My son is one that got zero calls on July 1st. It wasn't easy when a few friends were telling him of the calls / offers they got that day...
Since then he's gotten a few calls from D1, D2 and D3 schools. I think he's hoping to hear from a few other schools that he's interested in, but I also believe that he will be happy with one of the schools if that doesn't happen as I think he's found one solid fit and two possible fits - just more research and maybe visits needed to get a better feel for them...
But, I will agree with what coaches see can be different based on the coach, their needs and probably a thousand other things...What I would find hard to believe is that a coach wouldn't at least take the time to make a phone call to a player they were interested in just because they didn't think the family could afford it or because they didn't think they had a chance...a simple phone call and / or a couple of e-mails would qualify that for the coach quickly and easily and they may be surprised!
I also know lots of kids and many parents get hung up on the D1 vs. "other" category...Luckily I convinced him to look into all levels of schools when he started his search and to listen to any college coach who showed some interest...I doubt he'll end up at any of the current top 25 programs, but he will end up with a good academic and baseball fit at whatever level seems to work out the best...
Good luck to all the 2011s out there and congrats to those who have already committed...hopefully mine and many others will be committing in the coming months!
As usual Coach May pretty much summed it up.
On the flip side I can see how it is difficult to rank & select kids. I just got back from the 17U NTIS tournament this weekend where many of the top kids in So Cal were. 18 from this group will be selected to go to NC for the USA national team trials. I sat in the stands trying to figure out which 18 I would pick, and I can tell you it would not be easy. There were probably 5-6 I saw that were hands down picks, and the rest it will probably come down to having a good game, at bat, or couple of innings in front of the right guy. I also understand a little more why it is important for a player to build his “baseball resume”. I am sure a number of kids will be selected because they are known because they are playing on one of the more visible teams who play at the top level week in and week out, and as a result are lower risk selections.
On the flip side I can see how it is difficult to rank & select kids. I just got back from the 17U NTIS tournament this weekend where many of the top kids in So Cal were. 18 from this group will be selected to go to NC for the USA national team trials. I sat in the stands trying to figure out which 18 I would pick, and I can tell you it would not be easy. There were probably 5-6 I saw that were hands down picks, and the rest it will probably come down to having a good game, at bat, or couple of innings in front of the right guy. I also understand a little more why it is important for a player to build his “baseball resume”. I am sure a number of kids will be selected because they are known because they are playing on one of the more visible teams who play at the top level week in and week out, and as a result are lower risk selections.
quote:The best fit for a kid is not only academics but baseball as well. We are talking about kids who love the game and really want to play in college. And we all want them to get the best education they can get at the same time. So good luck to all of you and dont stress about all of this. You can do everything right and still make a bad decision. You can do everything wrong and get lucky as hel. No one gave you a book and told you to follow it by the T when you were raising your kids. You simply did the best you could do and hoped it all worked out. Just do the best you can do and then support your kid.
I was going to agree with you about Coach May's post based on this. Then he finished it like so:
quote:And if it doesnt work out punt , play some great defense and score the next time you have the ball.
Highheat15, you must have missed my posts the last couple of years. Our son went the JC route and we could not be happier, full scholarships and no student loans. He wasn't good enough in the classroom for the larger schools to take a chance on him. The one thing I agree on, the recruiting trip can be extremely frustrating. Most of the schools you get letters and flyers from will never contact your son, all they do is give false hope.
This is one of the the longer threads I've read on here but a very engaging topic for all of the Dads going through this very intimidating process. Most kids want D-1, its what all there teamates talk about and brag about when the offers come but i think we've heard in this thread that the reality is where will the young man be able to "enjoy" his experience both being able to play and not sit, and get his education in a favorable enviornment. My kid wanted top D-1, go figure... the reality is he is low to mid D-1 talent, cetainly D-2. The Jucos are sometimes harder because you've got kids coming down or looking for draft options. We are going to go where we are wanted, have a good academic fit and where the coach is for real. Happens to be a D-2 but the releif and level of comfort we now have is incredible. He would love to play pro ball, knows his chances from a D-2 are less but hes a good kid and we'll see what happens. I think as parents we may need to step back and truly evaluate whats important. IMHO....
LTG2,
Very nice post.
Very nice post.
quote:No one gave you a book and told you to follow it by the T when you were raising your kids
That is the first thing I ask God when I meet him.Why in the He... did you not give us a darn book.
Agree, very nice post!