NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

Is swimming indoors hazardous to one’s lungs and breathing? That was the topic of a recent study in Quebec City. The concern is about chemicals associated with pools that have contributed to young swimmers breathing problems as compared to young soccer players.

It is concluded that the environment of the high humidity mixed with the high levels of chlorine are contributors to one’s lung health.  Some pools have chemical overload and can be smelled before seen – which is definitely not a good sign.

Research does support that the benefits from swimming and exercise are more positive than the risks from being in indoor pools.

Colleges and universities all over the country are feeling the pressure due to our current economy. More specifically, their athletic departments are trying to manage budgets and make decisions that will allow their programs to stay afloat while remaining competitive. Unfortunately, this often leads to having to cut teams and programs. And no one is feeling the effects of those cuts more than the swimming and diving world.

In February, citing the “current economic environment and the need to reduce its budget,” Pepperdine University announced they were dropping women’s swimming & diving, as well as track.

In March, Pennsylvania’s Kutztown University dropped men’s swimming and men’s soccer from their institution. “This move is ultimately a proactive attempt to reduce costs in the current economy based on the anticipated budget,” said University President Dr. F. Javier Cevallos.

In May, the Pac-10 powerhouse University of Washington eliminated their men’s & women’s swimming programs, effective immediately. Athletic Director Scott Woodward stated, “We have a number of serious issues that have arisen out of the recent economic crisis. It is with great regret that we are discontinuing our swimming programs and we will do everything possible to assist the student-athletes and coaches who are affected.”

Earlier this month, Western Illinois University cut their men’s and women’s swimming & diving programs to try and remain economically sound. “We are committed to maintaining a successful broad-based, gender-neutral athletics program, and this move will economically allow us to continue that commitment. As a department we have been working through a very difficult budget situation for some time now, and unfortunately we have been forced to make some hard sacrifices, ” said Director of Athletics Dr. Tim Van Alstine.

This recession has caused everyone to make sacrifices and financial decisions that are not easy. It’s just a shame to see swimming programs nationwide taking such a hard hit. These schools are only a few examples of the eliminations made in 2009. And it proves that no one is safe from the crunch of these economic times, from NAIA to NCAA Division I.

However, tough times can also produce some pretty hopeful stories. On June 29th, only 24 days after announcing they had cut their programs, Western Illinois University re-instated both men’s and women’s swimming & diving.

“We are grateful for the Leatherneck swimming and diving family and the greater swimming community, who have provided input, assistance and financial support during this process,” said Van Alstine. “It is very apparent, now more than ever, that the support for swimming and diving on a national scale is alive and well. Without that support we would not be able to continue our success in the pool and in the classroom.”

USA Swimming will host their National Championships and World Championship Trials this July 7-11 in Indianapolis, IN with big adjustments as they adhere to FINA’s new rules regarding swimsuits.  On, June 1st, USA Swimming announced an amendment to it’s rules that reflect the changes that FINA made back in May.  Earlier this week, USA swimming also confirmed that it has adopted the newly revised list of approved suits released by FINA. 

The protocol for swimmers and swimsuit manufacturers will change dramatically this year and this should be quite evident as they all gather for the USA National Championships.  Swimmers will have to undergo a swimsuit evaluation before entering the water.  

Swimsuit manufacturers will be limited to bringing only FINA/USA Swimming approved suits to the Championships.  

Three players were drafted from both Lewis-Clark State College and Oklahoma City College in the 2009 MLB Draft. Forty-Six players were taken from the NAIA level this year and the highest pick was taken in the fifth round.

The College World Series of softball is underway at Oklahoma City where the top eight teams are playing for the championship over the weekend.  If you have it in your dreams to be playing softball at the college level – are you following the games?  There are some great individual stories of the players how they had to overcome odds to make the teams as well as how teams progressed through the season.  There is Georgia who is making their first appearance in the world series with the youngest NCAA D1 team with 10 freshmen players and only two upperclassmen.

There is a great story about the University of Florida, catcher Kristina Hilberth took to get where she is today. She began as a freshman walk-on to now a school record holder in career fielding percentage (.995).  Learn about how she ‘earned and worked’ her way to the starting catcher role.

Don’t miss on supporting and watching the Women’s College World Series games over the weekend and championship early next week.

Be sure to check out what softball teams won the other division championships – NCAA DII, NCAA DIII, NAIA, NJCAA’s. (D1), (DII),  (DIII).

Attention all underclassmen: Summer camps are right around the corner! This is the best opportunity to perform in front of college coaches and generate interest at the next level. Due to several NCAA rules that prohibit college coaches from evaluating student-athletes, summer camps have been a hotbed for college recruiting nationwide. Did you know that other schools may attend one summer camp? That’s right! This could be a prime opportunity for you to compete in front of a large crowd of coaches which can increase your odds of getting recruited! I have added some quick tips that can help you perform at your best this camp season:

1. Be well rested!
Don’t drive long hours and then stumble into camp. Try to get there the night before. Walk around the facility if possible and get acquainted with your surroundings. Get a good nights rest, proper meals, and most important be hydrated!

2. Perform at your best!
Understand you are being evaluated from to the time you set on foot on campus until the time you leave. From the time you start stretching until you break the final huddle, college coaches are watching your every move. My advice is giving 100% on every drill! Sprint from station to station and show these coaches you are serious about playing at the next level.

3. Reps, Reps,Reps!                                                                                                      

Getting to camp is a critical event in your recruiting efforts!

One of the biggest problems I see at camp is student-athletes not getting enough reps. Word to the wise: Take every rep as an opportunity to perform! The more reps the more opportunities you have to get evaluated. Have fun out there and understand this is your time to shine!

4. Build Relationships
Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to coaches after camp. Student-athletes who get out of their comfort zone tend to make a great first impression with a college coach. Shake hands and thank him for the opportunity. Have a copy of game and highlight film if available and be sure to follow up with the coach after the event. It can make a world of difference by just doing to the small things.

5. Be well rested (not a typo)!
That’s right student-athletes, I can’t stress enough how important it is to get proper rest in between camps. I see it time and time again when a student-athlete goes from one to camp to another without proper rest. You never know what school may be the most interested. Poor performance from lack of rest can seriously hinder your opportunities of getting recruited. Proper rest, big meals, and fluids are highly recommended!

Summer camps are where college coaches may find student-athletes who have the potential of being the right fit. Take these quick tips with you to camp and generate some serious buzz about yourself!

One of our top student-athletes is Brian Monette from Willowbrook High School just outside of Chicago, Illinois. He plays for Top Tier in the summer and last year he hit .462 in 105 at bats for them as well as went 8-2 on the mound. Brian was also named the number 22 prospect in the Illinois class of 2010 by Prep Baseball Report.

In school, Brian is maintaining a 3.55 GPA, is taking AP and honors courses, and is ranked in the top 25% of his class. Here are a few academic rewards he has received: High Honors 2006-2009, National Honors Society Member and Recommended for Youth Leaders of America. We are proud to have Brian Monette as an impact student-athlete in the class of 2010.

If you are fortunate enough to have options to choose which travel baseball team you should play for over the summer here are a few questions to ask yourself:

1. Which team are you going to receive more playing time with?

The only way to get better in baseball is by actually PLAYING the game.

2. Which team is playing better competition?

In addition to making sure you are playing, you have to make sure it is against good competition. The best way to get better is to play against guys who are better than you.

3. Where is the team traveling?

The summer time is an important time that college coaches do their recruiting. One of, if not, the most important factor coaches take in to account is seeing you play in person. Playing for your high school summer team usually doesn’t fit the bill in terms of gaining exposure or playing against good competition.

4. What is your budget?

In these economic times this is a difficult question, but it is a factor you need to consider. Many times the more travel required, the more expensive the team is to play for.

Don’t forget to incorporate attending some college camps and making a few visits over the summer. If you are traveling to a showcase or tournament with your summer team don’t be afraid to stop by some campuses to meet with some coaches. Lastly, be sure to be pro-active in terms of inviting college coaches out to see your games.

Spring is here!! Even if it doesn’t feel like it or look like it in your area.  The college softball season has reached the mid-point and there are a lot of great teams emerging.  I’m certain we are in for another great finish come tournament time.   

Of course, it is an extremely busy time for high school softball players.  Your season has started and the school year is winding down.  But if you are serious about playing at the next level, remember you need to stay educated with what is going on in the college game.  There are still plenty of weekends left to go see a college softball game. Or, at least, get on the websites and see where schools are ranked and how their seasons’ are progressing.  The more information you gain, the better educated you will be when it’s time for you to make your college decision.   

A great resource to help you get started is the NFCA website.  The National Fastpitch Coaches Association keeps all of the updated information on every level of college softball.  Just click on the level you are interested in and they will provide you with schedules, scores, rankings and more.Once you click on the level, you will have the option of looking at the conference websites or the individual program websites.  It is quick and easy and will get you up-to-date on all that is happening right now in the world of college softball.  

A couple of great websites that I look at often to keep track of which players are committing to what colleges are PG Crosschecker and College Baseball Insider. Check these sites out to see if any of your senior competitors have committed or who has committed to the college you are interested in.