I have posted about this before, but I think it's a topic that should be revisited once a year for the parents to understand what is happening in the real world. This may seem as doom and gloom. Maybe it is, but would you rather be prepared or would you rather be surprised? Many of us on here are are chasing the "dream" of getting that verbal committement from a college. When it happens, everyone posts the pictures on campus with the coaches (you hope will still be around when your DD gets to campus). Ohh to be so lucky! And then on to signing day. All that hard work boils down to this day. All the pomp and circumstance with the balloons, cake, cookies, coaches, and peers clapping. More social media photo ops. Then comes the summer before Freshman year. Senioritis kicks in and instead of playing a full summer schedule, you see these families pumping the brakes deciding not to travel for certain tourneys in order to save money after credit card funding the previous 4 summers. You wonder why these teams have 18-20 players on a roster. Not everyone shows up at the same tourney or at practices. We gonna cruise into the college fall season. Take some time off, take a vacation, save some money, whatever the excuse is. They need to keep playing. In all reality, college freshman are physically more prepared or fine tuned than upper classmen. (Not really speaking for the P5's.-those players better be ready) Why? There is virtually no summer ball for college players. There were some nice attempts in our ares to get some middle of the week games and another group set up some Sunday afternoon practices, which my DD attended several.
So these players (not all) get to campus. I have seen many players do their "signing day" for one school and end up at another. I have been hearing these stories over the past several years. Players begin S&C in the morning and then captain's practices and they say this is too hard. Huh? This is just the beginning kid and this is hard? What did you expect? Some quit b/c they didn't realize that all of their free time is not their time. DD's former teammate transferred after her first year. She would cry during practices and during games. She couldn't handle being coached by the coaches. I find out that she played for the Hittin' Kittens(her dad was the coach) in TB was ill prepared for the demand of playing higher level softball even if it's D3. There is a very good reason that college coaches recruit from known programs. These coaches are getting them ready for the next level. MY DD told me that if she could handle playing for her former TB coach she could handle her current college coach. These kids are not used to getting barked at. It's not personal, it's softball. I first hand saw my DD getting barked at during a game...it was well deserved! It's not supposed to be easy. DD's TB team practiced during the Hot Humid Summers T,W,Th 4-7pm during the week and played just about every weekend. If they weren't playing they were practicing on Sat and Sundays. Sometimes 2 a days. During the Fall 2 a days were the norm on the weekends. I heard from a former player of this organization that played for a mid major D1 program in Texas. She said practices were a joke and way too easy. She did well, but ended up transferring to big name State U to be a NARP. Look at roster turnover at the schools that DD's are intersted. It's is very surprising and I tried to show this to a dad, but he put his head in the sand. She transferred over the summer and over half the freshman quit. Same coach also told all the incoming freshman that they will be redshirted. Parents can't see past the verbal and don't do their own due diligence or they believe it can't happen to them. Another issue I have discovered which should come as no surprise. Finances: Parents only plan for the first year and realize they can't afford the next 3 years. The EFC or the Net Price Calculator is available on most school's website.
Because D3's don't have a typical fall, they have to be ready for practice when the coaches get them for the short period of organized practices. DD called for workouts and only 3 out 20 players would show up to get their work in. Their arms are not going to be ready for slingin' the rock around the infield and outfield. They think they can just roll into practice like they always have. I predict arm injuries and tears. This is not intramurals.
My hope is that my own DD can make it 4 years. That alone is THE real accomplishment. She told me. Dad I came this far, I can't see myself quitting after spending all this time working on something. I want to see it through. It's a mental game at this point, and the weak will be chewed up and spit out. The coaches plan on that happening. They bring in large freshman classes knowing not all will cut it. I looked at my DD's college soccer roster. Only ONE Senior with 19 Freshman. I heard they actually cut players! Wow.
One of the main takeaways: Make sure your are finding the BEST FIT for your DD's based on their experience, skill set, academics, finances, etc. If your kid wants to play at Auburn, do you know that Mickey Dean is notorious for making his players run...ALOT? You saw that the TTech coach resigned. I heard rumblings about her coaching style on here years ago. If you would like to learn about what happens in college programs, due your homework and seek information. Make it your mission. Talk to current and former players and their parents. For the most part College coaches are NOT the same people that recruits your DD as they are once you get on campus. I read that certain Ivy program had complaints about the coach with many player departures. I passed this along to a dad whose DD was be courted by this school. Could your DD do softball related acitvities(games, workouts and practices) 10 days in a row without a break? Yes, this happens.
This a fun resource to follow if you can get past the political posts from certain members. The info on this site can get raw and critical, but it's your job to help your DD make the best decision based on the information at hand.
http://robocoach.websitetoolbox.com/
I hope that parents that have been through the process will be brave enough to speak up and share their experiences.
So these players (not all) get to campus. I have seen many players do their "signing day" for one school and end up at another. I have been hearing these stories over the past several years. Players begin S&C in the morning and then captain's practices and they say this is too hard. Huh? This is just the beginning kid and this is hard? What did you expect? Some quit b/c they didn't realize that all of their free time is not their time. DD's former teammate transferred after her first year. She would cry during practices and during games. She couldn't handle being coached by the coaches. I find out that she played for the Hittin' Kittens(her dad was the coach) in TB was ill prepared for the demand of playing higher level softball even if it's D3. There is a very good reason that college coaches recruit from known programs. These coaches are getting them ready for the next level. MY DD told me that if she could handle playing for her former TB coach she could handle her current college coach. These kids are not used to getting barked at. It's not personal, it's softball. I first hand saw my DD getting barked at during a game...it was well deserved! It's not supposed to be easy. DD's TB team practiced during the Hot Humid Summers T,W,Th 4-7pm during the week and played just about every weekend. If they weren't playing they were practicing on Sat and Sundays. Sometimes 2 a days. During the Fall 2 a days were the norm on the weekends. I heard from a former player of this organization that played for a mid major D1 program in Texas. She said practices were a joke and way too easy. She did well, but ended up transferring to big name State U to be a NARP. Look at roster turnover at the schools that DD's are intersted. It's is very surprising and I tried to show this to a dad, but he put his head in the sand. She transferred over the summer and over half the freshman quit. Same coach also told all the incoming freshman that they will be redshirted. Parents can't see past the verbal and don't do their own due diligence or they believe it can't happen to them. Another issue I have discovered which should come as no surprise. Finances: Parents only plan for the first year and realize they can't afford the next 3 years. The EFC or the Net Price Calculator is available on most school's website.
Because D3's don't have a typical fall, they have to be ready for practice when the coaches get them for the short period of organized practices. DD called for workouts and only 3 out 20 players would show up to get their work in. Their arms are not going to be ready for slingin' the rock around the infield and outfield. They think they can just roll into practice like they always have. I predict arm injuries and tears. This is not intramurals.
My hope is that my own DD can make it 4 years. That alone is THE real accomplishment. She told me. Dad I came this far, I can't see myself quitting after spending all this time working on something. I want to see it through. It's a mental game at this point, and the weak will be chewed up and spit out. The coaches plan on that happening. They bring in large freshman classes knowing not all will cut it. I looked at my DD's college soccer roster. Only ONE Senior with 19 Freshman. I heard they actually cut players! Wow.
One of the main takeaways: Make sure your are finding the BEST FIT for your DD's based on their experience, skill set, academics, finances, etc. If your kid wants to play at Auburn, do you know that Mickey Dean is notorious for making his players run...ALOT? You saw that the TTech coach resigned. I heard rumblings about her coaching style on here years ago. If you would like to learn about what happens in college programs, due your homework and seek information. Make it your mission. Talk to current and former players and their parents. For the most part College coaches are NOT the same people that recruits your DD as they are once you get on campus. I read that certain Ivy program had complaints about the coach with many player departures. I passed this along to a dad whose DD was be courted by this school. Could your DD do softball related acitvities(games, workouts and practices) 10 days in a row without a break? Yes, this happens.
This a fun resource to follow if you can get past the political posts from certain members. The info on this site can get raw and critical, but it's your job to help your DD make the best decision based on the information at hand.
http://robocoach.websitetoolbox.com/
I hope that parents that have been through the process will be brave enough to speak up and share their experiences.