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Inside Pitch: “This is Ridiculous”

The Inside Pitch column covers daily news, topical issues or presents the opinions of those in the fastpitch softball community. The viewpoints don’t necessarily reflect the perspective of those at Extra Inning Softball, but are presented to provide a platform for discussion on subjects of note in the sport today…

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Jan Greenhawk and daughter Cassie (crop to just around bodies, eliminate stadium)

Today’s “Inside Pitch” is an editorial written by Jan Greenhawk, a long-time club and high school coach who led Easton (Maryland) High to two state titles. She coached in the Wagner’s travel organization (ages 12U through 18 Gold) from 2010-2016 and with Wagner’s M/G Gold she helped many players advance to the collegiate level. Greenhawk also served as the Recruiting Coordinator during that time.  Her daughter, Cassie, played softball at Bucknell Univ. for four years. A teacher for 31 years and also an Athletic Director, she has also served as a long-time gymnastics coach and judge (1982-2008). Currently she is training for her fourth marathon since she began running in 2013.

I just read about the verbal commitment of an 11-year -old catcher to the University of Florida to play softball.

This is ridiculous.

What amazes me is that people think this is a good thing and it’s really exciting.

Let’s remind ourselves what an 11-year old still has to do before she goes to college:

  1. Finish middle school
  2. Go to four years of high school.
  3. Play SIX more years of travel ball/and four years of high school ball.
  4. Become a TEENAGER .
  5. Get a driver’s license.
  6. Go on a first date.

When I see things like this I want to ask parents if they would allow a child this age to commit to a long-term romantic relationship just because the boy is good looking and popular?

Because to me, it’s the same.

A person this young doesn’t know what she really wants. She may think she does, and the young lady who committed said she has wanted to be a Florida Gator since she was five.

But, there are so many other things that may change before she graduates high school.  In two years she might burn out on softball. As a long-time coach, I have seen so many 11-year-old girls who loved softball and then, all of a sudden, they didn’t.

Lauren Chamberlain added in another tweet, “Would never place blame on a player, parent, or coach. The system…. the fact that it is allowed…

They didn’t need a reason. Maybe they got tired of it. Maybe it became more like work and not like fun. Maybe they didn’t like the uniforms (they were 11 after all).  And how many times have we heard an 11-year-old say she wants one thing and change her mind 30 times by the time she graduates high school?

This player is a catcher. This means that in the years between now and her arrival at Florida, she will put a lot of stress on her knees and her arm.  How many of us have seen overuse injuries in players as they spend day after day practicing and playing ONE sport all year long?

Even if she takes a break, the very fact that she is now a “Florida Softball Recruit” will require her to maintain a high level of play which will mean a summer filled with tournaments and hundreds of games. I hope she is one of the rare athletes who will never suffer from injury, but if she isn’t and gets injured, that can impact her desire to play and quite frankly, Florida’s desire to honor the verbal.

Physically, she may be advanced now, but as other youngsters grow and mature, they make grow past her. Suddenly she may lose confidence or become “middle of the pack.”

Most kids this age don’t even know what they want to study in college. My daughter changed her mind multiple times about her major when she was in high school. Those decisions influence which schools would be best to get her the best education in her major.

Some parents will say, “Well, once they verbal the pressure is off and they can just relax and play.”

Jan Greenhawk (far right) with daughter Cassie, who played at Bucknell, has seen early recruiting used as a negative motivator by a committed athlete’s own coaches.
Jan Greenhawk (far right) with daughter Cassie, who played at Bucknell, has seen early recruiting used as a negative motivator by a committed athlete’s own coaches.

The problem is that doesn’t usually happen.  Once a young player verbals to a college, particularly an exceptional program like Florida, the expectations on that player can  become tremendous.  Everyone looks at the player and many become critical. “She’s not THAT good, I don’t get it.”

I have even heard team coaches use it as a negative motivator: “I don’t think (name of school) is going to like it if you play like that.”

That can be hard on a young player and can even cause major problems.

Who benefits from this? The only one that comes close is the school because they really haven’t given anything up since verbals are not binding and cost them nothing. If they withdraw a verbal it could damage their reputation, but I have never seen that happen with any consequence.

Players and parent have to hope that the school doesn’t change their mind somewhere down the road or the coach doesn’t change.  And, even if a coach has been at a school for a long time, things happen to change that. And, by the time the situation changes, substantial interest or money from other schools may no longer be available to that player.

By the way, I hope that NONE of this happens to this young lady and it all works out. But, my experience shows me it does not work for far too many.

PLEASE STOP THIS NONSENSE.  The whole thing really benefits no one and each year it gets more and more ridiculous.

What’s next? “Tee baller verbals to college?”

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Agree or disagree? If you want to have YOUR voice heard, write to [email protected]. If you don’t want your information printed or if you want to remain anonymous, please state this. If you are open to being published, however, please include your name, city and state.

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