Cannonball
Ex "Expert"
- Feb 25, 2009
- 4,882
- 113
First - if your DD achieves enough to play good college softball, it is at BEST MAYBE 10% due to a coach or an org. And that is a real reach. If your DD wants it, it will be 100% on her. Everyone else is an enabler and supporter - our family, her coaches, her coaches, her instructors, the organization etc. My DD is heading toward the end of her recruiting journey and it is all on her - lots of help on the way and lots of help to come, but it doesn't matter who the coach is, or parents, or instructor or whatever if the talent/work ethic/commitment/etc isn't there. Playing for X may get you some more looks and access to their network, but in the end if you can't perform when the looks happen then it wont matter. We have helped lots of girls over the years - and we as an org are proud that we got to help and be part of each girls journey - but it is 100% their achievement.
Nothing against your coach who I don't know, but you always have to keep your eyes open. If you can find photos or can talk to parents of their last time through - check out how many players stayed through the whole time. Is it 2? 5? If it is a lot then congrats - that is totally rare. Our teams turn over 3-4 players most seasons (lots of options locally)
We have a org here locally that is known to 'produce college players' - it is BS - they have never, ever developed a player - but they used to suck up all the talent everyone else developed. A lot of girls they claim were already committed before they joined.
That sounds right. Our second year 14U teams rarely plays in 14U unless they are trying to qualify for something.
This post is not only very sound, it is a yearly occurrence for me as some of my HS players find out that the organizations that promised them and their parents that they would get them college scholarships, in fact, don't do a darn thing to do so. Yet, on their websites, they put those players up when they do get college scholarships as an organization achievement. If some of you will remember, I've posted this several times and almost yearly on this site. I know a freshman in one of these organizations who' parents are bragging that their dd is going to get a full ride due to one of these organizations. A friend told them they had better call me. I gave these parents a list of 5 names of players who went through that particular organization and told them to talk to those players and/or their parents. I know first hand who got those players scholarships.