College Softball Preparedness

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Dec 2, 2013
3,410
113
Texas
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.
 
Feb 10, 2018
496
93
NoVA
Thanks for posting. For those of us still in the chase (probably D3 for us), it is a useful bucket of cold water to the face.

BTW, have the Hittin' Kittens gone national? Seems like so many girls are playing for them these days. LOL!!
 
Jul 3, 2013
438
43
The real question for parents and prospective student athletes is, are you and your dd willing to go through all of the hard work, stress, and crying phone calls (yeah, you'll get them) for a handful of at bats per year? Will your dd (and her parents) be happy with just wearing the jersey? It could happen. That is reality for thousands of players every year. Look at roster sizes. Look at past year's stats. There are a lot of high school and travel ball stars that seldom play.

Don't look for the right team.

Find. The. Right. School.



Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
 

radness

Possibilities & Opportunities!
Dec 13, 2019
7,270
113
Great post @Orange Socks 👍

p.s. even D1 starters train to keep in shape in the off season!

Might take a few week break,
But then many stay the course threw summer because going back the next season,
They know another teammate wants their spot!

Staying on top of 'our game' is necessary when the competition actually wears the same jearsey!
To get to where we want to be,
Stay the Course!
 
Last edited:

ez_softball

Life at the diamond...
Apr 14, 2017
158
28
This is a great post... thanks!

We are experiencing these things now as our daughter is a Freshman in college. Currently our daughter feels "stuck" playing softball as the rest of the world is moving around her. With all the independence that comes with being an adult, she's having difficulty balancing her responsibilities with her freedom. She needs to go to practice as others around her get to sleep in on the weekends, she has to go to practice during the week after her classes while others get to study or go off to work and make their own money. As parents, we're saying that softball (with it's scholarship money) is what is necessary to get to the end goal... which is a college education at the college she chose. As I write this I can say that my daughter may or may not choose to remain on the path that has been laid out in front of her.
 
Last edited:
Apr 20, 2018
4,581
113
SoCal
" For the most part College coaches are NOT the same people that recruits your DD as they are once you get on campus. "

Why not? I agree do your research.
And every time I see a old school, hard nose, yelling and berating coach team loses I feel good. And every time a compassionate, smart and mentoring coach wins I feel great. And tell Mickey Dean that long distance running does not benefit the sprint speed needed for softball.
 
Dec 2, 2013
3,410
113
Texas
Great post @Orange Socks 👍

p.s. even D1 starters train to keep in shape in the off season!

Might take a few week break,
But then many stay the course threw summer because going back the next season,
They know another teammate wants their spot!

Staying on top of 'our game' is necessary when the competition actually wears the same jearsey!
To get to where we want to be,
Stay the Course!
Yes many college players are working out during the summer, but they are not getting the game reps that really keep them sharp.
 

TMD

Feb 18, 2016
433
43
Great post and very true.

One thing about the robocoach site, however. I recommend staying away until well after the election...right now the main College Softball board is a far right vs far left political sh!tshow.
 

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