Coach Asking Kid to Miss Tourney Playoffs to Attend Camp

How old is the kid?  How serious is the recruitment level?

Ask the travel coach to call the RC. If the travel team is serious about getting players recruited or drafted the travel coach will be happy to make the call and make the connection.

Travel ball is about getting recruited, nobody would have an objection. Who needs another trophy?

It's more complicated if your son is a pitcher, then some coordination is needed, you can't pitch two days in a row.

I'm not sure the college coaches care what else is going on.

To follow up:  if the RC has been calling the kid on a weekly or every other week basis, selling the kid on the program, the interest is pretty serious.

If it’s just that the recruiting coordinator  personally invited the kid to the camp, and they’ve never talked on the phone, and they’ve never seen your son play in person, or only saw him once, the interest is mostly in getting the camp fees in their pocket.

@Iowamom23 posted:

I'm not sure the college coaches care what else is going on.

we kind of agree here, i am sure they don't!

My kid is also missing part of the tourney to attend a camp. The travel coach is fine with it but my kid is a position player so there is less coordination. The kid confirmed the decision makers will be at the camp so it is not just a fund raiser.

We had a PC that was insistent son go to a September camp at their school. I said no. We had been to two or three camps, including a showcase at the school the week before the camp (turned out the team was in Taiwan that week).PC and HC had attended several games. PC told us he wanted son in a Hawkeye uniform.

I thought they just wanted another $100 and if they really wanted son, they had had plenty of chances.

Son begged. I relented. They made him an offer before the camp was over.

Know exactly what you're getting into, but it can be worthwhile.

The reason we go to tourneys and showcases is to get recruited.   But being recruited has various stages....interest, serious interest, and offers.   Only you and your son know how you are seen by the coaches recruiting him.   If this is a D1 school high on your son's list and they've been talking about scholarships, time lines, academics then I'd probably go.   Anything less than that, I think you need to think through what exactly is the benefit of attending and possibly ask some follow up questions to the RC so it is clearer.

JMO.

If he was serious about your son he'd rather see him play in a tournament than attend a camp.  I don't know anyone who was recruited at a college camp, including my son who was personally invited to multiple camps which proved to be a waste of time and money.

I know lots of kids recruited/offered at camps...

A regular camp is usually a waste of time and a money grab. If it’s a legitimate prospect camp it can be valuable.

@RJM posted:

A regular camp is usually a waste of time and a money grab. If it’s a legitimate prospect camp it can be valuable.

My son was offered at prospect camps.

I agree with several of the posts above. If you are getting close to the end of the process, a camp is a way for all of the coaching staff to interact with your son in a personal manner and vis-a-versa. A lot of times, the RC or position coach will have seen your son far more than the HC and a camp gets everyone in one place at one time and often results in an offer. In my opinion, it is not as "urgent" earlier in the process. Earlier in the process we coordinated around his travel schedule and used camps very strategically. I think he did 4 camps total with the first one being the fall of his Sophomore year.

Has there been ongoing communication? What year is your son? If it is a first communication email or regular mail, then I'd say skip it. My son has a ton of RC's that have personally invited him to camps. None of them have any idea who he is. They just purchased his contact info from PG or some other tournament org. He also has 3 coaches/RC's who have called his travel coach to tell him they are very interested. Those are legit opportunities.

FWIW, the GM of my son's travel org told the kids he expects them to miss parts of tournaments for college camps. He's trying to get each kid 2-3 camps where the coaches will know who they are before they show up.

1. What if, his replacement in the tournament goes 4 for 4. Can the player expect to return to his regular position?

2. Does the Travel Coach have personal communication with the College Coach.  Important  for "follow up".

3. During the Summer, how many additional TEAM players will depart for Prospect Camps.

Bob

If you are talking about D3s, they may well not be at tournaments, and rely on their camps to recruit players.  Often they will also be at multi-school showcases, like PBR, or the high academic ones.

@Smitty28 posted:

If he was serious about your son he'd rather see him play in a tournament than attend a camp.  I don't know anyone who was recruited at a college camp, including my son who was personally invited to multiple camps which proved to be a waste of time and money.

My son got his first offer after a camp.  Without knowing the whole scenario, it is hard to tell you their interest.  If they have never seen him play, then very little chance it is going to end in an offer but if they have watched him multiple times it is an opportunity for them to interact and get to know personality and possibly make an offer.  My other thought is, is it a big tournament or just a local one.  Probably not missing big one for camp but a regular tournament is no big deal.

The tourney is the PBR Mid-Atlantic National Qualifier in Richmond ( PBRT Mid-Atlantic National Qualifier - 17U | Prep Baseball Report ).

If there was communication prior to the camp invite and your son is interested in the school I’d say skip the tournament.