May Checklist: High-Academic Softball Recruiting Tips

May 24, 2019

As the spring season comes to an end and the school year wraps up, below are a few items for student-athletes to focus on before they begin their summer schedule – and how to maximize these important summer months in your recruiting.

Click below to skip ahead to your class-specific checklist:

Class of 2020

• Review your summer schedule to make sure you are getting exposure to the right schools throughout this crucial summer

Class of 2021

• Balance your summer schedule with your standardized test prep plan
• Schedule at least one individual showcase this summer

Class of 2022

• Update coaches on your spring season performance
• Reach out to the coaching staff and admissions counselors ahead of your campus visits
• Get an updated video and objective measurements at the end of the spring season

 

CLASS OF 2020:

• Review your summer schedule to make sure you are getting exposure to the right schools throughout this crucial summer – We’re only putting one item on here for rising seniors this month – that’s how absolutely essential this is to set yourself up for success in your recruiting process. This is the home stretch for the class of 2020, and while there is still time left to make an impression on college coaches and move yourself up on their recruiting board, there are limited opportunities remaining. As you finalize your summer schedule, remember to ask yourself: “Will this tournament or showcase help me get noticed by the schools I am targeting?” If the answer is no or you’re not sure how many coaches will be there, ask yourself if this is something that you 100% need to attend. We understand that most ball players have team commitments this summer, but this is the time to prioritize your recruiting and college aspirations. If there’s a showcase that most of the schools on your list are attending, have a conversation with your family and coaches about what’s best for you. It may seem like a difficult decision now, but placing an emphasis on your own recruiting process will pay dividends for years to come.As you lay out your schedule, see where you’ll overlap with the coaches that you’re targeting. Set a plan of communication in place now to make sure that you reach out to the right coaches proactively, and also to be sure to follow up with them after camp ends. Don’t let this key piece of the recruiting puzzle – proactive communication – get lost in a busy summer!

 

 

CLASS OF 2021:

• Balance your summer schedule with your standardized test prep plan – Last month we recommended that you create a study plan to help you reach the academic requirements of your target schools. Now that you have an outline for your test prep, compare that with your summer schedule to make sure that your study schedule and goals are manageable and attainable. This summer and junior year will be action-packed and a key period for you to make strides in your recruiting, and staying organized and focused will help relieve some of the stress that comes with balancing your athletic and academic schedules. Your plan and goals can always be adjusted later on – this framework should serve as a starting point to build off as you learn more about the schools that are an ideal fit for you.Pursuing high-academic recruiting sometimes is going to mean studying your SAT prep book on the bus to the travel tournament – don’t let teammates focused elsewhere embarrass the work ethic out of you!

 

• Schedule at least one individual showcase this summer – The summer before your junior year represents an ideal time to make strides in your recruiting process, but in order to do so, you need to make sure you are getting the right type of exposure. This will consist of two main components: 1. Playing in front of a high volume of coaches, and 2. Playing in front of the coaches on your list. Balancing these two features is essential at this point to stay in the driver’s seat in your recruiting – you need to start getting exposure to the schools that you are targeting, but you shouldn’t limit yourself to only these schools. There are likely schools that you haven’t considered or heard of yet that are extremely similar to the schools on your list. Achieving exposure to a high volume of coaches creates the opportunity to learn more about these programs and will give you more options when it comes time to apply to schools. Working from this list of school qualities to find the right fit is important – so is keeping an open mind to find schools that match those qualities all across the country.

 

 

CLASS OF 2022:

• Update coaches on your spring season performance – Last month we recommended that you begin reaching out to coaches to introduce yourself and get on their radar early. With your spring season wrapping up, follow up with these coaches to update them on your performance. Include some key stats from the spring season and a few aspects of your game that you improved on. If you’ve identified some areas of your game that you want to focus on this summer, let them know how you plan on improving and what goals you’ve set for yourself. Coaches understand that you have 3 years of high school remaining and a lot of development ahead of you, but they’ll be impressed by your self-awareness, willingness to improve and goal-oriented mentality. This will also set yourself up for natural follow-ups throughout the summer to update them on your progress towards these goals. If you have the ability, including an updated video in this point of contact can help demonstrate your growth so that coaches can follow your on-field development.

 

• Reach out to the coaching staff and admissions counselors ahead of your campus visits – We also suggested in April that you plan a few campus visits to learn more about what you’re looking for in your ideal school. Once you have a few visits scheduled, reach out to the coaching staff or the admissions counselors to see if there is anyone you can meet with while on campus. Division I coaches will not be able to have contact with you on campus on these “unofficial visits” until September 1 of your junior year, but their liaison in admissions may be able to set you up with somebody to show you around campus during your visit. Touring campus with somebody who studies/works at the school gives you the opportunity to ask questions about multiple areas of college life – athletics, academics, social – so that you can learn more about what you’re looking for in your ideal school.