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21 replies

A lesson for kids being recruited

redbird5redbird510,000+ posts
I heard the best/worst story today by a kid I know from a coach I respect. It should be a lesson to all the players out there and their parents.

The kid is a very talented player. He is a senior now and hasn't been recruited. Well, let me back up...he has previously been recruited. You see, he throws 90+ from the hill and runs a sub 6.7 60. As of right now, he has no offers on the table and none on the horizon.

Why?

1) He was advised by his travel ball/showcase coach (who is prominent and most have heard of his team) to "not worry about sending out info. I will have the coaches come to you." His family is now left holding a worthless bag of beans.

2) The aforementioned coach also told him not to worry about returning questionnaires. Yeah...another bad piece of advice despite his HS coaches advising him to the contrary. As a HS Soph & Jr, he was getting media guides and handwritten letters from every major college program across the country.

3) (This is where his accountability surfaces) He was witnessed by several coaches to fail to run out a routine grounder to SS. The SS, knowing he runs like a gazelle, rushed his throw and threw it wide. The hitter was already walking back to the dugout without having run at least half way.

4) One college coach DID recently contact him but the coach called his HS coach back and said "I think he was high."

5) He was suspended for 3 games last spring from his HS team for breaking team rules. I know what it is but will withhold it to later.

Every college coach that his HS coach has contacted in effort to get him into a school, has mentioned 1 or 2 of the above reasons as to why they are not interested.

So...players and parents...this is a REAL story. Take it for what its worth.

===============
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F 3FingeredGlove1,000+ posts
So I'm puzzled by Items 1 and 2. Does the prominent coach of a well-known team generally give this advice to his players? If so, and since it is seemingly poor advice, how does he stay prominent, considering that most of his players must then be left holding the bag? Or was this special advice meant for a problematic player? Or had the actual advice of the coach been altered by the time it reached you?

It just doesn't ring true to me. Perhaps the player has another accountability/responsibility issue.
TRhitTRhit10,000+ posts
Our philosphy is to send everything you receive back with as much info as you can give them---all takes is a few minutes plus a 42 cent stamp and an envelope---at this point in time do not make the determination that you cannot gain admission--let the school tell you that-- and the last big thing is that you never know what will fall out of the trees sometime down the road---if you don't return rhe questionnaires you will never know because the call may not come.

As for off field items you cannot do much for the player
redbird5redbird510,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by 3FingeredGlove:
It just doesn't ring true to me. Perhaps the player has another accountability/responsibility issue.


This is his standard advice to high level D1 prospects and I have heard this from more than 1 player on this team. The player also had a HS teammate on the same showcase team who had the same advice.

The coach's theory is that his team is so good (as are his connections) that he can get anyone into any school.
Last edited by redbird5
U 3up-3down500+ posts
I think that blaming the travel ball coach is a cop out. You were given some bad information about the coaches advice. My son has been advised the exact opposite by this coach.
Starting as early as the fall of his sophomore year, we were advised to contact some schools "just to let them know you are alive". Then in February, to send out your HS schedule to colleges that you have any interest in. In May, make contact with your summer schedule and inform them of any HS honors that you may have achieved. We were told to "let the schools you are really interested in know. Coaches like recruiting players that like their school". And of course to send back all questionaires.
I think it all will work out for this player. He just hit a few bumps in the road and has his head screwed on right now.
B BobbleheadDoll5,000+ posts
Anyone who leaves recruiting up to any coach is making a mistake.
One of my son's coaches was telling college recruiters he had signed with a college that made us an offer. Was far from the truth. It was a great offer and we did consider it but it wasn't what we wanted.
I also have a problem believing someone would not respond to Questinairs unless they had no interest in the college. We also received several beautiful media guides and if we were interested we called the coach.
I think most coaches like to say they got the player the deal so I find it strange that a coach would be negative about responding.
rz1rz15,000+ posts
quote:
Anyone who leaves recruiting up to any coach is making a mistake.


Absolutly!

IMHO, from a players standpoint the process should be a 3 headed monster. The player/family, the HS coach, and the Select coach. All working together with the understanding that when all is said and done, its the player making all the decisions and only the player communicating with a school after the initial contacts are complete. And, it's the players responsibility to make sure that everyone else is kept up to speed throughout the process. A well oiled machine.
redbird5redbird510,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by 3up-3down:
I think that blaming the travel ball coach is a cop out. You were given some bad information about the coaches advice. My son has been advised the exact opposite by this coach.


I was not given bad info. I have spoken with his HS coach and he relayed the same info. This is not a local kid, so you have the wrong coach.
BBkazeBBkaze10+ posts
Sounds like there is more to this kid then is being told.

99% of these kids will never set foot on a MLB field as a member of a MLB team.

IMHO the goal should be for all of them to enjoy the experience of playing the game and parents and "specialty coaches" should stop trying so hard to push them into being perfect little baseball "Johnny's" which in most cases makes playing baseball a miserable expereince for them.

JMO
Last edited by BBkaze
EH Emanski's Heroes1,000+ posts
Sounds like natural selection to me, but I digress. I would take two lessons from this if I were a parent (which I'm not) or a player being recruited.

First, don't rely on someone/anyone else to do the legwork in your recruiting. To me, in the information age we live in, there is no excuse for a kid like this not being recruited, and the parents/player can't claim ignorance. There are a ton of good resources out there for those who want to do their homework. This website and others are full of information that would have been helpful in this situation. Even a minimal amount of effort could have avoided this situation.

Second, even as an elite player, you are not irreplaceable. The difference between you and other elite players are very slim, and it is those things outside of talent that will seperate the good from the great. You should be all out, all the time, and it will be noticed when this isn't the case. Beyond that, the issues with being high and getting suspended are obvious. First impressions are especially important in baseball, because scouts and recruiters are busy enough as is without having to get a second look at a kid who wasn't at his best (or was suspended) for whatever reason.
Last edited by Emanski's Heroes
J jdfromfla100+ posts
Nobody has commented that this kid represented himself so poorly that the inquiring coach thought he was stoned..Nobody's fault but his. My son had a kid on his summer team that didn't want to pitch before he "baked"...It will prove fatal to his future..imho, as emanski said..natural selection, the kids priorities are messed up and he needs a wake up. So many are coddled and spoiled and think there isn't a warm body to plug into the hole they'll leave.
A AnthonyMCBPMember
I agree that there are 2 main lesons to be learned here:
1) If you are waiting for a H.S. or club coach to get you into college baseball, you are probably going to be very sorry. Many coaches are willing to HELP, but they simply do not have the time to do it for you. I know, I coached at both the H.S. and club level with many college prospects on both teams. I like to think I gave a tremendous amount of my time to help these kids. But knowing this whole process from the perspective of a parent also, I know how much time and work it took my son and I to find the right school for him- a lot! Use your coaches as help, but it is up to you.
2) If a player is not hustling, has an attitude, or maybe substance problems, he will definitely need to address those before he tries to make college ball. I've seen these get weeded ot too many times.
Hope this helps!

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