Stop the Division I Obsession

If you’re a softball or baseball junky, parent, fan or coach your Twitter “X” feed is likely filled with a variety of topics including news, sporting event scores and. upcoming games, prospective student-athlete highlights, and inevitably their announcement of their verbal commitment to a school.

It’s like a right of passage. They call a coach and verbally say they accept an offer and if done correctly, they call, not text or email, any other coaches that have expressed interest to notify them know they have chosen to commit to a different program and school before posting anything online.

Sadly, every year, a coach will be scrolling and sees a kid they have had extensive conversations with and believed to have built a good relationship with committed to another school without being notified. The lack of social etiquette can be astounding, particularly since there is an undoubted need to have social media as part of our daily routine and source of information.

Another trend that is getting some virtual life are kids HESITATING posting where they have received an offer from and committing. Social media can have a negative impact on kids in many ways. One of them is that kids may feel reluctant to share their college acceptance news online, fearing that they will be judged or envied by others because it may not be a so-called coveted Division I opportunity. This can prevent them from celebrating their achievements and making confident decisions about their future.

So why the hesitation when in fact the number of total athletic opportunities to play at the next level, regardless of the division, are hard to come by? NCSA* has reported for years, “Fewer than 2 percent of high school student-athletes are offered athletic scholarships” and according to the NCAA, less than 7% of all high school athletes go on the play at the next level. Social media platforms have enabled users to construct their own realities online, where they can present themselves in idealized ways, manipulate their images and appearances, express positive emotions while hiding negative ones, and engage in constant comparison with others. This phenomenon has profound implications for the psychological well-being of individuals and society as a whole.

It is imperative that high school and travel ball coaches send the right message when it comes to being recruited. When a player is actively getting recruited, i.e., talking and corresponding with college coaches, a player, and their family must choose a school and program that checks ALL the boxes:

• Is the distance away from home manageable mentally and physically?

• After deducting a possible athletic award (only Division I, II, NAIA, JUCO are permitted), potential merit (academic) money, and qualified financial aid (after completing a FAFSA form) if that institution allows for stackable aid, what is my out-of-pocket expense, and can my family afford it or am I willing to take out a student loan to cover the remainder?

• Does the university or college offer your academic interest in a Major?

• Have you built a relationship with the coaching staff?

• Do you know or have an idea of the culture of the program?

• What are the class sizes?

• Do you have the ability to compete for a starting position?

At no point on the checklist should be where are my teammates committing to and what division are they playing.

Your fit is your fit.

It is not to compete or compare your ideal program with someone else’s whose answers to this checklist are completely different and it’s certainly not so your travel ball coach can brag about his/her big Division I commit. Don't let coaches' egos or parental bragging rights cloud your judgment when making important decisions about your commitment.

College fit does matter. Between the years 2012-2017, nearly half of current college athletes leave their current team roster. In 2022, nearly 21,000 student-athletes entered the transfer portal and only 12,000 found a home the following year according to a news report by NPR. Ask yourself before verbally committing anywhere:

• Can I see myself here for 4 years?

• If I could not play anymore, would I want my degree from this institution?

• If the coach were to leave, would I stay?

Here is our PSA for our PSA’s (prospective student-athletes): stop comparing your journey to others. Your commitment to play at the next level is unique to YOU and should met with a level of excitement no what level and where you chose to go. You are part of an elite group of talented individuals. Be proud of that and never let the ego of an adult sway your decision. As Dr. Seuss once said, “Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to great places! You’re off and away.”

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