We just got back from a visit to a DIII college. It was actually an "Invitation Only" Open House for athletes this school supposedly considered "prospects". Long story short, during a Q&A with the baseball coach it was revealed that he only chose his team by open tryouts held each fall. When asked to clarify he reiterrated that yes, the player has to apply to the school, be accepted, be enrolled and only then will he be considered for the baseball team after this fall tryout. The disappointment from the prospects in the room was palpable. I even heard a couple of kids say "what are we even doing here then?"
When pressed for a reason why he did it this way the coach basically said that he doesn't like to take chances on kids that he hasn't seen play much if at all and doesn't like to make promises he may not be able to keep. He attends showcases occasionally but only to see if there are any he'd like to invite to attend the school first, and try out for his team after. He says he looks at tapes but doesn't like the ones he gets that just shows a kid taking BP, or throwing a bullpen, or fielding fungos. He likes GAME footage! Now, I may be wrong but this is just the opposite of eveything I've heard thus far.
It's up to him to run his program the way he sees fit I suppose, but I think it's a little unfair to ask a kid to make what everyone hopes is a four year decision/commitment, but be unwilling to offer the kid any sort of commitment. Am I way off base here?
I'm not going to name names, but it's a school in southern PA, very famous Civil War battle was fought there and a famous speech was given there by a former president who's likeness is now on the penny.
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