September 1 for Class of 2022

[googlyeyes]

DD (RHP) was contacted in various ways on sept 1 by 7 programs. All 3 of her top choices contacted her at midnight by email. Her top school contacted her by email and text. She‘s been in contact via phone with 5 of the 7 programs. Coaches have requested transcripts and these coaches all sent very personalized emails detailing what they liked about her specifically and that she would be an ideal fit for their program. No offers ha e been made yet but I assume transcripts may be utilized to help determine academic vs athletic money. From what I’m hearing power 5 schools are moving along at normal pace wrt offers but mid majors are particularly slow this year in making offers. Having not been able to see kids play live or see them at camps this summer surely plays a role in that. DD isn’t stressed at all and doesn’t feel pressure to commit right away. We are visiting campuses within driving distance to see if the schools are what she’s looking for.

 

[Orange Socks]

We are visiting campuses within driving distance to see if the schools are what she’s looking for.

I am kind of surprised that y'all haven't visited those campuses already. I would imagine that you would have seen the campus first before getting this far along in the process especially since they are driving distance. We marked off a bunch of schools just be taking an informal campus walk through/drive by early in the process.

 

[googlyeyes]

I am kind of surprised that y'all haven't visited those campuses already. I would imagine that you would have seen the campus first before getting this far along in the process especially since they are driving distance. We marked off a bunch of schools just be taking an informal campus walk through/drive by early in the process.

These are schools that were not on DD’s radar but she was on theirs. She had no interaction with these coaches (sending emails) but they have seen her play in person while watching her team play. Our family’s perspective - especially in the Covid era of recruiting - is that if a coach shows an interest in you and the school offers the academic program DD wants to pursue, then we owe it to that coach to do the research and consider the school. It says a lot about a coach to reach out to a player they have never received an email from or has been at their camp. DD wants to play for a coaching staff that believes she brings real value to their program. Like you said, you’ve ruled schools out just by driving by or doing an informal tour. Maybe DD will wind up ruling a school in by doing the same. BTW - these schools all have winning records and conference championships / finalist histories.

 

[Orange Socks]

These are schools that were not on DD’s radar but she was on theirs. She had no interaction with these coaches (sending emails) but they have seen her play in person while watching her team play. Our family’s perspective - especially in the Covid era of recruiting - is that if a coach shows an interest in you and the school offers the academic program DD wants to pursue, then we owe it to that coach to do the research and consider the school. It says a lot about a coach to reach out to a player they have never received an email from or has been at their camp. DD wants to play for a coaching staff that believes she brings real value to their program. Like you said, you’ve ruled schools out just by driving by or doing an informal tour. Maybe DD will wind up ruling a school in by doing the same. BTW - these schools all have winning records and conference championships / finalist histories.

Enjoy the process and have fun with it.

 

[Vertigo]

When it came down to decision time for DD, she had to choose between her top 2 choices - the school that had been following her the longest (she had been to their camps, they came to see her in FL and MA, she toured the campus) or a school that was extremely academically prestigious but she had never set foot on campus, nor been to any of their camps. She had a couple of Zoom calls with the coaches (extremely nice and supportive coaches), and that was it. She had sent them video and they reached out to her.

In the end it was the school she had developed the relationship with, and where she visited, that won out. She just felt extremely comfortable there, and felt extremely comfortable with the coaches. When I offered to take her to the other school’s campus for a visit (drive-by, as no one was allowed on campus due to Covid, she said that she didn’t even want to. She already knew in her heart where she wanted to go.

Sometimes they just know.

 

[MNDad]

These are schools that were not on DD’s radar but she was on theirs. She had no interaction with these coaches (sending emails) but they have seen her play in person while watching her team play. Our family’s perspective - especially in the Covid era of recruiting - is that if a coach shows an interest in you and the school offers the academic program DD wants to pursue, then we owe it to that coach to do the research and consider the school. It says a lot about a coach to reach out to a player they have never received an email from or has been at their camp. DD wants to play for a coaching staff that believes she brings real value to their program. Like you said, you’ve ruled schools out just by driving by or doing an informal tour. Maybe DD will wind up ruling a school in by doing the same. BTW - these schools all have winning records and conference championships / finalist histories.

Consider the coaching staff when choosing a school, but also realize it’s highly unlikely the same staff will be there all four years she’s there. Would she attend this school playing for a different HC and AC’s? If she drops softball is this a school she’d still choose?

Best of luck! It’s stressful now, but it does get better.

 

[Vertigo]

If she drops softball is this a school she’d still choose?

Exactly! This here is exactly why DD chose the school she did!

 

[googlyeyes]

Exactly! This here is exactly why DD chose the school she did!

As a matter of fact she dropped one of her top schools after she toured it and because it didn’t have the precise major she was interested in. She LOVES the coaching staff though and would love to play for them. They just happen to be at the wrong school for her.

 

[Vertigo]

As a matter of fact she dropped one of her top schools after she toured it and because it didn’t have the precise major she was interested in. She LOVES the coaching staff though and would love to play for them. They just happen to be at the wrong school for her.

Yes, that should be a no-brainer for all recruits. If you already know what you want to study and the school doesn’t offer that major, why bother?

 

[murphdog]

My DD was big on location (city) and major above all else. She’s since changed her major but absolutely loves living in downtown Boston and playing softball when it’s allowed. We toured a bunch of Boston schools, we’re local so we went to a bunch of open houses and had a pretty solid idea of where she wanted to be early on.
Covid happening stripped her of her sophomore season but she still loves her school and the city.