By Amanda Rawson
NCSA recently had a chance to attend the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association (NFCA) National Convention in Las Vegas. The convention proved to be a fantastic opportunity for the NCSA staff to network with college coaches and to solidify relationships that will help NCSA student-athletes find the right collegiate fit. Recruiting Coach Joyce Wellhoefer, as well as NCSA COO and former college softball coach Lynn O’Linski, joined me in networking with over 100 college coaches personally about their recruiting needs which provided us with even better insight about the recruiting process and an enhanced ability to guide and educate NCSA’s families. Some of the topics discussed during the convention were ideas that NCSA has been passing along to families for years, but hearing it firsthand from the college coaches validated the importance.
One of the most reoccurring topics that we heard from college coaches was the importance of starting the recruiting process early. According to DI coaches, they finished recruiting their 2008 classes and are now looking at the classes of 2009 and 2010. Even some DII, DIII and NAIA colleges are finished with their 2008 recruiting class as of early December.
NCSA Recruiting Coach Joyce Wellhoefer added, “Coaches are signing student athletes earlier these days and that places a great deal of importance on taking unofficial visits before a student’s senior year to really get a good feel for the campus and coaching staff.”
Another theme that college coaches stressed was the importance of hearing directly from the student athletes.
“They want student-athletes to directly contact the university as a follow up to NCSA’s efforts to confirm the student athlete’s interest in the college,” said Wellhoefer. “Also, they will not continue to recruit a student athlete if the parent is too involved and the student athlete does not take responsibility in following up with the coach.”
Along with wanting to hear from the student athletes, coaches also said the intangibles such as character, maturity, grades and how they treat their teammates are often the best way to separate potential recruits.
Much of the information we received from college coaches reaffirmed the value of finding the right fit. After speaking with coaches, we realized many players were transferring after the first semester of their freshman year because they were unhappy with their college choice which makes finding the right fit athletically, academically, socially, and geographically necessary. That is where NCSA comes in!
Overall, our networking at the convention was an overwhelming success. Along with the priceless relationships we developed from meeting with college coaches in person, the information the coaches passed along will only make NCSA student athletes more successful as they navigate the recruiting process.
