Choosing a School

gamommax3 · Dec 13, 2017

In response to those who keep saying there is more to the story, or that not being able to major in something is exaggerated, I can give you specific coach's names. Alyson Habetz (Associate Head Coach Alabama), Katie Rietkovich (Ole Miss Assistant), Hunter Veach of Auburn. Were talking about the fact that in the SEC, most schools have majors that they don't allow, with the example of nursing. All at the same camp, during the same recruiting Q&A. It is not a matter of if it is allowed, it is a matter of what major is NOT allowed at which school. This is why you have to do your research and really get to know the coaching staff, and get to know them outside of when they are wining and dining because they want to recruit your DD. For the record, there was several mid-major DI schools who said you can take whatever you want as long as it doesn't interfere with softball, and a couple of DII and NAIA schools who said the same.

Kasey Cooper is one of my absolute favorite players, and I loved to watch her play at Auburn. I wonder if because she didn't use any athletic money they weren't as concerned about what major she took? If they are giving you athletic money to play, they would have more influence over what you major in, more of a vested interest. If no athletic money is involved, what pull do they have? Just a thought on that particular instance.

Edited: video has been deleted off of my phone at some point from the recruiting Q&A, and I can't remember which coach said first that certain majors were not accepted. All three of these coaches were there and were part of this discussion, as I made notes on which schools restricted majors. So I amended my post to reflect this.

riseball · Dec 13, 2017

gamommax3 said:
In response to those who keep saying there is more to the story, or that not being able to major in something is exaggerated, I can give you specific coach's names. Alyson Habetz (Associate Head Coach Alabama), Katie Rietkovich (Ole Miss Assistant), Hunter Veach of Auburn. Were talking about the fact that in the SEC, most schools have majors that they don't allow, with the example of nursing. All at the same camp, during the same recruiting Q&A. It is not a matter of if it is allowed, it is a matter of what major is NOT allowed at which school. This is why you have to do your research and really get to know the coaching staff, and get to know them outside of when they are wining and dining because they want to recruit your DD. For the record, there was several mid-major DI schools who said you can take whatever you want as long as it doesn't interfere with softball, and a couple of DII and NAIA schools who said the same.

Kasey Cooper is one of my absolute favorite players, and I loved to watch her play at Auburn. I wonder if because she didn't use any athletic money they weren't as concerned about what major she took? If they are giving you athletic money to play, they would have more influence over what you major in, more of a vested interest. If no athletic money is involved, what pull do they have? Just a thought on that particular instance.

Edited: video has been deleted off of my phone at some point from the recruiting Q&A, and I can't remember which coach said first that certain majors were not accepted. All three of these coaches were there and were part of this discussion, as I made notes on which schools restricted majors. So I amended my post to reflect this.

I do not think anyone says it does not happen, but for most it is of no consequence. Ok, you picked a hard major and it will not work with college sports. Move along to a different opportunity and see if you can make it work. What are you advocating, an academic diversity requirement for NCAA sports? If you are on the roster regardless of your major or who is paying tuition the coaches should have a vested interest in your academic success. Assuming you are holding up on your end of the deal. I am sure as a top producer for Auburn they would have gone to great lengths to help Cooper if required.

JAD · Dec 13, 2017

gamommax3 said:
In response to those who keep saying there is more to the story, or that not being able to major in something is exaggerated, I can give you specific coach's names. Alyson Habetz (Associate Head Coach Alabama), Katie Rietkovich (Ole Miss Assistant), Hunter Veach of Auburn. Were talking about the fact that in the SEC, most schools have majors that they don't allow, with the example of nursing. All at the same camp, during the same recruiting Q&A. It is not a matter of if it is allowed, it is a matter of what major is NOT allowed at which school. This is why you have to do your research and really get to know the coaching staff, and get to know them outside of when they are wining and dining because they want to recruit your DD. For the record, there was several mid-major DI schools who said you can take whatever you want as long as it doesn't interfere with softball, and a couple of DII and NAIA schools who said the same.

Kasey Cooper is one of my absolute favorite players, and I loved to watch her play at Auburn. I wonder if because she didn't use any athletic money they weren't as concerned about what major she took? If they are giving you athletic money to play, they would have more influence over what you major in, more of a vested interest. If no athletic money is involved, what pull do they have? Just a thought on that particular instance.

Edited: video has been deleted off of my phone at some point from the recruiting Q&A, and I can't remember which coach said first that certain majors were not accepted. All three of these coaches were there and were part of this discussion, as I made notes on which schools restricted majors. So I amended my post to reflect this.

The problem with nursing is the clinical hours that are required during the junior and senior years. They do not mold well with the travel schedule of a college softball team because they cannot be "made up" during study hall hours like a regular test can.

djcarter1966 · Dec 13, 2017

JAD said:
The problem with nursing is the clinical hours that are required during the junior and senior years. They do not mold well with the travel schedule of a college softball team because they cannot be "made up" during study hall hours like a regular test can.

Same with teaching you need those student teaching hours...doing them in the fall sounds OK but does not really work easily. Best option is to do everything you can then do your student teaching in a fifth year...but there would be no athletic money and usually you need some more classes after student teaching. So depending on scheduling could extend your graduating to a year or year and a half after your fourth year.

riseball · Dec 13, 2017

djcarter1966 said:
Same with teaching you need those student teaching hours...doing them in the fall sounds OK but does not really work easily. Best option is to do everything you can then do your student teaching in a fifth year...but there would be no athletic money and usually you need some more classes after student teaching. So depending on scheduling could extend your graduating to a year or year and a half after your fourth year.

There is nothing magic about being done in 4 years so you negotiate a 5th year. There is often money since it does not count against NCAA scholarships. Jake is in her 5th year getting books, tuition, and a monthly check for her trouble. We are on the hook for her rent and what food she does not eat with the team. Not a bad arrangement. You can also get classes done in the summer. You do not have to go home and spend summer sitting on the couch.

MNDad · Dec 13, 2017

marriard said:
Direct examples - PAC-12 school. Me. Basketball. 5 majors were presented as 'athletic approved'. I know it is WAY too long ago when it happened, but it was very direct and straight from the head coach.

In our program we have had multiple girls go through this and in the end they choose based on the information they have. We have actually got better at what Riseball talks about - matching possible schools with players stated desires. It helps right up until they change their mind

Most school wont say it during recruiting I believe mainly because it is pretty common knowledge.

Or they don't want to scare a recruit they are interested in away.

Or they will code word it "That would be really hard" or "We don't work well with that major" or "We don't have any one in 'that' program" and so on. Or they wont list majors on their roster page. Or the student is taking the major over 6 years of which they are going to have to find the last 2 worth of money. Or they are doing a LOT of summer school. And so on. There are a bunch of girls locally who are either finishing off their degree or doing a second degree after they finished their eligibility. It isn't wrong - for the most part it was their choice of what they wanted the balance to be.

I believe you see it in revenue generating sports like basketball. I just haven’t seen it in softball. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t of course. If it does its very rare though.

Part of it is semantics. I’m talking outright bans or telling a kid you can’t play for me if you want to be a certain major. I know they’ll offer suggestions or let kids know if it will require some flexibility to schedule different majors around softball. I don’t see anything wrong with that or taking a summer class, an extra semester or even an extra year to graduate. Most regular students don’t graduate in four years so nothing out of the ordinary it an athlete doesn’t..

YOCOACH · Dec 13, 2017

MNDad said:
I believe you see it in revenue generating sports like basketball. I just haven’t seen it in softball. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t of course. If it does its very rare though.

Part of it is semantics. I’m talking outright bans or telling a kid you can’t play for me if you want to be a certain major. I know they’ll offer suggestions or let kids know if it will require some flexibility to schedule different majors around softball. I don’t see anything wrong with that or taking a summer class, an extra semester or even an extra year to graduate. Most regular students don’t graduate in four years so nothing out of the ordinary it an athlete doesn’t..

I have personally seen it from anywhere from D1 down to mid-level D2. The college DD went to as a walk-on after changing her major at the evry last minute was told by the Department Head that they don't play well with their SB program. Just sayin'

#7sDad · Dec 14, 2017

We were at a college fair and speaking with an admissions rep from a D1 school. DD was talking to her about nursing and she immediately asked if she intended to play any sports, because they really discourage it in their nursing program due to the labs and clinicals. It's a little different because it came from admissions and not the coach, but I thought worth sharing.
D3 admissions and coaches have a much different approach as they try to make sure there is a balance between the education and the sports commitment. We've seen much more support for a Nursing major at this level, but they still warn that it's a big commitment to do both.

MNDad · Dec 14, 2017

YOCOACH said:
I have personally seen it from anywhere from D1 down to mid-level D2. The college DD went to as a walk-on after changing her major at the evry last minute was told by the Department Head that they don't play well with their SB program. Just sayin'

I should have been clearer and specified coaches instead of schools. Yes, there are majors colleges don’t let athletes take due to scheduling conflicts. I’m talking about this idea of not playing D1 because softball coaches ban majors or have lists players can choose from. Playing D1 doesn’t make a kid superior and nobody needs to justify why their kid is playing DII, DIII, etc. If they’re happy and getting a great education, who cares.

There’s only one D1 school within three hours of the Twin Cities. As a result we have lots of D1 talent spread across schools with kids that wanted to live closer to home. The ones that could have played D1 it’s obvious. These myths start when the parents of kids who couldn’t hit water if they fell out of a boat talk about a better education at DIII or didn’t want a coach picking their major at D1. Every year hundreds of players at D1 take strenuous majors and play softball, even on top 20 teams. If a kid choses a different level for whatever reason and it’s a school they love, who cares. I admire any kid who can juggle college athletics and keep up their studies.

YOCOACH · Dec 15, 2017

#7sDad said:
We were at a college fair and speaking with an admissions rep from a D1 school. DD was talking to her about nursing and she immediately asked if she intended to play any sports, because they really discourage it in their nursing program due to the labs and clinicals. It's a little different because it came from admissions and not the coach, but I thought worth sharing.
D3 admissions and coaches have a much different approach as they try to make sure there is a balance between the education and the sports commitment. We've seen much more support for a Nursing major at this level, but they still warn that it's a big commitment to do both.

And it is. It's an extremely science oriented major that demands a lot of lab time and then 8 hour clinicals once to twice a week beginning as soon as Sophomore year depending upon the program. That said, it all depends upon the coach and the SB program they have. We found a couple of smaller D1 programs that worked closely with their nursing department as well as about 1/2 the D2's that made offers. Since D3's aren't allowed to offer Athletic Scholarships, they have no choice but to actually bow to the academic side of things and usually the more successful D3 SB programs bow to the academic departments and tend to draw better athletes due to their high academic standing in the college world. That's why you'll find the most support from the coaches in D3 IMO.

Choosing a School

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