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#10

Jun 24, 2011
398
28
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"Traitor to your state," lmao! Send e-mails to all of the D1 coaches in California who have kids from other states and chastise their treasonous behavior.

Better yet, channel your outrage towards Clay Helton and the USC athletic department, because Trojan football SUCKS this year.
 

Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
113
Cannonball - you have been one of (if not the most) the absolutely, nicest posters on here. I applaud you sir!

Thank you!


For those of us who have been through the process, the first concern is that we have any team at any level interested in our dd. Then, we watch the competition, things like the CWS, ... and get a better idea of where our dds fit in. A lot of the time, that place isn't really about ability. Sometimes it is and for a few, it becomes apparent that those thoughts of our dd playing in college is not going to happen. We have had members here share all the various journeys from that who went JUCO to big time competition to those who went D-I, D-II, D-III or NAIA or ... Each journey shared has been special and I've enjoyed following some of these poster's dds as they have made the journey. I can only speak for myself, but given my dds abilities in 7th grade, I knew she could play in college but I really didn't know that she could instantly be a major D-I player as the OP seems to suggest about his dd. Again, only speaking for myself.
 
Nov 18, 2013
2,255
113
I wish this was truly the dumbest reason I have heard about not exploring other colleges I have heard. It is in the top ten though.

If you don't take the ego/reputation BS and 'what other people think' out of the equation, then your DD (and you and her family) is very possibly not making the best decision she could make. It isn't their journey and it really is none of their business unless that person is helping her in her recruiting journey - and then they should not be thinking or saying anything like this. It is your DD's journey and hers will be unique to her. Don't compare her journey to another. Never automatically rule out a school or a type of school.

And I am not saying she shouldn't end up at a Cali school. If she wants to go there, great. But do it because she wants to stay close to home, or it is the best education for her, or the best opportunity or the best financial fit or it is her dream school. Not just because she happens to live in-state.

For the record the dumbest reason I heard for not considering a school for education/softball was that they didn't have a football team.

Actually no football team could be a valid reason. Not a rule of course, but it could definitely be a criteria to look at. It’s a huge part of campus life and culture. Students don’t have a ton of money to throw around and its free entertainment. It can relieve the grind of class, studying, weights and practice. Most of all it means money and some of that trickles down to softball providing not only athletic, but academic resources as well.
 
Sep 3, 2018
87
0
I have no idea if she will contribute right away or what level of college softball she would play at. The coaches trainers in the organization think she will be good enough to play at that level. Her pitching coach and hitting coach also both think she will be able to play at the D1 level as both of them did.
I don't watch college softball, my niece (she was adopted by my late wife and I when she was 2 and her mom was killed) is a great student and a good player.
Since USC doesn't play softball if just like her to go play at a school here that will prepare her for life after softball as there's no legitimate pro league for the sport. I'd be perfectly happy with her playing club ball at USC or Pepperdine if the Waves have a club team. I'm also fine with her going to one of the public schools as long as it wasn't the ruins or the golden bears.
Does USD play softball? Or UCSD?
 

Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
113
I have no idea if she will contribute right away or what level of college softball she would play at. The coaches trainers in the organization think she will be good enough to play at that level. Her pitching coach and hitting coach also both think she will be able to play at the D1 level as both of them did.
I don't watch college softball, my niece (she was adopted by my late wife and I when she was 2 and her mom was killed) is a great student and a good player.
Since USC doesn't play softball if just like her to go play at a school here that will prepare her for life after softball as there's no legitimate pro league for the sport. I'd be perfectly happy with her playing club ball at USC or Pepperdine if the Waves have a club team. I'm also fine with her going to one of the public schools as long as it wasn't the ruins or the golden bears.
Does USD play softball? Or UCSD?
Per the bold above, google is your friend!

Per those people, coaches, trainers etc. saying that she is a top D-I prospect when she is in 7th grade, run. Run fast. Interesting enough, we had a teacher's institute that covered "exceptional" students. If found that more than likely, the exceptional student and athlete at the 7th Grade level will not maintain exceptional status by their sophomore year of high school. While the percentage of exceptional students is still high of that category, and paraphrasing, life happens. BTW, the difference has two sides. Some who were "exceptional" slip some and some that were above average become exceptional. Also as an FYI, the reason that this was a topic of discussion to for teachers to identify that those students who are sliding downward really struggle with not being in the elite group and may actually slide more. I see this happening now with one of my students.
 
Last edited:
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
Also as an FYI, the reason that this was a topic of discussion to for teachers to identify that those students who are sliding downward really struggle with not being in the elite group and may actually slide more. I see this happening now with one of my students.

This is an important point. It is also why kids should be praised for effort and attitude more than outcome. You don't want them to tie their self-worth to how good they are compared to everybody else.
I had this issue to some extent in baseball. I was really good at a young age and one of the better players in the state for my age group through my Soph. year in HS.
Then various things happened (tore my ACL, eyesight deteriorated and just didn't develop) such that by my Senior year in HS, while still good,
I had slipped compared to other kids. Coupled with the fact that I was extremely hard on myself to begin with, the idea that I was no longer a "stud"
ruined the game for me to the point that by my Soph. year in college I no longer wanted to play. I always worked extremely hard, right up to the point that I stopped playing,
but in my mind the hard work needed to result in me being the best. When that no longer was the case, I just couldn't handle it properly.

Thinking back to what may have caused the problem, I don't think it was my parents who instilled this attitude that I needed to be the best. My father
was always pretty good at keeping things in perspective. He played both basketball and baseball in college and his brother (my uncle) played
basketball for Holy Cross in the 50's when it was a powerhouse, so he knew that there was a whole wide world of great athletes out there.
Instead I think I fed off of the praise of other, well meaning adults.
 
Last edited:
Oct 1, 2014
2,219
113
USA
Eating breakfast one morning in a small crowded restaurant a few years ago (DD's were probably 3rd grade) and having a lively conversation about life stuff. Little old lady (who appeared to be very wise and experienced in the ways of the world) leans over the back of our booth and says "sorry to eavesdrop but your girls could be President someday". I dunno but it made us all feel good and we still refer back to her prediction.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
My DD wants to play college softball...but I have no idea what that looks like because I refuse to watch any women's sports.
People told me that my DD is good enough to play D1 softball...but I have no idea what that looks like because I refuse to watch any women's sports.

picard-facepalm.jpg
 

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