So You Want to Play College Ball?

So how do you know if you should play college ball? And if so, at what level? The road is littered with great players that did not survive their freshmen year as a college player, so be prepared for that possibility. There are 4 basic levels of college softball, and within these levels are many different types of programs. First and foremost, you should be thinking about a college that serves your academic needs. You should not be picking a college for softball alone. You should try to find a good fit that will serve your academic and softball needs. Be realistic about where you could play. Talk to as many people as you can. Talk to your coach, talk to college softball players and parents. Research and research more. Watch college softball at all levels when you are a sophomore and junior in high school.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT LEVEL OF PLAY:

Listed are the levels of softball available for the college student:

Division I

There are three levels here. The PAC 10 and a few other West Coast schools are tops. Next are established top programs year in and out, which include Northwestern, DePaul, Iowa, Illinois State, and Michigan in the Midwest. Behind these schools are the programs trying to claw their way into the upper echelon. Some of these schools bring in a top pitcher or two and impress for a year or two, but many struggle. All of these programs expect an intense commitment. The better programs offer excellent facilities, free tutors, fly all around the country to play, pay all expenses and softball gear is free. Many will try to change everything you do - batting, fielding, throwing, etc. You could play for 4 years and get into 20 games total as they are always trying to improve. The spot you "earned" could be taken by an incoming freshman. If you believe you want to play college ball at the DI level, you need to prepare as soon as you complete your freshmen year of high school. Attend reputable exposure camps and work hard on what you don't do very well. Sophomores should prepare and Juniors should finish a skills video. You might want to include a few "highlights" from your Tidal Wave season. Most colleges host a clinic in the winter. Plan to attend one or more at the schools you are interested in. Check the websites and begin communicating with the coach. Most important - set realistic expectations for your academic and athletic future.

Division II

DII schools are allowed to offer scholarships and many of these teams schedule to play DI schools, so some are better softball teams than the weaker DI schools. Most of these programs are looking for "blue Chip" softball players that are a good fit for the college. Full athletic scholarships are usually limited to pitchers & catchers, bigger partials go to the very swift or powerful, perhaps to premier shortstops or centerfielders. Many of the private schools offer combination athletic/academic scholarships that can bring the cost down to in-state public tuition. Commitment to the softball program can be a difficult challenge for freshmen (or anyone!). The college could expect a DI type commitment without the DI support (more on that later).

Division III

There are many great DIII softball schools in the Midwest. These schools are not allowed to offer athletic scholarships, but nearly all of them will work with the good student to dramatically reduce the tuition. Some allow the student athlete to play two sports. This can be an excellent choice for the good player who wants to play in college but wants a good academic/athletic balance.

NAIA

NAIA stands for National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The NAIA is a separate association/governing body of colleges who compete in intercollegiate athletics, similar to how the NCAA governs DI, DII, and DIII. These are generally smaller schools. NAIA schools are able to give out athletic scholarships, unlike a DIII schools. In some sports, NAIA offers more scholarships than NCAA DI, DII or DIII programs. Scholarships usually depend on the funding at the school. Some sports may allow for many scholarships but the school may not choose to fund them. You should ask the NAIA coach how many scholarships are available in your sport.

Junior College

This is a very good choice for many softball players. The play is competitive. Most programs travel to Texas or Florida in the spring. McHenry County College, Elgin CC and Harper CC are very good options that are not very far away. After 2 years at a junior college you can attend a 4-year University and receive a degree from that school, at half the cost an incoming Freshmen will pay.

YOU have to WORK hard and be DEDICATED in order for GREAT things to happen!

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