Quick Softball Recruiting Tips
Know where you want to go but keep your options open.
Having a clear direction or vision on where you’d like to attend college is very important. However, keeping your options open is also another critical factor in making the right selection for your educational and athletic needs. Your “dream” school might not be all that one might seem.
STUDY
Grades are a significant part of getting recruited. Ambition in the classroom shows your work ethic to succeed, and drive for success. Grades not only reflect how much you care about your future, but it also shows your respect for authority and ability to take direction. Remember that you’re going to have to make a comfortable living after you graduate and go off into the adult world, don’t let striving for softball success distract from that.
Alex Fulmer of @GamecockSoftbll is in hot pursuit of law enforcement career and enjoys ride-alongs with Live PD crew: https://t.co/djxgbOJy1q
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) March 21, 2018
Have a positive attitude.
Coaches will not waste time on athletes that act as if they have nothing more to learn. Be confident in your abilities but also be open to learning new skills. A versatile player is a lot more marketable to a college coach than a player with an unwillingness to be part of a team. No matter how individual softball may seem, it is very much a group effort to be successful as a team.
Find a way to defeat your weakness.
Whatever comes to mind when a coach asks, “what are your weaknesses as a softball player?” should be something you should be focusing time on: pop time, bat speed, perfecting that last pitch, even learning to be a switch hitter. Find a way to make that negative into a positive for yourself.
Self-promote: You are your biggest fan.
Technology plays a more significant role than ever in the process, and nothing is more distasteful to coaches than a person who disrespects themselves or others on the internet. You are a reflection of not only your current school but your future school and team. Be smart and responsible about what you are posting to your pages, as well as what others are tagging you in. Once a picture or comment is on the internet, it is almost impossible to delete forever.
Be persistent.
Don’t be afraid to contact coaches about visits, questions, or concerns consistently. The more interested you are in the program, the more serious the coach will take your commitment. Getting to know the coach or current teammates in advance is a great way to get a feel for the team atmosphere you are thinking about joining. Yes, the college has to choose you, but you also have to feel comfortable in choosing them.
Go to college camps.
Attending camps of the colleges, you’re thinking about attending can give you a perfect idea of how the team and coach operate. Very often, current teammates and coaches are running the camps to benefit their team, and that’s a good place to ask a lot of questions about the program. Getting a good idea of how the program is coached can help an athlete make a more confident decision in their school selection.
