Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com

Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com
[ Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com ]

Recruiting Numbers

Posted by Parent on October 20, 2025, 12:44 pm

Enough said. ..

https://x.com/diamondaddicts/status/1980001765450821664?s=46&t=A5YlwVQ2flOE8J8E4LQSLg

Re: Recruiting Numbers

Posted by CAVEAT EMPTOR on October 23, 2025, 8:01 am, in reply to "Recruiting Numbers"

Especially for those who may be starting out their club softball journey, it's really important that you understand the context of national programs and their impact on recruiting.

For example, Athletics Mercado has more than 106 teams across the country, and they're actively expanding. So, it's no surprise that they have high numbers of total recruits. But there is a BIG difference between their top program (at 18U, Smith) and their other teams. This holds true for just about every other program on this list.

That doesn't mean that the Chicago area branches have anywhere near the schedule, roster, coaching or resources as the national teams. In fact, if any Chicago area kids are good enough to play on 16U or 18U national teams, it's likely they're getting on planes every Friday and headed to national tournaments - you won't find those teams playing anywhere in the Midwest, except for Alliance Nationals in Indiana.

There are only a handful of national teams based in the Midwest - teams that consistently play a national schedule, are consistently competitive and have a high % of P4 commits. You're talking the best team at Bandits, Chill, IMG and IP. The only other team that I can think of with national schedule and a high number of P4 is one Cheetahs team.

My point here is not to bash any program. A national brand jersey can absolutely help with tournament entries and access to some resources. But as these national brands grow, there will increasingly be a have and have nots within their on org - the number of D1 roster spots isn't growing!

I'll close with a final shout out to Quinn. Dude must feel like a dinosaur at times, but it's so cool how he stays nationally competitive with just three teams. I can't think of another example of a program like what he's done, and it's good for our area to have guys like him, and others, involved.

Re: Recruiting Numbers

Posted by @CE on October 23, 2025, 11:28 am, in reply to "Re: Recruiting Numbers"

Great post. The other thing I'd say about Quinn is that he has a history of sticking with and supporting his players. I've witnessed on several occasions where his players are struggling. He gives them recommendations about instructors to help, then allows them to work through their struggles.

Re: Recruiting Numbers

Posted by @@CE on October 23, 2025, 12:18 pm, in reply to "Re: Recruiting Numbers"

As you'd expect, there is a lot of "haters" out there on Chill and Gerry - as there is for any successful person/org.

My daughter never played for Chill - she tried out and didn't make it. The thoughtful evaluation he provided to us afterward provided her with great feedback and targets to achieve in her future. She went on to another program, took that feedback constructively as goals to achieve, and she's now P4 committed.

His commitments go beyond just his players. Solid dude.

Re: Recruiting Numbers

Posted by surprised on October 20, 2025, 2:41 pm, in reply to "Recruiting Numbers"

After reading the previous thread I'm surprised that IC didn't make the list.

Re: Recruiting Numbers

Posted by @ Surprised on October 22, 2025, 11:48 am, in reply to "Re: Recruiting Numbers"

Chill currenlty has 6

Re: Recruiting Numbers

Posted by Well on October 22, 2025, 12:35 pm, in reply to "Re: Recruiting Numbers"

How about Iowa Premier?

Re: Recruiting Numbers

Posted by @Well on October 23, 2025, 3:46 am, in reply to "Re: Recruiting Numbers"

I believe IPF is at 10 or 11

Re: Recruiting Numbers

Posted by Dewey Oxburger on October 20, 2025, 1:22 pm, in reply to "Recruiting Numbers"

I wouldn't agree that this says everything (mostly because I'm not sure of the specific point you're trying to make), but I think you can draw some interesting conclusions from this...

I would bet Bandits have less teams and players in their org compared to those orgs listed above them. Kudos to them.

(In other words, if you have 50 teams in your org, you'd expect to have many more committed kids than an org with 1 team. So do you conclude that Mercado is the best org for getting your kid committed - or do you say that Chill is better at getting your kid committed because they may have a ~100% D1 placement rate - just not the number of teams/players?)

These rankings can also be deceiving if a parent doesn't realize that not all teams in an organization are equal. In other words, if you join Athletics Mercado Fort Wayne (I don't think that exists, but could by the end of the day), you'll likely end up disappointed with its placement rate. Yes, excellent players often matriculate up to national teams, but there are only so many of those slots.

It's also the case that some (many?) of the players who are committed started out elsewhere and got an invitation to join a national program once it was obvious that they were D1 material. That may have been the right step for the kid, but it doesn't mean that another kid wouldn't be better off in another less prominent org for developmental reasons.

In our area, you can be fortunate to join Chill at age 13 and go all the way through and you'll have a near certain path to D1. Or you can make a Bandit team and have the chance to move up to the most competitive national roster to get that D1 outcome. Or, you can start out at Wasco, move to Sparks, jump to Bolts and have a successful outcome. (That was intended to be illustrative, I'm not aware of any kid jumping those exact lily pads.)

There are just so many nuances to what makes a kid's development and recruitment journey successful, and which program is right or best.

Re: Recruiting Numbers

Posted by Just Chill on October 20, 2025, 6:09 pm, in reply to "Re: Recruiting Numbers"

The Chill have a total of 3 teams. Even though they could potentially have all their 2027 kids signed, they will never be on this list.

« Back to index

[ Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com ]