D3 schools absolutely recruit. They were at every significant tourney my DDs played in. D3 is also D3. If your DD is good they will make room for her. D3 teams don't have rosters stacked with phenomenal players. My DD1 had decided not to play softball in college and then changed her mind half-way through her senior year. She was not near competitive D1 talent but several good D3 teams were happy to give her a spot. If your DD plays competitive TB she can play D3 softball. Don't let them fool you about recruiting. Some will try to make it far more competitive than it is and act like it is D1. Show up in the fall and tryout if you are good. You will make the team. None of your money is linked to softball. If you like the D3 school, you get a good financial aid offer, and are a good softball player, you can be on the team.
Tell me about the myths of softball recruiting
- Thread starter Momof3
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D3 schools absolutely recruit. They were at every significant tourney my DDs played in. D3 is also D3. If your DD is good they will make room for her. D3 teams don't have rosters stacked with phenomenal players. My DD1 had decided not to play softball in college and then changed her mind half-way through her senior year. She was not near competitive D1 talent but several good D3 teams were happy to give her a spot. If your DD plays competitive TB she can play D3 softball. Don't let them fool you about recruiting. Some will try to make it far more competitive than it is and act like it is D1. Show up in the fall and tryout if you are good. You will make the team. None of your money is linked to softball. If you like the D3 school, you get a good financial aid offer, and are a good softball player, you can be on the team.
You’re probably right for most D3’s, but the good D3’s will beat the bad mid majors pretty consistently. It is a competitive league.
Yep, and some JUCOs out there will beat some Mid-majors. Just sayin.
The good D2 will beat the good D3. A freak pitcher who is pitching at too low a level can be an exception. There are terrible teams at every level but the best D2 teams are pretty darn good. The best mid-majors are pretty darn good as well. Yes the best D3 teams are good teams. If your kid is good she can play on a good D3 team and she does not need to be recruited. If she can pick up a bat she can play on a bad D3.
- May 27, 2013
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Interestingly enough, I’ve seen the opposite from what 55dad is saying. I guess it all depends on the school and perhaps region, as well, but I can’t imagine players just being able to walk on at the schools we‘ve been to. The one D3 that is one of DD’s top choices is only taking 2 players for her class year. The coach has girls from all over the country coming to the camps, and I know that their 2020 class is being represented by at least 5 different states - and 3 of those states are not even remotely close to where the school is located. Many of the girls attending the camps are from top programs.
I think you will find that the higher academic D3’s attract talent that could play at the D1 and D2 levels, they just choose not to.
I think you will find that the higher academic D3’s attract talent that could play at the D1 and D2 levels, they just choose not to.
My point exactly. If given the opportunity to play for a perennial bottom dweller mid major who wins 5 games a year, or a D3 that competes for conference titles every year which would you choose?
Your pitching at too low a level comment cracks me up! if a school offers your major, you love the school and choose to go there, how is that too low a level? I answered this question a lot when DD committed to a D3. Some folks get so hung up on the level kids play. It’s definitely a parent issue.
DDs D3 in TN has kids from WA,TX, IL, PA and TN.
I am not hung up on anything. Perhaps "too low" was a bad term to use. I get that there is demand for teams. I get that players want to know they have a spot on a team. I am not trashing D3 softball. I have a kid who went to a D3 school. My experience is with a perennial top 10 type team. Recruiting is real. What I am saying is that if your kid is good and gets into the school and shows up on campus they will find a spot for her. We can debate what "good" means.
I said “some folks”. Never said you were hung up.
Wouldn’t coaches find a spot at all levels for a good ball player that would help their team? Good ball players can show up in the fall and earn a spot on D1s, D2s and Jucos as well. Different levels of play at all levels of play is the point I wanted to make. I’m sure your DD playing for a good D3 program was still doing 6ams, had crazy schedules to work in classes, study hall, individuals and team practice. Getting up at 5:30am and finishing up a 7pm is a reality for good D3 players/programs.
Jdaddy, this has nothing to do with this post. But how is it possible for your DD's college coaches to recruit kids that are all the same height? The height spread is only 3" apart. I have seen some teams where the roster is oddly made up of either all blondes or all brunettes, but I have never seen a roster with kids that are so similar in height. Just an observation. Good luck to Kenzie this spring!
The transfer portal exists! Some D3 coaches forget they are coaching D3.
