What is the yearly attrition rate?

[Santa]

Hello, this is my first post. I have read the past 4 years of this "Playing College Softball" forum and appreciate all the great information as my girls take me down this road.

I know with Covid a lot of rosters are weird this year, but in general how many girls in a program's class do you typically see transfer or quit the sport (injury, academic workload, passion, time, coaches, too hard... whatever)?

Do you notice any difference increase between FR-Soph, Soph-Junior or Junior - Senior year? Have you seen instances of a freshman class that comes in all graduate together?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Westwind]

It really can vary. Even within programs.

Its a good exercise to get on team rosters and look at them from year to year. There are tons of things you will notice.

 

[InsidePitch]

Are you talking HS SB or serious TB? On DD's HS, her Junior year 1 girl went to play D3 ball. Her TB team every SR went to play in College. DD's SR HS year she was the only one recruited to play college. Her entire SR class on the TB team was recruited. Not sure this helps but from my experience you lose a lot of kids going to 12U. Again the loss is great moving to 14U and again at 18U. Once in 18U the loss is less.

 

[Santa]

Are you talking HS SB or serious TB? .

I am talking college. Not 12u or travel ball.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[YOCOACH]

On average, across the NCAA, the general attrition rate ends up being close to 90%. That means 1 out of 10 girls end up playing the full 4 years. As @Westwind stated, this can vary program to program. That said, on DD's team, the biggest drop off has been Freshman- Sophomore year. The reasons have varied but the 3 biggest in DD's opinion have been lack of time management skills to both study and play, couldn't handle the team atmosphere (not starting) and the sudden freedom to party. The second biggest drop off has been Junior-Senior year because the Juniors have figured out that they probably won't start due to incoming recruits and established depth at their particular position.

 

[CanOfCorn]

On average, across the NCAA, the general attrition rate ends up being close to 90%. That means 1 out of 10 girls end up playing the full 4 years. As @Westwind stated, this can vary program to program. That said, on DD's team, the biggest drop off has been Freshman- Sophomore year. The reasons have varied but the 3 biggest in DD's opinion have been lack of time management skills to both study and play, couldn't handle the team atmosphere (not starting) and the sudden freedom to party. The second biggest drop off has been Junior-Senior year because the Juniors have figured out that they probably won't start due to incoming recruits and established depth at their particular position.

I 100% agree as we have seen the same. I would just add some upperclassman find internships or reach a point in their studies that either they don’t have the time or decide their chosen profession is more important.

On DD1 college team, the starting 3B who would have been a senior quit for a well paid internship which turned into a job.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MNDad]

I’d estimate about two-thirds of the kids don’t make it four years at the same school. I agree with YoCoach that Freshman year weeds out the most. Guaranteed four year scholarships were enacted at the P5’s to help curb that. Then the transfer portal opened the floodgates again.

DD’s recruiting class at Iowa State had six girls. All six played and graduated in four years. They also played for three different head coaches. Pretty good example of choose a school, not a coach.

 

[radness]

Interesting to read attrition rates and reasonings to stop playing.

I went to college to play softball in college!
That goal kept me in college for 4 years!

Little story
Got to college. Athletics had an academic advisor.
She asked what is your major?
I said what do you mean i have to pick right now? She said what do you want to do?
I said
"I'm here to play softball."
And smiled!

Had looked at the options
( just didnt know i had to state my major like that)
and picked
Industrial technology...cuz got to build stuff in class.
Which ended up being too difficult to fit in with softball.
Switched to Recreation and Leisure.
Now i say
I'm a Leisure Specialist

 

[Rolling Hard]

I’d estimate about two-thirds of the kids don’t make it four years at the same school. I agree with YoCoach that Freshman year weeds out the most. Guaranteed four year scholarships were enacted at the P5’s to help curb that. Then the transfer portal opened the floodgates again.

DD’s recruiting class at Iowa State had six girls. All six played and graduated in four years. They also played for three different head coaches. Pretty good example of choose a school, not a coach.

Just curious, they graduated in a degree in what? The reason I ask is I recently met a former stud D1 softball player that after graduating from this stellar University was driving an ambulance for a living. Nothing wrong with driving an ambulance (God's work) but after 4 years of College I would hope for a more marketable skill set.

 

[radness]

Just curious, they graduated in a degree in what? The reason I ask is I recently met a former stud D1 softball player that after graduating from this stellar University was driving an ambulance for a living. Nothing wrong with driving an ambulance (God's work) but after 4 years of College I would hope for a more marketable skill set.

Whats the % of graduates who actually work in the same field of study?