The Recruiting Process: What Players and Coaches Need to Know
  1. NCAA Rules: Division I College Softball Coaches and Prospective Student-Athletes
    1. Prior to Junior Year in High School
      1. Camp & Clinic Brochures
      2. Questionnaires
      3. Unofficial Visits (unlimited)
      4. Phone Calls (made by student-athletes at own expense)
      5. Not Permitted: Recruitment E-mail, Regular Mail, Text, Phone Calls (making or returning), Official Visits, Off Campus Contact
    2. Junior Year in High School
      1. Key Dates: September 1st and July 1st
      2. Unofficial Visits
      3. Off-Campus Contact (After July 1st)
    3. Senior Year in High School
      1. Key Date: Opening day of classes
      2. Official Visits/Unofficial Visits
      3. Off-Campus Contact
  2. Getting Noticed: Recruiting Isn't a Fair Process
    1. Start Early
      1. Beginning of Freshman Year/Sophomore Year: Get on the Radar and Follow Up
        1. E-Mail (resume, Stats), Regular Mail, Video
        2. Travel Team/Travel Schedule
        3. Camps & Clinics hosted by Colleges/Universities
      2. Summer/Fall/Winter Junior Year
        1. Unofficial Visits
        2. Camps & Clinics
        3. SAT or ACT
    2. Finding the Right Travel Team
      1. 16U & 18U
      2. Schedule: ASA (A, Gold), NSA, USSSA, PONY, AFA
      3. Cost vs Value
      4. Find out where the coaches are and get there
    3. Key Questions to Ask a College Coach
      1. What positions are your recruiting?
      2. What tournaments do you usually attend?
      3. How many scholarships are available in the year I graduate?
      4. What are you looking for in a recruit?
      5. Where am I on your list of recruits?
  3. Full Scholarships: Don't believe the Hype
    1. Fully Funded versus Partially Funded Universities
      1. 12 Scholarship Maximum: Most teams carry 18 to 20 players
    2. Common "Full Ride" Positions
      1. Scholarships are renewable: 1 year guarantee
    3. Partial Scholarships
    4. Walk-Ons vs Recruited Walk-Ons
    5. Early Commitments
    6. When could it be Too Late?
  4. Finally
    1. Start Early: Freshman or Sophomore Year
    2. Get on a highly competitive team and get in front of the most coaches that you can
    3. Be careful with mass marketing strategies and/or using a large recruiting service
    4. Attend the camps and clinics of colleges that interest you.
    5. Make as many unofficial visits as you can
    6. Recruiting isn't fair