*Justin’s World of Softball has no affiliation or sponsorship with any of the subsequent items mentioned. Across the country club softball has returned to play but NCAA DI coaches remain unable to recruit in person due to an extended NCAA issued emergency dead period. Because of this many teams and tournaments are increasing their use of online streaming for coaches and fans alike. However, not all streams are created equal and in this new age of technology, perfecting the “stream” could be beneficial for years to come. Some of these tips may also be useful for all other levels of…
Author: mkyllokittleson
Earlier this evening, the NCAA Division I Council Coordination Committee extended the emergency recruiting dead period through June 30th. A “dead period” is a point in time during which college coaches cannot participate in any in-person recruiting activities (e.g. summer tournaments, camps, campus visits). They are permitted to conduct phone calls (if age requirements are met) but nothing else. A common dead period in NCAA DI softball occurs during the Women’s College World Series. This news comes as a continued stressor to many prospective student-athletes and DI collegiate coaches who have been anxious to hit the field and recruiting trail.…
Longtime Minnesota assistant coach Piper Ritter has been named the next head coach of the Golden Gophers. The school officially announced Ritter’s hiring on Sunday evening. Ritter is a Minnesota alumna and one of the most decorated pitchers in program history. She has been a member of the coaching staff for 13 seasons and has mentored All-Americans Sara Moulton, Sara Groenewegen, and Amber Fiser. “I am excited for the future of our softball program,” Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle said in a statement. “Piper has been part of our team for nearly two decades, and she is the right person…
Minnesota is looking for a head coach for the second time in three years following Jamie Trachsel’s sudden departure for Ole Miss. The Gophers bring an attractive position to the table, just a year removed from the program’s first-ever Women’s College World Series berth and sporting a roster that is still loaded with talent. Pitching ace Amber Fiser is set to return for her second attempt at a senior season, while offensive juggernaut Natalie DenHartog is still just a sophomore. The Gophers were 15-9-1 when the 2020 season abruptly ended; as they embark on their coaching search, here’s our list…
Tennessee Mojo, a program that offers high level fastpitch (8U-18U) and volleyball (12-16), has been spreading joy and hoping during COVID-19 lock downs by sending letters to individuals who could use a “pick-me-up”. “We have won titles at every level in all associations and nothing will ever compare to the feeling we get from [the] responses from people we have sent notes to,” said Brooks Cherry, operator of and coach within the Mojo organization. We connected with him to learn more about how the idea began and how it has been received. JWOS: Can you tell us how you first…
Justin’s World of Softball has spent over 16 hours compiling this list with the goal of tracking the seniors returning to the NCAA DI softball field in 2021. Stay with us as we’ll be updating through the fall!
It has been a busy week for NCAA DI spring sports as the DI Council has voted to reinstate a year of eligibility for those effected student-athletes. You can find our coverage at the links below: “What you need to know before Council vote” Official announcement of approved eligibility “What’s next after NCAA DI Council ruling?” Not only will this decision impact collegiate programs across the country, there will also be trickle down effects on prospective student-athletes (PSAs) – most noticeably within the 2021 and possibly 2022 classes; especially with the future of summer softball this season up in the…
The country officially has a decision regarding extended eligibility for spring student-athletes in the wake of COVID-19 cancellations: You can find the full release of the Council’s decision, here. Now that collegiate athletics has a direction, what are the questions that remain? While much of the “nitty gritty” is left to be worked out and finalized, here is what we know: 1) What is the short and sweet version? The NCAA DI Council – which is comprised of college sports administrators representing all 32 D-I conferences and two members of the student-athlete advisory committee – voted to allow a blanket…
Monday, March 30th, the NCAA DI Council is scheduled to vote and release their verdict regarding Division I Spring Sport eligibility following the sudden cancellation of spring athletics due to COVID-19. We are breaking down what you need to know as it pertains to softball: ISSUES WITH THE NCAA’S RESPONSE First and foremost, there were a number of issues with the NCAA’s initial response to COVID-19 in the first couple of crucial days. Initially the NCAA called for the entire cancellation of all spring athletic championships. Following back lash about postponement over full on cancellation in the early stages it…
While protective face masks are becoming more common across all levels of softball the conversation around rather they should be required continues. As a youth or even high school/club coach the “face mask conversation” can be tough, especially when a parent or guardian isn’t on board. As a coach, what if you want to require certain positions wear masks? How can you go about having a productive conversation? What are strategies you can utilize to work through any disagreements? Let’s look at some options.