Can a parent's behavior really help or hurt a prospect's chances?

It can really only hurt. I cant see it helping much...either the kid can play or he can't.

It didn't hurt my kid

I think many times a parents true colors don't come out until paperwork is signed and Dad/Mom finds out life is not what they expected it to be. My son once said "Dad, coach really likes you because you don't talk to him about me".

As far as recruiting goes a bad parent is excess baggage and along with every other facet of life "excess baggage" is an issue that cannot or will not be ignored. Whether or not it is a big enough issue to be a determining factor is up to each individual coach. We're talking "YOUNG ADULTS" here, and there comes a time when the parent has to evolve and become the kids "#1 fan" and not his business manager.

It 100% can effect the recruiting of a player. I've seen it happen to a player on our team. If your one of the top 100 players I'm sure they take the parents as part of the deal. After that it does matter and it will effect recruitment.

I have seen it help and hurt.
One pitcher I knew became good friends with a recruiter 5-6 years ago. He signed his son to a substantial scholarship. The coach and parent stil talk to each other to this day 2 years after the son graduated.
I also got lots of advice from that coach through the parent and I got advice from coaches that I had good relations with during the recruiting process.
I am sure the parent got his son signed because of his friendship with the coach.

I can only speculate about this, but I would imagine that a coach who sniffs out nightmare parents during recruiting would think twice.

There's a lot of talent out there. Unless the recruit is of the elite blue chip variety, the coach is going to have options. Why buy himself a headache?

Justbaseball, interesting question. For the most part I don’t think parental involvement helps or hinders recruitment --- but I said “for the most part”. Two exceptions. I think the pushy, omnipresent, parent can hurt the marginal player’s chances at the smaller college where the coach is more accessible ---- and ---- on the flip side I think when recruiting a highly sought after player many coaches actually want some “exchange” with the parents. This helps seal the deal during recruiting. Coaches don’t like parental involvement, unless it helps them. Coaches are pretty savvy group. Coaches understand that many young players look to their parents for guidance. I felt as if some coaches knew my son and I were close and would try to win my son over by developing a rapport with me. I’ve had some give me their cell numbers and home numbers, inviting my involvement. We did accompany our son on official and unofficial visits and it was not uncommon for a coach to ask us if “we” (mom and dad) had any questions. When it comes to coaches and recruiting I think the player should ask the questions and the parents reserve their comments unless spoken to.
Fungo

quote:

Originally posted by justbaseball:
Sometimes you read on here advice to 'stay out of the way'

To the extent this means "don't be obnoxious", it's good advice. But I suspect that most early verbal commitments are facilitated by a parent who initiates contact with a college coach (since the coach can't initiate contact) and who also foots the bill for an unofficial visit. Usually, a parent who promotes a player would be perceived as obnoxious only if the player isn't desirable to the coach.

A parent can be interactive (during recruiting, not after the player is signed up!) without raising a concern that the parent will attempt to interfere or control after college starts.

Edited to say: "As usual, Fungo said it better."

Most parents promote their son to some extent. That is normal behavior.

The real potential baggage will complain about past coaches or the fact that their kid should be ranked much higher. They also seem to have an excuse for everything that doesn't work out in their favor. Others mention things like "We told the coach". Or his teammates didn't help him.

These are among the BIG warning signs!

It's interesting that most parents of the very top players (I'd guess much more than 90%) don't have any difficulties.

I once asked a "highest level" college coach if he was going after a certain talented player. His reply was "NO WAY, we don't want to deal with the parents"! Can't speak for all coaches, but someone here said it... There are lots of good players. Parents can and have caused problems. You could ask most any coach! For that matter, ask yourself. Put yourself in the shoes of the coach. Would you give a scholarship to someone while thinking his parents is likely to take complaints to the AD or President of the college? Or worse yet to the media? Would you want a parent that would be a total embarrassment to your program when attending the games? Would you want a parent that will try to do anything to get you fired if things don't go their way? Yes, these type parents do exist! It's always best to find them early rather than too late!

The better the program, the pickier they can be.

I saw in one instance where the fathers attitude really hurt the player at some schools but not at others. The player was good (D1 prospect) but probably not great due to his size. The father was both a former Marine Corp. officer, minor league skipper and held all coaches accountable for what they said and did. If the coach told the player that he would call him on Sunday and it was Tuesday before he called back the father would rip the coach a new hole. The fathers take was that if the coach was an upstanding man and had done what he said he would do they would not have had any problems. The player signed with a Big 10 school and was drafted out of college.

quote:

Originally posted by 3FingeredGlove:

A parent can be interactive (during recruiting, not after the player is signed up!) without raising a concern that the parent will attempt to interfere or control after college starts.

Can you provide some examples of interference or control?

From PGSTAFF:"I once asked a "highest level" college coach if he was going after a certain talented player. His reply was "NO WAY, we don't want to deal with the parents"!

Did the parents want to make out the lineup card?

From PGSTAFF:"It's interesting that most parents of the very top players (I'd guess much more than 90%) don't have any difficulties."

Wait till any baseball adversity comes calling??

OLDSLUGGER,

I've never heard of any player who has managed to miss out on experiencing "baseball adversity".

Some just handle it different than others. Same goes for the parents.

You would be surprised how many coaches ask us the simple question " What is the family like/ How are the parents?"

In todays world of Mommy and Daddy running kids lives, ever see them carry the kids equipment into the baseball complex/, coaches are becoming very wary of the parents

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
OLDSLUGGER,

I've never heard of any player who has managed to miss out on experiencing "baseball adversity".

Some just handle it different than others. Same goes for the parents.

Depends on each individuals definition of "baseball adversity".

I have been told it can hurt a prospects chances. Coaches know they have to deal with parents, but they don't like parents who will tell them how to do their job.

Not only can it hurt it during the process, but later on. I have seen coaches take away a starting position because parents had the need to tell the coaches how to coach their son.

There are also many coaches who will often NOT recruit players with alumni family unless their is a trusting prior relationship. They become unhappy, then run straight to the AD.

There are also coaches who like to get to know the parents as well as the recruit. The bonding process for parents of players is important. Coaches want to make sure that parents support each other's players.

I don't get the baseball adversity comment.

This is a good subject, PG Staff is correct from my personal experience. We found the parents of the early signees to be very laid back, knew their son's talent was good enough to take them where they wanted to go. It was always parents of the fringe players that always complained.

Now I would introduce myself to these coaches that sent my son prospect forms, etc. I always felt they were ill at ease to speak to the parent. I never said a word about my son's baseball abilities, just said "hi, I'm so and so's dad". Of course all these coaches schools ended up dropping my son but I thought it was a polite thing to do. Now I ignore these coaches totally, if they wish to speak to me, they know where to find me.

quote:

We found the parents of the early signees to be very laid back, knew their son's talent was good enough to take them where they wanted to go

Well, it ain't MLB, but the Bonu$$$$$$

OldSlugger - I don't understand your post. Why the $$ signs in so many of your posts? Just curious.

I said I'd get back with some thoughts (not that anyone should really care).

But I think it all matters less than we might like to believe. It might be a 'tie-breaker' for the close-call kids for a particular program and I don't doubt that as PG describes, some talented kids have been left out of college choices due to overzealous parents.

But overall, I really think if the talent is there, most college coaches have plenty of confidence that they can control the situation. And while I'm not a nice guy , I seriously doubt being a nice guy helps at all.

quote:

Originally posted by justbaseball:
OldSlugger - I don't understand your post. Why the $$ signs in so many of your posts? Just curious.

I said I'd get back with some thoughts (not that anyone should really care).

But I think it all matters less than we might like to believe. It might be a 'tie-breaker' for the close-call kids for a particular program and I don't doubt that as PG describes, some talented kids have been left out of college choices due to overzealous parents.

But overall, I really think if the talent is there, most college coaches have plenty of confidence that they can control the situation. And while I'm not a nice guy , I seriously doubt being a nice guy helps at all.

I am glad you brought that up cause I don't get it either.

JB,
I care what you say! But somehow I can't see you NOT being a nice guy.

quote:

Originally posted by TPM:
I have seen coaches take away a starting position because parents had the need to tell the coaches how to coach their son.

Overzealous parents are a pain in the arse, and I thought that I have seen the the best of the worst. I cannot imagine a parents actions affecting the quality of a team a coach puts on the field. If these situations exist, shame on any coach who penalizes the entire team for the actions of one players parent.

Simple Math

WOW


I have been told


I have seen


How does that equate ???