Forum for advice for MS and early HS players wanting to play college ball?

[Eric F]

At most large schools the athletic department invests heavily in the academic success of the players. The players have academic resources at no cost, some of which are not readily available to regular students. If you put forth the effort it is pretty hard not to be successful. Beyond graduation their are additional benefits that athletes can utilize. You have to either be in way over your head or a screw up not to do well and graduate. My DD is already in her industry with a job, her MBA paid for and just completed her last class for her BA.

This reflects what was described to us by coaches and players during a recent trip to the University of Oregon.

 

[sluggers]

I don't understand the psychology major bashing.

The problem isn't psychology as a major (I have a minor in psychology).

The problem is ADs and coaches steering kids to a major for the greater good of the softball/baseball/basketball/football/rowing/etc. program. Alabama uses exercise science. Michigan says they are in the "College of Literature, Science and the Arts" without a major. Harvard uses psychology. (My alma mater (SIU-C) is refreshingly honest...almost everyone on the team is undecided.)

It is a game, and that is OK with

My point:

The college coach wants your DD to be focused completely on softball. S/he doesn't want your DD distracted by things like grades, majors and "life after softball".

A parent has to be the counterbalance and ask DD the tough questions, like: "What are you going to do when this ends? Why are you majoring in psychology/exercise science/sports management? How does that help you after college?"

 

[_MIA_]

Here at OU, in my 10+ years of teaching, the only athlete I have had in any of my courses from a scholarship sport was a wrestler. I've had a few rowers but nothing from track,football,baseball, basketball (men's or women's), women's soccer. Even at Tufts 20+ years ago there was only one other engineer on the baseball team. Majors which have labs associated with them, which are very hard to re-schedule, are very hard to major in if you are playing a sport. Not impossible but it makes the logistics extremely difficult.

 

[riseball]

At most large schools the athletic department invests heavily in the academic success of the players. The players have academic resources at no cost, some of which are not readily available to regular students. If you put forth the effort it is pretty hard not to be successful. Beyond graduation their are additional benefits that athletes can utilize. You have to either be in way over your head or a screw up not to do well and graduate. My DD is already in her industry with a job, her MBA paid for and just completed her last class for her BA.

This reflects what was described to us by coaches and players during a recent trip to the University of Oregon.

It was a big part of her deciding on SC.



South Carolina Facilities

 

[marriard]

The problem isn't psychology as a major (I have a minor in psychology).

The problem is ADs and coaches steering kids to a major for the greater good of the softball/baseball/basketball/football/rowing/etc. program. Alabama uses exercise science. Michigan says they are in the "College of Literature, Science and the Arts" without a major. Harvard uses psychology. (My alma mater (SIU-C) is refreshingly honest...almost everyone on the team is undecided.)
It is a game, and that is OK with
My point:
The college coach wants your DD to be focused completely on softball. S/he doesn't want your DD distracted by things like grades, majors and "life after softball".

A parent has to be the counterbalance and ask DD the tough questions, like: "What are you going to do when this ends? Why are you majoring in psychology/exercise science/sports management? How does that help you after college?"

I think you are over-generalizing.

I didn't attend a particular PAC-12 School for basketball because I was presented 5 majors I could choose from that 'worked' with the athletic department/schedules. So yes, in this case it absolutely was like that.
I ended up attending a MAC school that didn't care what major I wanted - in fact they encouraged me to take the program I took. They were very supportive. So it absolutely wasn't like that. We made the NCAA tournament twice in my four years there, so it wasn't like the school wasn't seriously supporting the program.

It is up to the athlete and their family to find these things out as they go through the process. It is part of finding the balance between how much academics and athletics matter to your particular situation.


For example - look at Caldwall University. Lots of Maths, Nursing, Biology Majors... 45-15 and 24-1 in Conference. That is top end D2 softball. The players from my area on that team are from outstanding travel teams/high schools.

 

[Dusty]

Bite me.

No thanks, I just had lunch.

My sentence was meant as an overall observation of the culture this forum has taken over the years and I didn't mean to direct it at you personally as I have no idea if your an amen corner regular or not. If you're always in hearty agreement with mods or a few posters who tend to dominate the discussion regardless of what they say about a topic then your part of the problem imo, if not then mea culpa. Yes, I realize I can leave anytime which is why you don't see me posting here very often.

 

[Dusty]

These answers are based on my experience only.

3. Work on your craft. If your DD is a pitcher than she needs to throw 4-6 days a week for 30 minutes or more. If she's a catcher she needs to work on all aspects, often times we work heavily on blocking when they're younger because pitching is worse (some times), however work on receiving, thowing (long toss for arm strength) and blocking. Also what other positions does DD play? Catchers that can play OF are very popular with coaches lately as the position is becoming more athletic.

6. Take care of her body. Heat and Ice after practices, eat healthy, include protein shakes (mine drinks a 1400 calorie one before school since lunch sucks).

There is a pitcher in my area that had been working nonstop on the craft of pitching. Her dad built her an indoor training facility and she didn't play any other sport, just softball and specifically working on the craft of pitching year-round. It paid off for her when she committed to a top D1 that is a perennial national contender. The problem is that last fall she tore her hip labrum and the resulting surgery will require her to miss her senior HS season, probably the summer travel season and is facing the possibility that she never regains her old form.

I don't know if her hip injury is overuse related but I do know it is an epidemic in our area, my dd filled in as a guest pitcher this fall and we've turned down numerous other guest-play opportunities due to pitcher injuries. I'm sure your post was well intended, I'm just saying doing the same think year-round is bound to overstress body parts and parents need to be mindful of giving their kids an off season both for their physical and mental well-being.

 

[Eric F]

No thanks, I just had lunch.

My sentance was meant as an overall observation of the culture this forum has taken over the years and I didn't mean to direct it at you personally as I have no idea if your an amen corner regular or not. If you're always in hearty agreement with mods or a few posters who tend to dominate the discussion regardless of what they say about a topic then your part of the problem imo, if not then mea culpa. Yes, I realize I can leave anytime which is why you don't see me posting here very often.

Hmmm...I haven't really seen what you're describing in the years I've been on DFP. Opinions get challenged on a regular basis - including those of the Mods, as evidenced in this thread.

 

[Coach Foster]

(My alma mater (SIU-C)"

You're a Saluki?!?! Go Dawgs!!!

 

[Jquick823]

There is a pitcher in my area that had been working nonstop on the craft of pitching. Her dad built her an indoor training facility and she didn't play any other sport, just softball and specifically working on the craft of pitching year-round. It paid off for her when she committed to a top D1 that is a perennial national contender. The problem is that last fall she tore her hip labrum and the resulting surgery will require her to miss her senior HS season, probably the summer travel season and is facing the possibility that she never regains her old form.

I don't know if her hip injury is overuse related but I do know it is an epidemic in our area, my dd filled in as a guest pitcher this fall and we've turned down numerous other guest-play opportunities due to pitcher injuries. I'm sure your post was well intended, I'm just saying doing the same think year-round is bound to overstress body parts and parents need to be mindful of giving their kids an off season both for their physical and mental well-being.

I’m not sure if you read my entire post as it was a bit lengthy, but I mention taking care of the body. I also mentioned this is my experience with my DD and what we did has worked so far.


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