They will start next summer. Academic D3's won't get serious until after the Junior year.

Go to camps, write and not just the schedule...comment on their season, a big win over a rival, anything that makes it appear there is genuine interest in the school and program. LAST....pick up the phone and call them. 100's of emails every week from players asking them to come and watch their game. What separates her email from the herd. Have a list of things to say to the coach....Kids get amnesia when they get on the phone with coaches. Most coaches are pretty good at directing the conversation and pulling out what they want to know from your kid but it makes it easier on your kid if they have an idea of what to talk about.

Make a profile sheet and attach it to every email until you are 100% sure they know who your DD is.

BE Realistic in the schools you are targeting. Example 3.5 GPA isn't getting into Harvard.

Good luck.

buckeyeballer said:

... a team that has 6 d1 recruits ...

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What are the graduation years of the six D-I recruits? And are those 6 committed? Or all have offers?

If your DD is '19 and they are '18 and '17, that could explain a lot.

marriard said:

No, size matters somewhat in some aspects, but there are lots and lots of 'smaller' players in college softball at all levels. 5'4" is still the USA average height for woman so even though she may be surrounded by lots of taller girls, 5'3" is right around average height especially for someone who us 14/15 and may well grow some more over time.

"No interest" bother me with the profile you have stated. If there was "some" and interest had waned from various coaches or something similar that is different. But it seems like you have had no interest over what I assume is over 12 months?

What level of school is she targeting in her preferred list?


Last question - and please do not take offense at this. Are you doing anything that may be effecting her recruiting negatively. You would be shocked how many parents negatively (and positively) effect their DD's recruiting though their behavior and actions both at the fields and off the field.

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I think most don't even know she belongs to us we very rarely even talk to her at the field. We cheer for every kid on the field and can even be found watching other games cheering on other kids we've followed over the years. All communication to her coaches is done through her.

If a specific team has come out and watched her play in a tournament where she has played very well, I would ask the TB coach to contact the school for her. My DD's coach did that for her, they indicated interest, she went to their camp, and she is now committed to that school. She is a 2017 5'1" OF. She went to camp at that school right after they saw her play at nationals and right before the start of her junior year of HS.

CoogansBluff said:

What are the graduation years of the six D-I recruits? And are those 6 committed? Or all have offers?

If your DD is '19 and they are '18 and '17, that could explain a lot.

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4 2018s 2 2019s

Arizona Wildcats don't seem to fret much about small stature. In the past 3 or 4 years, Candrea has had a handful of really good ballplayers at and under 5'4": Bridgette Del Ponte at 5'3", Chelsea Goodacre at 5'4", and Mandie Perez and Katiana Mauga both at 5'2".

Maybe other schools value height more, but I'd focus more on the good advice from JAD and most others who responded to the OP.

buckeyeballer said:

4 2018s 2 2019s

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and are the 2 2019s...pitchers or HR hitters?

my guess is right now coaches are focused on those two needs for 2019 yr group; utility players that fill out the roster they can probably wait longer on; keep emaiing and working hard and go to the camps for her two or three target schools this summer

djcarter1966 said:

and are the 2 2019s...pitchers or HR hitters?

my guess is right now coaches are focused on those two needs for 2019 yr group; utility players that fill out the roster they can probably wait longer on; keep emaiing and working hard and go to the camps for her two or three target schools this summer

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Surprisingly no pitchers!!! I would say 2 probably are picked up to be true homerun hitters..

What her home to first speed/time?
Does she hit the ball to the fence for doubles?
Does she lift weights? How strong is she?
How size frame is she?
Dude, I wouldn't be too down about the height deal...
Two of my DDs are built like the Goons on Popeye...
Tall with power, but no speed.
My youngest runs like a drunk giraffe.
From what I've seen in fastpitch, is that height is a quickness liability. Unless she is a pitcher. Due to the fact that the home to first times are slower than the girls with the smaller to averages builds.
Smaller "normally" means quicker. Home to first anyways...
If your DD is a 2019, I wouldn't be worried about the other 6 verbals on her team.
She has time to get noticed. Especially if she's a .500+ hitter.
Keep your chins up, it's gonna happen!

Guess which one is my DD...I can guarantee your DD can run circles around my DD, because she's smaller and quicker.

One thing I will add about the faster girls is that coaches want to see that they keep their speed. There are too many speedsters at 14U who lose a step or two by the time they are second year 16U. I have had several college coaches tell me that they want to see a fast girl keep her speed through her junior year of HS.