The Collegiate Softball Recruiting Process

Before you begin to read this, remember .... you are going to college for an education first and foremost.  THAT is the most important thing.  Softball is secondary to that no matter how much you love this game.

Why all the rules?

The rules are designed to make the recruiting process as fair for everyone as possible. Coaches must follow these rules to protect themselves and their programs. If the rules are not followed, both the coach and the prospect will suffer consequences and the violations may affect your eligibility. Help make the recruiting process as simple as possible, by knowing and following the rules.

Of the over 1100 colleges fielding fastpitch softball teams, only about half offer any form of softball scholarships. This means that the majority of girls playing softball in college right now aren't receiving athletic-based aid.

Even at the "fully funded" programs (meaning 12 full scholarships for Division I and 7.2 for Division II) most players on the team will get only partial scholarships and some may have to make the team as walk-on's.

Division III does not permit athletic scholarships, but are able to provide seemingly unlimited scholarship funding based on academics, including full scholarships. Hence the primary reason why a student's grades, GPA, and SAT/ACT test scores are so important to maintain.

Without a doubt, every college-bound softball player would love to be offered a full athletic scholarship. But unfortunately, the competition for athletic aid is getting tougher each year. In case you're not lucky enough to get an atheletic scholarship offer, be prepared. Look at all of your academic and financial aid options.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I contact colleges?

The winter of your sophomore year. It is never too early to start the recruiting process.

How do I start the process?

Begin by making a list of colleges you are interested in attending; make a broad list. There are many opportunities to play softball in college, so don't limit yourself!! Do your homework and send an introductory letter (email is most popular now - you can find the coach's email address on the college's softball website) to those colleges. Make sure to include: Your return address, your graduation year, a brief introduction about yourself, your summer team's name and your high school. Make sure each letter is personalized (e.g., goes to the current head coach, and that you have proof-read it carefully). Additional items to include are your resume, transcript, game schedule and skills video DVD or internet video link.

Also, remember to complete the college or university's prospective athlete form on their website.

Make sure you register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. See your guidance counselor for assistance.You may have to hound and prod them repeatedly.

Make sure you take the SAT and or ACT early in your junior year.

NCAA Recruiting Timeline

Prior to Junior Year in High School

At the beginning of your ninth grade year, you become a prospective student-athlete. All rules regarding recruiting go into effect at this time. You may visit an institution at your own expense as often as you wish, and all contacts with a coach must be on the college campus. The athlete can call the coach, but the coach cannot return the phone call or e-mail (except Division III where the coach may call or write starting with the athlete's first year of high school).

Junior Year of High School

September 1: Coaches may send athletes recruiting letters, e-mails and information about the athletic program. Coaches may not call prospects, however, until after July 1 for Division I and June 15 for Division II. (See Division III exception above.)

Early in the Junior Year:

• Register with the Eligibility Center NCAA Eligibility Center
• Take the ACT and/or SAT and request scores be sent to the Eligibility Center
• Begin your amateurism questionnaire.
• After completing your junior year, request your high school to send your transcript to the Eligibility Center.

Upon Completion of Junior Year:

College coaches may initiate in-person, off-campus contacts for Division I schools as of July 1; for Division II, as of June 15; for Division III, as of the end of the junior year. Division I and II coaches are allowed three total contacts with a prospect or her family members during her senior year in high school.

Coaches may only call prospects once a week and these calls include conversations with any family members.

Senior Year of High School

First Day of Classes:

On-campus official visits may begin. Before a college may invite you on an official visit, you will have to provide them with a copy of your high school transcript (Division I only) and SAT or ACT score. You are limited to one official visit at five different institutions.

National Letter of Intent Signing:

Early Signing begins the second Wednesday in November of your senior year. The late signing period begins the second Wednesday in April of your senior year.

Near or at the End of your Senior Year - Complete amateurism questionnaire. Guidance counselor must send final transcript with proof of graduation to the Eligibility Center.  Again, you may have to hound and prod the guidance counselor.

Create a Skills Video

Your video should be 4 to 5 minutes long; it should include an introduction that says who you are and displays:

• Hitting off a tee, machine, front toss or pitcher; video from the side, and behind.
• Fielding your position from the front and the side. Make sure to show both fielding and throwing.
• Pitchers should throw all of their pitches, and the video should include shots from behind the catcher, behind the pitcher and from the side.
• No need to get fancy or include game footage (most coaches know you'll put the good stuff in).  Keep it short and simple, about 4-5 minutes. Remember coaches have a lot of videos to watch and they are looking at techniques on the video.
• Make sure your background information and graduation year are clearly marked on the video.
• Post either on YouTube, a website, or send a DVD

Should I attend college camps?

YES!

This is a great way to be seen and to figure out if you will fit in with a certain team or coaching philosophy. You will meet the coach and typically current members of the team.  This also provides you with an opportunity to learn and develop as a player as you will typically compete with many players from the region. Many colleges have both summer and winter clinic and camp opportunities.  To get a good gauge of the best camps, do research or ask players that you know have already attended certain camps. 

HOWEVER -- Just remember that these camps are often meant to make money for that collegiate softball program, so you will be invited back often or invited to other camps.  You may even start receiving emails from "recruitment camps" listing major colleges as attending, or emails from actual college coaches inviting you to their camp just out of the blue.  Beware because sometimes these are just form invitations that are being sent out in mass emails to players and really are not meant to be a personal contact.  They are just trying to get you to attend their camp. 

Therefore, it is recommended that you choose the camps of the university or college you'd like to attend.  And make sure you have a few to choose from and don't limit yourself to just one program.  Once you attend a camp and have established some positive communication, to see if the program is honestly interested in your skills and if you are truly in the recruiting plans of the head coach, do not be afraid to ask about the interest level the program has in you.  Ask what the positional needs are for the team in relation to your freshman year of college, how many recruits are typically signed in a class year, and if recruiting is still ongoing for your class.  Also, what type of scholarship offers are offered.  One final thing .. regretfully, probably not everything a coach may tell you will be accurate, so be prepared for that.

Also, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you create an introductory email about yourself and your accomplishments (academically and athletically) and send it to the coach of the collegiate softball program you are interested in along with your team's softball schedule to see if they might be available. Also, be sure to complete the online athlete recruitment forms that most programs have on their website.  Be sure to explore the softball website examining the coach's background, roster, and stats, as well as the college's or university's website regarding majors and academic information.  For more recruiting information, visit the NFCA website.

Summer Tournaments

Keep in mind that college coaches have limited time and budgets to recruit with and thus will try to find tournaments in which they can see a lot of quality teams at once. There are exceptions to this rule, but it is recommended to find the most competitive tournaments that you and your team can afford. Showcase tournaments often find many college coaches and scouts, but they typically are already aware of what players they are there to see.  You can often check on tournament web sites to see what colleges will be represented at that tournament, and it is recommended that you contact a coach of a college you are interested in prior to the showcase.

Even if your team does not compete in the showcase tournaments, all is not lost. You can still be seen, but it is going to mean taking a more proactive approach with contacts, camps, and videos which will help in this process.

If a coach, scout, or representative does come to watch you, they may not notify you and will monitor from a distance.  So always act professional, confident, and mature at all camps and tournaments.  HUSTLE, POSITIVE ATTITUDE, and a TEAM PLAYER are what they are looking for along with your technical skills.  They are looking for coachable players.

The Do's and Don'ts


A college coach cannot speak to you until after your team has completed play in the tournament for the weekend, and only after June 15 for Division II or July 1st for Division I after your junior year. A college coach may speak to your parent or guardian before the completion of the tournament.

However, doing so will count as one of the three allowed face-to-face contacts between you and the coach. Even if you are not playing in the tournament, but are there watching, a college coach cannot talk to you or your parents before July 1st after your junior year in high school. Just to be safe, let the coach approach you when he or she is allowed to do so.

It is generally not a good idea to try to hand your video or resume to a college coach at a tournament. If you can't mail this information, ask your summer ball or high school coach to give it to the college coach.

Social Media

Be careful with any posts or comments you make on your social media sites.  Facebook, Instagram, or whatever, colleges and universities search the internet to find any information or background examples about you they can find.  While these same colleges and universities preach about diversity and being open to opinions, the truth is if they disagree with your viewpoints, comments, or actions, they could or will use it against you.  

Quick Key Points

• Start early
• Keep it simple
• Contact college coaches
• Have your information ready, and put your name and graduation year on everything
• Attending camps is beneficial
• Play in the best tournaments you can
• ALWAYS HUSTLE ON AND OFF THE FIELD! 
• ALWAYS BE A TEAM PLAYER WITH POSITIVE INFLUENCE!

REMEMBER - IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO STAY ON TOP OF YOUR GRADES!

AGAIN .. First and foremost, you are attending college to receive an education. Coaches will look to see if you are working hard in the classroom as you are on the field. Check with your high school counselor to make sure you are taking the proper core courses (16 core courses for Division I, 14 core courses for Division II) and that your GPA is where it needs to be. Refer to NFCA for core course descriptions and required GPA, or you can call the NCAA Eligibility Center at 877/262-1492. Be sure to enter 9999; code when registering for the ACT or SAT. This requests for your official test scores to be sent directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center

.