Any Value in Responding to Generic Invites?

If a player is interested in a school, this is one of several discussion point opportunities to contact them.  It shouldn't be the only.  Just make sure the right person/s is being reached.  

IMO there is no harm in responding if you are interested in the school.  My son always followed up with a polite email explaining that he would not be at the camp but provided alternatives as to where he would be.  This lead to some nice email exchanges between he and some of the coaches.  It was good opening for further discussions.  

2019DAD,

Very good question.  I concur with the Cabbage and Joe.  My boys always responded if the school was on their vetted list.  It sometimes led to additional exchanges, and as Cabbage notes, it's another opportunity to communicate with the school and demonstrate interest.

My son responds to every camp invite whether he's interested in the school or not. At least one school he hadn't heard of before sent an invite, son replied, coach replied and after a lot of back and forth and chat, son did some research and now is interested in the school after learning more. It can be as simple as a copy and paste message, so not really a waste of time. And who knows where it might lead?

 

joes87 posted:

IMO there is no harm in responding if you are interested in the school.  My son always followed up with a polite email explaining that he would not be at the camp but provided alternatives as to where he would be.  This lead to some nice email exchanges between he and some of the coaches.  It was good opening for further discussions.  

THIS!!

I'll add one more thing...

Some may say, "Why not respond to every camp / showcase invite?  You never know where it may lead..."

Any communication could lead somewhere.  Anything's possible...I will agree with that.

Getting an unsolicited email from a school the player/family don't know about can definitely prompt research to see if the school is a good fit academically and athletically.  If it is, then maybe it belongs on the player's vetted list of schools. 

But I'm not sure responding to every email because the player's name made it to a mailing list makes much sense.

IMHO, if homework is done upfront and a vetted list of colleges is prepared (and evolves over time), then the player and family can be focused in their search for the best fit.  Once a player is focused on communicating to the schools on their vetted list, then there is a lot of things to communicate to/with coaches and with Admissions reps.  And doing so regularly to both demonstrates interest by the student athlete. 

My boys received hundreds of unsolicited camp and showcase emails (my 2016 received two today!).  Responding to all of them ultimately becomes a significant distraction from the player's vetted list of schools. 

My son has actually opened dialogue with a few schools this way that have led to REAL invites to tour the campus and to camps. I would not respond to each and every invite but if it is a school on the list why not shoot an email back to the RC or HC.

Thanks everyone. Appreciate the thoughtful and informative responses. Sounds like responding to schools he is interested in makes a ton of sense.

One other thing -- and this actually ties into the phone number thread going on right now. Funny thing is, for the one PG tournament my son has played in -- yes, just one, hard as that might be for folks in the Southeast to believe! -- I used my email address, not my son's. So now I'm getting the camp invites -- won't make that mistake again! (although, come to think of it, I still have college eligibility remaining . . . )

Also, FWIW, I've noticed the camp invites vary, too. Some are from a generic email address (like, "_____ University Baseball"), and some have the specific name, email address, and phone number of one of the assistant coaches -- I'd imagine it's easier to start a dialogue with the latter, but who knows?

Hi - I'm new to the site and this topic grabbed my attention.

My son gets lots of showcase invites but we're trying to focus only on ones that feel he may be a good match. So if he receives what appears to be a generic invite, is it fair to say:

"..Coach...thanks for the invitation. Are you recruiting OF and/or 3B for 2017? Did you have a chance to see my video?"

Is it also fair to ask the coach:

"...based on my video do you think I might be a good fit for your program?"

 

Thanks

Marco, this site has been great for me and I hope it will be for you, too.  That said, I'm not sure how to give you a good answer without more information.  Is your son a 2017 grad? What contact has he had with coaches so far?  Are you at the point of narrowing down some offers?  Or at some other point?  What level do you think your son will compete at?  Do you have some measurables, like a 60 time?  Sorry if these questions seem really basic, but it will help the board help you if you can share some additional information.

Happy New Year!

Marco G Pops posted:

Hi - I'm new to the site and this topic grabbed my attention.

My son gets lots of showcase invites but we're trying to focus only on ones that feel he may be a good match. So if he receives what appears to be a generic invite, is it fair to say:

"..Coach...thanks for the invitation. Are you recruiting OF and/or 3B for 2017? Did you have a chance to see my video?"

Is it also fair to ask the coach:

"...based on my video do you think I might be a good fit for your program?"

 

Thanks

Absolutely OK to ask those questions!

The responses you get (or even if you get responses) will tell you a lot about where you stand with that program/coach.

Hello and thanks for your help!

My son is a 2017 graduate from Palm Bay FL. As a sophomore, he was invited to play on a showcase team and from there it went crazy. We had no clue where to begin and were filling out questionnaires and sending him showcases for schools where he had no chance. So now we sort of figured out he might fit into a NAIA, maybe D2 or D3 up north, and JUCO up north (which is perfectly ok with us). Basically trying to focus on where he has a chance.

About 4 coaches from NY and ME contacted him and asked him to call them back by phone. He spoke with all of them several times. They have also texted to follow up. They all asked him to fill out application for admissions. We have not received any offers but it would be nice to know if they truly are interested and at what point they might make an offer. We really like each school; however, we can’t afford to spend any money if they’re not interested. We’re going up to visit 3 of the NY schools next month and the one in ME in April.

I attached his profile sheet that has a lot of stats.

Thanks very much again ☺
Marcos
321-728-4231

Another question

Is it ok at some point for the parent to get into the discussion with the coach? Or just stay out? If ok, at what point? So far he's been asked to fill out applications for admissions and has received follow up emails and texts. We're really hoping to get and offer by middle of spring season.

I stay out of it. I do have access to the email account he uses to communicate with coaches and we discuss every conversation, how he might respond, etc. I do deal with admissions stuff and setting up visits and attend academic stuff. My son is a 2018 with one offer on the table. I'm assuming when we go to visit that school again this spring, I'll attend any conversation with the coaches, but son and I will pretty much agree on his questions before we get there and he'll drive the conversation. My role will be to wrap up with any final questions and money.

I stay out of it because I want my son to start being responsible for his future whether it's baseball or not. We will get involve when ready to sign with a college. I think college coaches appreciate it when the players can take charge. It's shows a level of maturity. 

I'll just second other's great advice.  Those questions are perfectly fine, in fact quite good qualifiers.  No sense in asking them, though, for the schools not on your son's radar and if you have no intention of attending.

Continue to let your son handle the dialog with the HC's and RC's.  But, monitor and advise and set the rules/parameters with him where necessary.  You are likely paying for much of his college.  So, anything tied to that aspect warrants your direct involvement. 

There are other threads on this subject.  You can search past threads here as well.

Hope his visits go well.

Unless your son is VERY young, I would hope he has already emailed the coaches of schools he's interested in before he gets the camp invite.  There is no reason to wait...if he wants to play in college, he should start emailing coaches by the fall of his sophomore year....earlier if he's a top level kid.  If he gets a camp invite from a school he's intereseted in sure, reply...with something along the lines of "Thanks coach, I can't make it to your camp, but I am definitely interested.  I had emailed you my info and a video on "XX-XX-XXXX", but I'm attaching it again just in case it didn't make it to you.

Buckeye 2015 posted:

Unless your son is VERY young, I would hope he has already emailed the coaches of schools he's interested in before he gets the camp invite.  There is no reason to wait...if he wants to play in college, he should start emailing coaches by the fall of his sophomore year....earlier if he's a top level kid.  If he gets a camp invite from a school he's intereseted in sure, reply...with something along the lines of "Thanks coach, I can't make it to your camp, but I am definitely interested.  I had emailed you my info and a video on "XX-XX-XXXX", but I'm attaching it again just in case it didn't make it to you.

Question for you. On this site it is often said "don't showcase until you have something to show" . . . doesn't the same apply to sending a video to a coach? Let's say a RHP is topping out at 83 in the fall of his sophomore year. What is the value of sending an email with a video showing a rising sophomore topping out at 83? 

(You and I both know that many such sophomores will be topping out at 88 or 89 two years later . . . but if I'm the coach I don't know if a video like that in, say, October of sophomore year would help or hurt.)

I'm a strong believer in making sure that when we show you leave them with something to talk about. Don't just show up but put on a show. Coaches are also looking at other variables especially mechanics. IMO it would be okay to send videos if he looks good. 

2019Dad posted:

Buckeye 2015 posted:

Unless your son is VERY young, I would hope he has already emailed the coaches of schools he's interested in before he gets the camp invite.  There is no reason to wait...if he wants to play in college, he should start emailing coaches by the fall of his sophomore year....earlier if he's a top level kid.  If he gets a camp invite from a school he's intereseted in sure, reply...with something along the lines of "Thanks coach, I can't make it to your camp, but I am definitely interested.  I had emailed you my info and a video on "XX-XX-XXXX", but I'm attaching it again just in case it didn't make it to you.

Question for you. On this site it is often said "don't showcase until you have something to show" . . . doesn't the same apply to sending a video to a coach? Let's say a RHP is topping out at 83 in the fall of his sophomore year. What is the value of sending an email with a video showing a rising sophomore topping out at 83? 

(You and I both know that many such sophomores will be topping out at 88 or 89 two years later . . . but if I'm the coach I don't know if a video like that in, say, October of sophomore year would help or hurt.)

We started sending out a video in the fall of my son's sophomore year.  He was 5'6 at best and maybe 150.  He was the starting SS on our HS team and also a RHP throwing 82-83 tops.  We didn't show a gun in the video...just showed him throwing, fielding (IF, OF, C) and hitting.  Sent it to 40+ coaches the first night.  We got everything from ZERO response to 4 or 5 who made comments to let us know that they had really watched it.  2 ended up following him thru the next summer and 1 of the original coaches to comment was in his final 3 schools.  He really didn't "have anything to show" but it's a little different on a video than sending him to a showcase surrounded by studs who are 6 inches and 30+ lbs more than him

Grindneverstop posted:

I stay out of it because I want my son to start being responsible for his future whether it's baseball or not. We will get involve when ready to sign with a college. I think college coaches appreciate it when the players can take charge. It's shows a level of maturity. 

Lots of guidance required up until signing.  Besides writing checks and dealing with safety, probably a good thing to be "Co-Driver" of the bus, it will be obvious when your son is ready to take the controls.  Emails and phone calls need editing and role playing. Quite a few ways to help develop your son's communication and organization skills, while avoiding an overly aggressive coach when he's a young high schooler.

On my second player now.

Thanks



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