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“D1 or Bust” mentality

Posted by Seriously tho on February 19, 2025, 12:31 am

Is it still a thing? What are your thoughts? Do people still look down upon anything else?

Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality

Posted by Mike S. on February 23, 2025, 11:41 am, in reply to "“D1 or Bust” mentality"

The #1 thing you better remember about the "D-1 DREAM" is it is a business first and foremost. I don't care if you are in Norman, OK, Tuscaloosa, AL or Cedar Falls, Iowa; you are an asset. Even in softball...and irregardless of what you as a player are going through OR how many games someone has won as a coach, they will cast you off! There is a lot of criticism on kids with the portal situation, maybe the focus should be on the programs they are leaving???

Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality

Posted by Go D1 if you have the chance on February 22, 2025, 12:40 am, in reply to "“D1 or Bust” mentality"

What I can offer for this thread of D1 or bust... My daughter, who was a pitcher, was fortunate to have a P5 offer (Big 10 lower-tier team), a few mid-major offers, and multiple D2 offers (good D2 schools). Back in her travel days, she didn't really have the "D1 or bust mentality". Admittedly, I wanted D1 more as her parent, but I knew this was her journey. Initially, she really liked one of the D2 schools. That offer was outstanding, and it was a highly ranked academic institution. However, after many discussions with her coaches and with us, she realized that pursuing a D1 offer was the way to go for her. She didn't want to go to the lower Big 10 team (and lose a lot), so she chose a decent mid-major team. She just could not pass up the opportunity to play at the D1 level and what it could potentially provide. Thankfully, D1 ended up being an incredible experience for her, and yes for us as parents. She excelled in a strong conference, made multiple All-Conference teams, and had the opportunity to play against some of the best P5 teams. She also helped her team win a conference championship, and got to play in Regionals against top SEC and PAC 10 teams. Everybody's situation will be unique, but what I would offer is that if your DD has the opportunity and talent to play D1, you should seriously consider it. Especially now with the portal and opportunity to move if needed. In the end she said it was worth any of the stress and the challenges of playing at D1 (especially as a pitcher). It was a job and physically taxing. And yes, at times she just wanted to be a normal college kid and go to a party. But now after it all ended last year, she said she wouldn't change a thing. She said she couldn't imagine that a D2 experience would have been the same for her (and I would agree now as a parent). And regarding her actual education, she leveraged the Covid year and ended up getting her Master's Degree in December.

Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality

Posted by looking down? on February 21, 2025, 7:39 am, in reply to "“D1 or Bust” mentality"

I would certainly hope people wouldn't be looking down on anything else. There's still a very small percentage of high school softball players that actually wind up playing college softball, I think it's like 5% or something? That includes D1,D2, D3 players as well as NAIA and Juco. Fulfilling your dream of playing college softball is still a huge accomplishment , and anyone who would look down on girls who aren't playing D1 would be a pretty crappy person. Keep in mind, some of the girls might be on a D1 roster, but that doesn't mean they are going to "play d1". They could be player number 26 out of 28 and never see the field, and be miserable, but hey you go ahead and look down on that girl who is starting as a freshman playing D2 or D3 and having a great experience.

Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality

Posted by The facts, ma'am on February 21, 2025, 7:18 am, in reply to "“D1 or Bust” mentality"

The answers to your questions are:

1. Yes.
2. Believe whatever you want - like the 11% who believe in Bigfoot.
3. Yes.

~340,000 high school softball players
~22,000 college softball players (6% of HS)
~7,000 D1 softball players (2% of HS)
~1,500 P4 softball players (.04% of HS)
~375 SEC softball players (.001% of HS)

Aim high!

Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality

Posted by A Different Take on February 20, 2025, 10:56 am, in reply to "“D1 or Bust” mentality"

I guess I'll admit my daughter had a D1 or Bust mentality, but it really didn't have anything to do with softball. She decided early on that she wanted to go to a big school with the big Saturday football tailgating experience and large alumni base.

Unfortunately, most D2 and lower schools just don't offer that. After her junior year she realized that the big school dream wasn't going to happen so she played out her senior year and has had a awesome college experience without softball at her big D1 school.

My point is, the D1 dream isn't always about looking down on the lower levels, but instead what they want to get out of their college experience.

Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality

Posted by trounced on February 21, 2025, 11:12 am, in reply to "Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality"

I think that's quite common. Girls want different experiences, and that's okay.

Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality

Posted by @seriously on February 20, 2025, 10:37 am, in reply to "“D1 or Bust” mentality"

As long as their are people being paid for lessons/training, D1 dreams are alive, they are being paid to tell you your DD is D1 material. The truth is, there is a lot of bad/mediocre D1 programs currently around this area that are gobbling up the D1 dreamers. Talent knows where their talent should play. Play to play, not to say.

Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality

Posted by Dave Betcher on February 20, 2025, 6:04 am, in reply to "“D1 or Bust” mentality"

Read Pipeline to the Pros by David Kaplan. Yes it’s basketball, but the point is spot on about networking and your future. You will have a far different opinion and respect for D3 afterwards.

Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality

Posted by D1 on February 19, 2025, 8:59 pm, in reply to "“D1 or Bust” mentality"

All the girls start out with the D1 dream, but as time goes on and they get older, thoughts and priorities change. Whether its a job, love, or life. Softball becomes secondary, and whats my future look like after softball kicks in. Thoughts on schools change. Closeness, familiarity, size and countless of other reasons on why they change their minds on life after high school happens. One thing is for certain, mom and puffy chest dads still have d1 dreams

Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality

Posted by Well on February 19, 2025, 11:30 am, in reply to "“D1 or Bust” mentality"

I don't see a lot of NAIA or Juco games on ESPN.

Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality

Posted by @Well on February 20, 2025, 11:12 am, in reply to "Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality"

And you won't see the majority of girls playing D1 on ESPN either. 268 softball schools with 25 players or so. How many of those 6700 girls are on the field during a ESPN game? Even P4 players may never see the field on a televised game.

Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality

Posted by Well on February 20, 2025, 1:30 pm, in reply to "Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality"

Now tell me the amount of D1 players who play on BTN, ACC, SEC, FLOCOLLEGE, FLOSPORTS, ESPN+, ESPNU, ESPN2, or ESPN. Not to mention if you have an android streaming connection. That opens you up to many many more games.

Also, a player "seeing the field" is the responsibility of that player. That's on them to get that done.

Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality

Posted by Coach on February 19, 2025, 9:35 am, in reply to "“D1 or Bust” mentality"

Yes it is still a reality. Kids get their first offer from a small D1 school north of Illinois and off they go. Then they find out the school is smaller than their high school and have not had a winning season in 20 years, but they are playing D1, whatever.

Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality

Posted by @Coach on February 19, 2025, 7:42 pm, in reply to "Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality"

Exactly.

And sometimes "playing" D1 means running the bases every once in while.

Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality

Posted by @Coach on February 19, 2025, 11:17 am, in reply to "Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality"

I never understood how this affected anybody except the athlete. I know I don't have any insight into the motivations of strangers.

Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality

Posted by @Seriously on February 19, 2025, 9:16 am, in reply to "“D1 or Bust” mentality"

Different for everyone. It depends on the kid's talent, willingness to forego the "college" experience, academic needs, etc. DI is a job, but it's also an excellent experience for players who prioritize softball and competition at its highest level. Please don't believe the academic hype of lower levels; for most kids, a DI school will provide the educational opportunity that meets their ability. Also, never underestimate the power of large alumni groups in accelerating professional growth.

Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality

Posted by Sad on February 22, 2025, 5:28 am, in reply to "Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality"

I love the people who shit on kids for going D1 and they are struggling for playing time. It's like you are trying to justify your kid playing the other levels. Each experience and reason where a kid plays is unique to them. Whether they chose to play a lower level due to career choice or they were just not good enough to play D1. These are their choices and dreams and people should be supportive no matter where they end up playing.

Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality

Posted by interesting on February 19, 2025, 10:36 am, in reply to "Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality"

Was just at someone's home yesterday and the mother told me her 13 year old's hitting coach told her she could play D1 ...IF she continues to work hard. 14U was a long time ago for my daughters but I remember the same types of comments, which are not lies..... but the 2 of mine that played college ball did not play D1 and did play as freshman and did play almost every game and had a great experience.. We did not put a ton of pressure on them at any age and they both got a lot of their college paid for. Every situation will be totally different

Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality

Posted by Disconnected on February 19, 2025, 2:09 pm, in reply to "Re: “D1 or Bust” mentality"

That hitting coach might be doing a disservice to that family. There is more to hitting that makes a player a D1 player. Most of the players that I knew that went D1 had some real exceptional skills - whether that was speed, overhand throwing, softball IQ and were normally the emotional leaders of their teams. It's not just about a good exit velo.

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