Revealing the unfiltered truths in today’s SOFTBALL CLIMATE across the softball landscape across all levels.

“September 1st” holds great significance as it marks the highly anticipated initiation of Division I softball coaches engaging with prospective student-athletes during their Junior year, in adherence to the regulations set forth by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). While a portion of players anxiously awaited this day, eagerly staying awake with anticipation and incessantly refreshing their electronic mailboxes, regrettably, others were met with a disheartening absence of communication.

Get ready, folks, because brace yourselves for the groundbreaking newsletters about revolutionizing your perception of softball. We are resolute in our mission to unearth the concealed issues plaguing this sport and shed light on their profound impact on both players and their parents. The very future of collegiate aspirations hangs in the balance. But that's not all - we won't shy away from delving into the challenges faced by college coaches. So prepare yourselves for eye-opening revelations.

TOP 4 REASONS YOU MAY NOT BE GETTING RECRUITED

There is no doubt that you may have come across persuasive narratives from collegiate coaches, recruitment agencies, and overhyped social media platforms discussing what it takes to play at the next level:

• Be a good teammate

• Have good body language

• Get good grades

• Be coachable

• Competitive

• Committed

These sources elaborate on the behavioral patterns that truly define the quintessential athlete but don’t get to the meat of why it may not be as easy for some to get that call from a college coach.

When it comes to securing those coveted and elusive sports scholarships in college, it's important to understand that it's not solely about compiling an impressive list of accomplishments. Rest assured, if you haven't received a call or email from one of those prestigious Division I coaches, it does not in any way imply that you lack talent or the ability to excel within a team dynamic. There are plenty of other red flags that may deter the coach from reaching out.

But let’s start with an obvious one.

#1 — THEY MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU.

Making a big mistake in the world of recruitment is when you send just one email to a coach. This unfortunate situation typically happens at the beginning of summer. The email might say something like: "Hey Coach, I really look up to your school. I've noticed that it's a perfect fit for my goals, and I can totally see myself playing sports under your guidance. I've attached my detailed summer plans for you to check out. I'm really excited about the possibility of meeting you at these events."

Then… nothing. You’re too busy or forgot to send another.

Sending out one email with 5-8 tournament dates on it and no follow-up, no video link, and no contact information will surely land you in a vague and impersonal virtual email folder labeled “2025 Recruits”. You want a coach to come to your game right? Send follow-up emails as soon as you get your full tournament schedule. Include game times, location, and your SPECIFIC TEAM. With the 1,000’s of travel ball teams across the country and each organization branching off into a GOLD team, BLUE team, ELITE team, NATIONAL team, 18u, 16u, 14u….

#2 — A second reason you may NOT be getting recruited are your PARENTS. 

It is undeniable that the presence of parents has led to the existence of each and every one of us and their involvement is highly valued. However, it is important to acknowledge that parents can also have a significant impact on the recruiting process. When college coaches do their due diligence, they often inquire about the nature of the relationship between the prospective student-athletes parents and their high school or travel ball coaches. One question that frequently arises is whether the parents are supportive or disruptive. This query holds great importance, as it is regrettable that one of the most prominent realities in today's softball landscape is the tendency of parents to engage in controlling and unprofessional conversations with administrators.

Coaches want to know if:

• Parents are loose cannons in the stands.

• Unsupportive of coaching decisions.

• Prioritize playing time over team victories.

• Are controlling social media accounts.

• Speak over their daughter during visits.

• Known to spread rumors in the stands.

• Feed their daughter narratives instead of empowering their daughter to have conversations with coaches.

As a parent, it's super important to be supportive of coaching decisions, no matter what the outcome. Trust us, no coach out there plans for failure when making in-game decisions. Coaching is a tough gig, so let's show some respect and let them do their job. If your daughter isn't getting much playing time or is struggling to understand why, it's your role to empower her to have a chat with her coaches. Together, they can figure out what she can do differently or improve upon to make a bigger impact on the field.

#3— A third reason you may NOT be getting recruited is your SOCIAL MEDIA. There is no doubt social media today is playing a role, if not THE ROLE, in whether or not a college coach can identify you as a viable candidate to fill a roster spot.

We’ve all heard the stories of scholarships being pulled because of how an athlete acts or does something stupid and posts it on their social media. YES, THIS IS REAL. However, how you promote yourself with good intentions and the quality of the content you display also can play a significant role.

On Twitter, excuse us, “X”, highlight videos are the norm. Unpopular opinion to some, but many clips are extremely difficult to watch with wide angles and unrecognizable players the size of ants. No doubt these are time-consuming to edit as well. We don’t want to discourage players from sending them, as it is a great excuse to send more emails to coaches (See #1), but know it’s NOT THE BEST JUDGE OF TALENT.

Want a pro tip? Order a $15 tripod on Amazon, attach your phone horizontally, hit a few balls off a tee, some off front toss, and take a few balls at your position defensively. If you’re a catcher throw from H to 2B. A pitcher should throw 2-3 of every pitch and everyone should end their video with baserunning from H to 1B. Upload it to YouTube and attach the link to every email and all your social media profiles. This gives coaches a quick glimpse into your ability and also references when scrolling through the hundreds of emails and social media posts running through their feeds.

#4— The last potential critical reason for your lack of recruitment is the misguided prioritization of SHOWCASES over COLLEGE CAMPS/CLINICS. This issue will be thoroughly explored in future discussions, but it is imperative to note that an increasing number of college coaches are expressing their dissatisfaction with travel ball coaches who prevent their players from attending camps due to game commitments.

If you are currently committed to a travel ball organization that has placed significant emphasis on showcase games, which, by definition, do not encompass the entirety of a game due to time constraints and the absence of regulated rules in competition, it should be essential to reassess the organization you are investing in that likely guaranteed maximum opportunities for recruitment.

Extensive travel and cramming your fall and summer schedule with as many games as possible does not guarantee increased exposure from college coaches. We are here to tell you, there are countless compelling reasons why opting for college camps over Showcase games or even travel ball practices is an absolute game-changer when it comes to getting recruited. Here are just a few:

1. At any point from grades 6 through 12 it allows you DIRECT access to college coaches. You can have endless conversations with them and BUILD A RELATIONSHIP; the ultimate key to getting recruited.

2. A coach will be able to work with you, provide instruction, and see how quickly you can apply that information. This is called being coachable. A character must-have on many coach’s recruiting checkboxes.

3. You get to see if that campus and coaching staff is a good fit for you! Recruiting is a two-way street. You have to equally find the best for you. Go explore campus. Can you see yourself there? What’s it like to play on their field? Is it comfortable? Is it overwhelming? Did you get along with the staff? Were they personable? Did you like their coaching style?

4. You can attend more than one. Remember tip #1? If a coach knows you, your chances of getting recruited have already increased.

If you’re a softball enthusiast, we've got something super exciting coming your way that we just can't wait to share with you. You can catch all the action on our amazing @SoftballClimate platform.

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