This document provides guidance for student athletes pursuing college softball. It outlines NCAA eligibility requirements including required core courses and minimum GPAs for Division I and II. It emphasizes maintaining good grades, especially in core courses. Coaches are looking at skills, academics, and how the athlete fits the team. The document recommends athletes contact coaches, create a skills video, and find opportunities for coaches to watch them play. Maintaining communication with coaches and following up after games is important.

1. The Do’s for
21st Century Athletes
Rage Coaches
*
Rage Parents
*
Rage Athletes

2. Preparation
Skills checklist
Educate NCAA Recruiting
Rules & Guidelines
NCAA Eligibility Center
Rules (www.ncaa.org)
Academics
Websites

8. The Academic
Side of the Game
Test
Scores
Credits
Core
Grades

9. Overall GPA matters but,
it’s the core courses GPA that
really count
Div I
16 Core Courses
Div II
14 Core Courses

11. CORE
GRADES
SAT/ACT

13. DIV I
PRIOR TO AUG 1, 2016
DIV I
BEGINNING AUG 2016
Aid and Competition
GPA SAT ACT
3.550+ 400 37
3.000 620 52
2.500 820 68
2.000 1010 86
Aid and Competition
GPA SAT ACT
4.000 400 37
3.500 600 50
3.000 620 52
2.500 1000 85
2.300 1080 93
Aid and Practice Only
GPA SAT ACT
3.550 400 37
3.000 620 52
2.500 820 68
2.000 1020 86

14. Div I athletes will require 10 of
their 16 core courses by the
completion of their 7th semester.
These courses will become “locked
in” at 7th semester and cannot be
retaken
Div I athletes will be required to
achieve a minimum core GPA of
2.300 to be eligible for
competition. A 2.000 GPA will
allow for aid and practice but not
competition

15. ATHLETES
STAND OUT
IN THE MIX

16. COACHES
Technique
 NCAA Requirements (www.ncaa.org)
 NCAA Rules
 NFCA
 What College Coaches Are Looking For
 When Are They Looking
 Academics
Information Distribution
 Profiles (sample)
 E-mails (sample)
 Ground Roamers
 Website (team)
 Travel Schedule
 Skills Video
Contact Colleges for your Athletes
 Include High School Information

17. COACHES
Skills
 Checklist of Skills
Player Follow-Up
 Letter and E-mail Check
 Grade Check (overall & core)
 Checklist for College Bound Athletes
Tournament Follow-Up
 Coaches Watching List

18. STAND OUT IN THE MIX
 Take time to identify schools you may
want to attend (Do your research)
 Create your communication e-mail
 Create an e-mail account to be used
to contact coaches
Be professional
Include your last name
Name: SusieWho
Ex: swho8@aol.com
 Like College Program Facebook
 Create a skills video
 Use drop box (skills clips, video)

19. STAND OUT IN THE MIX
*PRE-GAME WARM-UP*
 Coaches will be at pre-game
 You have more opportunity to
show your skills
 Attitude towards the game and
teammates
*GAME TIME*
 On deck swings
 Reaction to errors/failure (yours and
teammates)
 Attentiveness to game
 Hustle/Attitude
 Skills

20. Dear Coach ___________ (send individual emails –avoid
group emails to coaches)
I hope this letter finds you and your program in good
health. My name is _________________ and I graduate
from high school in 20___. I am looking to represent an
institution with a reputation for excellence in academics
and athletics. I firmly believe that your program and
institution provides this environment.
My research has led me to discover that you possess
the fine art of developing players’ ability to the next
level.
Currently, I represent ____________ (club team) as a
_________________ (position), jersey #__. I would be
most grateful if you could watch me play at the
Following event: (List next tournament or big games
here with location information, kick-off time and field
number. Also, mention your jersey
number & team colors).
I currently attend _______________ High School and
have a GPA of ___ . I would be delighted if you could
send me additional information about your program
(such as camp details). I look forward to hearing from
you,
Sincerely,

21. Request camp info. (you can send this
email/letter at any time)
Dear Coach _________________,I trust all
is well with you and ______________ (insert
program name here) softball . My name is
_______________ and I represent ____________
(club team) and graduate in 20__ (year).
In order to learn about your institution and
program, I am very interested in attending your
summer camp.You and your staff
have an excellent reputation for developing
players and I am keen to experience this in
order to develop my skills and understanding
of the game.Would you be so kind as to send
me information about your future camp
offerings.
Sincerely,

22. My name is __________________, and I play for
__________________ and graduate in 201_ . I would like
to congratulate you on your recent success or event. I
noticed from your website/facebook that
_______________ (mention here either; coaching award,
team victory, player names or team functions).
I will be playing in the following tournament, and would
be most grateful if you or one of your assistants could
assess me for your program. Any feedback you could
provide would be gratefully received.
(Tournament details here, include: date, location, field
numbers, kick-off times, your jersey number, your likely
position and team colors)
(if you are a Sophomore or younger you can add....)
I am aware that per NCAA rules you are unable to
reply to this email, but should you have any
comments or suggestions please feel free to contact my
coach. Her/His name is ______________ ,
Cell:__________________, email _________________).
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,

25. COLLEGES
ARE LOOKING
FOR
WHO
&
HOW

26. What Colleges Are Looking For
 Needs
 Fit
Technology
Social Media
Websites
Twitter/Facebook
Communication
Video Analysis
On-site Video Analysis

28. COLLEGE
RECRUITING
TRIVIA

29.  There are about 1,150 4-year college
teams.
 Roughly 25% are Div. I; about 23% are
Div. II and all the rest are D-III and
NAIA. (In other words, 75% of all
collegiate players will not compete at a
Div. I program)
 Less than 2% of College softball players
receive full athletic scholarship. Many
student-athletes receive a combination
of athletic and academic money.
 Sixty percent (60%) of all colleges are
small - as in having student populations
of 6,000 or less.

30.  Approx. 55% of schools offer some type
of “softball scholarship,” and the vast
majority that do, will not give out very
many (if any) full rides.
 Division I and II schools typically have
rosters of 16-22 players. Most Division I
schools are given 12 full scholarships and
Division II 7.2 to work with.
 NJCAA (Junior Colleges) are given 24
scholarships to work with.
 All scholarships must be renewed on a
yearly basis.There is no such thing as a
guaranteed 4 year ride.

31.  90% or 9 out of 10 schools with teams are in
states EAST of Colorado.That means only
10% of all college teams are in the West.
Wyoming has no 4-year schools with teams.
Arizona, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Idaho,
Montana and Hawaii have only a few
college programs each. Oregon and
Washington only have 5 D-I softball schools
between them! California has more than
any other West region state, but many are
limited to in-state scholarships.
 There are approx. 70-80,000 graduating
high school players every year. Some won't
want to play college ball. But if even 25%
(20,000) of them decide to see if they can
make a college team, it presents ferocious
competition because only about 4,500 total
spots on college teams open up each year.

32.  http://www.ncsasports.org/blog/wp-
content/uploads/2011/07/CBSA1.pdf
 http://www.nfhslearn.com/electiveDetail.aspx
?courseID=14000
 http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdo
wnloads/EB13.pdf
 http://www.ncaa.org
 http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/afa/genr
el/auto_pdf/2012-
13/misc_non_event/ncaaguide.pdf
 www.fastpitchrecruiting.com/index.html
 www.eligibilitycenter.org