By Kaylee Allen
Special to In Motion
After an athlete has reached their two years of eligibility and taken part in their sport of choice for two full years, the National Junior College Athletic Association offers them two choices: either receive another athletic scholarship at the university level or become a full-time student.
Students must choose their own path, but if they want to continue playing, their current coach can help them with the process of starting over at their transfer school. Softball, in particular, has a good reputation for moving athletes on to the next level.
Daytona State Assistant Softball Coach Alissa Smith says the percentage of girls that move on from here to a university is around 85 to 90 percent per year. 2015’s graduating class for softball had nine girls, eight of which moved on to play softball at a university. While coaches are typically very confident in what they do, their mindsets are far different compared to the stress the young women athletes are feeling. The class of 2016 also has nine sophomores, some of which are still trying to decide what to do.
While scholarships associated with playing sports are welcomed, most people are unaware of the high price student athletes pay to receive them. In terms of playing and practicing, sacrificing social time with other students and the academic expectations that go along with the tuition waivers and other perks of a sport, such students don’t have enough hours in the day to get things done.
They have to go to class until noon and then have practice for at least four hours plus weight-lifting and study hall six days a week. Often, people think student athletes receive special treatment, but do not understand that they do a majority of the work with only some guidance from coaches, trainers and tutors. The percentage of high school student athletes who become collegiate student athletes is only 10 percent. So to receive athletic scholarships for high school, community college then a university is almost unheard of for many young people.
“Do not be nervous it is just another opportunity,” said Coach Smith, a seasoned pro who knows about perfect timing to help players achieve their personal goals.
Coach Smith has connections throughout the softball world. Last year, she helped her players transfer to schools such as University of Connecticut, Jacksonville University and Presbyterian College in South Carolina. Those are only a few schools that her players transferred to last year and there are plenty more where those came from, she said. In fact, annually the softball team has a good percentage of girls who move on to play at the next level.
Among those is DSC Starting catcher Chantal Crockett from Kissimmee. She is one student athlete who has made up her mind and is willing to do what it takes to play softball at a four-year university. Still, like everyone else, she has her doubts and a crisis of confidence.
“It is going to be nerve racking to be at a different school with new people, a new area, and possibly being in a completely different state. You’re going to be away from your family and friends, so basically you’re starting all over,” she said.
There are about 250 schools that have Division One softball and for the staff at Daytona State to be turning out girls at a 90 percent rate to those schools, well that is a great statistic to be proud of.
“It is not about what you want, it is about how bad you want it,” Smith said.
As for other sports on campus, student athletes should take advantage of the experience, knowledge and connections of their coaches. In addition to guiding student athletes, they consider a big part of their job to be also helping young people achieve their goals at the next level.