Tagged With "Showball"
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HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
My 2020's tournament schedule this Summer has narrow openings for showcases and this is likely the only out-of-town one he can do one. Problem is, HF and SB are both having one at the same times with schools he's interested in at both. Some schools have representatives at both but SB says it is "all head coach" showcase. He's looking at HA D1 and D3 schools. Wondering if anyone else is encountering problem of deciding between the two for this weekend. Research of past posts suggests that...
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Recruiting Catchers
We’ve been to a number of camps with our 2020 (HeadFirst, Showball, Stanford, Princeton among others) and we’ve made a few observations about schools recruiting catchers. For example, at Princeton and Georgetown our 2020 was told that their starting catchers were both walk ons which seems to suggest that this isn’t uncommon. After many of the showcase events, our son would tell us that all the catchers there felt like they were just there to facilitate recruiting for pitchers. We’re just...
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Academic Showcase insights
Before I invest in flights and registration costs, I’d love to get some insight into “what’s typical” for a RHP at camps like Showball and HF. My son is a sophomore and has a 3.96 unweighted. He’s 6’3”, 190lbs. Throws in the mid-80s. And pitches in the WCAL in CA. Is that enough to get interest? Or are there lots of kids with similar numbers? We’re trying to decide if we should wait until next year, and get a bit more velocity and weight. Thank you for any thoughts you may have.
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Showball Camp vs Headfirst Camp Same November Weekend
Just noticed that Showball -http://www.showballbaseball.com/FUTURE-CAMPS/Mega-Camp is hosting their camp the same weekend as Headfirst is in November. A lot of the same schools are attending both. We had planned to go to Headfirst, but now I'm wondering.... Son is 2018 SS playing on top regional team competing nationally; also has the academic chops. Any experience on this board with attending both? Pro's & Con's, differences? Thank you all. Hope you've enjoyed your summer.
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Re: Showball Camp vs Headfirst Camp Same November Weekend
GOV, Lots of good advice here. As highlighted by many, go where the schools on your son's vetted (both academically and athletically) will be. These vetted schools are a "possible" fit and your son is marketing himself to them. And as Smoke said, going in the November prior to son's Junior season is ideal for getting on coaches' radar. When showcase / tourney conflicts arose, my sons contacted the coaches to ask who will be there for each school on his list. HC and RC are the key. We...
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Re: Showball Camp vs Headfirst Camp Same November Weekend
Speaking from personal experience of a 2017 going through this now, I would argue for the Showball camp over this HF camp if your son is Junior this year. A quick glance of the list shows more D1 schools at Showball, which if that is your son's goal, start with the D1's first and then move later into the D3's. Of course if his goal is to go to an elite D1 like the Ivy schools or the elite D3's, I would agree that HF would be my first choice. The timing of the HF camps in June in Sacramento...
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Re: Showball Camp vs Headfirst Camp Same November Weekend
The comments have been very helpful. Thank you all.
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
Depends on several factors. It is a very good question and I'll be following along with interest. #1 Question: have any of these coaches had contact with him & expressed interest? #2 Question: has he gotten advise from reliable 3rd Party people as to what level & conference he likely fits in? #3 Question: what position does he play?
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
3and2F: From reading posts, we are clearly are behind in the whole recruiting dance, partly due to him being a young 2020 and late bloomer. He hasn't reached out to coaches yet and understands he's that will hurt him (particularly for D1) because so many likely have their classes set. So, I guess the real question is it too late for him at this point, particularly for D1, so the trip may not be worth it. He's probably looking D3 with some hope of getting attention of some HA D1 schools. OFer...
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
A 6.8 60 w/ 87 throwing velocity & 89 Exit Velo means he can absolutely play in college, it is just a matter of the right fit... Are those measureables verified through a 3rd Party & available online (such as PBR or Perfect Game)? If so I would have him send a link with "2020 6.8 60" and his ACT score in the email heading to the recruiting coordinators of the school's he is interested in. I doubt that every single HA D1 has finished recruiting 2020's... the big advantages of HF &...
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
If the focus is D3 no issues with timing. If your son is a position player with a solid glove and a big bat, he won't be late for D1 HA. Regardless of which camp your son attends he has to be prepared to show his stuff. My 2018 went to both HF and Showball Camps. Both are quality showcases run differently. Showball is faster paced, the coaches are very involved in moving it along. They know what they're looking for and don't need a billion looks at a kid. I would do the Showball Showcase in...
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
Unfortunately, no! Trying to find a PG showcase for that reason. In the meantime, he's going to prepare his own footage to circulate. I've read that some coaches (Yale) say to video the 60 on a football field so they can make sure it's legit. So, until we can get a verifiable source, I don't think we're optimistic that emailing his times will matter. Along those lines, I asked HeadFirst if there optional video recording included the 60 and the answer was no. So, it seems only PG offers a...
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
PBR is a verifiable format and much less expensive. I like Perfect Game more because of the game formats they play in addition to the measureables, but to just get measureables verified, PBR is great. Check to see if there is an upcoming one in your area.
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
I would not be paying the premium to PG just to get the 60 verified. Tucker Frawley at Yale is a stickler for how he wants to see video... In your son's email to Frawley or others just offer the measurables, plus video of his swing and fielding. When you attend Showball in June you'll get the verified 60. Save your money and attend a second Showcase late July / early August. The HC for Yale will be at Showball…. If Frawley likes the fielding and hitting video, believe me your son will be on...
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
Harvard has scheduled one of their prospect camps specifically for the SB July 15 showcase in Boston, so you can do both, which is cool. But that would be three straight days of showcasing (after finishing a week long PG tournament). I've read on here that a two-day showcase is very grueling on its own.
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
Yes. A 2 Day Showcase can be plenty grueling. Lots of reps, lots of playing with high adrenaline. Then there are all sorts of factors you cannot control (such as it turns out to be playing in 90+ degree heat, or how much the kid played recently with his travel team, or travel delays that can eat into sleep/rest etc). I would stay away from 3 straight days of Showcasing, if at all possible.
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
Big fan of PBR, but it seems to depend on your area. Here in NYS they do a very good job promoting their participants well after their showcases.
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
2018 also got a late start, though he had had contact with some HA D1 and D3 schools in his junior year. He went to both Showball and HF as a rising n Senior, and far preferred HF, but I know of a local kid who is playing on Columbia because of the impression he made at Showball. My guy has similar stats...slightly less hitting velo, but a OF velo in the 90's, which got him some of attention. Definitely able to pick it at SS, or CF, and speedy. We used to PBR as a place to verify his stats.
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
July/August is mostly too late for D1s, because HA D1s go to watch you play in summer tournaments in June and early July, if they're interested. To get them interested, send emails now with measurables, SAT/GPA, video, and summer schedule; definitely do video the 60 on a football field and send that along with the other video. If you can get verifiable measurables early in the summer (I agree PBR is good) then you can send that before summer travel play, too. And, ask your summer travel team...
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
Try to get to your State's PBR Top Prospect Game - in my experience this was a critical step in my son's recruitment as a rising senior/late bloomer - the event occurred prior to the summer ball season, was heavily recruited and provided tape and verifiable stats. That exposure, coupled with tape/stats allowed him to have meaningful communication in advance of key summer tournaments (wwba, etc) where they ultimately saw him play. I would also leverage the PBR event in advance of whatever...
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
I know it wasn't your question but... Try to work an Area Code invite. I can't speak for the D3s, but the D1s will be there and they will be paying very close attention to the uncommitted players. Even if he doesn't make the team, I don't think there is a better event for uncommitted players. Right before the summer season starts so if they like him, they'll be following. Also a good measuring stick to see how he stacks up against other D1 talent.
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
Start sending emails now!! If he's too busy with school and his HS team, you send them from his email account if you have to (write as if you were 17). It's not too late for HA D1 or D3. Do not solely rely on getting noticed at a Showcase, it's a pipe dream to put bluntly. Same with tournaments...your son needs to be on their radar so they come to watch him. I have many examples of my son getting recruited/calls/texts from coaches who were at those Showcases, while we were home saving...
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
I would not ghostwrite emails for my son. If he thinks he is to busy in high school to "own" his recruitment he will get killed when he shows up on campus.....it truly is a fulltime job. I also think sending emails without verifiable stats and good video will yield poor results. He should spend time now identifying 20 to 30 schools of interest, acquire contact info, etc and get ready to go as soon as you have stats/tape....getting stats/tape should be the priority
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
Does you son's travel team have relationships with any the schools your son is interested in? Will there be, or is there a reasonable chance coaches from the schools your son is interested in will be at those tournaments? My son attended 4 college camps in the fall and Feb. In each case he had been in contact with the RC, and his summer team coach had been in contact with the RC. I do think it's a waste to attend college camps blind so to speak. My son is a 2020 and everything he'll be doing...
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
So PBR just sent him (upon request and some more info) an invite to their "Top Prospects (invite only)" event in May. PBR is fairly new to GA and took over the LakePointe facility from Perfect Game last year (I believe) so I'm not familiar with it and don't know whether college coaches will be there. Anyone have experience in GA with one? Regardless, the event does include laser timed 60s, video clips, etc. and is not too expensive so I assume there's no downside and he should do it.
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
Very doubtful that any coaches will be at a PBR Showcase. However the results and profile from a PBR Showcase can be very helpful to include in emails and communications with coaches, provided of course one or a few of the measureables are in line with what the coaches are looking for...
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
Not at showcases, but their bigger events will have coaches. Both my kids got invites to the NYS Games up at Birmingham after participating in their pre-season showcases. That event usually has a lot of RC's from Northeast schools.
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
In our area they have lots of local and semi local RC's and HC's at the PBR events that have games. Juco's, D3's, D2'sand D1's, probably NAIA, too.
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
Yes! The PBR events that have games are a different story.
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
I will second what 3and2 said. Coaches are in season and not many players are doing in season showcasing. Probably best to hold off for now. Get the numbers when more coaches will be present. I will also add that if your kid wants to go to a HA school in the northeast, a PBR showcase in GA will not help him get in front of those schools. I'm not sure how many HA schools there are in the south, but recruiting happens regionally. So if he wants schools in another region you have to head their...
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
I didn't even think about the fact that the PBR is in May. Doubtful that coaches will be there in the middle of their season, you are correct I second what PABASEBALL said about trying to get an Area Codes invite. That can be a very tough invite to get, but can really open doors.
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
So, my experience was a few years ago. My son was looking at the same level schools you are considering. We focused on traditional D1s, D1 Ivy and D1 Patriot up to the middle of August. He played PG WWBA and a handful of national tournaments plus select camps, and was able to get some local D1 offers at some very good schools before August. We signed up for HeadFirst back in February of that same year as an "insurance policy" just in case something didn't work out in the early part of the...
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
Thanks for the helpful comments. He's got the GPA/SAT that put him well within the 50% range of admission standards for the HA schools he's in which he's most interested. We were looking at the early May PBR showcase as a way to get some verified metrics (recommended by several posters) and video he could forward to coaches in advance of his summer season, where he'll be playing events most of these coaches will likely attend (PG/PBR/WWBA). Anyone see a downside to that even if RCsare...
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
Yes, attending the PBR in order to get verifiable measureables and videos, in order to send to coaches, is a smart move. (In my opinion) I wouldn't sweat the college far from home thing. I have a 27 year old son and a 16 year old. Typically when kids go off to college, you'll be lucky if they spend summers with you in their freshman/sophomore years (less likely for ballplayers as they'll be playing summer ball somewhere). After that you'll see them for a week at Christmas, or even just a few...
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
So true. My eldest does his best to spend some "quality time" with my wife and I when he comes home, then he's out the door, or in his room with the door closed. He's a great kid, so I'm not complaining.
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
My eldest attended a mid major about an hour or so away for undergrad, and then a high academic halfway across the country for grad school. Once he got past Soph year of college, I didn't see him any more or less when he was halfway across the country. I mean c'mon, if you were 20 years oldwould you want to hang out with Dad on winter break watching NFL games or go to Miami with your buddies?! I definitely do cherish the time I have with him though.
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
Come on. I'm sure once in college my kid will be calling me constantly ... for money. lol
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
Regarding the HC versus Asst. Coach question, that is more relevant for the D3's versus D2 and D1. It is definitely a plus to be seen by the D3 HC at one of the events, while the other division HCs tend to lean more on the RCs anyway, so you can gain interest from the HC if the RC likes you. And as others have said, the HF showcase is designed much better for having opportunities to actually talk to the coaches. It is a big plus that HF focuses on getting the coaches and players around each...
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
So, as to HF vs. Showball, what do you think if his summer ball schedule only allows for the July 15-16 showcases. That weekend has all 8 Ivy HCs at SB (two coaches from some schools). Seems that leaves HF as second fiddle during that time. If we can only do that time period, wouldn't it be best to do the Showball since most HCs will be there, even if HF's format is preferable?
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Re: HeadFirst or Showball Showcase for July 15-16, 2019
Been to both... Diff formats...I do not consider one better than the other. Personally thought Showball was a no BS efficiently run Showcase w all coaches involved to move it along. Which college coaches from the schools your kid is suitable to play for will be attending which showcase ? I think Showball HC in June then HF in July-Aug is best combo. For the Ivy’s they have most of their rosters sort of set by July-Aug with Exception of 1-2 P’s and big hitting position guy. If your son...
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Re: Academic Showcase insights
RHPINSF -- what's his goal? Ivy? Patriot League? He'll get lots of looks with those stats -- especially if he can throw strikes. I had a LHP WCAL pitcher with a 3.6 and he thew low-80s and got decent interest. Can't say enough about HF.
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Re: Academic Showcase insights
My son is also a RHP, not as tall as yours, similar velo, went to HF summer after soph year in 2018. HF is very well run and was a great experience for my kid. He got to talk directly with some coaches, got some good advice about the recruiting process from the HF folks. In my opinion, the expense was worth it. BUT, if you are evaluating things strictly from a recruiting standpoint, you may want to wait until fall or next summer. Your son’s stats will get noticed. However, D1 coaches can’t...
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Re: Academic Showcase insights
RHPinSF, This is a great question. MAM is exactly right...it depends on your son's goals. Before I invest in any airfare, hotels or anything I'd want my son to specifically identify the schools he's interested in. I want a list in my hands, because this can go sideways quick if there is no plan in place. A schools division (D1, D2, D2, etc..) determines the school's recruiting timeline. Many D1 schools are looking at sophomores. If your son has any thoughts about playing D1 then he needs to...
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Re: Academic Showcase insights
Fenway has a lot more experience than I do, but one addendum I'd offer to his post: Schools definitely tend to pick in order of NCAA divisions, but the most academically selective HA D1s seem to mostly wait until grades are in for a player's Junior year. Sophomores absolutely can (and IMO should) get on the radar of these schools, but I wouldn't expect an offer until well into Jr year at earliest. Take a look on the PG web site at commitments for the Ivies, Georgetown, Northwestern--they...
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Re: Academic Showcase insights
Thanks for all the great replies. It's my first go at this, so I really appreciate your baseball brain power. My son is using baseball as a way into the best college possible. He doesn't really care if it's D1,D2, or D3. He's interested in economics, so I'll have him create a list of his academic dream schools, and we'll target those first. Thanks again for all the great info.
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Re: Academic Showcase insights
RHPinSF, you probably know this already, but Head First does conduct camps in Woodland CA in June and September.
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Re: Academic Showcase insights
Kind of amazing that a freshman already knows he wants to major in Economics. An academic dream list for econ should include Claremont McKenna IMHO but they don't attend HF, last I heard. I recommend you try to get him into the NorCal World Series next year. Stanford may be a good choice too.
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Re: Academic Showcase insights
Because of all your smart advice, we'd decided to register for Headfirst West 4 in Woodland this September. And Showball in Albany NY in Aug. And next summer, hit a couple more. I didn't know about NorCal World Series, that looks great too. Thanks for that lead. I'm not a baseball guy (I rowed in College and never played baseball.) JCG, I know it's nuts to be thinking about a field of interest at this age, but we've heard from admissions people that they aren't as interested in generalist.
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Re: Academic Showcase insights
Take a look at the Showball academic showcases, too. Also very good, and a slightly different mix of HA schools (as well as a good deal of overlap). My son has done both and both were very good. I will note that Showball only has pitchers throw on Day 2, while HF has them pitch on both days. For my son at HF, that meant 40+ pitches on Day 1, then another 80+ on Day 2. Not ideal...