So Cal Diamonds 18Gold - Zappia: Recruiting Section
College Recruiters, Scouts or Coaches?
What do they look like? Can you talk to them? What do you say.
Cathi Aradi writes...
1) First learn the NCAA rules about "contacts." Parents/players shouldn't be talking to coaches/scouts at tournaments unless the coach/scout has specifically asked the parent/player to find him/her. (And that's only when it's allowed--e.g., after July 1 following the junior year. Players can't talk to the coaches even then at tourneys until their team has been eliminated.)
2) See point 1! Parents should leave coaches alone for a number of reasons unless asked ahead of time to talk to them.
1) It may jeopardize their player's eligibility;
2) It may use up one of only three off-campus contacts per school;
3) It may turn the coach off, particularly if they feel the parent is too aggressive.
Some coaches don't like to talk to kids/parents at tournaments, preferring to wait until later. My rule of thumb is this. Leave them alone unless asked to find them. If they want to get a hold of you, they will, trust me!
3) If a coach has asked to talk to the player and her parents at a tournament (assuming she'll be or is a senior), I suggest keeping it short and simple. Unless it's a home visit or you're going out for dinner or something, tell the coach you're glad to meet him/her, that you'd appreciate getting info on the school, and that you'd like to have time to think about his/her interest--whether the coach is asking the kid to visit, to consider his/her school, etc. Don't feel intimated or rushed into anything.
Books that help:
"Preparing to Play Softball at the Collegiate Level" by Cathi Aradi
and
"GET NOTICED! How To Market the College-Bound Softball Player."
I HAVE PUT A 14 PAGE DOCUMENT IN THE HANDOUT SECTION ABOUT RECRUITING. ITS A GREAT GUIDELINE FOR THE PROCESS...
SEE SOME OTHER LINKS AND SAMPLE CORRESPONDENCE BELOW:
SpySoftball.com
SPY provides reports on major ASA 18-U girls fastpitch softball tournaments and related events.
SPY reports are written by Rayburn Hesse, a Nationally-recognized coach and scout. Look around at the next recruiting event he'll probably be around.
His effort is self funded, he hails from the Washington D.C. Area.
College Coach email search facility.
If you know the name of the coach or only the college, this tool will find the coaches email.
From the search under additional resources click "College Nickname & Coach Email Search"
College Softball Team
Look up your favorite College Softball Team
eteamz.com College Softball Search
Uniguide Guide to US Universities
Ultimate College Softball Div I top 25 teams
Ultimate College Softball Div I top 25 teams, Rankings, College stats, college newspapers and a lot more.
Sample of a College Introduction Letter
College Introduction Letter (Word Document) Provided by Cathi Aradi
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