Approaching recruiting when scholarship isn't needed

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Tom

Mar 13, 2014
222
0
Texas
I have a question I have not seen a lot of information on and was hoping to get some input; that is in regard to being recruited onto a college team without a scholarship. DD may be in the very fortunate situation where she may have college funding taken care of through a family trust (assuming she maintains her academic, civic and extra-curricular status) and some residual military benefits I have.

My question is, would/how you change your recruiting approach if a scholarship is not needed? Assuming she met the skills, needs, profile etc. for a college and team, do you think it would lend any added appeal to getting looks from schools she's interested in? If so, would you mention this on a profile / info sheet or just wait for it to come up organically?

For those of you who have players in or through college, does being a non-scholarship player have any bearing on playing time in your experience?
 
Sep 29, 2014
2,421
113
Well, even with players that need scholarships I would still always recommend focus on the SCHOOL not the softball program.

What are her interests, what kind of major is she looking into, where (big, small, rural, city, etc) does she want to go, etc?

You have the luxury of looking for the best school she can get into...now narrow down to top 5 or 10 and start doing in depth research of them, take a tour and go to their softball camp, then make an assessment of the best fit.

You don't have to mention school $$ is not an issue, no college coach is going to take a player they feel does not fit into their system and not up to their caliber of player just because they don't need a scholarship.

I'm not really plugged into college scene so maybe I'm all wet but ...my two cents
 
Mar 26, 2013
1,934
0
Off the top of my head...

- It would have more impact if it was for certain rather than a possibility.

- The downside is gauging true level of interest from coaches if there's no cost associated.

- Best approach might be stressing first priority is best fit rather than largest scholarship.

- Scholarship players usually get more opportunities to prove themselves which improves their chances at playing time. Proven players will get PT regardless of their scholarship.
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,132
113
Dallas, Texas
Find a school where softball can help get your DD into the school.

E.g., University of Chicago, Dartmouth, Princeton, etc. Those schools are almost impossible to get into without extraordinary academics. But, they will show some flexibility with an athlete.

They aren't going to let someone with a 20 ACT into the school...but, an excellent athlete who scores a 28 might have a chance.
 
Feb 17, 2015
318
18
USA
I totally agree with the others. I would definitely focus on a softball program/school that is a great fit for your DD. If it is a D1, D2 or NAIA and they offer athletic scholarship money take it. Unless your DD is a stud pitcher or catcher chances are you will still be going out of pocket for her education costs. If she goes D3 you will still probably go out of pocket for at least room and board if not room and board plus tuition, books and fees that weren't covered by her academic scholarship. Bottom line is very few kids get "full rides" in softball.
 
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
Find a school where softball can help get your DD into the school.

E.g., University of Chicago, Dartmouth, Princeton, etc. Those schools are almost impossible to get into without extraordinary academics. But, they will show some flexibility with an athlete.

They aren't going to let someone with a 20 ACT into the school...but, an excellent athlete who scores a 28 might have a chance.

EXACTLY what Sluggers said!!! Know a girl who went to Stanford. Know another one who went to Colgate. Both of them had the grades to get into the schools. But when you're competing against thousands of the top academic .5%'ers in the world it's a crap shoot at best. Both of the girls were able to sneak into the schools through the softball door. Both graduated with degrees from their respective schools.

If you're fortunate enough to not have to worry about money for college then by all means choose the best academic fit for your daughter and use softball as a tool to get her into the school. In the end the education has the potential to be worth millions over her lifetime.

Good luck to your DD. Wish I would have been in that position when my DD was in the process.
 
Nov 25, 2012
1,437
83
USA
Find a school where softball can help get your DD into the school.

E.g., University of Chicago, Dartmouth, Princeton, etc. Those schools are almost impossible to get into without extraordinary academics. But, they will show some flexibility with an athlete.

They aren't going to let someone with a 20 ACT into the school...but, an excellent athlete who scores a 28 might have a chance.

Sluggers - I have always respected what you post here but I have to tell you what you just posted is my favorite of all time. I LOVE what you said and exactly what I believe is most important. My DD has dreams of playing D1 softball for a Oregon, Florida, Oklahoma, etc. And perhaps she will but at this point it is a long shot. With that said, the Ivy league and many other highly regarded academic institutions are where I have my sights set. I know she will be able to play for some of those schools and the truth is if you get a degree from some of those schools then unless you truly screw up along the way, your future from a career perspective is set. IMO that is what the goal should be. Education first and if you can use softball to open that door then you should focus all efforts on doing it.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
My $0.02...
1) School is more important than softball, so choose wisely.
2) If your DD is a very good player, softball can open doors that would normally not be accessible.
3) Does your DD live, eat and breath softball? If she doesn't, she may prefer to be a regular student.
4) Unless a player LOVES softball, getting up at 5am for morning workouts when you may not get see the field gets old in a hurry.
5) Does your DD want to catch foul balls or fair balls? ($1 to [MENTION=10413]riseball[/MENTION])
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
EXACTLY what Sluggers said!!! Know a girl who went to Stanford. Know another one who went to Colgate. Both of them had the grades to get into the schools. But when you're competing against thousands of the top academic .5%'ers in the world it's a crap shoot at best. Both of the girls were able to sneak into the schools through the softball door. Both graduated with degrees from their respective schools.

If you're fortunate enough to not have to worry about money for college then by all means choose the best academic fit for your daughter and use softball as a tool to get her into the school. In the end the education has the potential to be worth millions over her lifetime.

Good luck to your DD. Wish I would have been in that position when my DD was in the process.

DD just signed her NLI to play for Duke, and I can promise you that she would not have gotten in without softball.
 

Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
113
I have another question since the OP's question is on available money and the search. Is that money only set aside for academic endeavors? IOWs, if your dd finds a place to play that meets some of the other criteria listed above, but she gets an athletic scholarship to play, would she have that money waiting for her after she graduates college? If so, your dd will start her career with money in the bank and available for all of those expenses needed to start a career, buy a car and/or build a house.
 

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