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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DIVISIONS IN NCAA
What's the difference between Divisions I, II and III?
Division I
Division I member institutions have to sponsor at least seven sports for men and seven for women (or six for men and eight for women) with two team sports for each gender. Each playing season has to be represented by each gender as well. There are contest and participant minimums for each sport, as well as scheduling criteria. For sports other than football and basketball, Div. I schools must play 100% of the minimum number of contests against Div. I opponents -- anything over the minimum number of games has to be 50% Div. I. Men's and women's basketball teams have to play all but two games against Div. I teams, for men, they must play 1/3 of all their contests in the home arena. Schools that have football are classified as Div. I-A or I-AA. I-A football schools are usually fairly elaborate programs. Div. I-A teams have to meet minimum attendance requirements (17,000 people in attendance per home game, OR 20,000 average of all football games in the last four years or, 30,000 permanent seats in their stadium and average 17,000 per home game or 20,000 average of all football games in the last four years OR, be in a member conference in which at least six conference members sponsor football or more than half of football schools meet attendance criterion. Div. I-AA teams do not need to meet minimum attendance requirements. Div. I schools must meet minimum financial aid awards for their athletics program, and there are maximum financial aid awards for each sport that a Div. I school cannot exceed.
Division II
Division II institutions have to sponsor at least four sports for men and four for women, with two team sports for each gender, and each playing season represented by each gender. There are contest and participant minimums for each sport, as well as scheduling criteria -- football and men's and women's basketball teams must play at least 50% of their games against Div. II or I-A or I-AA opponents. For sports other than football and basketball there are no scheduling requirements. There are not attendance requirements for football, or arena game requirements for basketball. There are maximum financial aid awards for each sport that a Div. II school must not exceed. Division II teams usually feature a number of local or in-state student-athletes. Many Division II student-athletes pay for school through a combination of scholarship money, grants, student loans and employment earnings. Division II athletics programs are financed in the institution's budget like other academic departments on campus. Traditional rivalries with regional institutions dominate schedules of many Division II athletics programs.
Division III
Division III institutions have to sponsor at least five sports for men and five for women, with two team sports for each gender, and each playing season represented by each gender. There are minimum contest and participant minimums for each sport. Division III athletics features student-athletes who receive no financial aid related to their athletic ability and athletic departments are staffed and funded like any other department in the university. Division III athletics departments place special importance on the impact of athletics on the participants rather than on the spectators. The student-athlete's experience is of paramount concern. Division III athletics encourages participation by maximizing the number and variety of athletics opportunities available to students, placing primary emphasis on regional in-season and conference competition.
VIDEO TIPS
WHAT A VIDEO TAPE SHOULD HAVE
1. Make a skills tape.
2. Have a parent or coach videotape you in action.
3. It does not have to be fancy, or done by a professional.
VIDEOTAPING YOUR SOFTBALL SKILLS
Colleges want to see everything you are capable of doing. If you play several positions, show footage of different skills. Please keep in mind, though that they receive hundreds of videotapes each season and simply don't have time to view excess and unneeded footage. Here are some guidelines as to what they want to see and how many repetitions they would like to see. In what order you perform the skills makes no difference.
It is recommended to use the zoom feature rather than moving in a position you may disturb the fielder or hitter.
The entire tape should only be approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
HITTING:
View from beyond opposite batters box, facing the batter as they are in their stance, close view. Full swings in this segment, if you have full swings from both right and left side, please show both.
BUNTING:
Sac Bunts: View from pitching circle, left and right sides, if applicable.
Bunt for Hit: View from pitching circle, left and right sides, if applicable.
Drag Bunt: View from pitching circle, left and right sides, if applicable.
Slap Bunt: View from beyond opposite batters box, left and right side, if applicable.
THROWING AND CATCHING: (All Positions)
Fielding ground balls, some directly at you, some to your right and left.
Balls to your right and left should be approximately 15 to 20 feet each way.
Show the throw to a base. (Note) Always have an angle to show the throw.
DO NOT follow the ball with the camera.
CATCHERS: (Full Equipment)
Block ball in dirt, some right at you, some to show lateral movement.
Field bunts and throw to all bases.
Pickoff, show throws to 1st and 3rd base.
Steals, show throw to 2nd and 3rd base, with the fielder on the move to cover the base.
CORNERS:
Field bunts, throw to 1st, 2nd and 3rd bases.
At 1st base, taking throws in the dirt.
At 3rd base, taking throws from the outfield, making a tag.
MIDDLE INFIELDERS:
Double play, pivot and footwork.
Double play, feeds.
Shortstop, covering second on a steal.
Second, covering first on a bunt.
Fly balls overhead, Texas Leaguer.
OUTFIELDERS:
Fielding fly balls, some directly at you, some to your right, left and forward. Show the throw to 2B, 3B and home. Right field also show throw to 1B.
PITCHERS:
Two Angles:
>From behind pitcher.
>From side of the catcher.
Show 5 to 6 of each pitch you have from each angle.
Fielding grounders and bunts, throwing to all bases.
BASE RUNNING:
Home to first, after you swing.
Home to home, after you swing.
SAMPLE LETTER TO A COACH
John Doe, Coach
Any College
Any Street
Any City, Any State, Zip
Dear Coach,
My name is ( ) and I am a softball player from (Small Town Senior High School) in (Small Town, NY). The position I play is (shortstop) and I bat (third) in the batting order for my high school team. I also play on a summer traveling team called the (CNY Wildcats).
The purpose of this letter is to introduce myself to you and request your consideration for participation in your college program. I have been told that your collegiate softball program is outstanding and (Any College's) academic program is one of the strongest in the (state).
Attached you will find a data sheet with my career statistics and team participation. I would also like to inform you that I will be participating in the (Name of Tourney) College Showcase taking place in (City, State) on (Dates) of this year. I would encourage you to come and observe my softball skills along with those of the many other girls participating in this event. There will be over (number) teams participating in the showcase. I am sure you will find a very high level of skilled softball players participating in the Showcase.
(Optional Paragraph)
Additionally, I have a skill video that I have prepared. If you are interested in viewing the video, please write or call me and I will be glad to send a copy to your college or university.
Once again, the (Name of Tourney) College Showcase will be an excellent opportunity for college coaches to observe many of the top-notch players from the Tri-State and the surrounding area. This is time for coaches to scout and build their programs.
Looking forward to seeing you on (Dates) .
Sincerely,
(Name of Student)
Enclosure
 Recruiting Websites and Info- Part 1
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