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Son went to camp last summer and enjoyed the experience and the facilities. He is targeting the academies (Navy and AF) academically as well as some high academic D3's. We decided to use the trip as a campus visit (its along way from home) and also see if he could stir some interest from the baseball coaches. The area is fantastic (Annapolis) and the facilities and stadium are top notch. The first evening there I believe they did a lot of the testing 60yd, fielding, throwing, catcher Pops etc... the next few days consisted of players broken into teams for the rest of the week with hitting and fielding in the mornings and followed by games in the afternoon. They have access to 3 other fields so teams will have a chance to play on all 3 facilities. They also have players go through the Navy obstacle course once during the week. All and all a nice experience.    

It looks like an amazing experience.  Considering it's room and board for 4 days it actually works out to be a reasonable price.  Heck, I paid over a grand for Cooperstown for 7 days, and that was just to goof off with other 12 year olds.

I think this experience would give him motivation in school and give him a small taste of military life, something he has been interested in for awhile now.  However, he's going to have to work his butt off because the Naval Academy doesn't recruit 2.5 GPA kids.

Any player contemplating any service academy, should get to one of their camps.  Coach's use them extensively...  You'll also learn a lot by being on the grounds & in the dorms for 3-4 days. Very motivational.

FYI, if the Coach wants you, he'll support ACT's with a 28. (min 26 in each section).  I work with kids every year seeking entry.  It's a process, start early....  One of our players just got in to West Point - excellent player; he'll be challenged academically, he was on the lower end with GPA and ACT

Not necessarily what you were looking for...  Happy to assist.

Any player or parent looking for information regarding service academies:  get the Service Academy Forums app.  A wealth of information about the process to get an appointment (acceptance).

Service academies look like cool opportunities, and they are, but you will graduate with a commitment to serve our country.  Not for everyone....   

Also, I would strongly suggest watching (in person if possible) a few of their games.  Navy plays a very specific type of baseball that may or may not fit your sons strengths.  I had the benefit of watching them play a few times over the years.  Navy baseball is very disciplined, precise and somewhat predictable but they keep coming at teams with a lot of pressure.  I love their brand of baseball as they typically get a lot out of their players.

Good luck! 

fenwaysouth posted:

Also, I would strongly suggest watching (in person if possible) a few of their games.  Navy plays a very specific type of baseball that may or may not fit your sons strengths.  I had the benefit of watching them play a few times over the years.  Navy baseball is very disciplined, precise and somewhat predictable but they keep coming at teams with a lot of pressure.  I love their brand of baseball as they typically get a lot out of their players.

Good luck! 

Agree with Fenwaysouth...go watch them.  I went to three or four of their home games last year and sat in on a few practices.  Very different environment than what you see at some other schools.  Their understanding of what a "team" is different and plays out in their actions.  It is a fun experience.

fenwaysouth posted:

Also, I would strongly suggest watching (in person if possible) a few of their games.  Navy plays a very specific type of baseball that may or may not fit your sons strengths.  I had the benefit of watching them play a few times over the years.  Navy baseball is very disciplined, precise and somewhat predictable but they keep coming at teams with a lot of pressure.  I love their brand of baseball as they typically get a lot out of their players.

Good luck! 

Sounds like the Navy football team!

Promised I would post on the Navy Camp experience this summer. Son went to the camp for rising juniors and seniors. Good experience, enjoyed staying in the dorms, met players from all over the country, interesting lectures in the evenings. Price for the five days very reasonable. Weather was miserable for baseball - hot and humid - worst week of the summer. Somewhat of a disappointment for him and many of the other players there is that Navy seems to be done with baseball recruiting for 2017 and 2018. They had their committed players at the camp. FWIW - some of the committed players were not as talented as other players there. My advice would be if your son is interested send him to the camp for rising sophomores. My son has many other options but I do think, if he had his heart set on Navy, we waited too late. 

Louise posted:

Promised I would post on the Navy Camp experience this summer. Son went to the camp for rising juniors and seniors. Good experience, enjoyed staying in the dorms, met players from all over the country, interesting lectures in the evenings. Price for the five days very reasonable. Weather was miserable for baseball - hot and humid - worst week of the summer. Somewhat of a disappointment for him and many of the other players there is that Navy seems to be done with baseball recruiting for 2017 and 2018. They had their committed players at the camp. FWIW - some of the committed players were not as talented as other players there. My advice would be if your son is interested send him to the camp for rising sophomores. My son has many other options but I do think, if he had his heart set on Navy, we waited too late. 

Interesting, my son went to the camp for 8,9,10th graders and it was made clear to them this was not the camp for recruiting, that was the 11/12th camp, lol!

My son had a great time, but he said maybe 10 out of the 150 kids he could see playing at his high school.  His high school is selective but not too extreme past 9th grade. He said most of the camp was local kids there for the day and appeared to be not very serious about baseball.

Louise posted:

Promised I would post on the Navy Camp experience this summer. Son went to the camp for rising juniors and seniors. Good experience, enjoyed staying in the dorms, met players from all over the country, interesting lectures in the evenings. Price for the five days very reasonable. Weather was miserable for baseball - hot and humid - worst week of the summer. Somewhat of a disappointment for him and many of the other players there is that Navy seems to be done with baseball recruiting for 2017 and 2018. They had their committed players at the camp. FWIW - some of the committed players were not as talented as other players there. My advice would be if your son is interested send him to the camp for rising sophomores. My son has many other options but I do think, if he had his heart set on Navy, we waited too late. 

Do not think a Navy opportunity is gone.  Stay in touch with the coach, keep working on your skills.  Applying to service academies are a lot of work, a lot of players commit, then find out the process to apply is a challenge, then these players wake and find out:  Oh, I'll actually have to serve my country in the military for 6-9 years.  Also, I can't be a regular college kid and go off campus when I want to.  

Similar to top academic D3's and Ivy's, the service academies are looking for more graded semesters.  Not to the extent of Ivy or Amherst and the like, but awful close.  Even athletes need at least a 26 on each section of the ACT and need to be close to a 28/29 in order for the Coach to get support of his athletes.  There are exceptions, but bottom line:  Academies are tough to endure.  The academics, military curriculum, mandatory formations, taking 18-21 credit hours....

If your son wants it, keep working it, stay in touch with coach.  Get focused on the ACT; if he gets a decent score early in Sept or Oct of his junior year, he can flag that score along with his ability in front of the coach.  

 

Question about the academies.  Navy specifically.  My son has ADHD -- been on meds since Kindergarten.  They have helped throughout school.  Its not like his a wild child off the medication, but since its worked well for years, not about to rock the boat.  However, I read that this disqualifies him? Seems a shame. He has 3.63 and a 30 ACT -- so a smart kid that is a good LHP.  He is looking to go do a ROTC scholarship.  Might be too late as he is a rising senior -- so the question is likely moot.

 

 

MAM,

The long and short of it is that the military doesn't want him taking ADHD medicine (considered a controlled substance) when he is under scholarship or serving his country.    Not all ROTC candidates are extended a scholarship their freshman year, but I believe there must be a year long period from not taking the medication.  We went through this with my younger son who is in ROTC.  It is a major issue. 

As an aside, your son has some academic options with a 30 ACT and a 3.63 (not sure if that is weighted or unweighted).  If he has been medically diagnosed with ADHD that should not be an issue for college baseball without the ROTC.  

I'm not clear if your son was considering ROTC AND college baseball.  If so, I wish you well.  Good luck!

MAM posted:

Question about the academies.  Navy specifically.  My son has ADHD -- been on meds since Kindergarten.  They have helped throughout school.  Its not like his a wild child off the medication, but since its worked well for years, not about to rock the boat.  However, I read that this disqualifies him? Seems a shame. He has 3.63 and a 30 ACT -- so a smart kid that is a good LHP.  He is looking to go do a ROTC scholarship.  Might be too late as he is a rising senior -- so the question is likely moot.

 

 

Navy requires him to be off the medication for 1 year prior to joining.  My son is also ADHD, but I agree with their stance.  They need personnel that don't need medicine to function, even a diabetic is disqualified from joining. 

Based on my son looking at seeking nomination to USAFA and USMA, below are some of my observations about intercollegiate athletes and service academies.  These are based on our research, not actual experience, so mileage may vary.

To my mind, service academies are a different animal.  There is no "athletic" scholarship.  Whether your the first athlete to receive an LOA or the last candidate to receive his/her appointment, you earn a four year education paid for by the government.  In return, you must serve for a minimum of five years after graduation. 

Recruited athletes are, for the most part, treated just like all other cadets.  In fact, if that highly recruited athlete decides to stop playing intercollegiate sports, he/she can continue his education just like any other cadet.  The coaches may not like losing a key player, but they know that the number one objective of these academies is to mold our future military leadership. 

Every Cadet must compete athletically, if not in intercollegiate sports then intramural sports.  It is my understanding that many intramural teams are very competitive and travel to play many of the same colleges as the intercollegiate teams.

If you just want to play Division 1 baseball,  the service academies are probably not for you.  Once you take the oath, you're no longer a civilian...your in the military now.  That said, the value of the education you receive is estimated at close to $400,000, and you are guaranteed a career after graduation. 

 

Last edited by jdb

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