How to lose a scholarship

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Dec 2, 2013
3,410
113
Texas
A player spends years playing softball, endless hours of practices and lessons, $$$$ spent on airfare/hotels, camps, etc. You get the Verbal commitment from the school. You buy all the fan gear, change your Instagram status, and you go on your official visit. All is good...right? Wrong!

I have spoken to two different parents in the past couple of months whose DD's were dropped from two different D1 softball programs. Because of their actions during their official visits they were dropped. Wow! I was not there on their visits, but have heard different stories as to what they did to cause their dismissal. During the recruiting process we hear about the coaches watching DD's and parents every move and interactions. They continue to do so after the offer, subsequent showcases, and during the official visits.

Furthermore, do your homework on these college coaches. It is not always wise to be open and honest with them. If you are and they don't like what you have to say, you might find yourself at the end of the bench as a pinch runner for the rest of the season. She was a starter last year and all fall.

I am sure there are many more stories out there. When looking at these college rosters, I wonder why there is only one Senior and 8 Freshman. I am looking at one roster and there are 16 freshman!
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
Confused.

You are reporting two kids who were dropped because of their actions during their official visits. And then you say ''she was a starter last year and all fall.''

Are you talking about verbally committed kids who are seniors? Or current (and now former) college players?

And what was said in the name of honesty that got someone in trouble?
 
Dec 2, 2013
3,410
113
Texas
Confused.

You are reporting two kids who were dropped because of their actions during their official visits. And then you say ''she was a starter last year and all fall.''

Are you talking about verbally committed kids who are seniors? Or current (and now former) college players?

And what was said in the name of honesty that got someone in trouble?

My bad. Two separate stories. First story is concerning 2 HS seniors this year. Second story was an add on bonus that my brain decided to share: Current college player playing D1. I'd prefer not to share what was said in an effort to protect the current player.
 
Mar 26, 2013
1,934
0
"What" they said is only part of the equation. How, when and where are also very important. Being disrespectful/disobediant during a game or in front of other players won't likely be tolerated, regardless of whether the player is right. Respectfully bringing it up in a private discussion shouldn't be a problem.

A major component is the relationship between the player and coach. Both should develop it, however it varies by coach so consequently the onus is ultimately on the player. The process starts during recruiting and should progress after the verbal is made so the relationship is understood before the player signs and/or arrives on campus. In fact, developing that relationship/understanding after the verbal is integral to monitoring the coach's commitment to the verbal. It should guide both on how best to interact with each other, however some coaches have a single-track style and the player has to understand that and deal with it. A good relationship should help smooth over bumps in the road for both sides.
 
Dec 2, 2013
3,410
113
Texas
A major component is the relationship between the player and coach. Both should develop it, however it varies by coach so consequently the onus is ultimately on the player. The process starts during recruiting and should progress after the verbal is made so the relationship is understood before the player signs and/or arrives on campus. In fact, developing that relationship/understanding after the verbal is integral to monitoring the coach's commitment to the verbal. It should guide both on how best to interact with each other, however some coaches have a single-track style and the player has to understand that and deal with it. A good relationship should help smooth over bumps in the road for both sides.

This is very good information as I don't think it has been covered in any other posts that I have seen. Thanks for sharing.
 
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
There are soooo many ways a player can lose a scholarship. I've witnessed it on multiple occasions. These are a couple that stick out.

A girl who had set multiple state pitching records didn't make it passed Christmas break of her freshman year. She failed 5 classes and had an incomplete on another. The school threw her out. There were rumors about her parents doing her school work for her when she was in HS so she could stay eligible for softball.

Another girl who took and aced AP classes in HS. Went to a prestigious college and got hooked on heroin. Never made it out of her freshman year. Saw her on the fall roster of another school the following year. She was not there in the spring.

Watched a catcher blow up and go berserk on an umpire because a runner side-stepped her at a play at the plate and made her look bad. She was screaming at the umpire "She has to slide." over and over while the other runners on the bases advanced. The coach of the school she signed with was there watching the game. I never saw her name on the team roster. Truth be told. The girl was a head case.

Know of a another girl who called the coach up 2 weeks before having to report for school and tell the coach she wasn't coming. She had a boyfriend who was a year younger and didn't want to leave him at home alone. She had a full ride.

So if a coach seems overly cautious you can understand why. They make decisions that effected the team and ultimately their livelihood. I'm sure there are many other horror stories out there about how kids screwed up. As I'm sure, there are stories about how coaches screwed over kids.
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,133
113
Dallas, Texas
There are two sides to every story. There are unethical college coaches. And, some kids simply are not ready for college or college level softball.
 
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
There are two sides to every story. There are unethical college coaches. And, some kids simply are not ready for college or college level softball.

For most of them the softball is not the hard part. It's trying to balance everything outside of the softball is where most of them fail.

When I see an Apache flying parent I feel sorry for the player. These are the players who seem to end up ill-equipped for the college life.
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,133
113
Dallas, Texas
"Apache flying parent not to be confused with the Sikorsky flying parent -- the one who carries bat bag and all associated paraphernalia while DD drinks a Slurpy and walks to the dug out.
 
Feb 15, 2013
650
18
Delaware
Not even sure how to start this, but college players are going to try and be your DD's best friend during a visit. Why? Because if your DD feels comfortable she will share some dumb things she's done in her life and that will get back to the coach.

My DD went on an unofficial visit about 2 months ago. Very last second but with a school she would love to attend. Coach met us and said he had 1 player available to assist with the visit. Coach showed us all the important buildings and key features, players showed us the rest. Players were great and made DD feel like part of the group and began asking about boyfriends, what she does for fun, who she hangs out with. These questions seem like simple easy questions but for some girls they might be better off not being honest. This process is a job interview, train your DD to do her best on these days as they might count for more than on field performance.

1. Grades
2. Visit
3. On Field Performance

Not sure if a college coach would agree with my top 3 but from what I've seen it's pretty close.
 

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