absdad wrote:I've read through this forum quite a bit lately, but don't recall seeing anything in regards to timeline. I realize that it somewhat "depends". But what are the general times that a player should begin to a phase? Such as emails, phone calls, tournament invites, etc. Is it more by grade, than age? I realize that a powerhouse D1 is going to be different from a small D2 or D3. Is 13 or 14 way too early to start anything? DD will be 14 in April, and has already attended a few college camps, and is on a good nationally known team. Is everything a waste until their first day of freshman year, or should some groundwork be laid out prior? Don't want to err on the side of too late. Thanks.
Greetings.
Since your DD turned 14 in April, I'm guessing she's heading into her freshman year in HS this fall.
If she is on a top travel team, you're right on schedule in terms of her development as a player.
In terms of recruiting, I would make sure you have completed all those prospective student-athletes (PSA) questionnaires that are on the sports website for each school that you may be interested in. That will get her onto the database and that's where everything starts. You can start sending out your game schedules to selected college coaches prior to showcase tournaments that your team may be playing in this fall and the coming spring.
At some point in the next 12 months you and your DD should decide (and it’s a decision that can be changed in most cases prior to the end of her junior year) what level of school should be targeted. I would split the schools into top D-I (e.g., Pac-12, SEC, Big 12, ACC, Big 10), mid-level D-I (e.g., Big East, WAC, Atlantic 10, Big West), other D-Is, Ivy League, D-II, and D-III. You can show interest in and pursue schools in two or more of the above categories right up to the end. Generally, the stronger the softball program, the earlier the recruiting is done. The top D-I softball schools verbal their recruits during the sophomore year. Many strong D-I schools get verbal commitments between the sophomore and junior years. Most D-I schools verbal their recruits during the junior year, although some do so in the summer after the junior year. Ivy Leagues will hand out offers in the late summer after the junior year. D-IIIs only start looking at juniors and decide on recruits in the fall of their senior years. D-IIs fall all over the time schedule depending on the program.
Her playing ability and grades/test scores will determine which of these categories she would NOT be recruited for. For the categories that she could be recruited for, you have to decide whether to go for the most money possible, get into the best academic school possible, or something in between. This becomes very much a personal choice. Sometimes geographic or historical preferences become major factors.
Keep in mind that smaller private schools may have more grant money available (if you can show a financial need) than the athletic money that can be offered by a strong softball school.
Deciding on the level of school at your current point will help you select the camps that you want to attend. There is only so much time, and for most folks only so much money, to devote to camps. In these economic times, many schools put more emphasis on camps in their recruiting process because their travel budgets have been slashed.
I tried to get coaches to take note that my DD is very interested in their school, but also made sure we stopped well short of being a pest. We started calling and e-mailing during the summer prior to her sophomore year. The process is an emotional roller coaster. Unless your kid is a superstar stud player, you’ll always feel like it will take some element of luck to get the school or schools that she wants. The reputation of your future 18Gold team, and the relationship that those coaches have with various schools or conferences, will become significant factors as the process heads into the later stages. Don’t settle for anything less than a starting position by the summer after the sophomore year unless you’re on an extremely elite 18G team. I cannot overstate the importance of being an impact player on your 18G team.
I wish you and your DD the best.
90066DAD