Explain the difference in all the CO. Tournaments. IDT, Sparkler, Firecracker.

[Momo'sDad]

For whatever reason kids from Florida are reluctant to leave the SE. On the flip side kids from California seem to be willing to go anywhere.

In today's landscape, there's no need at all for players in the South to leave. There are a number of newer programs that roster 16 or fewer players, so the opportunities are there and growing. Even though we're seeing a major changing of the guard, there is still an underlying belief among many that California just has better players and that getting a kid to come from CA to play at your State U is somehow a win for the program. Sure, it's good to bring in an out-of-state game-changer that will give you more job security, but as time moves on - as in football - it's going to become increasingly important to win the recruiting battle at home in those areas where softball is really hot.

FWIW, I'm very thankful that DD cannot wait to get out of California. The only schools she's considering are elsewhere. It's nice to know I've done something right.

 

[JAD]

The national tournaments in Colorado and California are opportunities for what are considered "top teams" many with players that are already committed, or even signed to travel great distance at considerable cost to play in front of coaches other than the actual colleges back home where they are committed, or even signed. In many ways it is all about building the national brand and reputation of the top team and the coaches they played for in order get signed to a college within a half day drive of their home.

The IDT is a great tournament for unsigned players, but I would not spend the money to go back after my DD was verballed. Tremendous expense for the parents with the organization being the only benefactor at that point.

 

[doublenickel]

I see more D1 coaches recruiting 14u rather than 16u at this point.

Big time D1 are now on 2nd year 12u and 1st year 14u, their 2018 and 2019 classes are already full for the most part.

 

[slugger3]

Big time D1 are now on 2nd year 12u and 1st year 14u, their 2018 and 2019 classes are already full for the most part.

So what happens when they come upon the Phenom, who developed later as a player, or matured later? That school is SOL?

Is this early recruitment happening Nationwide? Or in only the P5 schools? Or only down south? It's not what we are hearing about the BIG 10 schools across the board, unless I'm being lied to...

Thanks

 

[JAD]

I completely believe you...but how and why?

Are they trying to lock in a "14U Future Phenom" that might pan out?
Are they hoping that the skills this 14U girl has, will progress at a pace that will be acceptable for their program, by the time they reach college?

I'd really like to know what percentage of these verballed or recruited "14U Future Phenoms" actually sign with the coach that was recruiting them at 14U.
I'd also like to know how many of these girls that are recruited at 14U, have skills that go stagnant, and do not progress to the D1 level.
How many College Coaches out there spent endless hours recruiting a 14U player that doesn't pan out?
To me, that is a huge risk to take...but apparently the risk of NOT recruiting them is much higher.

There is a huge risk when recruiting players at 14U, but they are just verbal commitments, so if the player does not develop as anticipated, the coach simply drops them before they sign their NLI. That is the dark underbelly of softball recruiting that coaches do not like to talk about.

 

[Sparky Guy]

There is a huge risk when recruiting players at 14U, but they are just verbal commitments, so if the player does not develop as anticipated, the coach simply drops them before they sign their NLI. That is the dark underbelly of softball recruiting that coaches do not like to talk about.

Or the player de-commits. The coach oversells the available scholarships and tells their bottom choices, "Sorry."

The NCAA is trying to slow down the early commits. But, what they've done is largely like throwing a bucket of water on a forest fire. The NCAA refuses to admit there is a problem with early recruiting in many sports. I can't foresee them hindering the men's FB & BB coaches from doing what they want.

In order for there to be any real change the Rules Committees needs to be taken out of the hands of the coaches. Too much self-serving bias when it comes to trying to reign in the early recruiting epidemic.

And with any rule change there will be those who find work-arounds to them to stay technically legal.

 

[doublenickel]

So what happens when they come upon the Phenom, who developed later as a player, or matured later? That school is SOL?

Is this early recruitment happening Nationwide? Or in only the P5 schools? Or only down south? It's not what we are hearing about the BIG 10 schools across the board, unless I'm being lied to...

Thanks

Good question, saw a girl who plays for the 14U Fury Platinum who is an upcoming 8th grader who lives in Buffalo NY but she comes to Chattanooga Tn. to play for the Fury. From what they were saying, she is about done with her recruitment. She is not the exception either, even NAIA is getting them signed early. My daughter signed her letter of intent on June 1 and she is an upcoming senior. In is my opinion that they are getting commitments way too early. I know of on local player who was dominant in 12u and could have committed early, she probably should have tried to get something JUCO or NAIA because at 12 she was a lot bigger than others her age, not only did everyone else catch up to her in overall size she also developed an eating disorder and probably lost 8-10 MPH off her fastball.

 

[flipper14]

So what happens when they come upon the Phenom, who developed later as a player, or matured later? That school is SOL?

Is this early recruitment happening Nationwide? Or in only the P5 schools? Or only down south? It's not what we are hearing about the BIG 10 schools across the board, unless I'm being lied to...

Thanks

It's happening in the Big Ten and mid-majors too. Just looking at the Beverly Bandits, 2021 from the Bandits just committed to Loyola, with 2020s already committed to Wisconsin, Maryland, and Purdue and that was before IDT and DeMarini. There will probably be more over the next month.

 

[ScottyDont]

Our 14U team was at the Sparkler and essentially saw zero D1 coaches around. There were a handful of D3 coaches, none of whom are looking for 2020 players. And the IDT 18U tournament had far fewer this year than in previous years, even at Stazio. Not sure where all the coaches were last week.

 

[Westwind]

Our 14U team was at the Sparkler and essentially saw zero D1 coaches around. There were a handful of D3 coaches, none of whom are looking for 2020 players. And the IDT 18U tournament had far fewer this year than in previous years, even at Stazio. Not sure where all the coaches were last week.

We played in the Fireworks at Aurora Sports Park and we're lucky to stay there all week. Saw quite a few. Candrea and Hutch were both watching games, one thing I did notice,(probably doesn't matter), is that a lot of the coaches last week were the assistants not head coaches.