Becoming a Collegiate Athlete

Many people want to play collegiate softball, but not many people put the work into becoming collegiate softball players. If you put the work into becoming a better player, you will see a lot of improvement in your overall game.

My softball coach helps me train, and he does drills that will strengthen me in the position that I play. Whenever I do something that he doesn’t like, he talks to me so that I can fix up my game. When we do drills from the bases to first, he helps me be better at my position.  When my teammates throw the ball at me, I have to make sure that I have my feet on the base, reach my glove out, and reach out for the ball. If I need to reach out, I will. Doing these drills helps me work more on my first baseman skills and make sure that I do what I should do next time if I mess up. Even while doing these drills, I get a better understanding of what the player’s throws are like so that if they throw in the game, I know how they throw and where they will throw.  I am never bored when we do the drills because I need to stay focused on catching the ball. What helps me keep going is my parents and my coach; without their support and helping me out, I wouldn’t be the player I am today. My coach helps me become a better player, both on and off the field. I would like to play Division II or III. By playing for a Division II or III team, I will have more potential to play and become a better player. For me trying to play college softball, I will have to work extremely hard to make myself a better player both on and off the field.  

According to Next College Student Athlete, 1.6% of high school softball players play in Division 1. That is a very low percentage, and it is a very hard thing to do.  According to Softball recruitment facts, 40,000 girls get the opportunity to play college softball, but according to  Statista, in 2018 and 2019, 362,038 played softball in high school. Other division levels are NAIA schools, and junior colleges offer promising prospects. According to Next College Student Athlete, 8.6% of high school players compete in college across the NCAA division teams.

What the coaches are looking for in a collegiate softball athlete. Coaches evaluate players’ athleticism based on arm strength and accuracy, speed, fielding range, and the ability for power and average. Not only do they look at how good players’ metrics are, they consider intangibles, body language, and attitude. They see if players work their tail off day in and out, then someone who lacks a strong ethic. These are the qualities that a coach is looking for in a player. If you have these skills and want to pursue your dream, just contact the coach of that school, no matter the sport.  To become a collegiate athlete for softball, high school softball players will have to have a highlight reel. That means that you will have to send your best highlights from games to the college coach.

My coach Steve Collins has been my coach for a long time. He is such a great coach and gives us the truth if we are playing poorly. When he is looking for a player on the Bay Bandits, he is looking for their dedication and drive as a player on and off the field. By having that drive, they are looking for if they will be the player to make the team better. “In sports, there is always room for improvement on your active roster or adding a new player sometimes; they just show up at the right time.” This is a quote that he uses a lot when looking for a new player for the team. He started coaching when he was in high school. After college, he started coaching high school. “He loves every minute of it, and I love to see players’ growth.”He is a phenomenal coach, and he has helped me become the player I am today. Mr. Collins has helped me become a better player. When I first was diagnosed with a torn labrum, he helped me change up my swing and helped me to get more power in my arm when throwing. I am the starting first baseman for this team, and I love this position. I used to play outfield, but I love being the first baseman for my team. Also, I can catch anything that comes at me. It will be a long road to becoming a collegiate athlete, but I know that I can make it to try to reach my goal one step at a time. 

The team that I play for is called the Maryland Bay Bandits. We are an 18u travel softball team.  I have played for this team for a long time, and my teammates are like my family. Travel softball is when we play other teams around the area to have fun but mainly try to win games. My team has the potential to be a phenomenal team. We have lots of passion for the sport, and so do our coaches. I would like to pursue my softball career in college, but not for a Division I team.

Before any game that we play, we do some crazy things by playing music, but the music can’t be too loud, or we will interrupt other teams that are playing. We have fun, no matter the outcome of the game. Everyone does contribute to the game, for both offense and defense. Everyone picks a player up whenever they are down about a play that they missed. We always cheer on our pitcher, whether you are on the field or on the bench. 

We have lots of talent on our team, and the best of us all is our star pitcher. She is such a fantastic player; she hits home runs and does everything for this team. Her name is Abby W, we call her Big Abby, and our coach calls her Big Bambino.

A very well-known player throughout colligate softball is Haley Cruse Mitchell. Haley Cruse Mitchell was a college softball player for the Oregon Ducks but is now on the professional softball team for the USA Pride team. She is a star outfielder, and her number is 26. She and other softball players make me want to play the sport that I love and work harder each day, even though I have been slacking off with my game recently by not doing exercises. Having a player that you look up to makes me and others become better players. Haley is a person that people look up to regardless of playing the same sport. She helps others be the person they know they can be, no matter what. “When I was a freshman in college, I didn’t make our team’s starting lineup. I struggled with confidence, and I thought I wasn’t good enough to play at the collegiate level. Instead of giving up, I started showing up early to practice and staying late to work on my game. My coaches noticed the extra work and started to give me more opportunities to play, and eventually, I earned a starting spot.” 

If you dream of playing your sport in college, you should do it. If you don’t make the team, at least you tried your best to put yourself out there. If you try your hardest for your team and have a good time playing, you should try and play in college. College softball and travel softball are the same, but college softball is more competitive. Don’t give up on your favorite sport, no matter what. If you love your sport and want to keep going, then try your hardest to get better. If you get better, you can see a lot of progress in your overall game.