I really don't think either was bashing, good points from both posters with different views. What I haven't seen yet is one of the dozens of parents or players that have played at one of the divisions lower than d-1 explain the process that got them there. Another thing to consider when thinking of the lower divisions is what a friend of mine likes to call the "big fish in a small pond". Last years Miss Kentucky committed to a div.1 school but has since moved to NAIA Lindsey Wilson. LW has a budget alloted for athletic scholarships just like at d-1 schools, my guess is that she is going to get a pretty good percentage of that budget and probably a better deal than she was going to get at a d-1 school. Another point, I have seen numerous College coaches at high school games, usually the lower level schools, but they will come. My daughter sent out letters with stats and accomplishments to several schools in KY. Several were interested and she was able to go to a skills camp with several college coaches in attendance. One of the coaches liked what he saw and offered her the opportunity to play college ball. Through academics and the athletic scholarships it has paid for everything and she has been a starter since the day she stepped on campus and will have a college degree in the very near future.

Awesome.

Texasdad and JMU...do your daughters play any other sports competitively?

Texasdad and JMU...do your daughters play any other sports competitively?

 

Yes my daughter (Madyson) played soccer competitvely till she got to HS at that point I pretty much made her choose which one she wanted to play as far as club sports go bc it wasn't getting to much. Wasn't an easy decision bc she really loves soccer. She got to still enjoy her years with the HS team and was honerable mention all State her senior year. Best thing about it she got asked to guest play all the time after she left the club, most times we turned it down but did end up going to a couple great tourney's and we didn't have to pay or go to practice so it was a win win for us.

I really don't think either was bashing, good points from both posters with different views. What I haven't seen yet is one of the dozens of parents or players that have played at one of the divisions lower than d-1 explain the process that got them there. Another thing to consider when thinking of the lower divisions is what a friend of mine likes to call the "big fish in a small pond". Last years Miss Kentucky committed to a div.1 school but has since moved to NAIA Lindsey Wilson. LW has a budget alloted for athletic scholarships just like at d-1 schools, my guess is that she is going to get a pretty good percentage of that budget and probably a better deal than she was going to get at a d-1 school. Another point, I have seen numerous College coaches at high school games, usually the lower level schools, but they will come. My daughter sent out letters with stats and accomplishments to several schools in KY. Several were interested and she was able to go to a skills camp with several college coaches in attendance. One of the coaches liked what he saw and offered her the opportunity to play college ball. Through academics and the athletic scholarships it has paid for everything and she has been a starter since the day she stepped on campus and will have a college degree in the very near future.

 

Were these schools that came to your HS games in state schools. I am sure they do come out to some games, both your daughters were very nice pitchers so I would say that increased the chances of a school coming. In my 5 years of HS school I have never seen a coach at our games of course we haven't had any kids go on to play in college either.

 

As much as my "dream" is for my kid to play D1 by far my greater dream is to get her education paid for with softball no matter the level, you have done that...Congrats!!

Yes my daughter (Madyson) played soccer competitvely till she got to HS at that point I pretty much made her choose which one she wanted to play as far as club sports go bc it wasn't getting to much. Wasn't an easy decision bc she really loves soccer. She got to still enjoy her years with the HS team and was honerable mention all State her senior year. Best thing about it she got asked to guest play all the time after she left the club, most times we turned it down but did end up going to a couple great tourney's and we didn't have to pay or go to practice so it was a win win for us.

 

Not that's it's bad, but she did have to choose one sport. It may be a dream to go D1, but others like my daughter, also want to compete competitively (outside of school ball) in multiple sports. As much as I know you should consolidate your activities if you want to focus on D1, I HATE the fact that kids are forced to choose. Mine played 3 competitively until last year. She finally gave up one, but wants no part of giving up anything else. one was hard enough. She understands that it may provide opportunities for someone (that focuses on one sport) to pass her up in one of the sports. But that's okay with her because its more important to her to play as many as she can. Again, she'd love to go D1, but doesn't want to sacrifice everything and is fine with working her tail off and letting the cards fall where they may. She could not play both sports competitively if she had to travel all over the place. You just can't do it! Too much overlap. She often goes back and forth from one sport to the other in a weekend. we have great memories together, we travel and eat pb&j sandwiches too. we do everything everyone else does and we love it too.

 

Did it get to be too much because of the travel? That's why IMO it's only for a select few. Sounds like your daughter could have made it in soccer as well. I know the Dossett girls are outstanding bball players and softball players. Why can't they continue to play both, knowing that they will most likely still get their education paid for, but it might not be D1 unless they drop a sport (which i heard they may be in the process of now). Great atheletes that will get a scholarship somewhere regardless if they choose to drop a sport or not.

 

Will any of these girls that drop all the way to one sport look back and say "i should have stuck with soccer" or "I should have stuck with bball"? If they have passion for both, then they should do both.

Not that's it's bad, but she did have to choose one sport. It may be a dream to go D1, but others like my daughter, also want to compete competitively (outside of school ball) in multiple sports. As much as I know you should consolidate your activities if you want to focus on D1, I HATE the fact that kids are forced to choose. Mine played 3 competitively until last year. She finally gave up one, but wants no part of giving up anything else. one was hard enough. She understands that it may provide opportunities for someone (that focuses on one sport) to pass her up in one of the sports. But that's okay with her because its more important to her to play as many as she can. Again, she'd love to go D1, but doesn't want to sacrifice everything and is fine with working her tail off and letting the cards fall where they may. She could not play both sports competitively if she had to travel all over the place. You just can't do it! Too much overlap. She often goes back and forth from one sport to the other in a weekend. we have great memories together, we travel and eat pb&j sandwiches too. we do everything everyone else does and we love it too.

 

Did it get to be too much because of the travel? That's why IMO it's only for a select few. Sounds like your daughter could have made it in soccer as well. I know the Dossett girls are outstanding bball players and softball players. Why can't they continue to play both, knowing that they will most likely still get their education paid for, but it might not be D1 unless they drop a sport (which i heard they may be in the process of now). Great atheletes that will get a scholarship somewhere regardless if they choose to drop a sport or not.

 

Will any of these girls that drop all the way to one sport look back and say "i should have stuck with soccer" or "I should have stuck with bball"? If they have passion for both, then they should do both.

 

I am sure it will work out great for your daughter, if thats the path you guys choose there is a place for you and very well could be D1, who knows.

 

For us there are many reasons we gave up one. First I am not sure either team would have liked if she kept playing both, money was another factor. I did push her to give up soccer a little bc even at that age I knew there was a very real chance she would be able to play softball in college at some level, plus soccer sucks!! and soccer is 4 months long during HS so that should fill the needs for most kids. Now I am more than certain she could play soccer somewhere is college but no way would she have the deal she does for softball. She still wants to play soccer, not more than softball but its hard to do both, there are some that do it. Our main focus was getting as much money for school as possible, I unfortunaly I didnt save money for college plus I already pay for one child in school. I told her she could play any sport or go to any school she wanted to and I would pay what I do for HC after that she was on her own. She choose to be basically debt free when she finishes school.

Texasdad and JMU...do your daughters play any other sports competitively?

 

My dd played basketball, volleyball and softball.

Gave up basketball when she got to high school and then volleyball after her sophomore year. Decent at basketball and very good at volleyball

She is at Campbellsville, transfered along with high school/WKU teammate Taylor Borders.Taylor's step mother is asst coach at Campbellsville.

I hate being wrong!!! Don't know why I said Lindsey.

Were these schools that came to your HS games in state schools. I am sure they do come out to some games, both your daughters were very nice pitchers so I would say that increased the chances of a school coming. In my 5 years of HS school I have never seen a coach at our games of course we haven't had any kids go on to play in college either.

 

As much as my "dream" is for my kid to play D1 by far my greater dream is to get her education paid for with softball no matter the level, you have done that...Congrats!!

Funny thing is none were ever there to see one of my kids that I can remember. I've seen more of the D-3 coaches coming to the games, either Transy and Centre in Lex or MSJ and TM in Northern KY. Probably just works out for them that way.