Can attending a showcase at the wrong time hurt?

With the new recruiting rules I wouldn’t consider this a bad time. If it’s optional, wait.  If not, it’s not going to be a game changer, just plan to do one end of next year or junior year.

Showcases for travel teams are typically run by an organization like Prospect Select, local PBR affiliate, or another organization. I don't think attending it can hurt at all. It will give him the feel of what to expect in a low stress environment.

I've seen a lot of travel teams count these towards one of their summer "events" and replace a tournament with low cost showcase.

@TerribleBPthrower posted:

I've seen a lot of travel teams count these towards one of their summer "events" and replace a tournament with low cost showcase.

Thank you.

We are new to this organization, so we are still trying to figure things out.  They actually have not modified the schedule, but simply added this to an off day.   Also sounds like this could be an annual event for some of this organization's teams.  It is all new to us.

After watching so many showcases, and reviewing so many rankings, I believe that I have a good business idea.

Pay me 1/5 (say $100 for PG) of the cost of the showcase you are considering.  I'll work your player out (or review video) and let you know if he should go to the showcase.

1 - If I say he should go, you get 1/2 your cost back and should feel comfortable that you'll have something show at the event.

2 - If I say he should not go, I've saved you 80% of the cost of the showcase.

3 - If I say he should not go, and you decide TO GO, then be ready to be disappointed AND it will have cost you 20% more.  If you decide to go to the showcase AFTER I said not to, AND you score a 8.5-9.5 ranking, I'll refund you all your money.

Based on what I've seen at most showcases 15-20% fall into #1 and of the ones that fall into 2/3, most will still choose option 3 and receive scores of 6-8.

Are you confusing high profile tournaments with individual showcases? My son was never officially measured for any metrics at tournaments.

@RJM posted:

Are you confusing high profile tournaments with individual showcases? My son was never officially measured for any metrics at tournaments.

I don't think so, but much of this is indeed new to us.  It would appear that the team is doing some invite tournaments (not sure what truly qualifies as "high profile" versus the hype surrounding where we are going) and that this is a scout day and the word "showcase" is being used in the description. It appears that it is being hosted by the organization along with one of the self-described high school scouting organizations mentioned by one of the previous posters.

For what it's worth, we have not been asked to pay additional money for it...as of now. 

@russinfortworth posted:

After watching so many showcases, and reviewing so many rankings, I believe that I have a good business idea.

Pay me 1/5 (say $100 for PG) of the cost of the showcase you are considering.  I'll work your player out (or review video) and let you know if he should go to the showcase.

1 - If I say he should go, you get 1/2 your cost back and should feel comfortable that you'll have something show at the event.

2 - If I say he should not go, I've saved you 80% of the cost of the showcase.

3 - If I say he should not go, and you decide TO GO, then be ready to be disappointed AND it will have cost you 20% more.  If you decide to go to the showcase AFTER I said not to, AND you score a 8.5-9.5 ranking, I'll refund you all your money.

Based on what I've seen at most showcases 15-20% fall into #1 and of the ones that fall into 2/3, most will still choose option 3 and receive scores of 6-8.

Great business model! You could call it Imperfect Game.

Our organization had scout days.  It can't hurt.  There might be PBR or college coaches there, and it will also show your organization where your son is now.  If they are holding scout days, they must be college-recruiting-focused, and this will help them plan for your son.

If we are talking any other kind of showcase, I think russinfortworth's plan is awesome.   Alternatively, it never hurts to ask your travel coach, or the head of the travel organization, or whoever does college recruitment, whether or not your son should attend any particular showcase or camp.  They should be happy to help you - that is what you're paying them for.

Even if he doesn’t do well and they do another one next year and preforms better, wouldn’t you want to sho growth/improvement?

If there’s no extra cost, then why not? Every kid has their own progression, some are linear, some bloom early and some like my son bloom late. I don’t think there’s any benefit in attempting to manage how that’s perceived.

@TerribleBPthrower posted:

Showcases for travel teams are typically run by an organization like Prospect Select, local PBR affiliate, or another organization. I don't think attending it can hurt at all. It will give him the feel of what to expect in a low stress environment.

I've seen a lot of travel teams count these towards one of their summer "events" and replace a tournament with low cost showcase.

Our son had a similar experience but his experience had a combine and showcase feel to it.  It was run by his  travel organization with many (dozen or so) college coaches in attendance.   Essentially, the travel org would run the combine then have the National 15U team scrimmage the National 16U team with modified rules (ie hitters start with a 1-1 count).   

Everybody got their combine metrics, exposure and experience being around college coaches.   It was the first time my son had been around that many college coaches, so it was a great learning experience for him.   For those college coaches in attendance that were interested in my son, his travel coach became the communication conduit going forward.   He ended up being followed seriously by 3 of these schools and eventually offered.

I thought the experience was invaluable.   

@anotherparent posted:

Our organization had scout days.  It can't hurt.  There might be PBR or college coaches there, and it will also show your organization where your son is now.  If they are holding scout days, they must be college-recruiting-focused, and this will help them plan for your son.

Here you described very accurately what it sounds like it is.  Thank you.

Son, who was previously the young, short speedy guy on his travel teams, has grown so quickly that he's actually commented that it feels like he's "running on stilts."  For the very first time in his life, he actually appears a bit lanky. He is starting to grow into his big feet and hands and I just think he's aware that he may look a bit like a baby giraffe.    He runs and lifts quite a bit in the offseason, but he is a younger freshman.  I think his plan was simply to start these types of things a bit more physically mature, but maybe that's not what they are about.  Appreciate all who have commented!

Here is the thing about showcase events. Some of them are good and some of them are bad. And you usually can’t judge that beforehand - although sometimes you can. Just because an event has a name brand on it doesn’t mean it will be a good event. It boils down to the ability of the individuals running each event. Especially those doing the “evaluating.” Some are pretty good at it. Most are not. The ones that are not go by word of mouth and comparison of metrics. And it’s not hard to see that this can result in some bad rankings. Player A may run a faster 60 than Player B but that does not make him a better baseball player. That’s why college coaches don’t put much stock in rankings. Players and parents shouldn’t either. IMO the player attending the showcase is often the best person to evaluate how he compares to other participants. If he is honest with himself. And attending a showcase early can be a great way for a player to do his own comparison about where he stands relative to his peers. That’s the best reason to go.

@ILoveBaseball04 posted:

I don't think so, but much of this is indeed new to us.  It would appear that the team is doing some invite tournaments (not sure what truly qualifies as "high profile" versus the hype surrounding where we are going) and that this is a scout day and the word "showcase" is being used in the description. It appears that it is being hosted by the organization along with one of the self-described high school scouting organizations mentioned by one of the previous posters.

For what it's worth, we have not been asked to pay additional money for it...as of now. 

When there are 24-100+ teams at a tournament there isn’t time to measure everyone in the sixty, throwing velocity and exit velocity.

At high profile tournaments with college coaches they may have their own stopwatch and radar gun to time players they came to see or an unknown that catches their eye.

When your player attends these events he doesn’t want to go as an unknown. His travel coach should be preselling him to college coaches to come see him play.

If your team has an individual team scout day they will likely be run through a showcase like event where everything is measured.

@Dadof3 posted:

Even if he doesn’t do well and they do another one next year and preforms better, wouldn’t you want to sho growth/improvement?

We were told this by one coach, but in hindsight, I think that we wasted time, mental energy, and especially money doing this.  Once you post unimpressive numbers online, you are kind of locked into doing more showcases to improve them.  When you are ready to be recruited, that's the time to do a showcase.

Edited to add:  I mean public showcases like PBR and PG.  Scout days run by organizations should be done whenever the player is invited.

Free is good. It's an experience. Organization's numbers will not go into some national database that you have to overcome. Nobody trusts their numbers anyway. Been there, done that. I wouldn't over analyze it.

Maybe the experience shows him and you where he is behind and needs to step up and train. Next year, he's bigger, stronger, and faster.

No risk version, you can generate all the numbers at the house.  Stopwatch, pocket radar(some dad has one), batting tee, ...

Performing under stress requires a little practice.  This is a low consequence stress test.

You can do a showcase anytime as long as the metrics don’t become available to the general public. Early in the summer after freshman year my son did a local college showcase. He was 5’11” 135 at the time. The only people who saw the metrics was the coach of the hosting mediocre, mid major D1 he had no interest in and the handful of D3 coaches who were also invited. The metrics weren’t posted anywhere to be a history.

I wanted my son to understand the routine and what to prepare for in the future. The event was $125 fifteen years ago. I’m guessing we helped financed next year’s spring trip.

As a college coach I've seen a ton of players not ready for a showcase. It's always best to be at peak performance when in front of a coach, in any setting. However, coaches take a lot into consideration so if you're going to make some contacts it can be a good idea.  Metrics are only a small part of the whole picture. The eye test is usually a deal breaker. Do I see a confident, capable athlete that holds himself well and is willing to get out of his comfort zone. To tell you the truth most of us coaches are going to see certain kids already on our radar so never go to a showcase where your target schools are not attending. Also make sure you contact the coach ahead of time so he will have eyes on you. The follow up call/email to get feedback is much more important. Never rely on the showcase evaluation unless it's done by a coach or scout.

Judging from what I see on the self-described scouting organization's website, raw metrics will be public (they don't appear to "grade,") although it appears that this is an annual event for the top teams with this travel organization.  So assuming he stays with this team, he will do this same event next year.

Son is athletically -built , he is just rather long-limbed as of late, at 6'0, 170.    I am sure he will be more muscular and quite possibly taller (stronger, faster ) next year.  Although his focus is on improving and developing, his winter metrics were actually some of the top in our local organization.  Again, all feedback is appreciated, as I am trying to help son put this in perspective since this appears to be a team activity that he was asked to register for.

@ILoveBaseball04 posted:

Judging from what I see on the self-described scouting organization's website, raw metrics will be public (they don't appear to "grade,") although it appears that this is an annual event for the top teams with this travel organization.  So assuming he stays with this team, he will do this same event next year.

Son is athletically -built , he is just rather long-limbed as of late, at 6'0, 170.    I am sure he will be more muscular and quite possibly taller (stronger, faster ) next year.  Although his focus is on improving and developing, his winter metrics were actually some of the top in our local organization.  Again, all feedback is appreciated, as I am trying to help son put this in perspective since this appears to be a team activity that he was asked to register for.

My son was 6’ 160 when he started doing major showcases and drawing attention. I’m sure coaches envisioned the potential when he developed into a 6’2”, 190 player.