Chris Bartels

@NJCAASoftball @CoachSheltonPJC @PJCSoftball Congrats Coach!!

🎟️👊 Dragons are going to Oxford~ Paris wins the Mid-South A District and will advance to the 2026 #NJCAASoftball DI World Series! njcaa.org/sports/sball/2…

Excited to be heading down to Lufkin today to umpire a Texas HS playoff game between Grandview HS and Orangefield HS. Combined records of 65-3. 1 game winner take all. One pitcher is a UT commit and #1 rated HS pitcher in the nation and combined both pitchers have nearly 600 K's for the season. Going to be fun!

4-19-2026 COACHING UPDATE Wanted to update you all. I expect to make an announcement on where I will land the first couple weeks of May for my next coaching/recruiting assignment. Lots of things to think about. It's a good reminder to myself of what PSA's are going thru in making a decision. Interviews, research, finding the right fit etc. I appreciate all the messages and support. As the spring season ends, Stay Strong in your Commitment, Discipline and Faith. 🥎💪🏻 Good things happen to those who work hard and believe! 🙌🏻🙌🏻

At some point a tough decision has to be made. The term "Grandfathered" is overused in college sports. To make this kick in and have an immediate effect, do not grandfather(this is highly unlikely) the current college players to get an extra year or it will turn into COVID 1.2. The most likely scenario is they do get grandfathered. This will make this a slow transition for the next 3-4 years. JUCOs will benefit.

If the NCAA adopts its age-based eligibility concept, will four-year seniors be grandfathered-in with an additional fifth season? It seems likely, but uncertainty lingers. “It truly is a limbo situation.” More in our weekly @On3 sports biz column - on3.com/news/ncaa-pend…

If they adapt , it will help calm the insanity of the transfer portal. Coaches will have to change their approach on recruiting and development. JUCOs will benefit greatly. If current players get 1 extra year, it will complicate the transition(similar to the extra COVID year). Either way, after the transition period, it will be better for college sports IMO.

The DI Cabinet did review the five-year, age-based eligibility concept during its meeting yesterday and work on the concept will continue, sources tell @YahooSports. While hurdles remain - especially as to implementation - there is serious consideration in adoption of the concept

I appreciate and understand your message. Let's see how this plays out and what the fine print says when and if they move forward on this legislation. It might run into some legal challenges. I'm sure they will address extenuating circumstances and make exceptions if they move forward though.

So a team say Tulane changes coaches. They cancel a player’s scholarship. Player can’t afford the $80k+ to attend on their own dime. They have to move, not their fault, they just transferred to Tulane the previous season. Do they have sit out a year? Or, do coaches have to learn to coach the team they have? PS- these 18something young athletes not getting NIL, deserve/need 24months scholarship stability. JMHO

RECRUITING NEWS!! If passed this will eventually change the recruiting landscape for the best. President Donald Trump has already signed an Executive Order on this. IMO, Colleges will have to adjust the way they are recruiting and focus more on high school prospects and player development. The annual team hopping created by the transfer portal will be greatly reduced. In the interim, yes some college players could get an extra year of eligibility, but as this plays out it will create more opportunities for PSA's. "Per several sources, Next week, an NCAA committee will discuss a new age-based standard for athlete eligibility that would grant athletes five full years of eligibility from the time of their 19th birthday or their high school graduation. No waiver requests, redshirts or exceptions will be permitted"

While I'm still pondering where I will go on my next College Assistant Coach/Recruiting assignment, I have had a blast umpiring top level Texas HS and JUCO games. It's amazing what you see from the umpire perspective. PSA's understand at any point if you want to play college softball, you never know who is watching you play 🙂. Play at your top level all the time! 🥎💪🏻

USA USA USA!🥇🥇🥇🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 Never gets old hearing the National Anthem! 🇺🇸🫡

@DiamondAddicts Thank you!

@ChrisBartels20 Tough decision but the right one!! You will find another program! Take care

@TheCoachColwell Thank you for the kind words Coach!

@ChrisBartels20 Sorry to hear about your father. One of the best coaches I know - any program will be lucky to have you. Sending good vibes and healthy speedy healing to your father.

Welcome Madge! 🤘🏻🤘🏻😈🥎 nsudemons.com/news/2026/1/12…

@DavidSmoak Yes sir it was. Three things I learned from it, Miami is one win away from saving the ACC single handedly or solidifying their spot in the SEC in expansion. Beck and Chambliss will be missed at the college level. They are both gamers! Isn't the football playoff awesome!! 🏈🏈💪🏻

What. A. Game.

@TCUFootball @Gosset41 Congrats to Ken Seals and TCU , way to go out in 2025 with a bang! 🏈💪🏻

THE HORNED FROGS ARE ALAMO BOWL CHAMPIONS‼️

PSA's, Softball is a game of failure, focus on the success you have, build confidence, and learn from the failures. Get 1-2% better each week at the things you struggle with. Ask a coach for help. Sometimes it is as simple as more reps, more fundamental drills. Happy New Year!