Softball Evaluations

The player evaluations for the Paramount Scouting Bureau Softball Showcases are on a 20-70 college scale as explained below. The scouts rating the players are experienced in evaluating talent. Many have college playing or coaching experience and have trained or scouted players for the collegiate level. We do not hire local college or high school coaches as evaluators on a one-time basis. Many of our scouts evaluate several showcases, which helps to create consistency when comparing players.

HOW YOU ARE RATED

Player evaluations are skill specific; therefore, you may be rated as a D1 player as a catcher, but your running or hitting may only be at the D3 level. Scouts are rating you as they see you at the showcase that you attend. The ratings are your current ability and not projections. Therefore, a sophomore pitcher with a 35 rating is more of a prospect than a senior with a 38. The scouts base their ratings on how you compare to a present D1 players. If you have skills that make you capable of starting at a top-rated D1 program, your ratings will be above 50. If your talents are comparable to a very good high school player, your rating is going to be in the 20’s and 30’s. This is not to say that a player rating in the 30’s cannot go D1. Again, the ratings are used as a basis for a coach to decide where you might fit into his program. Not every D1 program is at the level of Arizona State. Many are in need of players to fill particular roles and are looking to improve upon what they have at the current time. An athlete with a 35 might be the perfect person for that role. There are several players right now in D1 who in some part of their game could only rate a 40. They just happen to have a particular skill that a team needed at the time that they were available to that organization.

OTHER FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT A COACH'S INTEREST IN YOU

Other factors come into play when a coach or scout is making a decision on you. A player’s attitude, current needs of the college, academic standing, and other factors impact your value as a prospect. As scouts, we often discuss how a player stands out because of his good, or bad, attitude. Coaches evaluate attitude on things as simple as how you wear your uniform or hat, how you talk to your parents, do you hustle when it is your turn, or if you back up plays. Over the years, I have helped athletes get college scholarship who were considered undersized or not a skilled as other players, because I was impressed with their attitude and their commitment and desire to play the game at the next level. Coaches may not watch you perform if they are not impressed with your attitude. Also, many colleges recruit grades first, then talent. A player may rate a 60, but he does not have the grades necessary for the coach to recruit the player to his college. This player now becomes a juco prospect. Another player may be a 40 with a high GPA and test scores. This may jump him to the top of some recruiting lists because the coach is limited on the number of talented players with the academics required at his college.

INTANGIBLES

There are also intangibles that come into play. Some of the more common intangibles include instincts, composure, hustle, and aggressiveness. Coaches will also check into your work habits in practice and off the field, maturity, desire and dedication. Your respect for the game is also important.

RATING SCALE

70 - Top Division l player. A 70 is someone who could right now start for a top D1 school (Arizona State, UCLA, South Carolina, etc). 60 - Average Division l player. Could start as a freshman at some D1 programs 50 – Below average Division l player/above average D II player. A 50 might get some D1 playing time, or even start at a lower level D1 program. She would be a solid player at a D2 program. 40 – Mid-range D2 player. If she has good grades, a 40 could be a standout at a higher academic institution. 30 - Above average high school/possible small college/D3/juco. Once again, a 30 with good grades could be a standout at a higher academic institution. Playing at a junior college could be an option to continue to develop your skills an increase interest among more competitive softball programs. 20 – Average high school player. Not a college prospect at this time; however, good grades could be a factor in drawing interest and receiving grants at the D3 level.