How To Handle Not Committing During Your Junior Fall Season

One of the most challenging things to go through as a youth softball player is to watch other players around you on your club or high school team committing to college programs while you are still uncommitted and waiting for your own turn to commit.

This reality can be especially challenging during the fall season of your junior year if you are a Division 1–hopeful, since D1 schools usually start verbally committing softball players on September 1 of their junior year.

With social media playing an undeniable role in the college softball recruiting experience and commitment process, it is nearly impossible to not see other players' commitment announcements, which can make an uncommitted player feel both left behind and alone.

But keep the faith and don't fall into the trap of comparison. You are not behind and you are definitely not alone. So many other youth softball players are in the same boat as you, and you still have time on your side. Plus, sometimes it is better to wait to make an informed decision about something as important as your college softball future so you can find the absolute right fit for you.

Below are three suggestions to help you handle the initial disappointment of not committing to play college softball during the fall season of your junior year in high school.

A little break from the constant scrolling and inundation of messages in your social feeds never hurt anyone. In fact, it can only be good for your mental health, especially during a vulnerable time in your young life like this one. You should protect your peace as much as possible, and that may mean deleting the social media apps from your phone for a bit, just so you can get your mind right and put your energy toward the things that will help you accomplish your goals. Be sure to take care of yourself as much as possible during the challenges of the recruiting process.

Find people in your life—whether they are family members, friends, or trusted mentors—with whom you can speak openly and honestly about what you are feeling. Remember, your feelings are valid no matter how ugly they may feel in the moment. Talking about the tough stuff is a great way to get it off your chest and release some of the anxiety you may feel during your recruiting process. It is typically a very stressful time for most youth softball players, so what you are feeling is completely normal and only temporary. Find an outlet—or multiple outlets—to help you get through this difficult time.

If you are still uncommitted at this time in your recruiting journey and wish you were able to exhale like your committed friends can right now, just keep grinding. Let your current situation motivate you and provide the extra incentive you need to take your game to the next level so that your time will soon come to commit to the college softball program of your dreams. Stay the course and try not to compare yourself to others, since everyone has a different recruiting journey. Try your best to trust the process.