With 12 years experience as a DIII head softball coach.... I will give you my perspective.
School me on D3 softball
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Wise words to be remembered throughout life. School, job and marriage. Thanks for the input.
- Jul 9, 2010
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Thanks for asking. She has been to two D3 campuses and she loved both, one more than the other. Both coaching staffs talked like they wanted her and they were both great. Both campuses were beautiful and both had awesome facilities. She is a pitcher and one of the coaches said they are always looking for pitchers. Only one school had seen her play. Both want her schedule as soon as we know it. Both said to stay in touch through next year and they would do the same. She got follow up emails from both saying they really appreciated her coming to see the campus. We didn't talk financial specifics with either. DD takes her ACTs in mid December, and I'm guessing her score will be a factor (she is expecting to do well). Seemed really early to even ask. We were more concerned with the school itself.
DD loved the thought of college first and still being able to play.
She is in the process of setting up an unofficial visit to a D2 she is interested to see as well. It will be interesting to see how the visits compare.
So here is my question: Are the D3s waiting to see if players pick a D1 or D2 first, and if the kids doesn't get those offers, they then make one? Do D3's offer as soon as they know they want the kid hoping the kid will say yes to them? Does every player that visits get the "we want you" treatment? The reason I ask is that I think if either of these two schools (one in paricular) would say "we want you", she would say "yes" and be very happy about it. Again, it is December of her junior year, so we understand no offer may come for a while, if at all. A lot can change in a year and a half.
I'll give you my experience because my daughter has chosen two DIII schools. Both schools she would attend for academic reasons alone. She has been told by coaches, professors and admissions at both schools that her major (nursing) and athletics don't go together. That is why she sought DIII. Each has been a different experience:
The first private school has a rolling admissions process. She has been accepted and we already know the merit scholorship amount. The softball coach has said she wants her on the team, but "I can only hand out 20 uniforms in the spring and they go to whoever survives."
The second state school has a traditional acceptance process and my daughter won't find out if she was accepted until March. The coach has told her he wants her and has essentially reserved a spot for her on his team but my daughter responded with a "It has to make financial sense." Because it is out of state, she is worried that she will not be able to get reasonable tuition.
I personally don't like the idea of keeping college coaches on the hook until March, but I don't know of a better way of handling the situation. This is the double edged blade of playing DIII ball. Both coaches and players can use it to their advantage.
The first private school has a rolling admissions process. She has been accepted and we already know the merit scholorship amount. The softball coach has said she wants her on the team, but "I can only hand out 20 uniforms in the spring and they go to whoever survives."
The second state school has a traditional acceptance process and my daughter won't find out if she was accepted until March. The coach has told her he wants her and has essentially reserved a spot for her on his team but my daughter responded with a "It has to make financial sense." Because it is out of state, she is worried that she will not be able to get reasonable tuition.
I personally don't like the idea of keeping college coaches on the hook until March, but I don't know of a better way of handling the situation. This is the double edged blade of playing DIII ball. Both coaches and players can use it to their advantage.
- Jul 9, 2010
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84warrior - In our case, the coach first talked to us in Oct of her junior year. He kept touch with her, but wasn't giving the hard sell. He talked to her about like you mentioned - I'll keep tabs on you, you keep tabs on us. Then, in about May, he started to ramp up the conversations.
I think , if she is just now taking her ACT, that will go a long ways in helping you, and the school/coach, have an idea of what sort of aid she might qualify for. It's a good idea to have those scores before you talk in really seriousness with the school. Also, do your estimated need aid, using a FAFSA estimator.
At my DD's school, the coach did lose one commit to a D2 school. However, the other girls all met, started talking, and decided they all wanted to play together. He has 5 commits right now, and is working on a few others. 4 of the 5 had a D1 or D2 offer, but they all decided they wanted to stay together.
It has been hard, actually, for my DD over the past 2 weeks. One of the D1's we had been talking with contacted her again, just to make sure her commitment was solid. They wanted her to come visit. We went throught all sorts of emotions, but she is holding firm. I suppose tha Dream University could come along and make the Offer of a Lifetime, and she'd have to consider it. But, I think that is part of life in D3.
I don't think every kid that visits gets the we want you treatment. Again, at my DD's school, I know of half a dozen players that have contacted the school, and expressed interest. The coach did make an effort to see them all play, but dropped the discussion in some cases. This does not mean they are not good players, but he already has commitments for some of those positions, and he is not going to have 25 kids on the team.
I think the key for them is they probably need to have some comfort that:
1) she can get admitted (need scores for that) and
2) that she is really interested. She can tell them that in response.
If she wanted to commit, they'd probably be glad to do that, but it might be a little early for her yet. This recruiting process is an emotional roller coaster, and, unfortunately, she probably has a few more months to ride it.
If she is really very interested in one of the schools (or both), I would have her email them back telling them so. As soon as she gets her scores, tell them about it. Keep them updated on HS and TB. Let them know how her grades are going, etc. In short, she needs to maintain contact so they have her at the top of their list.
I think , if she is just now taking her ACT, that will go a long ways in helping you, and the school/coach, have an idea of what sort of aid she might qualify for. It's a good idea to have those scores before you talk in really seriousness with the school. Also, do your estimated need aid, using a FAFSA estimator.
At my DD's school, the coach did lose one commit to a D2 school. However, the other girls all met, started talking, and decided they all wanted to play together. He has 5 commits right now, and is working on a few others. 4 of the 5 had a D1 or D2 offer, but they all decided they wanted to stay together.
It has been hard, actually, for my DD over the past 2 weeks. One of the D1's we had been talking with contacted her again, just to make sure her commitment was solid. They wanted her to come visit. We went throught all sorts of emotions, but she is holding firm. I suppose tha Dream University could come along and make the Offer of a Lifetime, and she'd have to consider it. But, I think that is part of life in D3.
I don't think every kid that visits gets the we want you treatment. Again, at my DD's school, I know of half a dozen players that have contacted the school, and expressed interest. The coach did make an effort to see them all play, but dropped the discussion in some cases. This does not mean they are not good players, but he already has commitments for some of those positions, and he is not going to have 25 kids on the team.
I think the key for them is they probably need to have some comfort that:
1) she can get admitted (need scores for that) and
2) that she is really interested. She can tell them that in response.
If she wanted to commit, they'd probably be glad to do that, but it might be a little early for her yet. This recruiting process is an emotional roller coaster, and, unfortunately, she probably has a few more months to ride it.
If she is really very interested in one of the schools (or both), I would have her email them back telling them so. As soon as she gets her scores, tell them about it. Keep them updated on HS and TB. Let them know how her grades are going, etc. In short, she needs to maintain contact so they have her at the top of their list.
You have to look at things from the D3 coach's perspective. Come spring of 2012, she has to field a team, with or without your DD. So, if she thinks she doesn't have a chance to get your DD, she isn't going to invest time and energy. If she thinks your DD isn't going to help her team, she isn't going to waste her time.
No. They will start talking to your seriously when your DD starts being serious about going to the D3 school. Just like anyone else, they don't want to be considered "the school of last resort" for your DD. They want your DD to go to the school because it is the best fit for your DD.
No. They will start getting serious with your DD if your DD is serious about going to that school.
No. If the coach thinks your DD would be a good addition to the team AND if she/he thinks your DD might go to that school, then your DD will get the "we want you" treatment.
No. They will start talking to your seriously when your DD starts being serious about going to the D3 school. Just like anyone else, they don't want to be considered "the school of last resort" for your DD. They want your DD to go to the school because it is the best fit for your DD.
No. They will start getting serious with your DD if your DD is serious about going to that school.
No. If the coach thinks your DD would be a good addition to the team AND if she/he thinks your DD might go to that school, then your DD will get the "we want you" treatment.
As someone who has been a DIII head coach for a few years, I certainly couldn't have said it better than WndMllr above. sluggers' post just above this one is excellent, as well. It truly is a process of us getting serious about someone once we think (1) they are good enough to be someone we want; and (2) we know they are serious about us.
Speaking of DIII's recruiting, my experience as a high school/travel coach and now a DIII coach is that it's all over the board. Any DIII school not recruiting isn't likely to be any good. I know my whole league recruits, some harder than others, but they all recruit. I will be in Colorado for most of the week for Fireworks, etc., I may be in Vegas for the J.O. in June, I go to Huntington Beach twice in the fall, and then also hit the more local exposure tournaments. I am somewhere pretty much every weekend from early June through ASA or Premier Nationals. Most of the initial contacts I have with a girl begin in their sophomore or junior year. If they have waited until their senior year, it's probably too late unless they are clearly a player who has the ability to play DII or DI. If a girl comes to our school and shows up on Day 1 in the fall to try out, she has pretty much zero chance to make the roster. We will have already guaranteed several roster spots to our recruiting class for that year, and will have almost all of our returning players back.
As of now we have three commitments for Fall 2011 and on the verge of a fourth. Of course these commitments aren't binding, but each Div. III coach has a very good feel for who could back out and who is rock solid.
Going back to how much recruiting we do and how far we travel, a lot depends on the school. The two types of Div. III schools that I see do a lot of traveling to Colorado or wherever else are (1) geographically isolated schools, which mine somewhat falls into; and (2) extremely highly selective schools that need to scour the country for girls with at least a 2000 or 2100 SAT.
Speaking of DIII's recruiting, my experience as a high school/travel coach and now a DIII coach is that it's all over the board. Any DIII school not recruiting isn't likely to be any good. I know my whole league recruits, some harder than others, but they all recruit. I will be in Colorado for most of the week for Fireworks, etc., I may be in Vegas for the J.O. in June, I go to Huntington Beach twice in the fall, and then also hit the more local exposure tournaments. I am somewhere pretty much every weekend from early June through ASA or Premier Nationals. Most of the initial contacts I have with a girl begin in their sophomore or junior year. If they have waited until their senior year, it's probably too late unless they are clearly a player who has the ability to play DII or DI. If a girl comes to our school and shows up on Day 1 in the fall to try out, she has pretty much zero chance to make the roster. We will have already guaranteed several roster spots to our recruiting class for that year, and will have almost all of our returning players back.
As of now we have three commitments for Fall 2011 and on the verge of a fourth. Of course these commitments aren't binding, but each Div. III coach has a very good feel for who could back out and who is rock solid.
Going back to how much recruiting we do and how far we travel, a lot depends on the school. The two types of Div. III schools that I see do a lot of traveling to Colorado or wherever else are (1) geographically isolated schools, which mine somewhat falls into; and (2) extremely highly selective schools that need to scour the country for girls with at least a 2000 or 2100 SAT.
- Jul 9, 2010
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What a great opportunity to have some D-3 coaches posting here, helping the rest of us out. Thanks!
Thank you for posting that. Some DIII schools are some of the BEST in the entire nation. Ultimately your DD has to choose a place that's a good fit for her ALL the way around. Softball is just a piece.
