College Softball Recruiting Presentation

1. College Softball Recruiting Presentation

2. What’s the difference: D1, D2, D3 & NAIA??? • Number of teams • Scholarships • Time Commitment • Some D2 teams have very strong programs (e.g. UC San Diego) • Some NAIA programs have good scholarship packages that combine athletics & academics, visit www.naia.org

3. Where do I start? • Make a list of approximately… • 5-8 plan A schools (your dream list) • 5-8 plan B schools (schools you think would be a fit) • 5-8 plan C schools (you might not be very interested in these schools but the coaching staff could realistically watch you play) Why? • To create leverage in the recruiting process

4. How to Create Leverage in the recruiting process • Every College Coach has a list of outfielders, infielders, and pitchers they’re recruiting. • It serves the college coach no benefit to tell you where you are on that list (unless you are their #1 recruit)

5. Factors to consider when selecting a school • Do you like large/small campus, rural/urban campus, academic reputation (SAT) etc., reputation of program ??? • Where would you want to spend 4 years of your life, even if injury were to prevent you playing soccer there?

6. Where do I get the information? • Visit the Universities’ Athletics Home Page • For example: www.calbears.com • Click the link: “Inside Athletics” • Look for “Staff Directory” or “Directory” or “Athletics Directory” • Here you’ll find the Head Coaches email address & his/her assistant coaches email addresses. • Send emails TO: Head Coach & always CC the assistant coaches

7. Key Factor • Never send group emails (you want the coach to think you’re particularly interested in his/her school, not 50 others) • Don’t mess up the school mascot if you decide to add it

8. How often should I email the coach? • Freshman: Email all the colleges on your list 2-3 times per year prior to big tournament/recruitable games • Sophomore: 3-4 times per year • Junior: 4-5 times per year • Senior: 4-5 times per year WHEN? Emails are likely only to receive a cursory glance between August & November, so focus on sending your emails December-July

9. What to say? How to start your email. • Go to the women’s softball webpage, look at recent results and latest news. How can you add this as an intro to your email? For example; • “Dear Coach X, Many congrats on your recent victory over ___________” • “Congrats on your Coach of the Year award” • “I noticed from your website you’ve recruited Suzie Smith, she plays for the same club team as me” • “I watched your team play against _____________, I really enjoyed the style of play, which I think perfectly fits with the way I play the game”

10. Remember to include • Your contact details must be easy to find • Your graduation year must be easy to find • Upcoming games, along with location, time of game, field number, your jersey number and your team colors • Add a picture of yourself if you possible • Private YouTube link of your play?

11. What’s a National Letter of Intent (NLI)? • Signed in the winter of your senior year (legally binding contract) • Only signed of you’re receiving a scholarship of any amount (that means if you’re just receiving “books” you would still sign a NLI). • Any agreement before this is verbal

12. FAQ’s… • How many times does the college coach need to see me play? • Who should contact the college coaches, the parent or the player? • Should we hire an agent to help us with the recruiting process? • What if I commit to a Plan B school, then a Plan A school comes in for me late in the process? • How many D1 girls play all 4 years?

13. Questions you could ask College coaches 1. What positions are you looking to fill for 201_? 2. What is your style of play? 3. (If they’ve seen you play) what areas of my game do you feel I need to improve? – The coach might bounce this one back at you by asking “what areas do you feel you need to improve”? So be prepared to answer this. 4. What tournaments do you plan to recruit at this year? 5. Will you be in my area to see any games in the near future? 6. What attributes do you look for in a player? 7. Can you describe a typical year for a college softball player? 8. I enjoy working out in the off-season, can you tell me what are the off-season work-outs like with your program? 9. How many players are you looking to add for your 20__ recruiting class (your senior year)? 10. What academic support do the athletes have access to?

14. What questions might the coach ask me? 1. What are your academic and athletic goals? 2. Have you seen us play? 3. Have you applied to our school? 4. Why do you like my school? 5. Have you seen a college game? 6. Who do you play for? 7. Who are your coaches and what are their contact details? 8. When can I see you play? 9. What are your strengths/weaknesses? 10. What’s your GPA and SAT scores? 11. What majors are you interested in?

15. KEY NCAA RULES – Freshmen & Sophomores • Freshman and Sophomores are not to be contacted by college coaches, except with camp information and a player profile form. • Therefore, Freshmen & Sophomore, always add to your correspondence: “I gather NCAA rules prevent a specific reply, so feel free to email my (DoCor Club Coach). His/her email address is ________________________________”

16. KEY NCAA RULES – Juniors • SEPTEMBER 1st - Colleges can email you call you and text you. They may also send recruiting material in the mail. • Register for the NCAA Clearinghouse at the end of your junior year: www.eligibilitycenter.org

17. KEY NCAA RULES – Seniors • Coaches can call you once per week • Coaches may make a home visit • College coaches may arrange an official visit in which the college pays expenses for your on campus visit (48 hours maximum). Student-athlete is permitted 5 of these in their senior year, however, recruiting is getting earlier so most only make one.

18. How to arrange an Unofficial Visit • Best time would be Winter/Spring of your Sophomore/Junior Year • If Sophomore they can’t reply to your emails, so always include your coaches (or DoC’s) contact details • Can you arrange to meet a professor, then add this to the email you send to the Head Coach?