This page is designed to provide players who desire to play softball during their college years with some basic information about how to go about doing so.

The first most important element of playing softball at the college level is to meet the eligibility requirements. Colleges are members of various groups that lay out the rules the athletic programs must meet to insure an even playing field. One of the major focuses of these groups is the eligibility requirements for the student athlete. These requirements vary from group to group, but typically involve high school grades, courses completed in high school, and scores on standardized tests. For scholarship purposes and/or specific schools, these requirements may even be higher. Please contact each institution for more specific information about their eligibility requirements.

Here is a slide show about college eligibility.

The following links have the eligibility requirements for the various divisions of colleges:

1. NCAA Division I, II and III - National Collegiate Athletic Association
2. NAIA - National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
3. NJCAA - National Junior College Athletic Association
4. NCCAA - National Christian College Athletic Association
5. USCAA - United States Collegiate Athletic Association
6. CCAA - California Collegiate Athletic Association

Next a student athlete must determine their major and the type of school they would like to attend. Determining a major is a difficult task and players are urged to get their parents and school guidance counselors involved in the process. Factors that determine the type of school include size of the student population, location, atomsphere, etc. College visits area good way to determine which school is right for you. Student athletes desiring to play a sport must also determine the level of play and how their abilities fit into the goals and standards for the school.

The student athlete must then market themself to the schools they are interested. There are many companies that will help you do this. However careful thought should be given to the selection of one of these groups.

Marketing oneself to prospective institutions involves the player and parents being proactive, contacting the school, contacting the softball coach, providing a short video tape of the player demonstrating her skills, providing statistics and team schedules, and working with the softball coach to insure both parties understands the goals of the player and the softball program.

Remember that playing softball in college can enhance this wonderful experience, but most importantly the goal of college is to obtain the education that will be the foundation for your adult life.