How Is COVID-19 Affecting the Softball Recruiting Process?

For many athletes, softball is more than a game. Being recruited to play college softball is not only a player's dream; but for many, it's their ticket to a college education and a promising future. Earning a softball scholarship was already challenging, but due to COVID-19 and the resulting cancelations, today's student-athletes face seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

How the Coronavirus Has Already Impacted High School Softball Players

In 2020, school systems and The NCAA were forced to make difficult decisions, including the cancelation of exposure camps that would have been held during the spring and summer. Another one of those decisions was to suspend in-person recruiting.

How Are College Coaches Recruiting in 2021?

Here we are in the spring of 2021 and the suspension of in-person recruiting for DI has been extended through May of this year. While coaches may speak with recruits on the phone, they are not permitted to have any camps, clinics, or visits to the campus. DII, DIII, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) are now allowed out to recruit.

How Exceptional Softball Players Can Get Noticed Despite the Obstacles

Creating an online presence was already a good idea, but now, more than ever, college coaches are relying heavily on virtual recruiting to communicate with young athletes. There are a few ways softball players can get noticed online during these unprecedented times:

• Be proactive about starting conversations and building relationships with college coaches. Be careful not to over-communicate or under-communicate; ideally, you want all the schools on your target list to feel like they’re your number one choice.
• Use your Twitter account to promote yourself; keep it up to date with key stats and or relevant information.
• Maintain good grades and test scores. High GPAs and SAT/ACT scores can lead to academic scholarships which can be combined with athletic scholarships in a strategy known as stacking.
• Even amidst a pandemic, the softball recruiting game doesn't stop. This is why it's so vital for student-athletes hoping to gain college recruiters' attention to set themselves apart by maintaining a strong online presence.

Rachel Coleman uses her recruiting experience gained during her tenure as a Division 1 coach to educate student-athletes, parents, and coaches on how to successfully navigate the softball recruiting process.

With competition for softball scholarships becoming more competitive during the pandemic, now more than ever having the edge that comes with insight from a former college coach can get your name on the top of every college coach's list.

Rachel has helped athletes earn over ten million dollars in scholarships. Contact us today to learn how to be the player that college coaches want on their team!

Contact us today for more information on our recruiting plan!