Any newer info or input on Summer Collegiate Leagues

If he can do the Northwoods temp contract, I'd do that and then take it from there. Maybe it works out that he stays longer. Even if not, could open doors for future summers.

If he has a good spring, he'll be able to find a league/team to play on. If he doesn't have a good spring, maybe he doesn't play summer ball and concentrate on what he needs to improve upon?

I'd pick Northwoods.  You never know what might happen.   There is always a possibility to get a temp at Northwoods and then the rest of the summer somewhere else; if the Northwoods coach likes him, he might get a full-season spot as a rising junior next year or even fill in for a player who doesn't make it this summer. 

My son played Northwoods for two seasons. There were a ton of guys who transferred in and out, depending on what their college coaches thought they needed. I would go with that, but work with his coach to see what skills they want him to focus on. Hopefully the college coach would at least talk to the Northwoods coach so they can be on the same page about strengths, needs, etc. My son was a pitcher, so his coaches wanted him to just get in more innings. It was a great experience. He learned a lot and they were terrifically flexible about comings and goings.

Playing time is often dependent on the summer team's relationship with your college coach, which is why going somewhere that a coach has arranged is a good thing, if possible.

Leagues where you don't have to pay high fees are generally better than leagues that are pay-to-play.  (Northwoods, at least a few years ago, had a fee that was I thought was reasonable, included food and housing - and it obviously is one of the best leagues).  Leagues that house players with host families can be better experiences, especially for a freshman, than ones that put players in dorms or condos, or leave them to find housing on their own (although that depends on your host family - my son's ranged from slighly weird to luxurious).

You can look at last summer's rosters to see where the team/league is drawing its players.  Maybe that doesn't matter so much to the overall experience, but it might.

Good luck!

HiC

the friendship with your teammates and opponents can last a lifetime. In the old Basin  League, 40 players who played in 1956, later played in the MLB.

Dick Howser, Ron Perranoski, Jim Palmer, Bob Gibson and many others.

Bob

Freshman position players are harder to place because there's no track record for how they hit against better pitching, unless they're at a big time program. BUT, catchers unfortunately seem to be more susceptible to injuries so spots can pop up in a hurry. Most teams in a perfect world carry 2.5 catchers-two to rotate and then an emergency guy that also plays another position that can catch if the other two get hurt.     I'm the president of a Valley League team and most teams on our league seem to carry 3 catchers.  If his coach would write a reference letter, he could e-mail all the teams  in various leagues and if a spot pops up as often happens, he may get contacted. If he gets decent playing time in the spring and performs well, that will be a big help.   (Teams are always needing bullpen catchers so another possibility would be for him to offer to be the bullpen catcher-he'll get a lot of catching in, he will probably get to take BP, and if one of the other catchers gets hurt, or goes home to his girlfriend,  your son could slide into that spot. )       

hokieone;

Please continue to provide your views on this very important topic.

Best wishes on your team in 2025.

How many games will you play this season? We played 42 in the old BASIN League.

Bob

Thanks everyone for the input and feedback.  You don't know what you don't know so the advice is appreciated.  Work in progress - will update as things progress in hopes of helping others in a similar situation.

Anyone have any insight on the Prospect League?

Son told coach he would be interested in the temporary contract for the Northwoods but wanted to continue playing after that somewhere if that opportunity wasn't extended, etc.  Coach told him today about a full time contract in the Prospect League.  Trying to research it now but curious if anyone has any experience with that one.

My juco freshman son is also trying to find a summer league spot. His coach has reached out to the Valley League, but didn't hear back from anyone. Sort of stinks that he's at a school that's far away and doesn't have close connections to summer leagues on this side of the country.

HiC

did you notice the attendance at the games. The talent level is high to draw fans.
Bob

Don't want to start a separate thread, but anyone's kid playing on Upper Valley (NECBL) this summer?

http://www.calripkenleague.org/view/calripkenleague

League based in N Virginia, DC, Maryland mostly around the beltway.  Lots of Freshmen/Sophomores so solid opportunity to play.  Travel is usually within an hour of your home team, so that cuts a lot of travel time.  40 or so games which is not comparable to the Northwoods League but still a good number of games.  Quite a few players have had a lot of success after funneling through the league.

Big league is obviously the Cape Cod League if he can get there after his Sophomore season.