Observations/Tips from 2015 College Softball Showcase

Softball can be a grind...lots of games, travel, and hotel stays.  This goes for the college coaches as well.  They cannot be at every game in multiple locations.  Depending on the size of the school and their recruiting budget, they may have one person trying to visit as many locations as they can fit into their schedule.   So what does that mean for the player?

TIPS
Do your research on the schools that you would choose based on academics.  Would you attend that school even if you were not playing softball? When the opportunity presents itself, being prepared with a well thought out answer will impress any coach.

Players need to be proactive and reach out to a coach by email before their tournaments or games are played. Let them know your schedule, a little bit of information about you such as positions you play, that you hit left/right/switch, throw left/right, and most importantly your GPA.  In the competitive environment for college positions, students with a higher GPA reduce the risks to the schools.  Said another way - players that put in the time to take care of their grades in high school are projected to do the same in college when time management is much more of a priority.  Colleges do not want to commit time and resources into a player only to have that player ruled academically ineligible.  So the bottom line is provide the information to the coaches so that they feel comfortable to recruit you.

College coaches want to be successful.  They want to have players that want to be successful.  When you are on the field, run the bases hard every time, know the situation in the game and be a good teammate.  Remember you normally only bat maybe three or four times a game so you can run hard four times to first or maybe even take an extra base, you need to be able to bunt when it is appropriate or have all the skills to do what is called for at the time, and always be a part of the team with encouragement, enthusiasm and 100% effort.  The speed of the game increases from high school to college and you must project to the coach that you can make that adjustment. 

OBSERVATION
"From the moment you get out of your car at the diamond until the time that you get back into the car to leave, your actions are being watched." - Coach Craig Faulkner (High School Coach and Four Time Florida State Champion)  It is not going to always be obvious that a coach is watching you play.  Not all coaches are dressed in collegiate apparel when they are at the park.  Some coaches rely on other trusted individuals besides themselves and their coaches to provide feedback about a prospective college player.  You do not know who is sitting in the stands, walking around the diamond, or parking next to you in the parking lot.  Be mindful of what you say and what you do. This goes for players and their families.

The harsh reality is that not every high school player will make it to play in college.  No one owes you anything. You make our own luck. "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." -Roman philosopher Seneca.  Put the time in to constantly get better, work on your weaknesses, ask questions, be a student of the game and grind your way to your goals!

Best of Luck!

Additional information and resources 
There are many different levels of college softball to play.  Do not close any door or opportunity. Each college or university softball program falls into a collegiate athletic category.  

The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) has three divisions D1, D2 and D3. The NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)(http://www.naia.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27900&ATCLID=205323553). 
The NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) has three divisions D1, D2 and D3 (http://www.njcaa.org/member_colleges/college-directory)

Athletic Scholarship Opportunities
Division I (per school) 11.7
Division II (per school) 9
Division III (per school) 0
NAIA (per school) 12
NJCAA (*varies per school) 24

Academic Scholarships Opportunities can be added or are available based on the school.

Division	NJCAA Scholarship Guidelines
Division I	Colleges may grant full athletic scholarships (tuition, books, fees, room & board), up to $250 in course required supplies and transportation costs one time per academic year to and from the college by direct route. Each sport has limits on the number of scholarships that can be granted.
Division II	Colleges may grant athletic scholarships, but scholarships are limited to tuition, books, fees and up to $250 in course required supplies. Each sport has limits on the number of scholarships that can be granted.
Division III	Colleges are not permitted to offer any athletic scholarships

NOTE: If a sport does not have the numbers to break into separate divisions, it operates under the Division I scholarship guidelines. 

From http://www.njcaa.org/member_colleges/Divisional_Structure

New Little League Rules Division - OnTurf Baseball League -LLR

Would your little league or local house teams like to get in more games against new teams?  OnTurf Sports wants to assist baseball teams in any way we can so that kids can have as many opportunities as possible to play baseball.  Little league or local house league age teams can now gather together under a new division created by OnTurf Sports called the OnTurf Baseball League-little league rules (LLR).  The league is intended to organize teams wanting to play little league style rules against similar teams from their area with the benefits that go with the league.

• WHO CAN PLAY?
• Any team or organization of teams following little league style rules 
• Enter one team, two teams .... or all your league teams.
• Rule Examples: No lead offs, steal once the ball crosses the plate.
• Playing distances of 46 foot mound and 60 foot bases
• 10 through 12u equivalent to the little league age division
• Teams can be made of any age eligible players (All-Stars or Non All-Star teams)
• For each team, the oldest player on the roster as of December 31 (Per Baseball America) of the year controls the age group that you must play in. Click Here for Little League Age Calculator
• 13 through 14u equivalent to the Babe Ruth age division following high school rules
• Enter one team, two teams .... or all your league teams. 
• No teams exclusively playing travel baseball in this division
• Rules Examples: Lead offs, steals
• 13u playing distances can be 54 foot mound and 80 foot bases or 60.5 foot mound and 90 foot bases
• 14u playing distances of 60.5 foot mound and 90 foot bases
• Combined 13u and 14u players on the same team will play 14u playing distances.
• WHERE AND HOW ARE LEAGUE GAMES SCHEDULED AND PLAYED?
• OnTurf Sports will organize the teams geographically to enable them to put together the entire schedule in one evening.  The location will be worked out among the participating teams.  If you need to travel, this will minimize the travel time and expense.
• Little league or house teams can send one person to schedule for multiple teams OR one person from each team can schedule for their team
• Teams can schedule their games with the other teams for any day, time and location that both teams agree to.  
• Play your normal league games at your park as you have always done AND combine with other youth baseball organizations. 
• Play as many or as few games as you desire against other little league or house teams.  
• WHEN ARE GAMES PLAYED?
• Teams will be organized as soon as they are formed by their local organizations.
• After registration, payment and the scheduling meeting are completed by March then the games can begin.
• Games can be played on any date for as short or long of time that the organizations want.
• Games can be played on any day of week as long as both teams agree.
• WHY JOIN THE LEAGUE (BENEFITS)?
• Get more games against different teams or just play different teams
• Play games in new places for new experiences
• Schedule all your games with the other teams in one evening
• Get equipment and apparel discounts from Dick's Sporting Goods
• Optional - Teams can play 
• a LLR year-end tournament with other LLR league teams at the end of July/first of August for $225 where OnTurf Sports secures the fields, schedules all the games, gets all the umpires and provides baseballs (gate fee not included for spectators) OR
• against travel teams using high school rules in the OnTurf Classic July 10-12 for $225 where OnTurf Sports secures the fields, schedules all the games, gets all the umpires and provides baseballs (gate fee not included for spectators)
• For Your League
• Your league can sell concessions at all the games
• Increase the control the coaches have to schedule the games and opponent.
• Get a built in year-end tournament with no extra work
• OnTurf Sports organizes the teams, records all the game results on our website, determines the standings, and awards the winners
• OnTurf Sports will reach out to and gather a larger number of teams for the LLR year-end tournament for kids to play against than what each organization can do individually.
• Optional - Get a great price on discounted league insurance ($30 BPA Sanctioning Reguired in addition to the insurance price based on the age group of the team) 
• HOW DOES YOUR TEAM OR ORGANIZATION JOIN?
• Register each team with the coaches contact information OR a single league person handling the entire league. Click here to register your team.  
• Registration establishes that you are interested. Commitment to the LLR league is given at the point of payment.  An online payment and check option will appear after registration.  You can choose to use a credit card or mail a check to the address provided.
• Additional information will be sent to the email provided.
• Teams will use this contact information provided in case of rain-out or similar situtation
• LLR League Fee
• $150 OnTurf Baseball League-little league rules (LLR) or equal to about $12-15 per player depending on the number of players per team.
• Optional - $225 - LLR year-end tournament July 29-31 or Aug. 5-7
• Optional - $225 - OnTurf Classic July 10-12
• If you are considering playing in the LLR year-end tournament or the OnTurf Classic without playing in the league, the tournament entry fee is $375.  You can play in both the LLR league and get the LLR year-end tournament or the OnTurf Classic tournament for $375.
• If playing in the tournament, both the LLR league and tournament are paid up front at the same time.

Questions? Please email us at onturfsports@gmail.com

Little League is the registered trademark of Little League Baseball and Softball.  The term little league in the above article are used as a general reference to the rules followed by the teams and not necessarily the affiliation of the teams to the organization.

2015-2016 BPA Changes and OnTurf Sports

For teams playing in Baseball Players Association (BPA) tournaments and/or leagues, a few changes have been made to the registration and acceptance process.  You may have received an email, seen a posting on Facebook or read a tweet with this information.  We are taking the explanation one step further.

For the Fall of 2015 and the 2016 season, BPA has made the following changes

1. The BPA sanctioning period will be August 1 to July 31.  The old time period was September 1 to August 31. Any new BPA/Westpoint insurance policies will match the new sanctioning dates.
2. The BPA sanction fee is now $30.  The BPA sanction fee gives you the required BPA sanction number which enables you to enter your team in BPA sanctioned events and leagues plus purchase the required BPA/Westpoint insurance.
3. BPA/Westpoint insurance is now required to be purchased by teams to play in a BPA sanctioned event.  The change was necessary because too many teams nationwide did not have sufficient coverage for their teams and the resulting claims from these teams were driving the insurance rates up for everyone.  To stop the insurance companies proposed price increases, BPA and Wespoint Insurance recognized the need for great coverage.  If the teams had a standard Westpoint insurance policy with the top notch team coverage, the insurance rates could be held at the current levels.  The Westpoint insurance policy can be used for all of your tournaments and in most cases will have higher coverage amounts at a smaller price than what you have been purchasing in the past at a higher price.

So how does this relate to OnTurf Sports?

The BPA OnTurf Sports Baseball League - NEBL, NWBL, SEBL, and SWBL divisions will require BPA/Westpoint insurance as a sanctioned league.  The insurance will also be required for all sanctioned BPA tournaments.  

Here's how OnTurf Sports can help!

Teams wanting to play in the BPA OnTurf Sports Baseball League now have the following options and benefits through OnTurf Sports.

Teams must be registered and paid for the league by September 1, 2015 for Fall insurance coverage and January 8, 2016 for Spring and Summer insurance coverage.

OPTION 1: Register for the league one time and pay the appropriate fee and OnTurf Sports will handle all the paperwork to get your team a

BPA sanction number, BPA/Westpoint insurance and entered into the OnTurf Sports Baseball League you desire. The sanction number and insurance certificate are emailed to the person registering the team.

BENEFIT - Minimum $50 Savings - Get a minimum $50 discount on your insurance by being a part of the BPA OnTurf Sports Baseball League 

OPTION 2: Register for the league and the OnTurf Classic tournament plus pay the appropriate fee and OnTurf Sports will handle all the paperwork to get your team a

BPA sanction number, BPA/Westpoint insurance and entered into the OnTurf Sports Baseball League plus the year end league tournament OnTurf Classic. The sanction number and insurance certificate are emailed to the person registering the team.


BENEFIT - Minimum $200 Savings -  Get a minimum $50 discount on your insurance plus $150 discount on the OnTurf Classic by being a part of the BPA OnTurf Sports Baseball League

OPTION 3: GET the LEAGUE for FREE.  Registered and paid league teams can also get a $150 discount on three (3) tournaments.  Option 1 and 2 above can still be purchased in addition to taking advantage of Option 3.  Ask OnTurf Sports for all the details. Exclusions Apply.

           BENEFIT - Minimum $150 Savings - Get a minimum $150 discount on 3 tournaments. 

For more information on the OnTurf Baseball League divisions, please visit the webpages below or email us at onturfsports@gmail.com

http://www.onturfsports.com/League/NEBL.php
http://www.onturfsports.com/League/NWBL.php
http://www.onturfsports.com/League/SEBL.php
http://www.onturfsports.com/League/SWBL.php

Information on OnTurf Sports 2016 tournaments are planned to be released October 1, 2015 at this time.

11u and 12u PG Super 25 All Tournament Team

Some of the best and brightest players shared their talents in Columbia City June 5-7 in the Perfect Game Super 25 Super Qualifier.  The winning teams now advance to the national tournament in Marietta, Georgia July 16-21 where a single PG Super 25 national champion will be crowned!  

Two teams will represent the Ohio Valley Region in the PG Super 25 national tournament.  In a disciplined and many times exciting display of skill, the Cincinnati Spikes completed a perfect sweep through the field to take the 12u title.  The 11u Midland Warriors used big bats and timely combinations of pitching and defense to win the championship.  Of course these two teams had players with standout performances but so did many of the other teams in the field. Here are the top performers making up the All Tournament Team.

Midland Warriors 11u Pitcher - Colin Ames #2 and Hitter - Luke Marsh #14

In the championship game, Luke Marsh had a grand slam and 6 RBI

New Haven Bulldogs Black 11u Hitter - Jack Warnock (9-10, 3 HR)

Cincinnati Spikes 12u Pitcher - Evan Webb (4 IP, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K's) and Hitters Will McCracken and Sergio DeCello combined for 9 hits, 4 HR, 8 RBI.
Sergio hit a grand slam and had 5 RBI's in the championship game.

Coach Christensen noted that Webb had a consistent approach to all hitters and was able to get ahead in the count and challenge hitters.  Hitters put the ball in play which allowed the defense to make plays.  Coach followed with the hitters McCracken and DeCello had a good approach at the plate in key situations where the team needed big hits and runs.

Mizuno Northern Indiana Elite 12u Pitcher: Mason Lee (1 Win, 6 IP, 1 ER) and Hitter - Carter Bond (10-16, 3 doubles, 7 RBI)

Michiana Scrappers 12u Pitcher - Kyle Tupper (1 Win, 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 9 K's) and Hitter - Lukas Fozo (5-7, 1 double, 3 RBI)

Summit City Vipers 12u Pitcher - Callan Wood (1 Win, 5 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 1 Save) and Hitter Callan Stauffer (3-8, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored)

Baseball Recruiting Guidelines

If you are a few years or a few months away from trying to land a college baseball position, it is always helpful to have a point of reference.  The baseball recruiting guidelines noted are for educational purposes.  Every year players that do not meet these numbers make a college team and are solid contributors.  Work everyday, compete, and take that spot at the next level.

Much of this summary of information comes from the NCSA baseball recruiting guidelines.  We do not promote nor recommend the NCSA.

Division I: 

The typical Division I baseball player is ‘polished’ and already has all the tools necessary to be successful as a freshman. As opposed to the Division II baseball player, the typical DI player needs far less development, if any. The position players possess at least 4 of the 5 measurable tools – hit for average, hit for power, arm strength, speed, and defensive abilities. The pitchers display a command of at least 3 pitches with high velocities. On average, they have the ability to throw many innings, and most often they are only used on the mound and rarely as position players. Most D1 players come from large high schools. Many of these programs are considered the best in their area or in the state. In addition, most DI players have been awarded accolades such as All-Area, All-County, or All-State. 

The average characteristics by position are as follows: 

Right Handed Pitchers:
-Height: 6’1”
-Weight: 180 lbs.
-Over 1 K per Inning Pitched
-ERA below 2.50
-Velocity: 88-90 MPH (Verified by neutral source) 

Left Handed Pitchers:
-Height: 6’1”
-Weight: 180 lbs.
-1 K per Inning Pitched
-ERA below 2.50
-Velocity: 85-87 MPH (Verified by neutral source)  

Outfielders:
-Height: 5’11”
-Weight: 170 lbs.
-60 Yard Dash: 6.6 (Verified)
-Velocity for OF: 86-87 MPH (Verified by neutral source) 

Middle Infielders:
-Height: 5’11”
-Weight: 175 lbs.
-60 Yard Dash: 6.8-6.9 (Verified)
-Velocity from INF: 85+ MPH (Verified by neutral source) 

Catchers:
-Height: 5’10”-6’0”
-Weight: 180 lbs.
-Pop Time: Sub 1.95 (Verified by neutral source)

Corner Infielders:
-Height: 6’2”
-Weight: 200 lbs.
-Power Numbers: 8+ HR, 30+RBI 

Division II: 

For some colleges, especially those in the southern states and out on the West Coast, DII Baseball is an extension of DI. There are very few differences between the typical West Coast or southern DII player and the average DI player. For the DII schools up north, the athletes may be a notch below the average DI and perhaps a little less polished. They may not throw as hard, play for the top high schools programs, or possess at least 4 of the 5 measurable tools. This is not always the case, as there are some very solid DII Baseball Programs in the North. However, it is no secret that overall, the better baseball schools are those located in warmer climates. 

The Minimum Requirements by position are as follows: 

Right Handed Pitchers:
-Height: 6’0′ (Preferably taller)
-Weight: 175 lbs.
-Averaging about 1K per inning pitched
-ERA below 3.00
-Velocity: 85 MPH 

Left Handed Pitchers:
-Height: 5’10′ (Preferably taller)
-Weight: 165 lbs.
-Averaging about 1K per inning pitched
-ERA at 3.00 or below
-Velocity: 83 MPH 

Outfielders:
-Height: 5’10″
-Weight: 165 lbs.
-60 Yard Dash: 6.8 or below
-Velocity from the OF: 82-86 MPH 

Middle Infielders:
-Height: 5’9″
-Weight: 165 lbs.
-60 Yard Dash: 6.9 or below
-Velocity from the INF: Low 80′s MPH from SS 

Catchers:
-Height: 5’10″
-Weight: 180 lbs.
-Pop Time: 2.0 or below 

Corner Infielders:
-Height: 6’0″
-Weight: 180 lbs.
-Power Numbers: 4+ HR, 20+ RBI 

Much can be determined on film. It is very difficult to measure defensive abilities on paper. Fielding percentage cannot be used as an accurate statistic because it is difficult to calculate and it can be easily manipulated. Most Division II players have received several accolades, such as All-Conference or All-Area. 

Division III: 

Some DIII programs are stronger than others, but there seems to be more continuity with the physical characteristics of DIII players than there are for DII or NAIA. 

The Minimum Requirements by positions are as follow: 

Right Handed Pitchers:
-Height: 5’9”
-Weight: 160 lbs.
-1 or less than 1 K Per Inning Pitched
-ERA below 4.00
-Velocity: 81 MPH 

Left Handed Pitchers:
-Height: 5’9”
-Weight: 160 lbs.
-1 or less than 1 K Per Inning Pitched
-ERA below 4.00
-Velocity: 79 MPH 

Outfielders:
-Height 5’8”
-Weight: 160 lbs.
-60 Yard Dash: 7.0 or below
-Velocity from the OF: 78+ MPH 

Middle Infielders:
-Height: 5’8”
-Weight: 150 lbs.
-60 Yard Dash: 7.1 or below
-Velocity from the INF: Upper 70′s MPH from SS 

Catchers:
-Height: 5’9”
-Weight: 165 lbs.
-Pop Time: 2.1 or below 

Corner Infielders:
-Height: 5’10″
-Weight: 170 lbs.
-Power Numbers: 2+ HR, 20+ RBI 

NAIA: 

The discrepancies in characteristics are very severe when it comes to NAIA baseball. Some NAIA schools are playing at a DII level, while others are competing at a lower DIII level. NCSA found a mix of D2 criteria and D3 criteria make up the recruiting guidelines for this league.  

Junior College Baseball: 

Unlike NAIA, junior colleges do have 3 divisions for the purpose of separating stronger JC programs from the weaker ones. While there may be somewhat of a drop off in talent between Division III junior college and Division I and Division II junior colleges, there is little difference between DI and DII junior colleges. Many of the junior college players lack the ‘polish’ to be considered DI players coming out of HS, but they already possess the necessary physical tools to be successful at the DI level. All they need to do is harness and polish those skills. The GPA’s of most of the junior college athletes are lower than those attending 4 year schools, suggesting that these athletes need to two years to mature academically as well.  



Preferred Grades for All Divisions:
3.0 GPA +24 ACT + 1000 SAT (out of 1600)
(No scores needed for underclassmen) 

In order to compile these Recruiting Guidelines, NCSA tracked hundreds of former NCSA student-athletes who have gone on to compete at the collegiate level, polled college coaches across the nation, and analyzed college rosters at all levels of competition. 

Baseball by the Numbers

In 2014 - Schools Offering Baseball (scholarshipstats.com/baseball.html)
NCAA Division I 300
NCAA Division II 264
NCAA Division III 380
NAIA 183
Junior College 386
Total 1,667

Athletic Scholarship Opportunities
Division I (per school) 11.7
Division II (per school) 9
Division III (per school) 0
NAIA (per school) 12
NJCAA (*varies per school) 24

Academic Scholarships Opportunities can be added based on the school.

1,667 schools sponsored varsity College Baseball teams during 2014:
Average Athletic Scholarship
NCAA Division I - $13,986
NCAA Division II - $7,112
NCAA Division III - $ -
NAIA 183 - $6,946
Junior College - $2,768

"The Series" Competition in Detail

Introducing The Series - the game within the game for individual players.  The Series is broken down into three categories - The Combine, The Challenge and The Classic.  Each provides a unique experience for the individual player.  Players are evaluated on their skills with the best players advancing to compete at the next level.  The Series provides tools for players to learn more about the game, techniques and skills that they can use to improve their game.  Read more about the creators of The Series at http://www.theseries.com/Home/AboutUs

The Combine (Your Rating) $199 - For the Summer of 2015, The Combines will not take place but they will begin in the Fall of 2015 as the full competition begins.  The Combine portion of the competition establishes your rating during one day events.  Your results compare you against players from around the country.  The Leaderboard will display on www.theseries.com/Home/Leaderboard the player rankings in each of the categories.  Players will be evaluated in seven categories.

Position Players: Athleticism Arm Strength Hitting Arm Accuracy Power Fielding Throwing

Pitchers: Athleticism Fastball Velocity Fastball Command Fastball Life Secondary Pitch Velocity and Control Secondary Pitch Command Delivery Mechanics

Evaluations will be formulated by a network of elite baseball coaches and scouts who evaluate talent on a daily basis. Based on performance at The Combine, select players at each age group will be invited to compete in territorial two to three day round robin events  – The Challenge.

The Challenge (Your Rise) $299 - Beginning in the Summer of 2015, players are able to participate in The Challenge directly without going through The Combine event.  180 players from each age group are placed on teams to play in 3 games over two to three days.  The players are again evaluated in game play situations.  The top players will move on to – The Classic.

The Classic (Your Reward) Free for Players Selected - In 2015, 56 teams in each age group will be formed to participate in The Classic.  "Teams of 18-22 players in each age group from each territory will compete over eight days in Ft. Myers, Florida in a true baseball festival atmosphere.  All teams -US and International - will compete until a champion is crowned at each age level.  This is the culmination of your ultimate baseball journey."  www.theseries.com

To learn more visit www.theseries.com.   

To register visit 
https://theseries.com/Home/UpcomingEvents#oid=1083_1

Travel Ball Expectations and Scholarships

As we quickly approach the start of another travel ball season, it is a perfect time to offer some food for thought on the expectations for not only this season but overall travel ball expectations.  Simplify your thoughts down to your team and your son or daughter.  What is it that you hope they take away from this season? Or what is the end result of their travel ball career?  Are sports about life lessons or is travel ball about athletic scholarships?  Yes to both?  Yes and Maybe? Yes and No?

Yep, it crosses every parents mind at some point!  It would be nice to get part or even better ALL of college paid for through athletics.  Your mind races a little just thinking about that possibility.  Let's back up a second.

Parents have different perspectives to these questions and rightfully so.  We all have diverse upbringings.  We come from various parts of the country, unique environments to our home lives, and a multitude of athletic experiences.  We all have different expectations. 

ex·pec·ta·tion (noun)

a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future.

1. a belief that someone will or should achieve something.

Reference -Google definitions

Consider having a single set of expectations for this season and every season to follow.

What if you approach travel ball with the mindset that

• my son or daughter plays travel ball in the summer because they enjoy the game, they want an experience that varies from the local league, they need a more challenging baseball or softball experience, and they want to learn more about the game

• the entire family is a part of the experience and no matter what the game results are, we are still a family with a goal to have an enjoyable time together. "We enjoyed watching you play."

• if we focus on always providing the best learning and training experience for my son or daughter, the opportunities will come.  If the skill and hard work are in the heart of the player's make-up, maybe even someday that opportunity will be an athletic scholarship.

"Success is where preparation and opportunity meet." 

- Bobby Unser (3 time winner of Indianapolis 500)

So what should you expect?  There are going to be good game and bad games.  Things won't always go the way you want.  Your son or daughter will fail from time to time.  They will show up every game and be a contributing member of the team.  They will listen to instruction and apply what they learn to the best of their ability.  They will grind through season after season because that's what successful people do.  If they have prepared and improved their physical and mental skills each year, opportunities will present themselves.  There might not be athletic scholarships but there will be opportunities to be successful at anything they do because they have spent years training and being encouraged to do so.

Best of luck!