College Roster Sizes, sorry some of you don't get to go with us~

[RADcatcher]

MEGA ROSTERS...or hoarding players?


Apparently Mega rosters aren't really needed
Because
Not only are there an entire team of bench players at all games,
But on away games
There is a list of players that don't get to go.
Yep the non-traveling list exists!

Soooo there are
1. The Starters
2. Team Bench
3. Mehhh you aint going to these games and we're posting that you're not.
Hmmm? sorta like finding out weekly if you're actually on the team or not.


IF there is an entire team on the bench who does get to travel...
WHY does a roster need to be so large that it leaves players behind?

 

[Rolling Hard]

Cheerleaders for home games.

 

[Greatdaytobeawildcat]

The roster doesn't "need" to be that large, but having those players definitely helps:
Practice - you always have runners, players to fill out numbers for drills, set up / tear down, catch bullpens, shag, have enough for same squad scrimmages, etc.
Home games - there's a bunch of things to get done at home games, and players (at least in my day) dragged the field, helped line, prepared bullpens, tamped and tarped, did hose crew, set up and put away the turtle.
Having those extra (non-money) kids who only dress for home games really doesn't cost the university much incrementally, and depending on who it is, could help with things like overall team gpa
Having that whole roster travel comes with significant cost.
I was a home-dress only for both freshman and sophomore years, and only got to travel the last two years. And yes, the list did change from game to game, coach would leave a team voicemail that you checked to see if you were travelling or not.

 

[erniekru]

Because there is so much pressure for kids that have played softball since they were 8yo (or less) to play in college, they will walk on and the coaches know it. There is only 12 scholarships, a roster of 24 will have more than a few kids not getting any athletic money, but what's the saying, "just need a chip and a seat at the table!"

Totally agree with the sentiment that practices are way better with lots of players. Full speed game simulation all the time.

 

[El Oso]

MEGA ROSTERS...or hoarding players?


Apparently Mega rosters aren't really needed
Because
Not only are there an entire team of bench players at all games,
But on away games
There is a list of players that don't get to go.
Yep the non-traveling list exists!

Soooo there are
1. The Starters
2. Team Bench
3. Mehhh you aint going to these games and we're posting that you're not.
Hmmm? sorta like finding out weekly if you're actually on the team or not.


IF there is an entire team on the bench who does get to travel...
WHY does a roster need to be so large that it leaves players behind?

You ever look at a college baseball roster? Softball rosters look tiny in comparison.
Arkansas - 43 players
Texas A&M - 44 players
Texas - 41
UCLA - 43

It would blow your mind if you knew how many of them are walk-ons getting $0

 

[Traps71]

The potential for athletic money or wearing a jersey for a top program is one thing, but I just saw a small D3 school carrying a roster of 31 girls. Those on the bottom half of the roster pay tuition and help the school, as I've come to learn, meet Title IX requirements/guidelines (% of female athletes at the school is supposed to be at parity with the overall % of females attending the school, a very difficult target to reach, especially if the school has a football program). Clearly some of those 31 are never going to see the field and presumably the coach is recruiting another 6-8 players for the next Freshman class.

 

[Orange Socks]

You ever look at a college baseball roster? Softball rosters look tiny in comparison.
Arkansas - 43 players
Texas A&M - 44 players
Texas - 41
UCLA - 43

It would blow your mind if you knew how many of them are walk-ons getting $0

Half of the rosters are Pitchers too!

 

[FB Fool]

do i still get a ring if im on the non travel list?

 

[Dabears17]

I don't know how prevalent it is, but there are NAIA colleges with JV softball teams.

 

[YoungBuck]

DDs school is bringing on new sports for the purpose of added money... each kid is probably paying $10 - 20,000. It sure beats what has happened to a few schools lately (closing).