QuestionI am a 5'4 DS/L and I am a senior this year. I started ball truly as a freshman, and have played varsity 3 years now and club for two. This past year I sent my skills video to numerous large, good, DI programs to see if I would get any response. A few schools invited me to their camp and I went to three. At each camp I got placed in the second-level court, except for at one where I was moved up to the top court on the second day. I am beginning to become discouraged because time is running out and I fear my talent level simply isn't up to par.
Is there any hope left for DI?
Is there any hope period (DII, DII, etc) at this time?
As the months go on, how likely is it that good academics schools with good athletics won't have full, better recruiting classes completed already?
Thanks for your time and sorry for the length, ha.
AnswerGood evening and welcome to www.allexperts.com! While my wife is shopping in Blowing Rock NC, I'm answering a question from a vball player....isn't this a great vacation for us both? She thinks so!
You are SO much further ahead than most girls I get questions from. CONGRATS to you, or your parents, or your coaches, or to all of you! Now to your questions.
a) SURE there's hope, but yes it any of the programs really wanted you, they would have told you by now. TOMORROW, text or call each of those coaches and try to pin them down. "Do you need me?" "Do you have any spots open for fall 2010?" "I need to know. Why can't you give me a definite answer." It's ok to ask these questions, as long as you're respectful. You have all the power here, so don't apologize. If you're uncomfortable asking these questions, have your club coach or your school coach do it. I just did it for a girl who played club for me in 2005 and 2006 (qualified for Nationals in Atlanta in '06!).
b) SURE there's even more hope at DII level. And immense hope at the DIII level, since DIII girls don't sign National Letters of Intent (NLI), thus are not bound to a team until the day of tryouts!! Yep. A girl can tell a DIII coach, "I'm coming, I promise," but just never show up. Even then, since school hasn't started, she can still quit and just enroll in another school. Probably can't play on the 2nd school's team b/c tryouts have already occurred, but she could enroll and take classes there. Interesting, huh? Can't do that mess with DI or DII b/c after a kid signs the NLI, then they are bound to THAT school for 1 year.
c) By this time, many (if not most) DI schools have finished recruiting for the c/o '10. As the months pass, you will find very few openings at DI.
REMEMBER, it is you who must promote yourself, send your DVD out, make those calls, make the calls again and again and again. Call each coach every 10 days PERIOD, until you get an answer. You need a notebook or a binder with notes of each call, what was said, etc. Immediately start researching other schools, and send your DVD to those coaches. Follow up in about 20 days. Then call every 10 days until you get an answer. I know that you wish the coaches were banging your door down, but they aren't. My stepd. was 1st team all state (out of 130 schools!!) and was named the MVP of the Virginia Summer All-Star game, and send her DVD to a dozen schools. And on Aug 11, 2006, she was in the same situation you are in now. She's now playing for a school she really likes, but it was a real struggle.
I hope this has helped some. ONCE AGAIN, playing vball next fall is still possible.......until you stop trying. Then it's over. Keep searching. Keep sending out your DVD.
Let me know how it goes at
[email protected]. And please visit www.coachhouser.com I know that you'll really like the smiling faces.
Keep in touch!
Coach Houser
