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Beginning the college search

F futurecatcher271,000+ posts
I realize this isnt the forum to post it in,but I figure it will be seen by more here.

I am going to enter my junior year of high school next year.I know this is a time when I should begin to contact schools which I am interested in,but also being realistic and not sending initial contact letters to schools I know I couldnt realisticly play at.

The bottom line is this.I am confident that I can play baseball at the college level,whether it be d1,d2,or Junior College.However,I am not someone that will overwhelm or "impress" you with skill or by making the great play(I hope that makes sense).I am still developing my game,still getting stronger,and most importantly still always tinkering with my batting stance(went from open,to closed,etc)

While I am still developing my game and strength,and trying to become a consistent High School player,I am supposed to now try and win over college coaches at the same time.Its beginning to seem like an overwhelming process,since this is still fairly foreign to me,and my family doesnt have background in this.

I am interested in several local junior colleges,as well as a few smaller D-1 baseball schools in surrounding states,but I wouldnt know how to begin to go about contacting them(and yes,Ive read the main site here numerous times)when I am still not compelely comfortable with my game,which is why I turned down a White Sox area codes tryout.

I just feel a bit lost,and overwhelmed,as many of my friends are getting the same invitations I am,only they have background in this type of thing.And my coach can be helpful,but hes not someone Id seek immediate advice from,even though he is very knowledgeable in the game of baseball and the process as a whole,more so for personal reasons.
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TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
Your lack of confidance will ultimately dictate your path.

Become a bit more confidant in yourself, send out letters to the schools that you are interested in with your schedule, and see if you can attend camps (if available) or a showcase in your area. Attend tryouts.

Sit down with your parents, today, and explain that you wish to pursue the game after HS, their support should be an important part of your journey. Go to your HS coach for support and suggestions.

It is still early in the process, do what you need to do this summer, next fall and spring. Have confidance in yourself.

You do not have to be the best there is to get an opportunity to play college ball.
Last edited by TPM
F futurecatcher271,000+ posts
thanks for the quick response(Its been a quite day at my work,so Im just kinda reflecting)

I am completely confident in myself,but you still have to be realistic.Originally being from Souther California,Id love to play at USC,CSF,UCI,etc but its just not going to happen,look at their out of state recruits,there are either one from maybe nearby arizona,or none at all!!!Thats what I mean by being realistic

I really like some of these schools out of the midwest though,like OSU and Mizzou,Connors JC.I just think this is such a complicated process,since Im still developing my game,so I appreciate people like you ,TPM,who can give an educated and positive response.
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
No problem.

Be realistic in your approach as to your ability, with conviction. Decide where you would like to live (geographically), what courses you wish to pursue in school.

Remember, you can go to a D2,D3, JUCO and transfer, but if your get stuck in a D1 situation you do not belong, you might have to sit out a year.
play baseballplay baseball1,000+ posts
The advice that I can give you it to study as hard as you possibly can. Get your grades, i.e., GPA up as high as you can. Really ace the PSAT, the SAT, and the ACT. Take the ACT and SAT preparation classes to help you in that quest.

Because the better your academic achievements are, the greater the number of schools that you could be accepted to and perhaps some academic will be offered. You want to be able to be accepted to any school and not declined due to grades. Academic money is usually much more than baseball money.

You may not have the time to do this, but try really hard to become involved in at least one other activity either at school or in your community. I know that you will be busy studying and improving your game, but it makes a huge difference to the college selection committee. Volunteer somewhere if you can. You don't have to do a whole lot, but try to do something.

And believe in your self and your abilities. Nobody will believe in you if you don't do believe in yourself.

Good luck and please report back!
Last edited by play baseball
shortstopmomshortstopmom1,000+ posts
Contact the scout who sent you the White Sox area code tryout!
I believe there might be another tryout June 16th at Little Rock. (?)

You have to make things happen. Don't doubt yourself,....be aggressive and believe in yourself. No one is a perfect player, but a good player is one who works daily to overcome, improve, and achieve.
Ask yourself: Are you coachable?
Are you willing to bust your rump to improve?

Let the coaches at the colleges decide if you are able to play for them or not. You are not capable of making that decision, only they are.

Your glass is not half empty,..its half full and you have time to figure things out.


Believe it, achieve it!!!

Now get a move on ( if you really want it ) and start making contacts!!!
Feel free to pm and we'll go through some steps together. I by no means have the most/best answers, but I may have a few ideas and can tell you what has worked and not worked for us as we learn the ropes. ( son is an 08'er )
Last edited by shortstopmom
06catcherdad06catcherdad1,000+ posts
Futurecatcher, if you can contact the scout who invited you to tryout, if it was actually for the tryout and not just the AC camps, I'd strongly suggest you see if you can be included this year. For you to get a tryout invitation, especially as a rising junior, someone had to think you have above average ability.

Even if you don't move on and make the white sox AC team, you'll still be on the tryout program with all of your contact information available to college coaches that attend and purchase the program to use as a recruiting resource. Only about 15-20 players, out of a pool of over 100 at each tryout, will make an AC team. There's nothing wrong with being one of those who weren't selected, and its an honor to be able to participate in the tryout. If you want lots of college recruiters to know who you are, you want your name included among those who were invited to tryout.

For me, and I have plenty of experience with student athletes who've tried out for AC teams, it is a no-brainer that you gladly accept this invitation if it is still open.
observer44observer441,000+ posts
.

Futurecatcher...


quote:
Let the coaches at the colleges decide if you are able to play for them or not. You are not capable of making that decision, only they are


Exactly. The player portion of this process is to work hard and develop, to prepare your best, and to market yourself and get seen. This you have done and are doing...

Beyond that it is the decision makers who will ultimately decide if you have what they are looking for. That is what they do.

As far as developing and being polished, by some measure no player is ever completely finished with this process, even at a professional level. The minute you feel you have arrived, that your skills are complete...you are on the way out. The fact that you realize that development is a long term, never-satsified process...lets me know that you have a more realistic view of the game than many, and an understanding of work ethic...the fact that you are getting unsolicited invites tells me that you have talent...and opportunity...

Work ethic + opportunity + talent = success.

And one last thing....IMO, you don't suddenly have to develop false confidence...all players have doubt, often it is what drives them....but you DO have to to be open to your talent...

...and to your opportunities.

All you need is enthusiasm. The process will work itself out if you participate. You and your parents will learn and grow with it. We here at the HSBBW will help.

Go for it.

Cool 44
.
Last edited by observer44
F futurecatcher271,000+ posts
thanks for the advice all

The reason I turned down the area codes tryout camp was because it was on a tuesday during finals week,so I couldnt really miss school for that,as much as I wouldve liked to.

I believe this scout might have seen me at a showcase I went to in early january,but thats surprising,because I will be the first to tell you I didnt do all that well that day.

Im truly hoping to attend one showcase this summer,along with playing my baseball schedule and working out.Hopefully by the winter of this year,I will be able to request an invite to a perfect game event,if not this year then for sure the next summer.

thanks again,Im just curious about how to go about contacting a college coach,because being realistic,Im not polished enough.After a good summer,which I like how things are going on the field and in the weight room,Im positive I will feel differently
Last edited by futurecatcher27
WalesWales1,000+ posts
fc27,

I gotta agree with what everyones said so far, especially about the confidence factor.

Confidence breeds success.

You have to truly believe in yourself, and in your abilities. If you don't a Coach or Scout or evaluator will see that and that could wind up being a strike against you.

Continue to work hard and 'the right school' will become available.

Easiest way to contact Coaches is either e-mail or mail a letter to them, once you've made contact it's up to them to see if they want to pursue you. You could include the fact about holding down the same job for 2 years, it might help. I for one never even thought of putting that on a contact letter.
F futurecatcher271,000+ posts
When sending an initial contact letter,I was going to describe my interest in the school,a copy of a schedule for future games or events I attend,and a very brief bit about myself(as in GPA,my goals,and something like other activities Im involved in,like work)

I think I may have worded it incorrectly.Im perfectly confident in myself,I wouldnt attend showcases and camps I have If I wasnt,I wouldnt have played my best game this summer against some great players If I wasnt,Im just being realistic.You cannot lie to yourself about schools,you simply cant.You have to be objective,yet confident at the same time.Or,for example,Im not going to go to a big time showcase,when I know realisticly Im about 4-6 months away from being ready.Being objective and realistic,and being confident are two completely seperate things if you ask me.Im just being objective,confidence is what has gotten me here thus far,and I know It will take me further
RedheadRedhead100+ posts
1. I recommend a PG showcase. You will be filmed and your video will be done professionally.
2. I also recommend setting up an account with SkillShow and keeping your info updated / correct.
3. Make a list of schools and coaches that your are interested in. This is time consuming but you can find all the contact info on line. Also fill out any prospective player surveys.
4. Send out initial letters of interest along with a 1 page resume.
5. When you get anything in response to those letters, count it as a positive and fill out/return anything that they send to you.
6. Next, maybe after a month, send out an email to your list and attach your skillshow page and video to it.
7. You will get more responses. Look at who has responded both times.
8. Three months later - email or letter to a select group that you are still interested in. If you play in the fall - send the coaches your schedule. As spring approaches send your schedule (they may not be able to come due to their own schedule) Ask if you can visit them and talk about the program (do this in the fall).
9. Ask your coach to contact them on your behalf.
10. Respectfully pursue them until they ignore you or tell you to go away.
11. Fear nothing - the worst they can do is say no. Leave no stone unturned - you don't want to look back in 20 years and wonder if you gave it your best shot.
Last edited by Redhead
B BobbleheadDoll5,000+ posts
I would suggest you don't go over the top. These coaches have a lot to do so don't put them into over load.
I liked email with dramatic photos to catch their attention. Make it short an sweet and let them digest the info and ask for additional material.

Stay away from canned video and presentation.

You should follow up a few days or a week later to see if the coach looked at it.
Last edited by BobbleheadDoll
F futurecatcher271,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Redhead:
1. I recommend a PG showcase. You will be filmed and your video will be done professionally.
2. I also recommend setting up an account with SkillShow and keeping your info updated / correct.
3. Make a list of schools and coaches that your are interested in. This is time consuming but you can find all the contact info on line. Also fill out any prospective player surveys.
4. Send out initial letters of interest along with a 1 page resume.
5. When you get anything in response to those letters, count it as a positive and fill out/return anything that they send to you.
6. Next, maybe after a month, send out an email to your list and attach your skillshow page and video to it.
7. You will get more responses. Look at who has responded both times.
8. Three months later - email or letter to a select group that you are still interested in. If you play in the fall - send the coaches your schedule. As spring approaches send your schedule (they may not be able to come due to their own schedule) Ask if you can visit them and talk about the program (do this in the fall).
9. Ask your coach to contact them on your behalf.
10. Respectfully pursue them until they ignore you or tell you to go away.
11. Fear nothing - the worst they can do is say no. Leave no stone unturned - you don't want to look back in 20 years and wonder if you gave it your best shot.


Thats extremely helpful.I really do appreciate your advice,as well as everyone elses.
Living with my mother and sister,who dont really understand baseball or the process,its difficult to know what to do.Im really happy I found this site,I cant even begin to say how helpful its been.
CM Coach May1,000+ posts
First of all dont worry about turning the heads of the college scouts. I suggest this.

Continue to work on your game as hard as you can. Work to be the best player you can. Do this in order to help your team win. And do this in order to be able to continue to play past HS regardless of what level it turns out to be.

Get on a showcase team in the summer that allows you to be seen by college coaches. But dont play to be seen by the coaches. Dont play worrying about how you think they thought you played. Just go out and play the game to win.

In the end it only takes one guy to say "Hey I like that kid. He can help us". If there are 50 college coaches there and 49 of them dont like you who cares. It only takes one to say he does.

I feel too many times kids get caught up in trying to be seen and trying to impress someone. Just work really hard at becoming the best player you can be. Put yourself in a posistion where some people can see you. And then just play the game to win the game.

There is a place for every kid that has "some talent" that loves the game , that is willing to work hard at getting better and wants to win.

Good Luck.
FungoFungoHighly Regarded and Beloved Old Timer
quote:
I feel too many times kids get caught up in trying to be seen and trying to impress someone. Just work really hard at becoming the best player you can be. Put yourself in a posistion where some people can see you. And then just play the game to win the game.


Coach May I know what you are saying and I agree. It must get confusing for these players trying to be seen. Players need to be where they can showcase their skills but once in that position they need forget the "showcase" aspect and focus on playing the game. Maybe players need to know the difference between "showing out" and "showing off".
F futurecatcher271,000+ posts
Well,I have some good news.I was invited,today,to a Top96 showcase.On the invitation,it said one of the local Juco`s "suggest" I attend.

Im likely going to go,because I guess its good exposure,and the price isnt terrible comparing to other showcases.

Im just happy whoever the scout or coach was, didnt see my game yesterday,because I just had an off day all around ................but this is the only sport where you can succeed 3/10 times,and be good,so Im not worried.

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