Recruiting Question of the Week (10/12)

Recruiting Question of the Week (10/12)

Each week we take a question from a softball player, parent or coach and pass on to our long-time contributor, Cathi Aradi, one of the most knowledgeable pe

Oct 12, 2015 by Brentt Eads
Recruiting Question of the Week (10/12)
Each week we take a question from a softball player, parent or coach and pass on to our long-time contributor, Cathi Aradi, one of the most knowledgeable people in softball when it comes to the recruiting process.

If you’d like to ask Cathi a question, e-mail us at brentt.eads@flosports.tv and we’ll pass it along.

Today, Cathi talks about the sensitive topic of scholarship money and when it's appropriate to talk about it…


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Recruiting Question: When it comes to recruiting and scholarships, I know you don’t always get a full ride—sometimes it’s partial dollars and other financial help I’ve heard-- and I’ve had some club teammates tell me they’re not supposed to talk about what their scholarships include.  As I’m starting to talk to coaches, what am I OK to talk about and what shouldn’t I talk about with other people like my coaches and teammates? --- Courtney, Las Vegas.

Cathi’s Answer: You're absolutely right that the vast majority of players do not get full rides.  Some may get athletic money only; others may get a combination of athletic money, academic money, need based money, etc. 

And many players get no athletic money at all. 

Where athletic money is concerned, most college coaches prefer you don't share the details of your scholarship with other players, and there's a good reason for this.  Coaches decide how much to give a particular player based on a number of factors, including how much money they have available for that position, what the player's perceived potential contribution to the team is, and what other money she might qualify for. (Remember, college coaches only have so much money to spend, and they have to spend it in ways that best benefit the team.) 

When players talk about the amounts of money they're getting, it can cause confusion and even problems within the team.  And it's not the coach's job to explain to each team member or her parents why he or she decides to disburse scholarship money in a certain way.

When you start to visit colleges and coaches talk about scholarships, it's fine to ask whether or not they see you as a scholarship candidate and if so, how the scholarship would be administered. You might get a smaller amount as a freshman and then the coach may add money later on if your performance warrants it.

Or you might get a set amount from the start (my book has questions to ask coaches about scholarships).

It's always good to be prepared when talking to coaches about financial aid so that you and your parents can be sure they understand just how things will work for you at each school you're considering.

— Cathi Aradi
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Catharine Aradi is the author of Preparing to Play Softball at the Collegiate Level, published by the National Fastpitch Coaches Assoc. (www.nfca.org). She has over 20 years of experience working as a recruiting consultant with athletes and colleges around the U.S and Canada.

If you would like knowledgeable, one-on-one guidance through the often bewildering labyrinth of recruiting, Ms. Aradi’s company, Collegiate Softball Connection, offers “concierge” recruiting services. Unlike corporate websites that rely upon mass marketing of hundreds and hundreds of athletes, Ms. Aradi works with the individual player and her family to ensure a successful college search.

She works individually with athletes to guide them through the recruiting journey and also offers Skype workshops on the college search process for groups of all sizes.

Detailed information is available on her website www.fastpitchrecruiting.com. Cathi can be reached by e-mail at info@fastpitchrecruiting.com or by calling 415-456-6449. Remember: if you use the code “fullcountsoftball” when signing up with CSC, you will be entitled to a $100 discount off her Fast Track or Elite options!

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