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 her a question, e-mail us at brentt.eads@flosports.tv and we’ll pass it along.

Today, Cathi talks about how a player and her family can be proactive in the recruiting process, even during the Holidays…

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Recruiting Question: Cathi: I like to read your comments on the recruiting process as our daughter is just getting into the club world and is starting to get some looks from coaches in some mid-I conferences.  We’re the typical parents who are clueless and with the holidays coming up we were wondering what we should be doing after Thanksgiving club ball ends.!

We don’t have a lot going on in February and January prior to high school starting and wonder if there’s anything we should be doing—or she should be doing—once play slows down over the next month?  Would love to get your feedback, thanks! — T. Miller, San Diego, Calif.


Cathi’s Answer: A lot depends on what year in high school your player is. You mentioned she's just getting into club ball, which makes me think she's younger (as in a freshman or sophomore.)

If she's a freshman, all she really needs to do is check that her grades are staying on track and perhaps update coaches that she knows have expressed genuine interest by sending them a short letter saying how her fall season went and telling them she'll send a summer schedule as soon as it's available.

If she's a sophomore or junior, she may want to get her video completed and send that out with an end-of-fall ball update. (And if she's a junior, she should take her SAT & ACT over the break. I'm guessing, however, that she is younger.)

When it comes to "breaks" I firmly believe it is in the player's best interest to take a little time off during the holidays and not think about softball. If some college coach is that eager to recruit her, he will no doubt make it known to her through her coaches or another avenue.

Otherwise, most coaches will just keep her on their watch list, and she'll have plenty of time to get back in touch with them once she's had some well deserved R and R.

Note: I'd like to remind my readers that I am available for phone consultations if a family would like to discuss their player's specific recruiting situation. You can find more information by going to my web page or by emailing me directly at cat@fastpitchrecruiting.com.


— 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.

Detailed information is available on her website www.fastpitchrecruiting.com. Cathi can be reached by e-mail at info@fastpitchrecruiting.com

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