Interesting article about travel ball and recruiting

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Aug 12, 2014
644
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I'll throw this story out. I have a coworker who played travel ball and got the D1 scholarship. She quit after her freshman year. She said it just wasn't fun anymore, it was a job, and she wanted to enjoy college. She said she doesn't regret a thing.

Obviously everyone's experience is different and many women have enjoyed playing D1 softball.
 
Oct 2, 2015
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How many families are spending up to $70,000 on travel ball, hoping they will get onto a D-3 College team?

If someone's DD has tried out a made it onto a top Travel Ball team, alot of the vetting has already taken place, or at least the first phase of it.
For a girl to be playing on the Bandits (my example here) for a year or more, means the girl have already proven herself at that level.
So, in my opinion, there is already a very good chance this girl is already at the top D-2 level and maybe up to the top D-1 level of college play.
For these girls, and their families, its worth the higher cost to give them a better chance at making a top college team.

For alot of us whose DDs are probably at the D-2, NAIA, and D-3 levels of play based on the level of Travel Ball play they are at, there is a lower chance of reaping any benefits from spending $50,000 to $70,000 on travel ball.
When in the long run, our DDs will end up playing for a local D-2, D-3 or NAIA College. (Local meaning 0-400 miles away.)

Bottom line is this for my DDs, myself...and alot of other parents that I've talked "locally".....
If my DDs can't get a serious look or interest from the local, low to mid range D-1 schools around here from camps or them watching my DDs play, more than likely, "the writing is on the wall" so to speak on a national level.
There will be very little, or no return on investment based on the $70,000 we would have spent on Travel Ball. When she could have stayed and played locally and gotten onto a D-2, NAIA or D-3 team.
My DDs will try their luck on emailing local coaches, and by playing at more local, lower Division college camps.

FOR US, $70,000 is a lot of money to spend on a CHANCE at getting onto a higher level college team. FOR US, it's a huge gamble, with a small chance at getting the most bang for our buck.
If you have the money, and your DD has already made it onto what I would call an elite travel ball program, then it is much easier for you to justify than for us
...and no, I'm not jealous or a hater, hell I'm happy for ya!

My buddy's son has gotten multiple D-1 full ride offers for football
...take a guess as to how much they spent on "Travel Ball" expenses...you don't want to know how little they spent....basically HS football only up to his senior year

You have no idea how happy I am for them...heck, I'm going to get his autograph the next time I see him...just in case... :D
 
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Jun 1, 2013
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I personally don't know why everyone is stuck on 4 year schools anyway. What happens to the vast majority of freshman that actually don't quit? They sit their 1st year and probably most of their second.The kid that chose a top tier Juco that is known to transfer players has the advantage of 2 years playing time, much larger scholarship, and not the overwhelmed feeling that large campuses bring. I personally think that a strong Juco program is much better than waiting your turn at a DII or DI.
 
Apr 20, 2015
961
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I still think some of those costs are assuming you would spend zero dollars on airfare, hotels food, lessons etc if you weren't playing softball. Which I highly doubt is true for most people. I really feel like you can only figure in the actual team costs here which are closer to 20-30k...still nothing to sneeze at.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
 
Oct 2, 2015
615
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I personally don't know why everyone is stuck on 4 year schools anyway. What happens to the vast majority of freshman that actually don't quit? They sit their 1st year and probably most of their second.The kid that chose a top tier Juco that is known to transfer players has the advantage of 2 years playing time, much larger scholarship, and not the overwhelmed feeling that large campuses bring. I personally think that a strong Juco program is much better than waiting your turn at a DII or DI.

Great point!
My oldest DD was very interested in a JUCO, and they had many communications.
Cost was a big selling point, but the biggest was what you mentioned.
She would have playing from day 1, at a cost of ~ 10-$11,000 per year.
The coach kept telling her over and over about how many players that their program placed in D-1 and D-2 schools after they left JUCO. (Trying to sell it I know)
It got to the point we were wondering if there is some type of unwritten "affiliation" between JUCOs and certain D-1 and D-2 schools.
Almost like a farm program in baseball.
Is there?
 
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Jun 1, 2013
847
18
Great point!
My oldest DD was very interested in a JUCO, and they had many communications.
Cost was a big selling point, but the biggest was what you mentioned.
She would have playing from day 1, at a cost of ~ 10-$11,000 per year.
The coach kept telling her over and over about how many players that their program placed in D-1 and D-2 schools after they left JUCO. (Trying to sell it I know)
It got to the point we were wondering if there is some type of unwritten "affiliation" between JUCOs and certain D-1 and D-2 schools.
Almost like a farm program in baseball.
Is there?

Yes, there is to some extent. No guarantees that any one kid will go to a certain school when entering but definitely relationships exist. Check out your local DI or DII fall schedule. I would be surprised if there isn't 1 or 2 JUCOs on that schedule. That is where those colleges go "shopping" for ready to play juniors. Of course that doesn't m3an that they don't take talent from other JUCOs. It's a network of relationships these coaches have developed over time. So check fall schedules of your local JUCOs as well and you will get an idea of who they have relationships with too. Even if they don't play in fall check and see where that Juco has sent players or where a certain DI or DII has taken players from.
 
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Apr 12, 2016
316
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Minnesota
I personally don't know why everyone is stuck on 4 year schools anyway. What happens to the vast majority of freshman that actually don't quit? They sit their 1st year and probably most of their second.The kid that chose a top tier Juco that is known to transfer players has the advantage of 2 years playing time, much larger scholarship, and not the overwhelmed feeling that large campuses bring. I personally think that a strong Juco program is much better than waiting your turn at a DII or DI.
I don't think everyone is stuck on 4 year colleges. My DD's have had several teammates go the JUCO route and some of those girls ended up at D1 schools. Others played 2 years and hung up their cleats. Look at the rosters of D1 schools. Many don't have any JUCO players on their roster. In the world of transfers who don't have to sit out a year, schools don't have to look to the JUCO ranks to fill roster needs and some schools simply don't recruit JUCOs period. Some academic programs at 4 year schools also make it difficult to start at a JUCO and complete your 4 year degree on time even if all your credits transfer. That said, it is a great route to take for many players and can be a very economical way to start out your education. The three girls I know who started at JUCO and ended up D1 would have all preferred to get that D1 offer in the first place but in the end it worked out well for all of them.

Sent from my LG-H820 using Tapatalk
 
Jan 31, 2011
453
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I truly believe JUCO is a great option and also provides exposure opportunities for kids not able to get it in travel ball. Like its been said many times, in Iowa our HS season runs from May 8th through the state tourney which is the 3rd week in July. If a kid plays HS ball, which the vast majority do, then they are left to try and get noticed in the fall. The JUCO route allows a player to compete at very little cost, get 2 years of education completed, and also get connected with a varitey of 4 year school coaches.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
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Orlando, FL
I truly believe JUCO is a great option and also provides exposure opportunities for kids not able to get it in travel ball. Like its been said many times, in Iowa our HS season runs from May 8th through the state tourney which is the 3rd week in July. If a kid plays HS ball, which the vast majority do, then they are left to try and get noticed in the fall. The JUCO route allows a player to compete at very little cost, get 2 years of education completed, and also get connected with a varitey of 4 year school coaches.


Not the best option for everyone but worked out fine for my DD. :)
 
Apr 30, 2010
259
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Artic Circle
ScottyDont,

Your DD is the exception to the rule, one in 10,000 or more...for most it is about being part of the experience and having fun doing it. There is no scholarship at the end of the rainbow.
 

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