How To Come To Terms With Not Being A Division 1 Recruit

It seems today that all young softball players have one target in mind: to play at the Division 1 level. They spend endless hours in batting cages, skip time with friends and family to play in tournaments, and devote their lives to the sport they love and the dream they have. The reality, however, is that only about 1.6% of high school softball players go on to play NCAA Division 1 softball, according to the NCAA.

This eye-opening statistic can be discouraging to come to terms with, leaving many to wonder if they will achieve their desired results. However, it is important to understand that labels do not determine a player's value. Your legacy as a teammate is much more important than which division you play at in college.

Let's take a moment to go through how to come to terms with not being a D1 softball recruit.

Shaping a new narrative around Division 1 softball is essential to maintaining a healthy mindset. Not making the D1 cut isn't necessarily a barrier you have to get over; it's just a different journey that you're on, which can be just as exciting as that of a D1 softball player. Play the game with the same determination, appreciation, and commitment that carried you this far, and realize that your love for softball is within you, no matter which level you are destined to play at in college.

Before there was the stress of the recruiting process, there was a little kid who just loved to run around on a dirt field. It was the thrill of the bat cracking, the pop of the glove, and the funny memories you and your teammates made in the dugout that mattered. Everything changes when you remove the fear you have for the future and focus on the now. With no pressure to earn your way onto a D1 roster, you can appreciate the little things about your experience playing the game. The Division 1 level may have its perks, but it certainly isn't the only place where the magic of softball is generated.

You have to understand that playing collegiate softball, at any level, is a huge testament to the skill, commitment, and heart of the athletes who compete. Division 2 and Division 3 programs often encourage a lifestyle balance between academics, internships, and personal growth off the field of play. But the bottom line is that all divisions of college softball foster leaders who value teamwork and collaboration as much as the NCAA players you see playing on television. Although they are not on the same level of visibility as D1 softball players, teams at other divisions are packed with players who truly pour their hearts and souls into playing the game. 

Finally, it's important to be kind to yourself. You aren't a failure if you don't sign a letter of intent to go D1. Read that sentence again.

Every athlete's journey is unique, and the journey you take is just as important as any other player's. It's an amazing ride no matter where you are headed. 

Now, no one likes a teammate slumping on the bench. Tie up your cleats because there is still a lot of game left!

Ryan Henry is currently a professional softball player with the New York Rise.