IVY visit...Q's and A's

Chances are Fenway will check in on this thread. If not, seek him out via PM. His son played for Cornell.

From a baseball perspective, I would ask the same questions I would ask on any other college/baseball visit.  I would want to see facilities, including indoor as all the Ivy's have a weather challenge in the early season.  You'll want to see workout facilities and perhaps meet the strength coach.  I'd ask about future upgrades that are in the works across the program.  Obviously fit for your son in terms of his importance to the program.  I would think at some point a pre-read on his academics come into play as would his chances for receiving a likely letter.  If you want, PM me where you are headed, since mine is in the Ivy, I may be able to discuss specifics that you might not want out in the public forum.

You mentioned that two pitching coaches from this college have seen your son and liked what they saw.  I suggest that your son try to spend as much time as possible during this visit interacting with the head coach to see if it feels like a good match and if the head coach is as interested in your son as the pitching coaches are.  An assistant coach or two may love your son, but they're probably not making out the starting line-up. 

Phanatic: Welcome to the site. Look at this as an "interview" opportunity for your son. When 2015 Visited the Ivies he was interested in gaining perspectives from each coach and their philosophies. All told he visited 6 of the 8 and watched one of the other 2 play doubleheader at their field. 2015 took school tour at most.  2015 is a position player whose tools (defense, speed, contact hitter for high BA) are more valuable to some programs than others. On our visits, we also looked at the various facilities.  As a junior in the Month of February, the school likely could give you some indication of their recruits so far (likely have a board, though Ivy is later on commits--until board scores come in and first semester report card).

Your son should already looked on current roster.. is there a connection he can draw (from same state, AAU program, similar build?). Son should also be prepared to state an area of interest (major possible), even if the answer is liberal arts, fine arts, sciences, etc.

Ivy schools are generally looking at many of the same kids (due due to the academic piece). Go to one or two camps and some players will look familiar. 

Your son should have a copy of his spring and summer ball schedule. Summer junior year is when vast majority of offers are made. Penn offers some early, HYP tends to be later.

From our experience Ivies like the baseball piece (awards, standout tools, etc), but don't neglect the academic (transcript, board scores, APs, etc). Ivies particularly like the challenge level of courses taken. You've looked at AI which is good.

Though they haven't started playing yet (one I think plays end Feb) and other 7 start March 4, I encourage you to go to an Ivy league game..can your son play at that level? Style of play? Is he both an athletic and academic fit? Good luck. It seems like you are off to a good start.

RJM posted:

Chances are Fenway will check in on this thread. If not, seek him out via PM. His son played for Cornell.

"Fenwaysouth" if you want to reach out to him.  He is probably the the most active expert on Ivy on here.  Hopefully, he will pipe in.

Phanatic2008WS,

In addition to the excellent advice you've already received, I would use this opportunity to focus in on exactly what does your son want to get out of college and college baseball.  If your son is being recruited by other D1 schools he's going to be in demand by Ivys assuming he has the necessary academics.   Ivy coaches will seek the best athletic talent they can get through Admissions.

First, I would ask the coaches straight up what is needed for the coaches support.   This will allow you to determine if you are in the ballpark or near the ballpark and the effort involved.  Second, I would want to make sure your son understands that Ivy baseball is much different than traditional D1 baseball in many ways.  Everyone I've ever talked to on the topic has a different idea about what it means.   My son was recruited by four Ivys initially.  Over time, it was whittled down to two that offered.   My son's final decision had nothing to do with baseball and everything to do with his major.  As I said, everybody has their own ideas about Ivy baseball, but it does give an academically minded college athlete some added flexibility with some tradeoffs.  Keep in mind the Ivy League is just an athletic conference and each school has its own personality and strengths.  Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss specifics.

Good luck!

I greatly appreciated all the responses all of you! Lots of great suggestions and perspectives - some that frankly we did not think of. This information should be good and will guide us on our visit this weekend. My son saw the thread and said with a smile"looks like everyone knows "fenwaysouth"! Again thanks for the feedback, and also the offer by many of you to have me PM for additional info. I certainly will take up on that offer - so thank you again.

Hope you have an excellent visit, and please report back with details. Many of us would like an update on how the junior day works.  Especially curious about how many kids attend and what kind of vibe you get from the coaches, the players, and the place.  Thanks!

Thanks, Smokeminside (nice name!):

We have a one on one visit with the coaches...and not a junior day, so will be unable to really provide any feedback about the junior day, etc. In my sons case, the pitching coaches and the recruiting coordinator have seen him, and want him to see the campus and facilities, etc and perhaps also meet the head coach. So not sure as to how they will structure it in terms of meeting current players, etc. But will surely provide as much feedback as we can either way on the experience. thx

Not sure what TO do when visiting an IVY?  But I sure as heck know what NOT to do:

Son visited one of the Ivys for basketball.  Did the walking tour with AC for a good hour, then headed back to the basketball office for a sit down with HC. 

Head Coach sat at his desk, son and I sat on other side of his desk in stiff backed windsor type academic chairs.  I was mute as HC and son talked one-on-one for quite a while.   Remember this was a basketball visit.  HC then opened his desk drawer and handed me a note card.  Son could not see what was already written on it.  I discretely looked at the note card.  It read:

"1. Food    2.  Hoops     3. Girls"

Head Coach said to me, "Dad, you see that?"  I replied, "Yes Sir.  I got it."  And handed it back to him.

HC then asked my son, "Son, when you wake up in the morning, what is the 1st thing you think of?"  HC then looked at me and winked.  Obviously he had done this hundreds of times with other recruits as the notecard he handed me with the aforementioned items (food, hoops, girls) was rather dog eared. This must've been his test for recruits I thought?  I was eager to see my son pass it with flying colors before my eyes!  I was so proud.

Son stared at the ceiling, then at the floor.  "Ummmm.........uhhhhh................How to add velocity to my Fastball?"  Upon hearing son's reply I slid down about as far as I could into the black lacquered chair, exposing the stately gold leaf crest of said Ivy school on the back of it. With my a$$ now on the floor  I tried to crawl as far away from my offspring as fast as I possibly could. 

After waiting for some of the awkward silence to dissipate, I gathered myself, stood up, cleared my throat, and finally spoke: "Well Coach, thanks for having us.  We'll show ourselves out."  And we did. 

Moral of the story:  When interviewing with a basketball coach, keep your comments enthusiastic and most importantly about basketball.  And if you are interviewing with the baseball coach?  You get the idea.....talk about baseball.   

That was a quiet drive home.

Great story Assistant Coach!  A valuable life lesson for all our kids.