Verbal Commit Timing

According to this chart, most girls commit in 11th grade. After reading over these threads, I get the impression that scholarship money is only available during a certain timeframe for each "D" level. With the trend of verballing 8th/9th graders for D1, is this an accurate representation?

Any idea what year(s) this covers? Would be interesting to see how this has changed over time.

While the highest percentage of commitments by year is Junior, it's also clear that Softball is "leading the way" on the really early end.

Regarding scholarship money, I'm not aware that it only only available during a certain timeframe. I do know that nothing...and I mean NOTHING...is official until the NLI is signed. Coaches do need to manage their limited athletic scholarships, and those do vary by division, so in theory by the time a junior or senior commits, available athletic scholarship money may be limited.

I spoke with a solid, competitive, DI mid major at the Legacy. I gave her our profile sheet and made a few comments and asked her where they were n recruiting. She told me they had only taken one verbal from a 2020 and are working them this year and have made no offers to 2021's like my DD. It made me feel much better about the process because I am sure they are not the only ones. I spoke with a Pac-12 coach at the D( a couple of weeks ago and they are looking at 2021's but catchers, pitchers, and athletic SS's that can be moved other places. The other players will crank up next summer. She said she wasn't thrilled about it but you have to go after them to compete.

Rambler34 said:

I spoke with a solid, competitive, DI mid major at the Legacy. I gave her our profile sheet and made a few comments and asked her where they were n recruiting. She told me they had only taken one verbal from a 2020 and are working them this year and have made no offers to 2021's like my DD. It made me feel much better about the process because I am sure they are not the only ones. I spoke with a Pac-12 coach at the D( a couple of weeks ago and they are looking at 2021's but catchers, pitchers, and athletic SS's that can be moved other places. The other players will crank up next summer. She said she wasn't thrilled about it but you have to go after them to compete.

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One thing I've noticed with the 2018s that they are taking more kids. Rosters are getting bigger, which leaves less money and less playing time.

Fall is the time for your daughter to start making relationships with coaches. Go to their camps and next summer showcases they should come see you if this hasn't happened already.

One piece of advice that I see most not take. Be REALISTIC in the level your daughter should play and target those schools. Ask others for an honest assessment. If you do go to camps don't be afraid for your daughter to ask for how her skills align with their school.

Chasing unrealistic schools puts many kids behind the relationship curve.

also remember that softball pretty much ends after college. What schools can help your daughter with the next daughter base of her life and enjoy playing competitive softball.