PG 🥎 Scout//Sports Enthusiast//Boy Mom
Joined January 2023
- Tweets491
- Following778
- Followers858
- Likes1.4K
Ashley Mears PG Scout retweeted
🚨 RECRUITING REMINDER: KNOW THE CALENDAR BEFORE YOU EMAIL COACHES 🥎
A college coach recently shared this because they are receiving a lot of emails from athletes asking them to “come watch me play” in September—during a time when NCAA Division I softball coaches may be restricted from evaluating athletes at certain competitions.
This is such an important reminder:
Before you send your schedule to a college coach, know what they are actually allowed to do.
The recruiting calendar includes different periods throughout the year—contact periods, evaluation periods, quiet periods, dead periods, and recruiting shutdowns. Those periods can impact when and where a coach is permitted to evaluate recruits.
That doesn’t mean you should stop communicating!
You can still:
🥎 Send updates and new video
🥎 Share your fall schedule
🥎 Keep building relationships
🥎 Ask about upcoming camps
🥎 Tell coaches where you’ll be playing in October/November
🥎 Stay consistent and professional
But instead of automatically writing “Come watch me play!”, understand the calendar first.
Recruiting isn’t just about getting your name in front of coaches. It’s about showing them that you understand the process, too.
Athletes and parents: learn the recruiting calendar for the division you’re targeting. Small details like this can make your communication more intentional.
— Coach Jennifer Turner
🤖 Made with AI
Ashley Mears PG Scout retweeted
Sharing as we get a lot of emails requesting to “come watch us play” on dates in September. Which we cannot do. We assume travel organizations educate this fact but based on volume of emails we have some doubt. Best of luck and maybe we will see you in Oct or Nov !
Ashley Mears PG Scout retweeted
Sep 1st Week 1 is over! Now what?
👇👇👇
Some 2028 SB athletes received calls in Week 1, completed/scheduled visits, & maybe even committed. That's what you see on social media. If you are one of these athletes, congratulations on a strong start of the Sept 1st phase of your recruiting journey!
But, MANY athletes have had none of the above happen for them YET!
So, what to do in Sep 1st Week 2? The 5 R’s!
1) RECOGNIZE the above happened for a small number of 2028 SB athletes! Of the 10,000 or so annual college softball opportunities, I would guess that 9,500 of them are still available after Week 1!
2) REALIZE if the above has not YET happened for you, you are in the majority!
3) RESIST the temptation to compare yourself to others and experience FOMO!
4) RECOMMIT to your development and to your recruiting plan!
5) REQUEST information/feedback from the college softball programs you are interested in, directly and via your club coach/recruiting coordinator:
-> Are you still looking for a <position> in your 2028 class?
-> Where do I rank on your recruiting board for your 2028 <position> position?
-> What would you want to see from me to consider moving me up your board?
-> Is there enough interest for you to come out and see me perform this fall?
-> Is there enough interest where it would be worth your time and mine for me to come and perform at an upcoming camp? If so, which one(s)?
Step 5 will give you info to more realistically know, not guess or hope, where you stand with the college softball programs you are interested in so you can best channel your focus, time, and money to produce results!
Remember, this is still the very beginning of the Sep 1st phase of your recruiting journey! Stay patient and persistent and it will pay off!
REPOST this if you think it may help someone else! DM me if you have any recruiting questions! Good luck!
Ashley Mears PG Scout retweeted
VERBALLY COMMITTED? 🥎 Before you celebrate, make sure you know what you’re actually committing to.
A verbal commitment is exciting. It’s a HUGE moment.
But excitement shouldn’t replace clarity.
Before you say “I’m committed,” make sure you can answer:
🥎 Is my roster spot secure?
💰 What scholarship or financial aid has actually been discussed?
🎓 Are there academic or admissions requirements I still need to meet?
🔄 What happens if the coaching staff changes?
📝 When will I receive something in writing?
➡️ What happens between my verbal commitment and actually enrolling?
Don’t be afraid to ask the uncomfortable questions.
You aren’t being difficult.
You aren’t questioning the coach.
You’re making sure you understand one of the biggest decisions of your recruiting journey.
Celebrate the commitment. ❤️
But also understand the details.
ASK THE QUESTIONS. KNOW THE TIMELINE. KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOU STAND.
— Coach Jennifer Turner 🥎
🤖 Made with AI
Ashley Mears PG Scout retweeted
& I can’t stress this enough... 🚩Posting photos after camp without ever sending a personal email? Not the move. I’m gonna keep it real with you… it gives the impression that you’re more concerned with showing off than showing interest... & I know that’s not how you truly feel, so here’s some advice to help you send the right message and continue building relationships…
1- send the email
2- then post the photos
Personal communication leads to relationships.
A post can lead to visibility, but doesn’t help build connection with the staff.
PS- This is not meant to discourage you from posting. Please keep doing that! This is meant to show the difference between visibility & showing genuine interest. 💪
🥎 Annual Reminder 🥎
Parents/Grandparents please stop sitting around the back stop when your daughter is playing in showcases. I was at a field today, I couldn’t get to the fence to get video and 3 college coaches couldn’t get to the fence to even get the recruiting sheet.
Ashley Mears PG Scout retweeted
🥎 TALENT GETS YOU NOTICED. COMMUNICATION KEEPS YOU RECRUITABLE.
One of the most overlooked parts of the college softball recruiting process isn’t talent — it’s communication.
You can have the stats, the skills, and the video… but coaches still need to know who you are, where you stand, and whether you’re genuinely interested.
Communication can look like:
📩 After a coach watches you:
“Coach, thank you for taking the time to watch me play this weekend. I’d love to hear your feedback and learn more about where I may fit within your recruiting class.”
📱 When a school is high on your list:
“Coach, I wanted you to know your program continues to be one of my top choices. I’m very interested in continuing the conversation.”
🥎 After attending a camp:
“Thank you for the opportunity to compete at camp. I really enjoyed learning more about your program and would love to know what you see as the next step.”
⏰ When you have another offer or deadline:
“I wanted to be transparent that I have another opportunity with a decision timeline. Before making that decision, I wanted to understand where I currently stand with your program.”
❤️ When a school is no longer the right fit:
“Thank you for the time you’ve invested in getting to know me. After careful consideration, I’ve decided to move in another direction, but I truly appreciate the opportunity.”
Don’t make coaches guess.
You don’t have to have the perfect words.
You DO have to communicate.
Because recruiting is about more than being a great softball player.
It’s about building relationships.
— Coach Jennifer Turner
🤖 Made with AI
Ashley Mears PG Scout retweeted
🚨 RECRUITS: STOP TRYING TO SAY THE “RIGHT” THING. START ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.
A conversation with a college coach isn’t an interview where only YOU are being evaluated.
You’re evaluating them, too.
🥎 How will I fit into your roster?
📚 Can I realistically manage my major with softball?
🏋️ What does a typical week look like?
💰 What will this actually cost my family?
🗣️ How would your current players describe your coaching style?
❤️ What happens when a player is struggling or not playing?
Don’t choose a school because you loved the facilities, the uniform, or the division next to its name.
Ask enough questions to understand what your LIFE will actually look like there.
You’re not just choosing a softball program.
You’re choosing your home, your education, your coaches, your teammates, and your future.
ASK. THE. QUESTIONS. 👏🥎
— Coach Jennifer Turner
🤖 Made with AI
Edgewood over Exira for the 2nd Upset of the day!!! Iowa Girls High School state tournament is getting interesting!
Upset #1 of the day! Cardinal takes down a tough Grandview Christian! Great game by @MaclainHickenb!
This is one of the most exciting times of the year! Excited to see how next week plays out! @IGHSAU
Ashley Mears PG Scout retweeted
Chaos in Class 2A 🥎
5 out of the top 7 teams in the final rankings do not advance out of the regional bracket.
Ashley Mears PG Scout retweeted
🚨 A COLLEGE COACH SAID THEY’RE COMING TO WATCH YOU PLAY… NOW WHAT?
First—don’t let that message become pressure.
Too many athletes think:
❌ “I have to hit a home run.”
❌ “I can’t make a mistake.”
❌ “This is my only chance.”
That’s not what coaches are looking for.
They’re evaluating who you are every single pitch.
They’re watching:
🥎 Your effort
🥎 Your body language
🥎 How you communicate with teammates
🥎 How you respond after an error
🥎 Your coachability
🥎 How you compete when things don’t go your way
When a coach says they’re coming to watch, your response should be simple:
“Thank you, Coach! I appreciate you taking the time to come watch me compete. I’ll send my schedule in case anything changes. Looking forward to seeing you this weekend!”
Then stop worrying about impressing them.
Go compete.
The athletes who stand out aren’t always the ones with the biggest stats—they’re the ones who consistently show coaches the type of player and teammate they’ll want in their program.
Trust your preparation. Play your game. Let your character speak just as loudly as your talent. 🥎
🤖 Made with AI
Ashley Mears PG Scout retweeted
ACTION ITEM FOR EVERY RECRUIT 🚨
Take 10 minutes today and look at your target school list.
Ask yourself:
❓ How many Division I schools are on it?
❓ How many Division II schools are on it?
❓ How many Division III schools are on it?
❓ How many NAIA schools are on it?
❓ How many JUCO schools are on it?
If your list is heavily weighted toward only one division, it’s time to expand it.
This week:
✅ Add 5 new schools from a different division
✅ Research their programs
✅ Follow their coaching staff on social media
✅ Send an introductory email
✅ Add them to your outreach plan
Recruiting is constantly changing.
Coaches leave.
Players transfer.
Roster needs change.
The athletes who create the most opportunities are the athletes building relationships before they need them.
Don’t limit your options.
Build connections across all divisions and let the recruiting process work for you.
🥎 Your next opportunity may come from a school you haven’t considered yet.
🤖 Made with AI
A lot of familiar faces here! I wouldn’t want to come up against this lineup either!
It’s a bad day to be a softball whenever Ankeny Centennial is around.
4️⃣6️⃣ home runs in their first 18 games
@GopherSoftball commit Jordyn Kennedy is 🔟 away from Iowa’s career home run record 🤯
@KCCINews @ACHSJagSB
Ashley Mears PG Scout retweeted
It’s a bad day to be a softball whenever Ankeny Centennial is around.
4️⃣6️⃣ home runs in their first 18 games
@GopherSoftball commit Jordyn Kennedy is 🔟 away from Iowa’s career home run record 🤯
@KCCINews @ACHSJagSB
Ashley Mears PG Scout retweeted
🎓 Choosing a College? Start With Your Values.
One of the biggest mistakes I see athletes make during the recruiting process is chasing a logo, ranking, or division before they identify what truly matters to them.
The right school isn’t always the biggest name.
It’s the place where you can thrive academically, athletically, and personally.
Before you make a commitment, ask yourself:
✅ Does this school support my future career goals?
✅ Do I trust the coaching staff?
✅ Can I see myself fitting into the team culture?
✅ Is there a realistic opportunity to compete?
✅ Does the campus feel like a place I can call home?
✅ Is it a financial fit for my family?
When your recruiting decisions are guided by your values, the process becomes clearer, less stressful, and much more intentional.
Your values are your recruiting compass.
They help you find the right fit—not just the most popular option.
🤖 Made with AI
Ashley Mears PG Scout retweeted
🚨 If A Coach Hasn’t Responded To Your Email Yet… Read This 🚨
Most athletes make one of two mistakes:
❌ They email a coach once and never follow up.
OR
❌ They email every few days hoping for a response.
Neither strategy works.
Here’s what college coaches actually want:
✅ Consistent communication
✅ Meaningful updates
✅ Athletes who show genuine interest
Recruiting isn’t about getting an immediate response.
It’s about staying on a coach’s radar long enough for an opportunity to open.
A coach may not need your position today.
They may need it next month.
They may need it after a decommitment.
They may need it after seeing you play one more time.
That’s why the athletes who stay visible are often the athletes who get recruited.
📈 Recruiting interest is built over time—not in a single email.
Send updates every 2–3 weeks.
Share new video.
Share updated stats.
Share tournament schedules.
Share accomplishments.
Keep showing up.
The athlete who communicates professionally and consistently is much harder to forget than the athlete who disappears.
Recruiting is a marathon, not a sprint.
Stay visible.
Stay proactive.
Stay in the conversation.
— Coach Jennifer Turner 🥎