MyNextPlay's 9th Grade Timeline for college planning and softball recruiting

The MyNextPlay 9th Grade Timeline is a free tool you can use to help guide you through the college planning and college softball recruiting processes.

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For each semester and summer during your freshman year in high school, the MyNextPlay 9th Grade Timeline lays out the things you should be working on and paying attention to during your journey from high school to college – and finding your spot on a college softball roster.

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In addition to using this MyNextPlay 9th Grade Timeline, you’ll want to create your own copy of the MyNextPlay Tracker – a Google Workspace or Microsoft OneDrive workbook that you can use to track all the information you’ll need as you move through your college planning and college softball recruiting process. (Note: You can also check-out the complete MyNextPlay Timeline that covers all four years of high school).

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Let’s dive into the MyNextPlay 9th Grade Timeline so you can get started!

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9th Grade Timeline

Reminder: Check-out MyNextPlay's College Softball Recruiting Guide, and set up your personal version of the MyNextPlay Tracker.

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FALL SEMESTER 9th GRADE

Academic to-dos:

❑ Register for the NCAA’s required “core” courses at your high school (most of which need to be completed before senior year; don’t wait!). You can use the MyNextPlay Tracker to make sure you are taking all courses you need to in order to be eligible to play in college.

❑ Meet with your high school coach and high school counselor regularly to check in on your academics. Ask them about the academic requirements of “high”   academic colleges and universities so you can consider taking these courses as you move through high school.

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❑ If you need academic support, talk to your counselor or advisor, and your parents about getting the help you need. Consider tutoring resources provided by your school.

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Athletic to-dos:

❑ Play a fall sport if you can. Playing a fall sport as a 9th grader is a great way to make new friends as you’re starting high school.

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❑ If you’re not playing a fall sport, be sure to connect with your high school coach about fall softball workouts and developing a training program to get ready for your winter sport and/or for your upcoming high school softball season.

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College planning and softball recruiting process to-dos:

❑ Stay focused on the academic and athletic items above. Starting 9th grade is a big adjustment, and you’ll have plenty of time in the coming semesters to start working on the college planning and softball recruiting process.

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SPRING SEMESTER 9th GRADE

Academic to-dos:

❑ Keep working hard on your classes. Remember, the better you do on your grades, the more college options you’ll be able to consider in the future. Take a read of “What are the academic requirements to play college softball?”

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❑ Keep developing your study habits, and work on your time management skills since you’ll be spending a lot of time on the field during softball season.

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❑ Meet with your high school coach and high school counselor regularly to check in on your academics.

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❑ If you need academic support, talk to your counselor or advisor, and your parents about getting the help you need. Consider tutoring resources provided by your school.

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Athletic to-dos:

❑ If you’re playing a winter sport, finish strong. If you’re not playing a winter sport, the beginning of January is the start of your high school softball season, so get ready.

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❑ 100% of your focus should be on working hard every day in practice and in games, and learning as much as you can from your coaches along the way.

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❑ If you can, get a first assessment of your softball core metrics as a position player and/or a pitcher. See what these metrics are by reviewing MyNextPlay’s “What are the athletic requirements to play college softball?”

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❑ Develop and commit to your training program to improve your strength, speed, agility, and quickness (SSAQ), as well as your hitting, fielding, and arm strength. Your high school coach will be able to help you develop a plan.

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College planning and softball recruiting process to-dos:

❑ Work with your high school coach and your parents to find a good summer softball team to play on during the coming summer. Whether you play travel ball or not, try to get on a team that plays in a few tournaments where you’ll have the opportunity to face tougher competition and get some early exposure to college coaches who attend some of these tournaments.

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❑ Check out if there’s any local college softball camp that you can attend - these are good opportunities to learn from some different coaches and to get another assessment of where you are as a player.

❑ If you have any courses to make up or you just want to add to your transcript, consider summer school or taking an online class. Otherwise, find a part time job that you can do during the day that will allow you to play as much summer softball as you can. 

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SUMMER BEFORE 10th GRADE

Academic to-dos:

❑ Review your 10th grade fall semester schedule and make sure it aligns with the NCAA’s required “core” courses for being a college student-athlete. If you need to make any changes to your class schedule, reach out to your high school counselor to find out how to make these updates.

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Athletic to-dos:

❑ Have fun playing on your summer team – keep learning and developing your softball skills.

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College planning and softball recruiting process to-dos:

❑ If you get a chance to meet any college coaches at summer tournaments or at a camp, take the opportunity to ask them what they look for in players they recruit. Note their answers in your MyNextPlay Tracker!