A parent wrote in with a very good question/request this week, which elicited a big reaction: we received over 75 e-mails in response to this note: 

I would like to see ideas on how a student-athlete from a low-income family can get noticed by college coaches. I read articles about kids getting recruited, but a lot of families can’t afford to travel from state-to-state to play in these exposure tournaments. From what I gather, the price that most families pay is half my salary. My daughter is a sophomore in high school and is getting letter after letter from admission offices for her academics, but she also loves softball and wants to play in college. We need some ideas on how to get her noticed and stay within our budget. I know my daughter is not alone. Any suggestions would be great.

Here are just a few representative responses; note that some who wrote in recommended companies or services which we’re not not necessarily advocating, but are passing along in the interest of possible resources.  Also, thanks to our great softball audience who took the time to offer ideas and suggestions!

 

*****

Regarding the letter you posted today about a low-income player wanting to play in college.

First suggestion/recommendation would be to attend a showcase camp that has several college coaches in attendance. That’s if any of the schools the player is interested in are in attendance.

Second suggestion/recommendation would be to attend an elite camp at your school of interest.

High-level travel ball is expensive, so they should look at which option would give them the most bang for the buck.

Have a wonderful day!

— Michelle

 

*****

 

I would like to provide some feedback on the parent who struggles with cost. This is a real challenge and unfortunate for some of the better kids that simply can’t afford the travel circuit with many nights away and meals for a weekend.

I am the father of Emily Soles, who you wrote an article on, and I am one of the coaches for the Georgia Outlaws 16U team. I coach because I love kids and love helping kids fulfill a childhood dream. With this, we have seen some very strong talent that simply could not afford the travel and exposure circuit. Our best find thus far has been Scout Softball.

At first, I will be the first to tell you that I was very skeptical but I had Emmy attend as an 8^th grader and realized the full day schedule of skills assessments, live scrimmage, and an individual video of the skills and scrimmage by far outreached the cost of traveling to multiple tournaments and showcases. I think this is actually the future of softball recruiting and also provides a very affordable means for those parents who can not spend the thousands over a summer.  I think we paid a $125 entry fee at the time and $299 for a skills video.

With this spend, Emmy was evaluated and then broadcast to hundreds of college coaches. Since the first trip by Scout Softball to Atlanta, they have significantly updated their site and the personal player page for colleges coaches to review each players profile, scrimmage footage, and skills video.

My recommendation to any family looking for a single event that can put their daughter in front of hundreds of college coaches, Scout Softball is the answer. The cost is a fraction of what a travel season would cost but may actually put you in front of more coaches.

— Kevin Soles

 

*****

I was sent the letter about “What if you can’t afford to play travel ball?”

It really breaks my heart, and this is really why we exist. We are in the business of evaluating talent, not zip code, income tax returns or travel uniform.

This is a problem with softball right now, the low-income family who can’t “pay for their scholarship through travel ball.”

It’s not legal for me to offer a free or reduced fee for this player to an event, as it would cost her collegiate eligibility, but I would love to help them out and show them that by attending a Scout Showcase in one day, they’ll be able to receive everything they need in order to begin looking for a scholarship.

I would also double check with the NCAA to see if it is possible at a non-institutional campus to allow her to attend for free. It may be possible, and I would certainly love to help out.

They’ll have quality video, full profile, inclusion in rankings, database etc. for under $200. It’s $125 if she comes to one of our combines.

A lot of times that one event with us is what leads to them being noticed, and then they’re able to go on campus as a qualified player and receive an offer.

Coaches are going to need to see her play, so we solve that with the best video possible. They’re also going to need to know how she grades out. Our Scout Index goes into more detail than a Major League Baseball Scout does when they evaluate prospects on their outdated system.

— Mark Mulvany, President of Scout Sports

 

*****

What a great letter! I would contact the schools that are interested in your daughter for academic reasons and have them contact the softball coach with regards to your daughter.  One would assume they are going to provide you with financial assistance—what could be better?

And should your daughter be unhappy at the chosen school and is a great player, she will be noticed by other schools and could possibly transfer in her second year of college.  Crisis averted.

— Ross Greenberg

 

*****

 

Recruiting and exposure is all about putting yourself in a position to be seen.  From my experience there are key influences in softball who can help you get seen or at least on the radar of colleges.

One of the best is OnDeck softball–they have a lot of tryouts and jamborees; some are invite-only, but Derek and Joann Allister are such good people they can probably direct you to the best event whether it’s there’s or another groups.  Here’s their website: http://ondecksoftball.net

I’d also recommend contacting a club coach of a prominent team in your area.  He could invite your daughter to a work-out or tryout and make suggestions on where she could realistically play at the college level and maybe club level (his team or another he thinks your daughter could play at).

Finally, I’d seriously consider a college camp, not necessarily at a really high level but maybe a mid-D1 school.  A college coach will also give a good read on where your daughter can play and also might be interested in recruiting her as well.

Just some ideas… finally, I’ll pass on what someone once told me: if a girl wants to play bad enough at the college level, there will be a spot for her somewhere.

Good luck,

— Robert

*****

To the person who wrote about the high cost of travel ball and asked what they could do to get a college scholarship for softball without playing on a travel team:

My advice would be to find a travel team near you with a proven track record of getting their players scholarships to Division 1 schools and have your daughter try out.

Travel teams earn their tournament placements and what fields they will play on over many years of outstanding play. It is difficult to make these teams as a player because they look for the top athletes in their area. If your daughter makes the team, paying the bill is the next issue and if she doesn’t, the pressure is off.

Some travel teams have sponsors and they may be able to subsidize a player with limited financial resources. If they do not, the investment in your child to play is far less than what she will get in scholarship money to college.

To that end, not all scholarships are full tuition.  Some schools have a maximum allowance and in some cases it could be as low as 30 percent. Some schools offer 70 percent, and many offer full tuition.  Scholarships are offered based on the player’s talent, the position they play, and the school’s need at the time.

If it is not possible to have your daughter play because of the cost, the only other way to get noticed by a college coach is to attend a camp. Most colleges have these camps and welcome as many players as can attend.  Doing it this way will require an attention-getting performance by your daughter.

Coaches look for solid fundamentals, talent, speed, hitting skills, physical condition, and attitude. Even with an outstanding performance, the coach may overlook your daughter in favor of a travel team player because they have playing experience against outstanding players from all over the country.

I wish you and your daughter the best and I fully appreciate your circumstance.  I wish I had a better answer.

— Bill Noble

 

*****

The first thing I’d recommend to do is check out Cathi Aradi’s website, Fastpitch Recruiting.  She has a lot of articles focusing on recruiting and all the aspects of it including where the dollars are and hidden opportunities out there.

My daughter worked with her a while back and she’s an incredible wealth of knowledge and insight.  I believe her contact info is on the site too and she has a book so you know she has a lot of experience.

She’d be my first step to get you educated on the process…

— Kathleen

 

*****

This is a huge problem and there are many athletes with the potential to play at an upper level that get left behind due to lacking the financial means to do so.  Most people in this situation never even attend a travel ball tryout because of the fear that their athlete may actually make the team and they not be able to let them because of the financial obligation.

I would highly encourage anyone in this situation go tryout and be honest with the coaches. 

If you do this with me and your kid is as good as my best 10, we’re going to find her a way to play.  I’ve always had a rule with my team that money was never going to stand in the way for a student athlete who has the talent.

Understanding there’s a huge difference between being broke because of extended debt and over expenditures and being in “true need.” If you earn close to poverty level or you’ve had to get help from a church or other non-profit, you are probably in “true need.”

There are many avenues for families who are in “true need,” whose athlete has exceptional talent.  Many of the top organizations have access to corporate sponsors or private donors who are willing to help with these situations.

There are also many non-profit organizations out there who can help. If not, many coaches have picked up the expense themselves when they could afford to.  Now, most will never advertise that they do this because they do not want to be taken advantage of by people who really aren’t in “need.” You may have to trust sending your athlete alone with a host family to tournaments and on out-of-town trips, but I’m sure they could help make it work.

We all go through tough times.  In travel ball we become like a family.  Be honest with coaches, just like you would with a family member or a Pastor at your church if you were in need.  I can promise you, 99 percent of the travel coaches I know would try to find a way to help you.

I was raised by a single mom who worked two minimum wage jobs while going to school part-time just trying to give me a better life.  I spent a large part of my childhood living in government subsidized housing—”the Projects”—and I got my Christmas presents from Salvation Army, my clothes from Goodwill, my meals from government commodities, free school lunches and food stamps.

There are people out there with the resources to pay it forward…  Give them a chance. Today, I’m trying to pay it forward in effort to help female athletes get their college degree, so they never have to go through what my mother had to go through.

— Coach Jeff Filali (Tulsa Elite Softball GM and Asst. Coach at Butler CC)