Does anyone know if there are college scouts attending this tournament? If you have been what was your experience?
Thanks
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Most of the Arizona Connie Mack teams who participate in the tournament are coached by coaches with professional links. These individuals have lots of ties into college ranks too. Hopefully that partially answers your question.
Thanks, my son (2011) is on a team from Ca. Trying to decide if I should send him to the Qualifier or stay home and go to a showcase.
The Connie Mack Tournament is high quality ball. However there is no guarantee that a rep from a specific school will be present. Does the showcase have coaches coming from schools in which he is interested?
yes it does but he really wants to go play as a team. I guess there is plenty of time fro showcases later this summer. I was just trying to get a feeel for the tournament and what people thought.
I would not miss the qualifier. In fact, in choosing between he qualifier and the Stanford camp, my sons and their friends have selected the qualifier and not regretted it. (And we think the Stanford camp is top-notch). The talent level is amazing, and there are lots of coaches with an outstanding chance to get a great sense of the players they are watching. Best of luck in whatever you decide.
Most of the quality Arizona high school juniors players play Connie Mack. Also a fair number of far north players come to the Valley, play summer ball, and get in reps.
Be prepared for heat.
Be prepared for heat.
Jakester, I second jemaz. There has been a steady stream of local scouts both college and professional (mainly bird dogs along with some cross-checkers) at the Arizona high school playoff games this week and last. I bet they will be out at the Connie Mack games too since both tournaments are played in the same venues.
By the way the Stanford Camp does not overlap the Connie Mack event. They are in back-to-back weeks this summer. The Stanford Camp has 50+ collegiate baseball programs in attendance, so there are some good opportunities for exposure there too if you have the chance.
By the way the Stanford Camp does not overlap the Connie Mack event. They are in back-to-back weeks this summer. The Stanford Camp has 50+ collegiate baseball programs in attendance, so there are some good opportunities for exposure there too if you have the chance.
quote:Originally posted by Jakester:
Thanks, my son (2011) is on a team from Ca. Trying to decide if I should send him to the Qualifier or stay home and go to a showcase.
Honestly, there is not even a choice here. How can you even debate that? You owe 100% to your team.
Here's a scenario- What if they found a player better than your son. Is it okay for them to replace you or do they owe you some kind of loyalty? This is a two-way deal and players/families are really losing perspective on self and what is right and wrong in life.
I think NC he should discuss with his coach ahead of time. In my son's case we discussed it with his CM team coach before hand and layed out when he would not be available during the summer due to conflicts. He was completely fine with it which is why he carry's a lot of kids on his team.
BOF- We run a 17&U team and if we let every guy do every thing they wanted to do we wouldn't have a team. We feel that if we play in the right venues, college coaches are going to see us in droves. Secondly, college coaches would rather see how they play over a 5 game tournament than a weekend showcase. Trust me, there are way too many mistakes being made these days based on what I call "false positives".
I'm not saying that you shouldn't go to a showcase. We run one that has 60-70 college coaches and pro scouts. They are a great place for players who do not play on a high-level program. In addition, we schedule our games so that we work around the local Area Code tryouts. It's free and the AC Games don't interfere with our regular season schedule.
The other national venue that we don't mind our guys going to is the 18u USA Tournament of the Stars. First of all, all expenses are paid. Secondly, they play in a team format. Finally, players have a chance to represent their country in international competition. Pretty special.
Bottom line- My problem with the landscape of amateur baseball these days is that there is too big of an emphasis on individual and not on team. It is a culture that is fostered in "fear" and ignorance. Parents are scared that if they don't do this camp, attend this showcase, get this ranking, that their student-athlete won't earn a scholarship and be able to play at the next level or get drafted high enough. They are spending thousands of dollars so "Johnny" can be seen throughout the country. You see the same kids at almost all the venues. They are the same kids who will pay a ridiculous amount to go to Arizona in the fall so they can play on a "corporate" team made up specifically to play in this tournament only. I see these kids get off their buses as they pull up to the fields and as they walk up to the fields, I feel badly for them because they are being sold a dream and their parents have been taken for thousands.
I'm not saying that you shouldn't go to a showcase. We run one that has 60-70 college coaches and pro scouts. They are a great place for players who do not play on a high-level program. In addition, we schedule our games so that we work around the local Area Code tryouts. It's free and the AC Games don't interfere with our regular season schedule.
The other national venue that we don't mind our guys going to is the 18u USA Tournament of the Stars. First of all, all expenses are paid. Secondly, they play in a team format. Finally, players have a chance to represent their country in international competition. Pretty special.
Bottom line- My problem with the landscape of amateur baseball these days is that there is too big of an emphasis on individual and not on team. It is a culture that is fostered in "fear" and ignorance. Parents are scared that if they don't do this camp, attend this showcase, get this ranking, that their student-athlete won't earn a scholarship and be able to play at the next level or get drafted high enough. They are spending thousands of dollars so "Johnny" can be seen throughout the country. You see the same kids at almost all the venues. They are the same kids who will pay a ridiculous amount to go to Arizona in the fall so they can play on a "corporate" team made up specifically to play in this tournament only. I see these kids get off their buses as they pull up to the fields and as they walk up to the fields, I feel badly for them because they are being sold a dream and their parents have been taken for thousands.
ncball. You guys run a great program up there and I understand where you are coming from. But being a little selfish (and realistic) about the recruiting process it IS about the individual not the team. Certainly a team of great individuals is going to draw interest, which is your point I guess.
I am also not a big fan of all of the college camps, however the Stanford Camp is a must for a high academic player, and the Area Code tryouts and games as well as the National Team tryouts are a must for the high end player. Which means a player will miss the July 4th week-end, one day for the Area Code tryouts (and hopefully games 3-4 days in August) and another week-end for the National Team series and if picked he is a week in NC. Soooo you add all that up and it impacts a team. My point is that this is OK as long as it is all discussed up front. In my son's case he is playing on an 18U team and lots of the kids don't do those events so all is good.
You are spot on regarding the "corporate kids", I can tell you this, those kids/parents on that bus have not been posting/reading here at HSBBW!
I am also not a big fan of all of the college camps, however the Stanford Camp is a must for a high academic player, and the Area Code tryouts and games as well as the National Team tryouts are a must for the high end player. Which means a player will miss the July 4th week-end, one day for the Area Code tryouts (and hopefully games 3-4 days in August) and another week-end for the National Team series and if picked he is a week in NC. Soooo you add all that up and it impacts a team. My point is that this is OK as long as it is all discussed up front. In my son's case he is playing on an 18U team and lots of the kids don't do those events so all is good.
You are spot on regarding the "corporate kids", I can tell you this, those kids/parents on that bus have not been posting/reading here at HSBBW!
quote:Originally posted by BOF:
ncball. You guys run a great program up there and I understand where you are coming from. But being a little selfish (and realistic) about the recruiting process it IS about the individual not the team. Certainly a team of great individuals is going to draw interest, which is your point I guess.
I am also not a big fan of all of the college camps, however the Stanford Camp is a must for a high academic player, and the Area Code tryouts and games as well as the National Team tryouts are a must for the high end player. Which means a player will miss the July 4th week-end, one day for the Area Code tryouts (and hopefully games 3-4 days in August) and another week-end for the National Team series and if picked he is a week in NC. Soooo you add all that up and it impacts a team. My point is that this is OK as long as it is all discussed up front. In my son's case he is playing on an 18U team and lots of the kids don't do those events so all is good.
You are spot on regarding the "corporate kids", I can tell you this, those kids/parents on that bus have not been posting/reading here at HSBBW!
BOF- Thanks for the compliment. I will admit, we have a unique situation. Kind of goes back to Reagan's (not to be political) trickle down theory. The stronger our team is, the more likely colleges and pro scouts will come watch our team. They might come see one guy and find two more. We also host a couple tournaments and coaches and scouts flock to it.
Very few guys will get an invite for Tournament of Stars. Area Code tryouts are normally on Mondays in our area so it doesn't interfere. I don't disagree with the Stanford Camp- they are good friends and are in our back yard. That said, Stanford knows our guys well and I'm good friends with most of the Ivy schools- thus, not as necessary for our guys.
We have developed a system that we feel will save our parents thousands of dollars while still getting high exposure and playing on a team. So far, so good.
Jemaz..What dates are the qualifier set for 2011 in Arizona?
The 2011 Arizona National Connie Mack World Series Qualifier will be held at Tempe Diablo Sports Complex June 21-26, 2011 with teams arriving on Monday June 20.
Thanks RB. Being at Tempe Diablo, I would suspect the Angels Scout Team will do it for the 2011 graduating seniors. Hopefully the 2012 will get a chance as well.
The Angels will have one team in the Qualifier.
This event is regarded as one of the toughest in the country and as a result the demand for spots in the tourney is very high. Its also a candy store for scouts and college coaches, where they can see players really do battle in a team format with a big ol' carrot at the end of the week.
This event is regarded as one of the toughest in the country and as a result the demand for spots in the tourney is very high. Its also a candy store for scouts and college coaches, where they can see players really do battle in a team format with a big ol' carrot at the end of the week.
http://web.usabaseball.com/eve...le.jsp?type=team_16u
We will also be in that area competeing in the USA Tournament that same week. Our team is an 18u team but has a lot of underclassman on it. Just curious how do the kids get invited to the TOS or I guess the best way I should say?
We will also be in that area competeing in the USA Tournament that same week. Our team is an 18u team but has a lot of underclassman on it. Just curious how do the kids get invited to the TOS or I guess the best way I should say?
Who are the teams participating this year?
quote:Originally posted by ncball:
BOF- We run a 17&U team and if we let every guy do every thing they wanted to do we wouldn't have a team. We feel that if we play in the right venues, college coaches are going to see us in droves. Secondly, college coaches would rather see how they play over a 5 game tournament than a weekend showcase. Trust me, there are way too many mistakes being made these days based on what I call "false positives".
I'm not saying that you shouldn't go to a showcase. We run one that has 60-70 college coaches and pro scouts. They are a great place for players who do not play on a high-level program. In addition, we schedule our games so that we work around the local Area Code tryouts. It's free and the AC Games don't interfere with our regular season schedule.
The other national venue that we don't mind our guys going to is the 18u USA Tournament of the Stars. First of all, all expenses are paid. Secondly, they play in a team format. Finally, players have a chance to represent their country in international competition. Pretty special.
Bottom line- My problem with the landscape of amateur baseball these days is that there is too big of an emphasis on individual and not on team. It is a culture that is fostered in "fear" and ignorance. Parents are scared that if they don't do this camp, attend this showcase, get this ranking, that their student-athlete won't earn a scholarship and be able to play at the next level or get drafted high enough. They are spending thousands of dollars so "Johnny" can be seen throughout the country. You see the same kids at almost all the venues. They are the same kids who will pay a ridiculous amount to go to Arizona in the fall so they can play on a "corporate" team made up specifically to play in this tournament only. I see these kids get off their buses as they pull up to the fields and as they walk up to the fields, I feel badly for them because they are being sold a dream and their parents have been taken for thousands.
Excellent post. My program has the same philosophy. Another added aspect of the team concept is that I think it lets the prospects play at their top level. With all the stress of the recruiting process (don't kid yourselves, no matter how mentally prepared the prospect is, there is some pressure), its much better to be surrounded by 18-20 of your best friends then to be on your own with 150 strangers, a stop watch, and a radar gun deciding your college future.
Arizona National Connie Mack World Series Qualifier schedules and results will be posted at www.azdiamondreport.com
