The MyNextPlay Timeline is a free tool you can use to help guide you through the college planning and college softball recruiting processes. For each semester and summer during high school, the MyNextPlay 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 baseball roster.
In addition to the MyNextPlay 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.
Let’s dive into the MyNextPlay Timeline so you can get started!
Your MyNextPlay Timeline
Below is a complete semester-by-semester timeline of the different things you will want to be doing as you move through high school on your path to playing college softball. Click the grade-level links below, or in the table of contents, to jump to your grade.
9th Grade Timeline
Reminder: Check-out MyNextPlay's College Softball Recruiting Guide, and set up your personal version of the MyNextPlay Tracker.
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.
❑ 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.
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.
❑ 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.
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.
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?”
❑ 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.
❑ Meet with your high school coach and high school counselor regularly to check in on your academics.
❑ 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.
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.
❑ 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.
❑ 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?”
❑ 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.
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.
❑ 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.
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.
Athletic to-dos:
❑ Have fun playing on your summer team – keep learning and developing your softball skills.
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!
10th Grade Timeline
Reminder: Check-out MyNextPlay's College Softball Recruiting Guide, and set up your personal version of the MyNextPlay Tracker.
FALL SEMESTER 10th GRADE
Academic to-dos:
❑ 10th grade is the first year that colleges really evaluate the grades you earn in your “core” courses, so make sure your schedule is set and that you keep developing your study habits as your high school classes get more challenging. 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. If you’re considering high academic colleges make sure you’re on the path to take upper level electives, honors and AP courses your junior and senior year.
❑ 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.
❑ Check in with your high school counselor about potentially taking the PSAT or PreACT at the end of fall semester or in the spring. Taking one of these exams will give you an early read on where you’ll want to focus study preparation for taking the SAT or ACT in the spring of your junior year.
Athletic to-dos:
❑ Consider attending a softball recruiting event that’s easy to get to from where you live. This will be a great experience and will give you an opportunity to receive an assessment and evaluation of your core softball skills and tools. Talk with your high school coach if you need help picking an event to attend. MyNextPlay might be able to provide financial assistance; apply here.
❑ Read MyNextPlay’s “What are the athletic requirements to play college softball?” article to see what skills coaches look for in players at each of the different college levels.
❑ Meet with your high school coach and your summer coach to discuss where they see you potentially fitting as a college softball player, and get their feedback on what areas you should focus on as part of your training and development.
❑ 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.
College planning and softball recruiting process to-dos:
❑ This fall is a good time to begin researching and learning about different colleges where you might be interested in attending and potentially playing softball. Schedule time with your high school coach to walk through the types of schools that are the best options for you both academically and athletically.
❑ Check out MyNextPlay's College Softball Recruiting Guide, and use the MyNextPlay Tracker to start developing an initial list of colleges where you may be interested in attending and playing college softball.
SPRING SEMESTER 10th GRADE
Academic to-dos:
❑ Keep up the hard work in the classroom. Stay on top of your time management now that you’ll be busy every day with softball practice and games.
❑ Check in with your high school counselor about potentially taking the PSAT or PreACT if you didn’t take it in the fall. Taking one of these exams will give you an early read on where you’ll want to focus study preparation for taking the SAT or ACT in the spring of your junior year.
❑ Meet with your high school coach and high school counselor regularly to check in on your academics. If you're targeting high academic colleges, make sure you’re on the path to take upper level electives, honors and AP courses your junior and senior year.
❑ 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.
Athletic to-dos:
❑ Focus on softball season! Stay healthy both physically and mentally through the grind. As a 10th grader you may be getting your first experience on varsity, and either way, the season is tough, especially as you get into late April and May.
❑ Meet with your high school coach at season’s end to discuss where they see you potentially fitting as a college softball player, and to get their feedback on what areas you should focus on as part of your training and development.
❑ 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.
❑ 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.
College planning and softball recruiting process to-dos:
❑ Consider attending a recruiting assessment event or a recruiting showcase camp event during the coming summer if you can fit them into your playing schedule. Attending one or two of these events will provide additional experience and exposure for you in front of college coaches, and will give you an update on where your softball skills stack up.
❑ Keep refining your college target list in the MyNextPlay Tracker.
❑ Follow up by email with any college coaches you meet at your summer softball tournaments or at recruiting events that you attend.
SUMMER BEFORE 11th GRADE
Academic to-dos:
❑ Review your 11th grade fall semester schedule and make sure it aligns with the academic requirements for being a 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.
Athletic to-dos:
❑ Have fun playing on your summer team, and enjoy the experience if you go to any recruiting showcase assessments or recruiting showcase camps. Be sure to update your MyNextPlay Tracker with any of the assessment and evaluation information that you get from attending a recruiting showcase event.
College planning and softball recruiting process to-dos:
❑ Before the end of summer, spend some time evaluating your target list of colleges, and take a look ahead to the 11th Grade fall semester for the list of items you’ll want to be pulling together soon.
11th Grade Timeline
Reminder: Check-out MyNextPlay's College Softball Recruiting Guide, and set up your personal version of the MyNextPlay Tracker.
FALL SEMESTER 11th GRADE
Academic to-dos:
❑ 11th grade is a big year – and it can be a very stressful year if you don’t take care of yourself! Study habits and time management will be more important than ever this year as you’re working to get good grades in upper level high school courses and preparing to take the ACT or SAT test during the spring semester. Be sure to sign up now to take the SAT or ACT in the spring.
❑ Meet with your high school coach and high school counselor regularly to check in on your academics, and make sure you’re on the path to take upper level electives, honors and AP courses this year and your senior year.
❑ 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.
Athletic to-dos:
❑ Consider attending a recruiting assessment event that’s easy to get to from where you live. Getting more experience in settings like this is always helpful, and attending an event like this will give you an opportunity to receive an assessment and evaluation of your core softball skills and tools. Talk with your high school coach if you need help picking an event to attend. MyNextPlay may be able to provide financial assistance; apply here.
❑ Read MyNextPlay’s article “What are the athletic requirements to play college softball?” to see what skill levels coaches look for in players at each of the different college levels.
❑ 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.
College planning and softball recruiting process to-dos:
❑ This fall is when you really want to focus on getting your target list of colleges pulled together. Having this list together will allow you to begin communicating with coaches to express your interest in being a student-athlete in their program.
❑ Fill out your “My Profile” tab in your MyNextPlay Tracker so you can start reaching out to coaches at the programs you’ve prioritized on the “My Colleges” tab in your Tracker. Your profile package should include your:
- High school transcript
- Recruiting video
- Softball core metrics and high school/summer season statistics
- Resume (can also be used in your college application)
- High school coach, travel ball coach, teacher, and counselor contact information so college coaches can reach out to these people for recommendations
❑ Communicate with college coaches directly. Share updates to your player profile package information anytime after:
- You’ve updated your list of target colleges / universities
- You’ve attended a recruiting event
- You’ve created any new information that college coaches would find valuable to know about
❑ College application process preparation:
- Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center
- Review academic requirements for NCAA, NAIA, and/or Junior College levels and update the “My Academics” tab in your Tracker to make sure you’re taking the courses you need to in order to be eligible at whatever college level you want to play.
SPRING SEMESTER 11th GRADE
Academic to-dos:
❑ Congratulations on getting through the fall of your junior year! Keep working on your time management knowing that you’ll be busy every day this semester with softball practice and games.
❑ Meet with your high school coach and high school counselor regularly to check in on your academics, and discuss whether it makes sense for you to retake the SAT or ACT a second time either this coming summer or in the fall of your senior year if you want to improve your test scores from your first test.
❑ 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.
Athletic to-dos:
❑ Focus on softball season. This is an important year for you at the varsity level! Stay healthy both physically and mentally through the grind of the season.
❑ Meet with your high school coach at season’s end to discuss where they see you potentially fitting as a college softball player, and to get their feedback on what areas you should focus on as part of your training and development.
❑ 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 more exposure to college coaches who attend some of these tournaments.
❑ 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.
College planning and softball recruiting process to-dos:
❑ This is definitely the summer you want to attend one or more recruiting showcase camp events, ideally picking those that will give you the opportunity to play in front of coaches from schools on the “My Colleges” tab of your Tracker.
❑ Keep refining your college target list, and plan to follow up with any college coaches you meet either at your summer softball tournaments or at recruiting events that you attend.
SUMMER BEFORE 12th GRADE
Academic to-dos:
❑ Review your 12th grade fall semester schedule and make sure it aligns with the academic requirements for being a 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.
❑ Decide whether you need to retake the SAT or ACT test this coming fall – if so, get it scheduled now.
Athletic to-dos:
❑ Have fun playing on your summer team, and enjoy the experience if you go to any recruiting showcases events. Be sure to update the “My Profile” tab in your Tracker with any of the assessment and evaluation information that you get from attending a recruiting event. You will want to include this new information in email updates you send to college coaches at the end of summer or the beginning of the new school year.
College planning and softball recruiting process to-dos:
❑ Your goal by the end of this summer is to really know the short list of colleges that are options for you when you start on your college application process during the coming fall.
❑ If you’re a Division I or II recruited prospect, you’ll likely have your list of target schools pretty well defined by this point. You may have college coaches actively recruiting you to come play for them – and this might include making official visits early in the fall semester and discussing potential athletic scholarship offers.
❑ If you’re looking at playing at a high academic college, you’ll want to be communicating actively early in – and throughout – the summer with coaches about where you fit on their potential list of “recruited athletes”. In addition, you’ll want to be ready to provide coaches with the academic information they request so they can submit it on your behalf to their admissions department as part of the “pre-read” process. (Take a read of this blog post that describes the pre-read process in more detail).
❑ If you’re considering non-high academic Division III, NAIA, or JuCo schools, you’re still driving the process by working to narrow down your target list of schools and communicating with the coaches at these programs to identify the best opportunities for you both as a college student and softball player.
❑ Before the end of summer, spend some time evaluating your target list of colleges, and take a look ahead to the 12th grade fall semester for the list of items you’ll want to be pulling together soon for the college application process.
12th Grade Timeline
Reminder: Check-out MyNextPlay's College Softball Recruiting Guide, and set up your personal version of the MyNextPlay Tracker.
FALL SEMESTER 12th GRADE
Academic to-dos:
❑ Stay focused on getting the best grades you can your senior year. Colleges evaluate your performance in the fall semester as part of your college application, and they will want to check in on how you’re doing in your spring semester. Bottom line: Don’t slack off!
❑ Meet with your high school coach and high school counselor regularly to make sure you’re on track with getting everything done in order to submit your college applications on time. This is true whether you’ll be applying to a single school as a recruited athlete, or to multiple schools.
❑ Sign up to take the SAT or ACT if you decide to retake either exam based on feedback you may have gotten from college coaches that improving your test scores might help your admissions profile at their school.
❑ 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.
Athletic to-dos:
❑ If you’re uncommitted at this point and you’re still looking to get in front of college coaches, consider attending a recruiting event in the early fall (like September). There are specific recruiting events that are set up specifically for uncommitted high school 12th graders. Talk with your high school coach if you need help picking an event to attend, or if you need financial assistance to attend a recruiting event MyNextPlay might be able to help; apply here.
❑ Read MyNextPlay’s article “What are the athletic requirements to play college softball” to see what skills coaches look for in players at each of the different college levels.
❑ Meet with your high school coach and your summer coach to discuss where you stand with the colleges you’ve prioritized on the “My Colleges” tab in your Tracker. Outreach to college programs from your high school and/or summer ball coach can be helpful while you’re in the process of picking your top choice (if you haven’t already).
College planning and softball recruiting process to-dos:
❑ A key part of deciding which colleges to apply to is deciding on your short list of target colleges. That might mean you’ve selected a single school that has told you that you’re a “recruited athlete” - either Division I, II, III or NAIA. Or for many seniors, you may still be talking to a number of schools and deciding where you want to apply.
❑ If you’re not committed to a single school, keep communicating with the college coaches and programs on your short list. This is a fluid process where you are trying to find your best fit, so keep reaching out to the schools you are most interested in attending to hear from the coaches where you stack up as a recruit within their programs.
❑ The most important milestone to complete this fall is submitting your college application or applications. Make sure you are coordinating with your high school counselor on all the requirements needed to complete your college applications. Here’s a start on these requirements:
- Begin with the Common Application to apply to colleges on your target list
- Identify and list the requirements beyond the Common App for each college on your target list - typically these will include additional essays beyond those in the Common Application, and perhaps other requirements like a resume that highlights your extracurricular activities
- Complete the Free Application For Financial Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Begin thinking about which teachers (at least 2) that you’ll ask to submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf
SPRING SEMESTER 12th GRADE
Academic to-dos:
❑ Make sure you complete any final college applications that have submission dates that fall in January of your senior year.
❑ Keep focused on your studies. Again, expect that the colleges you apply to will all want a mid-semester check in to confirm you’re still doing well academically. Now’s not the time for any “Senioritis”!
Athletic to-dos:
❑ Focus on your softball season. Make this a memorable final year in what is fast closing in on a great four years of high school! Stay healthy both physically and mentally through the grind of the season.
❑ Work with your softball coaches to find a good summer softball team to play on during the coming summer. You’ll want to play during the summer after you graduate high school so you can stay sharp and keep working on your game ahead of your fall semester as an incoming college first year.
❑ Commit to your training program to continue developing 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.
College planning and softball recruiting process to-dos:
❑ If you’re a recruited athlete and have applied to that college as a Division I, II, III or NAIA student, you will have either received early acceptance in December, or you’ll get your acceptance notification early during this semester. Congratulations!
❑ If you’re waiting to hear from multiple college applications and plan to decide on where you want to play after your acceptance letters are all in, be sure to stay in touch with all the college programs on your short list. Keep them posted on how your senior year softball season is going. Once you hear from colleges by early April, you’ll have until May 1st (more or less) to communicate your acceptance decision back to colleges.
SUMMER BEFORE YOUR FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE
Academic to-dos:
❑ Pay attention to the emails that come from your college – there will be a lot of important information about the freshman move-in and orientation process. Find out how the academic planning and advisory process works so you can start thinking about your class schedule for the fall.
Athletic to-dos:
❑ Have fun playing on your summer team, and enjoy some down time before you begin your college journey. Check in with your college coach on what pre-fall training program they might want you doing before you arrive on campus.
