I put my three daughters through college. Not one played softball while there, they all graduated. None of them found work in their field. They all graduated with a lot of debt which I ended up absorbing.
What is the yearly attrition rate?
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This scares me! Why did you end up absorbing the debt? Why did they not find work? What was their field? Why go to college and graduate with an unremarkable degree? Do trade schools have softball teams? Seriously.
- Jun 8, 2016
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I got all my degrees in Mechanical Engineering but hold an Aerospace Engineering faculty position...
- Jun 8, 2016
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From what I remember his DD was an Industrial Engineering major.
- Jun 8, 2016
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I have a lot of students whose parents take a similar attitude. Most of them are miserable for the 4 (or 6) years they are in school because they don’t enjoy what they are studying (and many are not very good at it either..those two things often go hand in hand) but hey they can get a good job afterwards...
Switched to Recreation and Leisure.
Now i say
I'm a Leisure Specialist
How are you with Recreation?
- Feb 3, 2016
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Since the DD been getting looks from a school I took some advice and researched the amount of total players, transfers, and tracked the remaining players and staff.
Looked at rosters going back 5 years. I'd use Excel to track data unless you like to turn pages. (recommend only going as far back as the coach hiring year) If players start bailing its a first sign.
Keep track of total players on the roster, year to year.
Example: 15' (16), 16' (21), 17' (24), 18' (24) 19' (22), ...
Transfers accounted for most of the influx of players initially. Looks like they still pick up what's needed but not needing as many to compete. Strong recruiting classes as of late allowing play in regional, and super regionals on occasion.
Only 4 players (this includes 2 transfers) didn't make make it to another year of the program.
All others stayed with the program for the duration of school remaining.
Take look at the staff supporting the HC too. If it's a revolving door it poses another level of research you need including the AD etc.. If former players come back to help that's a great sign!
As things progress she will attend the camp invite and reach out to former players for more clarity.
Looked at rosters going back 5 years. I'd use Excel to track data unless you like to turn pages. (recommend only going as far back as the coach hiring year) If players start bailing its a first sign.
Keep track of total players on the roster, year to year.
Example: 15' (16), 16' (21), 17' (24), 18' (24) 19' (22), ...
Transfers accounted for most of the influx of players initially. Looks like they still pick up what's needed but not needing as many to compete. Strong recruiting classes as of late allowing play in regional, and super regionals on occasion.
Only 4 players (this includes 2 transfers) didn't make make it to another year of the program.
All others stayed with the program for the duration of school remaining.
Take look at the staff supporting the HC too. If it's a revolving door it poses another level of research you need including the AD etc.. If former players come back to help that's a great sign!
As things progress she will attend the camp invite and reach out to former players for more clarity.
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My goodness, if my DD had that answer, she wouldn't be in college long.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
DD was part of an incoming class of five freshmen and a juco transfer in 2019. Her roommate, one of the freshmen, left school within a month. A second freshman left school after winter break, but joined a different program closer to home this fall. The upperclassmen have all been stable, with both outgoing seniors coming back to the team as grad students.
- May 27, 2013
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I think this is a very difficult question to answer. A lot of it has to do with the major chose at some schools, I imagine. Some of it might be due to the student-athlete finally having to take responsibility for themself and realizing they can’t handle that yet; some not realizing what to expect and realizing college ball is much more intense than what they are used to; academics are much more difficult than what they are used to; some just get homesick.
I know of two local D1 players who left college after only a few days on campus their first year. One returned to play after just taking a full year off and one never returned.
I know of two local D1 players who left college after only a few days on campus their first year. One returned to play after just taking a full year off and one never returned.
