TOP RECRUITNFCA’s camp magazine STRAIGHT FRom THe TuNe uP CoACH’S FoR TRYouTS mouTH QuIZ: Do YouR ACTIoNS BACK uP YouR WoRDS? Caitlin lowe Fueled by Passion 12 TIPS FoR volume 8: 2013 PAReNTS SummeR 2013 contents exTRAS on the cover 4 Quiz Do your actions back up your words? 7 Technology Top 10 Twitter feeds you need to be following 45 Word Find Test your quickness TOP RECRUITNFCA’s camp magazine HeAlTH STRAIGHT 9 Sore Shoulder? We can help FROM THE TUNE UP 10 Doubleheader Day Tips to keep you energized COACH’S FOR TRYOUTS 11 Don’t be that wrinkled old lady Tips to beat the sun MOUTH QUIZ: DO YOUR ACTIONS ReCRuITING BACK UP 13 Tired of the madness Recruiting’s getting easier YOUR WORDS? 14 No idea where to start? Follow this roadmap 16 Lights, camera, action! Tips for a better skills video 17 Early start The process is starting earlier, so be ready Caitlin Lowe 18 What to work on... Tips straight from the people who matter Fueled 20 Are your parents costing you chances? 12 tips by Passion ColleGe lIFe 22 All in a Day’s Work 24 Hours of Pictures 24 If I Had Only Known... Four college freshmen share 12 TIPS FOR 26 They Should Know Four Upperclassmen want you to be ready VOLUME 8: 2013 PARENTS THe meNTAl GAme 18 STRAIGHT FROM THE COACH’S MOUTH 29 Mind Muscle Memory You’ve got to be strong mentally Position by position, what you should be working on every day 32 TUNE UP FOR TRYOUTS INSTRuCTIoN Learn what coaches are looking for while you’re looking to make the team 30 Think you know your ABCs? Doesn’t matter - you need DEFs 32 Nervous about making the team? Tune up for tryouts 35 Headed off in August? Make sure you’re physically ready 4 QUIZ: DO YOUR ACTIONS BACK UP YOUR WORDS? Make sure your actions are in line with your goals of playing college softball 38 CAITLIN LOWE – FUELED BY PASSION NFCA Her love of the game is inspiring 37 What’s in it for you? Awards! 20 12 TIPS FOR PARENTS Don’t let your parents get in the way of your next step PlAYeRS 38 The Hate of Losing Caitlin Lowe’s passion for the game Top Recruit is published yearly for NFCA members and their camps. For more information, contact the NFCA at 502.409.4600 or nfca.org Photos Courtesy of: Dina Kwit/D Kwit Photography (cover, p. 39, 41); NCSA Athletic Recruiting (p. 13); Mattie Fowler (p. 22); Salt Lake CC SID, OU Media Relations, Wisconsin Media Relations, Salisbury SID (p. 24). Do your your actions backUP words? You say you want to play college softball. But are you doing the right things to get you there? Making sure your priorities and actions are in line to lead you in the right direction is important. Take this quiz to find out how you are doing. by jamie hazel, nfca 1 My team is very competitive and is on a seven-game winning 6 I am about to step in the batter’s box in the first game of streak. We are in pre-game warm-up for an obviously weaker the state tournament. My teammate is on second; there are no opponent. My concentration is on: outs in a tied game. The opposing pitcher is throwing meatballs. A Friends in the stands My coach gives me the sacrifice bunt sign. I: B Preparing myself for competition A Pop up the bunt and walk off the field C Fulfilling my responsibilities as a team leader B Intentionally miss two bunts so that I will get the hit sign D Watching my teammates as they goof off during warm-ups C Enthusiastically attempt the bunt D Don’t even look at the coach in this situation 2 I am a high school junior who plays on a competitive travel ball team. I want to attend college and play softball, but need a 7 I have played ball every summer since the eighth grade and scholarship to make college affordable. I: am now a junior. My friends suggest that I am missing out on A Send letters with a softball resume to 20 of my target colleges lots of fun by choosing to play summer ball. I: B Think that if it is meant to be, the coach will find me A Decide to play recreational ball so that I can stay home and C Concentrate on showcasing my skills on the field and hope to be available to party with them be spotted B Understand that showcasing my softball skills this summer is D Send a letter to the only school I will consider playing for crucial so I will forego some fun with friends to help ensure a college softball opportunity C Choose not to play ball at all so that I can have a fun-filled 3 After sending my recruiting letters, I: summer with no distractions A Use call screening and don’t answer coaches’ calls because D Continue to play on a travel ball team, but choose one that they intimidate me doesn’t travel so often B Assume the responsibility of calling all schools on my list C Talk to coaches when they call me 8 My best practice includes: D Ask my mother to make follow-up calls for me A More water breaks than practice B One that focuses on what I need to improve on 4 Since attending a four-year college is a priority, I: C A mix of team situations and fundamentals A Work to maintain a B average D Three hours of team practice plus an extra two hours of B Worry about college later individual work C Continually work to improve my B’s, do volunteer work and accept leadership roles in clubs 9 I am usually in the starting line-up. When D Make sure that I maintain a C average not starting, I: A Ask my mom to get me a coke from the 5 My statistics support the fact that I am the best player on concession stand the team. My primary concern during the season is: B Cry A Having fun C Give my teammates the silent treatment B Keeping my batting average above .400 D Assist my team in any way that I can C Winning D Receiving individual awards that will highlight my skills QUIZ your extras words? 10 I have been hanging out with some friends who are not as serious about attending college as I am. I can tell that their influence is beginning to change my Score Yourself focus, study habits and time management skills. I will: A Continue to hang out with them because we have fun 1 a=1 b=3 c=4 d=2 7 a=2 b=4 c=1 d=3 together 2 a=4 b=1 c=3 d=2 8 a=1 b=2 c=4 d=3 B Say no to invitations when I know I should be 3 a=1 b=4 c=3 d=2 9 a=1 b=2 c=3 d=4 concentrating on other priorities 4 a=3 b=1 c=4 d=2 10 a=1 b=3 c=2 d=4 5 a=1 b=2 c=4 d=3 11 a=3 b=4 c=1 d=2 C Hang out with them but will try to get home early 6 a=3 b=2 c=4 d=1 12 a=4 b=1 c=2 d=3 D Find other friends that share my focus and goals 12 to 20 Points 11 I have practice at 4PM when school is out at 3PM. OUT OF WHACK! What is the first thing I do: You need to take a serious look at the choices you are A Get ready for practice while talking to my teammates making and decide where you want your life to go from here. You tend to choose the easiest path, regardless of B Work on my homework in the spare time before the consequences. Your selfishness will cost you in the practice future if you do not change your ways soon. C Veg out in front of the TV and eat junk food D Call my friends to gossip about the day 21 to 29 Points ON THE BORDER 12 I have a term paper due in one week. The paper While it seems you do have your future in mind, you are requires research that I just have not done because of a easily strayed off of the path. When it comes to doing bad habit of procrastination. I will: the right thing, more often than not you take the easy A Put in the extra hours to get it done route. It is time to get your priorities in order and begin to think about your future as well as how your actions B Find and copy a paper from the internet and hope I impact others. am not caught C Turn in a poor paper without doing the required research 30 to 40 Points D Ask my grown sister for a little help on the GETTING THERE It is obvious that you try to do the right thing research and buckle down to write the paper most of the time, but there are instances when your priorities are mixed up. Continue to look ahead to the promising future that you are building, and remember to always keep others in mind when making decisions that impact your life.