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I have a sophmore, 2019 prospect and he is not sure best route to contact colleges.  It appears most have a recruiting link with an application to be submitted.  It includes SAT scores and measurables such as 60 time etc.  he hasn't taken sat yet nor performed in showcase to get measureables.  Would it be best to submit his interest in that college now vs waiting til he has more info to complete the recruiting form?

Last edited by Ty's mom
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Your profile says Michigan so my first idea may have to wait a couple months.  If you haven't already done it, I'd put together a video, shot outdoors to show off his talents.  Short 3-5 minutes depending on his position(s).  Show him fielding, hitting, etc.  You can use the recruiting form on school's websites or just go to their baseball page, figure out which coach is the recruiting coordinator and email him the video along with some other info....grades, HS coach and schedule and travel team coach and schedule.  That will get you started.  Prep Baseball Report in Michigan is very good,  the guy who runs it also runs Ohio.  I would look at doing something with them...maybe even yet this winter if he's in baseball shape.   Go to www.prepbaseballreport.com and click on Events to find out when/where they are.  I assume he's already got a summer team?  If they are playing in good tourneys, make sure you keep college coaches updated on which ones he'll be at.  I am in Northwest Ohio.  My son is a pitcher at a D1 here.  He played all over Michigan at 14U-17U.  I can tell you which tourneys in Ohio/Michigan are good as far as coaches seeing him.  Feel free to PM me.  I'll help if I can.   Good luck

Have a business plan. The first thing is a realistic view of where he potentially fits in college baseball. Keep in mind it could change based on changes in his perceived potential.

Make a list of about fifty potential colleges. It's not too many. Your son will lose interest in a bunch of them. A bunch of them may never be interested in your kid. In addition to filling out the recruiting form email the head coach and the recruiting coach. Make an email name like FirstnameLastname.HIghschoolortravelteam2019@....

Express interest in the baseball program and the academics. Provide basic stats like birthdate, height, weight, gpa, sats or psats, sixty time and throwing velocity. A two minutes or less skills video can't hurt (no music).  Ask what showcases and tournaments they attend to get in front of them. Then when these events are about to occur email again to tell them you will be there.

Create a contact database to keep track of colleges, contacts, correspondence and events.

RJM posted:

...

Express interest in the baseball program and the academics. Provide basic stats like birthdate, height, weight, gpa, sats or psats, sixty time and throwing velocity. A two minutes or less skills video can't hurt (no music).  Ask what showcases and tournaments they attend to get in front of them. Then when these events are about to occur email again to tell them you will be there.

...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but a 2019 (Sophomore) cannot get a reply from a college until September 1 of their Junior year. With that, asking them anything in an e-mail or text isn't the best plan. If you have them on the phone or face-to-face, that's a different story.

How's this?

 

Hi Coach Smith,

Thank you for your email and for the invitation to your camp.

I am starting to narrow my college selections. I believe I am a good academic fit for Podunk University and I am interested in your baseball program.

I throw 85 from the sidearm slot with a slider, curve, changeup and a 2 seam that runs on the hands. Below is a short video of me pitching at the MiddleOfNowhere University camp in the fall. The slider was really working that day.

https://youtu.be/xyzxyz

Jim Tater, RHP, 2018
6'3", 190#
3.3 GPA
Okeefenokee High School

I pitch for the Bomb Squad showcase team, and my pitching coach is Bill Coachemup. His contact information is blah blah blah.

Are you still recruiting 2018 pitchers? Do you think I could add value to your pitching staff?
If it's ok I would like to stay in touch and keep you up to date with my spring and summer schedule.

Thanks for looking and I hope to hear from you.

Jim Tater
JimmyT@gmail.cam
123.456.7890

 

FFXfireman posted:
RJM posted:

...

Express interest in the baseball program and the academics. Provide basic stats like birthdate, height, weight, gpa, sats or psats, sixty time and throwing velocity. A two minutes or less skills video can't hurt (no music).  Ask what showcases and tournaments they attend to get in front of them. Then when these events are about to occur email again to tell them you will be there.

...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but a 2019 (Sophomore) cannot get a reply from a college until September 1 of their Junior year. With that, asking them anything in an e-mail or text isn't the best plan. If you have them on the phone or face-to-face, that's a different story.

You are correct, but they can contact your HS or summer coach for more information.  They also can contact your HS coach and say "Coach, could you have Little Johnny call me".....it's pretty common for coaches to make contact this way.  Also, if you email a coach....especially if it's the first time you've contacted him, you will likely get a "camp flyer" of some kind.  The coach can send a "personal" note with it.....or it could be generic.   If the coach's signature includes a cell number instead of an office number, it's a pretty good indication that your son should likely give him a call.  He can take calls, he just can't return them if you get a voice mail.   If you get a cell number, there's a good chance there is at least some interest.

Last edited by Buckeye 2015

Also, keep in mind that just because a coach doesn't reply to an email doesn't mean they aren't watching.  My son had emailed a coach of a school he was intersted in a dozen times....and never gotten one reply, even though the school was 45 minutes from our house.  On July 1st of his Junior year (that was first contact date at that time) he got a call from the RC.  RC said "we've seen you play....come up for a visit".  We visited the next week and he committed 3 days later.....a total of 10 days after our first contact with the school/coach

Last edited by Buckeye 2015

First, what are the family's baseball and academic goals?

Cut no slack in the classroom or in getting quality lessons to build individual skills (create a budget because the sky is the limit on what can be spent).  I happen to believe individual skills trump travel teams so if money is a limiter, concentrate on the individual skills.

If your HS has competent guidance counselors, bring them into the process; if not and finances are not a barrier, reach our to a qualified private counselor. They can help identify colleges you are not familiar with.

Begin creating lists where the baseball skills he brings overlaps with the colleges which match up academically. The list will be fluid and evolve , growing and shrinking over time.

Second, what are the family's projected finances?

If your son is a great student look at the various financial incentives schools will provide to top students.  If your son is a top student who is in the ball park for Ivy schools, look at their financial aid calculators. But regardless, begin setting financial limits (if any) early.

Third, honestly evaluate whether the potential academic and baseball skills match up with those goals.

Bring your son into the process every step of the way, so he can understand the limitations (e.g., finances, academics).  Also begin visitingas many colleges as you can on vacations so a feel for the type of school can be used to winnow down the list (city, suburb, rural, big, little, LAC, research institution, etc.). Your son will have a different way of seeing each school, so understand where is is coming from.

Fourth, look through the message boards here to identify the types of showcases, camps, etc., which might get you further to your goals. 

You have plenty of time; but the learning curve is steep and begin now.

Know that most every unsolicited email you send to a college coach will result in you being added to their camp mailing list - and you can get confused between generic money making invites and true interest.

Again, if you develop skills and academics, and a decent plan, you can have some control over a crazy, stressful process.

 

CmassRHPDad posted:

How's this?

 

Hi Coach Smith,

Thank you for your email and for the invitation to your camp.

I am starting to narrow my college selections. I believe I am a good academic fit for Podunk University and I am interested in your baseball program.

I throw 85 from the sidearm slot with a slider, curve, changeup and a 2 seam that runs on the hands. Below is a short video of me pitching at the MiddleOfNowhere University camp in the fall. The slider was really working that day.

https://youtu.be/xyzxyz

Jim Tater, RHP, 2018
6'3", 190#
3.3 GPA
Okeefenokee High School

I pitch for the Bomb Squad showcase team, and my pitching coach is Bill Coachemup. His contact information is blah blah blah.

Are you still recruiting 2018 pitchers? Do you think I could add value to your pitching staff?
If it's ok I would like to stay in touch and keep you up to date with my spring and summer schedule.

Thanks for looking and I hope to hear from you.

Jim Tater
JimmyT@gmail.cam
123.456.7890

 

Include: "I am interested in the academic opportunities that Podunk has to offer, including [insert your reasons for academic interest here]." Good luck!

Goosegg posted:

First, what are the family's baseball and academic goals?

Cut no slack in the classroom or in getting quality lessons to build individual skills (create a budget because the sky is the limit on what can be spent).  I happen to believe individual skills trump travel teams so if money is a limiter, concentrate on the individual skills.

If your HS has competent guidance counselors, bring them into the process; if not and finances are not a barrier, reach our to a qualified private counselor. They can help identify colleges you are not familiar with.

Begin creating lists where the baseball skills he brings overlaps with the colleges which match up academically. The list will be fluid and evolve , growing and shrinking over time.

Second, what are the family's projected finances?

If your son is a great student look at the various financial incentives schools will provide to top students.  If your son is a top student who is in the ball park for Ivy schools, look at their financial aid calculators. But regardless, begin setting financial limits (if any) early.

Third, honestly evaluate whether the potential academic and baseball skills match up with those goals.

Bring your son into the process every step of the way, so he can understand the limitations (e.g., finances, academics).  Also begin visitingas many colleges as you can on vacations so a feel for the type of school can be used to winnow down the list (city, suburb, rural, big, little, LAC, research institution, etc.). Your son will have a different way of seeing each school, so understand where is is coming from.

Fourth, look through the message boards here to identify the types of showcases, camps, etc., which might get you further to your goals. 

You have plenty of time; but the learning curve is steep and begin now.

Know that most every unsolicited email you send to a college coach will result in you being added to their camp mailing list - and you can get confused between generic money making invites and true interest.

Again, if you develop skills and academics, and a decent plan, you can have some control over a crazy, stressful process.

 

Great info Goose,

 

your quote "You have plenty of time; but the learning curve is steep and begin now" I think its spot on,I have done a lot with my 2019 like you have stated, I just kind of figured things out, now the hard part of it can be the pressure to commit early, now with PG and PBR retweeting everyday about another kid who has committed to their dream school some kids feel the pressure, now when I spoke to a pro scout he told me to take my time and make the right choice, take the visits and see what's the best fit for your son and your family , don't be one of the kids who picks a school just because of the logo, and then transfer the next year . one thing he did tell me was that him or the other 29 guys(MLB scout) just like him will find my son no matter where he goes to play .

FFXfireman posted:
RJM posted:

...

Express interest in the baseball program and the academics. Provide basic stats like birthdate, height, weight, gpa, sats or psats, sixty time and throwing velocity. A two minutes or less skills video can't hurt (no music).  Ask what showcases and tournaments they attend to get in front of them. Then when these events are about to occur email again to tell them you will be there.

...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but a 2019 (Sophomore) cannot get a reply from a college until September 1 of their Junior year. With that, asking them anything in an e-mail or text isn't the best plan. If you have them on the phone or face-to-face, that's a different story.

You are correct.  The only response a coach can give before 9/1 of Junior year is information about camps.  However, that does not mean you should not express interest.  They are collecting all the information even if they can't reply with something of substance.  They'll watch the video, evaluate the academics and determine if it's a kid who they will follow. 

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