Here's what I am seeing, which I am not a big fan of. Player commits Jr year and is super pumped. Then starts seeing more and more kids getting recruited to their school. Holy Moly 4 other pitchers in my class!! Oh crap! 13 Freshman! What! Over recruiting a freshman class along with bringing in transfers. The problem is 13 freshman all expect to have a chance to play. At one particular program the coach will red shirt players that "aren't ready" (who then quit), and be really demanding to the point that 6-8 freshman are talking about quitting this program. The players hate the coach and say that the coach is not the same person that recruited them, which I have heard is common not just in softball. I say to the parents...Do you due diligence and make sure to talk to parents/players from the program and look at yearly turnover. Why are they leaving? Find those players, and reach out to them or their old travel ball coaches to see what their experience was like. It really is sad and tough to watch it happen to players that you know.
Coach perspective: Coach's job is on the line, and is expected to win. Players are going to transfer, quit or not work out for whatever reason. If you bring a big class along with transfers, you create internal competition that forces the players to step up and fight. If you quit, ok I have 8 other players that are stepping up, trusting the process, and grinding it out because they really want it....bad! Coach doesn't want a lukewarm player that doesn't really have to play softball.
Some players go nuts when they get to college, and discover softball is not that important anymore. I know many players who weren't able to make it through the fall. They quit because it was too physically demanding, skill set not improving, got kicked off (now preggo), etc. I have also noticed that many players who "signed/committed" to a school doesn't even make it on the roster leaving me wondering where did that kid end up? I thought she was a stud!
This is the ugly side of the softball world that no one likes to talk about or fail to acknowledge that it happens. Would love to hear other stories from you guys. I really think it's important to share this with the parents that are starting and/or in the process of finding the right fit.
Coach perspective: Coach's job is on the line, and is expected to win. Players are going to transfer, quit or not work out for whatever reason. If you bring a big class along with transfers, you create internal competition that forces the players to step up and fight. If you quit, ok I have 8 other players that are stepping up, trusting the process, and grinding it out because they really want it....bad! Coach doesn't want a lukewarm player that doesn't really have to play softball.
Some players go nuts when they get to college, and discover softball is not that important anymore. I know many players who weren't able to make it through the fall. They quit because it was too physically demanding, skill set not improving, got kicked off (now preggo), etc. I have also noticed that many players who "signed/committed" to a school doesn't even make it on the roster leaving me wondering where did that kid end up? I thought she was a stud!
This is the ugly side of the softball world that no one likes to talk about or fail to acknowledge that it happens. Would love to hear other stories from you guys. I really think it's important to share this with the parents that are starting and/or in the process of finding the right fit.