What Do College Softball Coaches Want-2016

picture of pets because some college softball coaches want to know your petsThree years ago I wrote a post on “What Do College Softball Coaches Want?” and with the new year, I thought I would revisit the topic and see what, if anything, has changed. This time I looked at the recruiting questionnaires of the top 13 D1 softball programs. Why 13 instead of 12 as before? No meaningful reason, I copied one row too many and had already started looking up information by the time I realized it.

Read more

How Much Do Colleges Spend on D2 Baseball Programs?

Baseball pitcher throwing ball representing D2 Baseball Programs and ConferencesAs is the case for most sports, Division 2 is the smallest for baseball in the NCAA. According to the Office of Postsecondary Education, in 2013 there were 260 D2 baseball programs in 43 states including Puerto Rico. Pennsylvania had the most with 20, followed by California with 16. Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, New York tied for third with 14 programs each.

Read more

Are College Baseball Players Happy?

Baseball player representing college baseball experience(The data is from 2010 but I think is still valuable today.)

Do you know what you’re in for if you end up playing college baseball? Sure, you’ve talked to the coach multiple times and have done your overnight with the player. And you probably know about being able to do three things in college, study, play ball, and party but athletes only get to pick two. But do you really think you know what it’s going to be like?

Read more

What’s Important to College Baseball Coaches

Three baseball players, seen from behind, walk together. These athletes, important to college baseball coaches, wear different jerseys: the left in red, the middle in blue, and the right in black with the number 30 on the back.

baseball players representing what's important to college baseball coachesSo why is a college baseball coach more likely to lose interest in a high school prospect, showing poor attitude at a game where the coach is watching or a poor high school season? If you said poor high school season, you’re wrong. Which would have a greater negative effect on the recruiting coach, seeing a game where the player had a poor performance or low grades? Obviously poor performance, right? Wrong. It’s low grades.

Read more

8 Infographics to Help You Understand College Athletic Recruiting

An orangutan scratching its head is pictured in a forest setting with text on a banner below saying "Infographics to Help You Understand College Athletic Recruiting.

confused primate needs information on college athletic recruitingIf you’re a high school athlete or the parents of an athlete who wants to play at the college level, the sooner you understand the college athletic recruiting process, the sooner you can use the process rather than have the process control you. And while the chances of being paid to be an athlete in your particular sport may be minuscule, it can’t hurt having a grasp of some of the issue of paying student-athletes. I think the following infographics on college athletes provide a good place to start your education.

Read more

Is it too late to get recruited for college baseball if you are already a senior?

Player wondering it it too late to get recruited for college baseballNo. It may not be ideal but it’s still possible. Even if you have already graduated from high school, it’s not too late. Between the MLB draft pulling players from teams to players at the D3 level not receiving enough financial aid to attend the college, there are plenty of reasons why it’s not too late to get recruited for college baseball if you are already a senior.

Read more

Recruiting Quiz: See If You’re Ready to be Recruited to Play in College

recruiting quiz hands taking testAre you ready to be recruited to play in college? Do you understand the recruiting process to make sure you’re ready to make the most of every opportunity? Or are you more likely to reduce your chances because you haven’t bothered to learn the necessary rules and expectations? Take the following quiz and find out if you’re ready to be recruited.

Read more

College Athletic Recruiting Reading Suggestions: Recruiting Services, High School Issues, and Scholarships

dog reading a bookFive articles for those interested in the college athletic recruiting process. Three of them have practical information for families in the recruiting process. If you’re expecting something definitive, be prepared to be disappointed. As usual, so much depends on the individual situation. And there are two “big picture” reads just so that you have no illusions as to what sort of swamp you’re entering.

Read more

What Do College Softball Coaches Want-2015?

coach making notes for college softball recruitingThree years ago I looked up the college softball recruiting questionnaires for the then top 12 rated D1 softball programs in the country. The idea was to see what college coaches wanted, or at least appeared to, based on the information they asked from their prospects. This could help players make sure their athletic resumes covered all the important points. And it revealed some interesting tidbits about the schools. So I thought it was time to revisit the topic and see what, if anything, in college softball recruiting has changed.

Read more