College Softball Recruiting SPF: Get the Right Exposure to Find Your Perfect College Fit (NJ Focus)

By Jess Jacobson, Director of Recruiting | NJ Thunder & The Fieldhouse

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If you're serious about playing softball in college, summer isn't the offseason — it's your launchpad for effective college softball recruiting. When you’re out there in the summer sun, you use the right sun protection formula for you, and you apply it regularly. Let’s apply that same strategic thinking when it comes to being exposed to colleges and college coaches, ensuring you get seen in the right way.

I'm Jess Jacobson, Director of Recruiting at NJ Thunder and The Fieldhouse in New Jersey, and I’ve worked with hundreds of athletes chasing their college dreams. The ones who find the right school (not just any school) all have one thing in common: they use their summer with purpose to gain meaningful softball exposure.

Here’s how you can, too, and how our upcoming New Jersey softball clinics can help.

1. Treat Summer Like Preseason — Because It Is for College Recruiting

College coaches aren’t just watching your stats. They’re evaluating your potential as a collegiate athlete:

• How coachable you are

• How you handle pressure in game-like situations

• How you demonstrate growth and learning over time

• Your adversity tolerance and mental toughness

Start with intentional reps. That means hitting with feedback, not just mindless swings. Pitching with a notebook to track progress and insights. Conditioning your mind with the same dedication you give your arm. This is how you start getting recruited for softball.

2. Use Your "Correct SPF": Seek Quality Exposure, Not Just Quantity

Not all softball exposure is created equal. Just like sunscreen, the wrong kind can be ineffective or even counterproductive. You should be looking for exposure that comes with genuine growth and opportunities to connect.

That’s why we run the Best Four College Exposure Clinics at The Fieldhouse in New Jersey. We offer various opportunities, including our comprehensive Best 4 College Exposure Softball Clinic and specialized sessions like our Best 4 College Exposure Clinic for Pitchers & Catchers (or specific focus). We're dedicated to combining real, high-level instruction with direct access to college coaches. You’ll walk away from our softball exposure camps with:

• Meaningful interactions and direct feedback from college coaches.

• Instruction not just on skills, but on crucial aspects of being a college athlete, like on-field decision-making and performing under pressure.

• Guided conversations to help you clarify what YOU want in a college experience, not what others expect.

• A competitive edge when you attend other showcases or tournaments.

Our Next General Exposure Clinic: Friday, June 6, 2025 Register for the June 6th NJ College Exposure Softball Clinic Here

3. Use a Notebook — Not Just a Highlight Reel: Show You're a Student of the Game

College coaches are recruiting thinkers, not just athletes. Are you actively growing your softball IQ? Understanding the nuances of the game is crucial for how to impress college softball coaches.

At our clinics, we provide notebooks to every player. Why? Because what you write down, you retain. The best athletes are dedicated students of the game — summer is your prime classroom for this.

4. Get to Know Yourself and Connect with Others: Key to Finding the Right Fit

Every time you step into a softball space—be it a practice, a game, or a softball clinic—you have an opportunity to: 1) Learn, 2) Gain insights, or 3) Get better. Take this to heart. Use these opportunities to ask yourself, and the trusted adults in your life, the hard but important

questions:

• What kind of teammates do I want to be around daily for four years?

• What unique skills and strengths do I bring to the field, and what kind of softball program does that best fit into?

• Does this particular coach possess the on-field skills, teaching ability, and knowledge to help ME develop further?

• Am I willing to be open to this coach's instruction and guidance, especially when things get challenging?

Recruiting Tip: Ask thoughtful questions. College coaches appreciate curious and engaged players. This is valuable advice for college softball prospects.

Final Word: The Right Four Years Start with the Right Summer Strategy

The right school, the right academic and athletic level, and ultimately the right college experience, are built in seasons like this one. Your summer efforts in college softball recruiting can define your future.

Choose your opportunities wisely. Learn daily. And go where you’re truly coached and developed, not just seen. Explore all our Fieldhouse College Exposure Clinic options to find the best fit for your development.

—Jess Jacobson Director of Recruiting NJ Thunder | The Fieldhouse

Considering playing for a competitive travel team? Learn more about NJ Thunder tryouts here.