After the showcases...

I'm not sure what you're asking, perhaps you could clarify a little bit.

Does your son have a list of schools of interest to him --- academically, geographically, baseball program considered, family budget in mind? Have any letters been written or calls made to those coaches? Does he have a summer team coach or an instructor who knows coaches? What letters has he gotten from colleges?

Participating in showcases and camps is a significant part of the process, but not the whole process. And there are lots of steps to that process.

Summer and school coaches have no contacts and are unable to do more than offer support.

Have not spoken with the programs that have invited him back, and son is reluctant to call. He feels that it is all performance based and calling coaches is not needed-- if a coach is actually interested he would tell him.

Hard to tell if the invited programs mostly sales $ for the school or real interest. Just generally trying to gauge if --the 2d look-- is the std process. We assume that there is "some" interest, but are most prospective players required to attend the invited Fall camps?

I don't believe attendance at camps is ever a requirement if they are already interested in somebody. And I do believe that the camps are to make money with the bonus of finding a few gems. Keep in mind that often the camps will be worked by additional coaches from the area who are also looking for a gem or two.

I would encourage your son to call the coaches for a couple of reasons. First, to guage interest so that his hopes are realistic. Secondly, to call attention to himself. Have him regard it this way: if his talents and grades are similiar to a few other players on their radar, and he's the one who shows the desire by picking up the phone and asking them if they are in the market for someone at his position....who does he think the coaches will take the closer look at?

It is daunting to call a coach. You might try role-playing with him, being the friendly and encouraging coach, then the more straightforward guy, even a bored and disinterested one --- all so that the experience is a bit more familiar to him. Even then, "practice" on a school not so high on his list, so that he's more comfortable taking when he gets to the coaches he's truly hoping to impress.

We attended a showcase in the midwest 3 weeks ago. My son knows he want to go to college here and play baseball after attending it. A week after attending he felt the need to call the head coach personally because he felt in his gut and his heart he knew this was a right fit. The coach told him he is a good athlete and would like to see him again at the winter camp, and take the extra math class to get into the univeristy. The coach also told him he was very glad he called because he though he was already a high school graduate when he saw him and now he knows he is still available.