“Whether you’re playing in front of zero college coaches or you’re playing in front of the coach of your dream school, the game is the SAME; nothing new is happening. It’s all how you look at it.,” says Jenna Lilley, the outstanding infielder from Hoover High in North Canton, Ohio.

Jenna is rated by StudentSportsSoftball.com as the No. 1 recruit in the senior class as she’s a winner who has helped Hoover win three straight state championships including the 2013 squad that went 32-0.  The lefty hit .697 as a junior and was named the Ohio State Player of the Year and a MaxPreps All-American. 

Lilley has committed to the Univ. of Oregon and is also excellent in the classroom with a 3.9 GPA. 

In this blog, she offers suggestions on how to deal with potentially nerve-wracking situations.

Click here to read Jenna’s earlier blogs and those from our other standout players!

Learn more about Jenna and her athletic family in this piece by her mother, Debbie, called A parent’s perspective: softball sacrifices

See our video interview of mother and daughter shot this summer at PGF

 

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In eighth grade, I looked into the stands at Mt. SAC in Calif. and saw every single big time program’s coach in attendance at the prestigious OnDeck National Elite Futures Camp. My jaw about dropped. With nerves rushing and butterflies all in my stomach, I took the field, practically shaking.

It was my first time playing in front of an abundance of college coaches. That day was the beginning of a two-year process before I would verbally commit to the University of Oregon.

As exciting of a time this is in a player’s life, it can also be very nerve racking. I will be the first to tell you I got extremely nervous in front of all these coaches. I would recommend several things to players going through the fun process right now.

Why was I nervous? I can’t answer that one to this day. I can honestly tell myself I put every ounce of effort I had into softball and PREPARING myself for the recruiting process. If you have done everything you can in order to prepare, there is no need to be nervous! You can’t give more than you have and all you have is 100%.

If you make a mistake, don’t let it affect you or your body language. Always focus on the NEXT pitch. College coaches want to see how you bounce back from failures. And above all, stay confident no matter what.

Whether you’re playing in front of zero college coaches or you’re playing in front of the coach of your dream school, the game is the SAME; nothing new is happening. It’s all how you look at it.

As Sue Enquist said, “The game is the same, it just has its party dress on.”

That is one of my favorite quotes from her and I use it today to look at “big” games I play in. Every time you step on the field, you should play the game one way and that is with all your heart, so it wouldn’t make a difference whether or not a scout is there or it is the national championship or a regular season game.

If you play like you’re playing for a national championship every game, when you get to that “big stage” (whatever it may be, recruiting camp, showcases, etc.) nothing should change.

Today, whenever I feel the butterflies before a big game, I remind myself I play this game because I love it. I go out there and just do my thing!  I also remind myself that I have fully done everything I can to prepare. Play relaxed, show your passion for the game, just be you and do YOU!

As always,

Jenna