OnDeck has been in the business of helping high school softball players play in Universities and Colleges around the country for over 25 years. This is our story.

The Facts:

  • Created in the summer of 2002, the West Coast Softball All-Star Report, a college based recruiting report modeled after the reports used in Men’s basketball.
  • Launched in September of 2004 in Seattle, Washington, the first true Invitation-Only Evaluation camp for coaches and players; the Northwest Futures Camp would serve as the blueprint for all Future Elite Camps.
  • Introduced in October of 2005, the first National Elite Futures Camp, a showcase concept that featured 44 of the brightest young stars in the game.
  • Named by Rivals.com, one of the Top Ten Most Influential People in the sport of softball.
  • Served as consultants for four Division 1 college athletic programs in their search for a Head Coach.
  • Changed in February of 2008 the name to OnDeck Softball Inc, and unveiled the OnDeck Softball website, a novel on-line idea looking to connect college coaches with outstanding athletes.
  • Serve as consultants for annual Under Armour All-American game and Gatorade Player(s) of the Year
  • Produced in summer of 2010, the OnDeck Softball Jamboree, a showcase idea that features some of the best young players in a Region in a unique and exciting workout/play combination.
  • Created OnDeck Measurements (ODM) in the Fall of 2011 - the first Standardized Measurements in Softball Recruiting.
  • Expanded to other areas of the country in the Summer and Fall of 2012 - Chicago and Birmingham.
  • In the Fall of 2012, established the first OnDeck Tryouts that were held in NorCal and Phoenix.
  • In the Winter of 2013, launched the first series of 10 OnDeck Tryouts that will cover the country and give many players the opportunity to play their way into an Elite OnDeck Recruiting Event.
  • In March of 2013, OnDeck launched the first ever College Recruiting Trail - an innovative series of events that will help maximize the time and energies of the college recruiter.

 

The Story:

In a desire to give back to the game that had been so good to the entire Allister family, Joann and Derek Allister created the West Coast Softball All-Star Report in 2002.  The concept was based upon the Men’s basketball recruiting services that Derek utilized in his 17 years as a Division 1 basketball coach.  Drawing from her background as a Division 1 softball coach, Joann took the basketball model and blended it with the needs of the softball coach to come up with the foundation of the Allister’s endeavors, The Allister Report.

Added to The Allister Report and at the request of the college coaching world were the Elite Future Camps, an idea that came to fruition in 2004.  These unique events allow players to workout and play in front of scores of college coaches.  The typical OnDeck Softball event plays out in front of 60+ college coaches who come to evaluate the small group of players Joann and Derek personally evaluate and subsequently invite.  These camps have launched the collegiate careers of many players across the country and have led to invitations to elite softball all-star games and National Team opportunities

In an effort to appeal to an even greater range of college programs, the OnDeck Softball website and the Jamborees were created to showcase an ever increasing number of players of all levels.  The website allows college coaches and prospective players to connect.  The Jamborees allows the player to showcase her talent in front of a large array of collegiate programs and allows the college coach to evaluate a large number of high level players in a single day.  As of today, Joann and Derek have helped over a thousand players find their dream schools at various Junior College, NAIA, Division II and Division I programs.

This year, in response to the overwhelming number of requests to see and evaluate an ever increasing number of players across the country, the Allisters created the OnDeck Tryout - a totally open, first come - first served, event that allows any player who so desires the opportunity to play her way into an Elite Recruiting Event.  These OnDeck Tryouts cover the country and feature a structured workout and ODM Testing for each athlete.  The tryouts have been incredibly successful for players, and a great number have already "tried out, been invited to an Elite Event, and subsequently committed to" the school of their dreams.  Also launched this year was the Recruiting Trail, a unique series of events designed to help the college coaches maximize their time and effort when they recruit.  The Recruiting Trail is already the talk of many in the college game and will surely become a high priority for the college coaching community.

OnDeck Softball will continue to be the innovative leaders in College Softball Recruiting in the years to come, and we look forward to finding additional creative ways to make a mark in the recruiting world.