Signing Day Question......

[rhpft]

If NCAA softball signing day is in November, why would a senior who has signed play select/travel ball after her final senior high school season was over?

[LoneStarGreed]

to stay sharp for college.

[Brooke's Dad]

Because she loves the game.

[softballrulznut]

Because 99.9% of the college coaches that they signed their national letter of intent EXPECT them to play to further develop their skills!!

Wanna explain to your future college coach that you "just want to take the summer off and rest and relax and save money?"

[Realist]

Most of the girls that compete at that level do so because they enjoy playing the game. Getting a scholarship to college is just an added benefit. My DD will go to college whether it is on a Softball Scholarship or not. If she gets the scholarship she will go and play the game because she enjoys it.

Having said that, why would she all of the sudden stop playing?

The others are correct also, the college coach expects it. They expect the girl to show up in the fall of their Freshmen year a better player than they were when they signed, the only way that is going to happen is to continue to play. If they do not, they will not get a chance to play and may not keep that scholarship the next year.

[rhpft]

Damn! Based on the tone of the responses, I feel like I need to apologize for asking what appears to be a stupid question! They were great responses, and I agree with them, especially the to stay sharp response, but not all kids are the same, nor are their situations the same. I know of a kid who is a high school sophomore and took off this past fall from travel/select for the first time since she was 6 years old. Probably wasn't the best idea, since there are many fall college showcases, but in order to keep playing in the future, it was necessary. This kid is a very talented player, and appears to love the game, but less than a month off from softball each year for 10 years was beginning to wear on this maturing teenager. Now, she is moving onto her sophomore varsity and summmer select/travel seasons and her batteries are recharged to play. Already within 3 weeks of the beginning of her high school season, she has picked up right where she left off this past summer and is playing at a level above the kids who played this past fall. The reason I asked the question is that due to her talent, this kid has the ability to play college softball at a high level and potentially D1. However, unless she gets alot of her college paid for through a softball scholarship, she probably won't go but to a junior college because her family, even though they have the money to send her anywhere, is not willing to pay for any of her college as none of her family members attended college themselves. What's more, although I beleive in the keeping your skills sharp issue, her single mother, who would be willing to pay for all of her college if she had the money, has shelled out thousands upon thousands of dollars since she was 6 years old and has viewed select/travel softball as an investment toward some sort of future in college softball where alot of it was paid for. If it is necessary, and for good reason, I assume the mother would attempt to shell out another $2500-3000 again for another season of select/travel ball after signing day, if/when her daughter signs, but at this time, her mother asks why she would do that when she could save that and give it to her daughter for college instead?

[Realist]

One of the things that has to be remembered is that as you move up to higher levels of the sport, such as making the jump to D1 college ball, the competition makes a huge jump also. The athletes that make that jump are the best out there. Do not be fooled, they will be your teammates, but they will be your competitors also. Staying sharp is one thing, but each girl has to be at the level of their teammates, who are the best of the best to make sure they are able to keep their scholarship. Athletic scholarships are year to year without a guarentee that next year's will be there. Spending that extra money is a tough decision when the money is tight, believe me I truly understand that, but each girl better report to that first year of D1 college ball ready to play and to compete. Only the kid and possibly their parent really understands what they need to remain sharp, and if they really have the money to do so. There are teams out there that travel less than others, all teams travel some, but some may be a better economic fit, but nothing keeps you ready to play the game better than playing the game.

[softballrulznut]

I think I should also point out that it's more than likely that unless she's a pitcher or a unbelievable without a doubt DI talent she's not going to get 80 or 90% of her school paid for at a DI via strictly softball.

I would encourage this young athlete who is still young to really hit the books because the potential there is to make her scholarship a "full ride" via academic money as well.

As I posted I think there is a great deal of importance in playing after signing but you brought up separate issues about how much money she would get and I wanted to point out the academic side of things. For some reason that part seems not to get pointed out as much!