Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com

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

High Academic Exposure Tourneys

Posted by Coach on May 18, 2026, 12:27 pm

I coach a high B/low A level 14U team of hard working players that aspire to play in college. Most are high academic kids, likely non-D1 bound. I’m starting to plan for next season and was wondering what tournaments we should focus on. I was considering Pennsbury in the spring. Is that still the place to go for high academic type schools? How about in the fall? We will obviously encourage them to go to camps and reach out to coaches directly, wondering what tournaments will best prepare them to play at this level.

Re: High Academic Exposure Tourneys

Posted by Parent on May 20, 2026, 9:27 am, in reply to "High Academic Exposure Tourneys"

If your looking at high academic schools it would also help to study the CSS profile in detail. CSS Profile is the FAFSA for high academic schools. U of C just changed financial aid to be FREE for any students under 250K a year. The CSS profile can get you a LOT of money unlike the FAFSA. The CSS Profile can be manipulated if you do your homework.

Re: High Academic Exposure Tourneys

Posted by Parent on May 19, 2026, 9:26 am, in reply to "High Academic Exposure Tourneys"

I have a high academic player in college today. Take a good look at the UAA conference. All high academic. If you want to reach the ivy league, you have to go East. If you look at East Coast Softball, they host many events that are attended by ivy league schools.

Re: High Academic Exposure Tourneys

Posted by @@Bill on May 20, 2026, 6:25 am, in reply to "Re: High Academic Exposure Tourneys"

I agree that if you are looking at D3 academic schools, camps is the best way to go. If you're looking at high academic D1, D2, and D3, I would suggest the tournaments and camps that I previously mentioned. B.C.

Re: High Academic Exposure Tourneys

Posted by Bill Conroy on May 19, 2026, 8:50 am, in reply to "High Academic Exposure Tourneys"

Pennsbury is geared for the high academic student athlete.

Head First Camps

USA Preps Academic Showcase in Las Vegas.

Re: High Academic Exposure Tourneys

Posted by @Bill on May 19, 2026, 11:01 am, in reply to "Re: High Academic Exposure Tourneys"

Daughter is playing at a D3 high academic. For her, Pennsbury was not a particularly good use of time. But her facts and circumstances might have been the problem. Headfirst camp was the best bang for the buck. Would do that again in a minute. Locally, Tufts typically does a Chicago camp with some other high academics and there is another academic oriented camp that is not bad.

My view is that if the goal is D3 high academic, you do not need to travel much for tournaments. Camps and developing relationships with the coaches is the key. And having the grades/classes/test scores.

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