College Recruiting Tips: Do Your Research First
A softball player may decide at a young age that they want to play college softball one day. That is the first step in the recruiting process, making the initial decision. College softball is a four-year commitment, and many will compare being a collegiate student-athlete to that of a full-time job. At the Division I college softball level, athletes will be required to attend 20 hours of practice a week on top of being a full-time student in the fall months. The softball load goes down to eight hours a week in the winter portion of the season, before resuming back to the full 20 hours and travel during the spring season.
College softball is a four-year commitment. The difference between Division I, II, III, NAIA, and NJCAA is often the softball load. The practice amount, travel schedule, and level of play are the most significant differences at these collegiate levels. Whereas, the academic load will be similar.
Softball is only a small part of the college experience. When you start the recruiting process with your athlete, the softball program shouldn’t even be the main thought right away. There is a checklist that needs to be completed before exploring the softball part of the process.
Brainstorm a Major/Career Path: This has to be the first item on any college list. It’s important that going into college your athlete has an idea of what they want to study or pursue as a career one day. College softball is only four years, your career after softball is the rest of your life. Often athletes make their college decision based on the softball program and get put into a major they aren’t interested in. Many of these athletes will complete their four-year college softball career and go back to school after to study and pursue the career they want. Save yourself the extra schooling and costs by doing some research before you commit.
Location: You are going to spend four years of your life at college. Therefore it’s essential to enjoy the area and environment you put yourself in. If you are someone who doesn’t enjoy winter or being outside in cold weather, it won’t make much sense to attend a Northern school when you could be exploring the South where winter months are minimal. Are you someone who can handle being away from home or your family for great lengths? If you are someone who experiences homesickness, don’t stray too far away from your comfort.
In-State vs. Out-of-State Tuition: Not everyone is going to get a full-ride college athletic scholarship. Sometimes early in the process, it’s important to weigh the in-state and out-of-state tuition costs for college students. This may play a significant role in the college decision. Even if you end up with a college scholarship, it’s not a for sure thing and will be re-evaluated each year. If you become injured and are unable to participate in athletics, you may be responsible for your academic funds moving forward. It’s important to learn and know about the costs, as it is typically much cheaper for an in-state student versus someone who lives out of state.
Make a Wants/Needs List: Again, without thinking about the softball program, make a list of your wants and needs when thinking about your dream college. Do you see yourself attending a college in a big city, one that has a football program, what type of class sizes would you prefer, are you interested in exploring the sorority life, do you wish to study abroad one day? (Studying abroad may be difficult if you decide to attend a DI school, whereas it is possible at a DIII school). College is the best four years of your life; it’s important that you do the research and get everything out of the experience that you possibly can before entering the real world.
There are many steps to the college softball recruiting process. Before even thinking about the softball program, it’s important to take into consideration the list above. Take the time to brainstorm and think about a potential major and career path. Then decide where you would want to attend school and which parts of the country you could see yourself living in for four years. Next comes researching in-state vs. out-of-state tuition and housing costs. You can’t rely solely on the chance of receiving a full-ride scholarship. Finally, make a list of personal wants and needs when it comes to your ideal college experience. This list may be altered and changed over time, and that’s completely normal as interests change. It’s important to have the list as a reference when adding the college softball program piece into the equation.
