Forum for advice for MS and early HS players wanting to play college ball?

[Bob516]

Listen to JAD.

I do, as often as possible.

 

[Bob516]

The other thing to think about if your dd is in MS is that a typical college coach's tenure seems to be about 3 years so committing early can have it's drawbacks if the coach departs.

Thanks. For many reasons I do not want my DDs committing early.

 

[jjr]

Wish I could, but it is not within our budget.

Aren't your twins a pitcher/catcher combo? You could easily get live pitching reps from one for your catcher to swing at. Maybe, lol. I know how sister relationships work, too.

 

[Bob516]

Aren't your twins a pitcher/catcher combo? You could easily get live pitching reps from one for your catcher to swing at. Maybe, lol. I know how sister relationships work, too.

Yes, they are. I am impressed you remembered.

We have tried having my pitcher pitch to my catcher. It would be nice if it could go smoothly. Maybe, lol. -You got that right. My pitcher DD seems to always throw inside to her sister, even when I set up way outside the plate. I am sure part of her would love to drill a fastball into her sister.

Even when there is no threat to life and limb, arguments always come up when the two practice together. I have to take one to the field, practice with her, drive home, they switch, and I take the other to the field for her practice. At least I get quality time with each one.

 

[sluggers]

It doesn't matter how much lipstick you put on a pig. It is still a pig. To quote Nicki Santoro, "Always the dollar, always the dollar."

From a coach's perspective, college softball is business. If the coach wins, s/he makes money. S/he gets a bonus the farther s/he advances in the post-season. (Which is why you as a parent should stop worrying about softball as soon as your DD commits and start focusing on your DD's academics...because the coach sure as heck won't.)

There are three issues to understand:

1) Whether a college coach wants your DD on the team. (I.e., whether the coach "recruits" your DD)
2) The amount of scholarship money your DD gets.
3) Whether your DD *PLAYS*.

Whether a coach wants you on the team depends upon (a) how well your DD plays softball and (b) whether your DD meets the minimum academic requirements for the school.

The minimum academic requirements vary quite a bit. U of Chicago requires excellent students with superior ACT scores. Not surprisingly, U of Chicago's athletic teams are rarely competitive. (You don't go to U of Chicago in the hopes of winning a conference championship...you go to U of Chicago in the hopes of winning a Nobel prize.)

Most D1 schools have minimal academic requirements for athletes.

--------------

Once a coach decides whether s/he wants your DD, then the coach wants your DD for as little athletic scholarship money as possible. This is part of the equation...the coach says, "I want her for $X in athletics. If she wants $X + $Y, she'll either have to get it academically or go to some other college."

This is a business transaction. Your DD is selling her ability to play softball. People *prefer* to do business with people they like, but that doesn't mean your DD will get a better deal because the coach likes your DD.

 

[JAD]

Wish I could, but it is not within our budget.

I would reach out to the pitchers on your DD's TB team to see if any of them would be interested in throwing some BP to your DD. You could also offer to meet before practice or stay after practice. It does not necessarily have to cost you anything out of pocket.

 

[JAD]

Even when there is no threat to life and limb, arguments always come up when the two practice together. I have to take one to the field, practice with her, drive home, they switch, and I take the other to the field for her practice. At least I get quality time with each one.

My threshold for drama is pretty low, if I had two DD's who refused to practice with one another, essentially doubling my workload, somebody would be getting a whipping...and there is a good chance everyone is getting one.

 

[Bob516]

My threshold for drama is pretty low, if I had two DD's who refused to practice with one another, essentially doubling my workload, somebody would be getting a whipping...and there is a good chance everyone is getting one.

I understand that, but there is an upside to it. Having time alone with each of them, where I can really talk with each, without the other butting in or interfering, I figure is something that won't last very long.

At what age do teenage girls start drifting away from their parents?

 

[Bob516]

I would reach out to the pitchers on your DD's TB team to see if any of them would be interested in throwing some BP to your DD. You could also offer to meet before practice or stay after practice. It does not necessarily have to cost you anything out of pocket.

We have done that a couple of times this past fall, and hope to do more of it in the spring. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[_MIA_]

No advice from me regarding softball recruitment (my DD is 8 ). However as a college professor I have this piece of advice: the earlier you can teach your kid how to study, e.g. put away electronic devices and actually concentrate on what you are supposed to be learning, the better off your kid will be in HS and especially college...Study skills are one of the biggest issues in college nowadays.