Contacting Coaches

I would say that contacting him at that point is premature. You can't offer him anything yet, why waste the opportunity to make a first impression, when that impression may be, "Why is this kid calling me, he can't tell me anything?"

What if the player's high school coach is a moron who can't/won't play the best players because of his likes, whims and political influences??? We had a undercalassman at our school last year who (and he's not Elroy Jr.), in a PG showcase was graded an 8, threw 84 mph, hits for power and average, is an excellent 1B/OF, was listed on the showcase's top prospect list, was an Rawlings high honorable mention underclass all american and started the year out on JV and "swung" between JV/Varsity for the second half of the year, playing both JV and varsity. In his formativeyears he played on one of the best youth teams in the midwest and was universally regarded as probably in the top 3-4 uderclassmen in our metropolitan aream of over 3 million people.

Once the varsity started out like 1-10 and couldn't score because the middle of the lineup couldn't hit the ball out of the infield the coach was almost forced to bring him up as the kids all wanted to know why he wasn't up on varsity (and he was killing JV pitching for something like 1.25 Slg./OBP). The team then went on an unprecedented winning streak, finished at about .500 (and 2nd place in league with an 6-2 record) and the kid was 1st team all leauge...

Worse yet, was that he didn't get to pitch! There wasn't a pitcher who touch his velo, much less a lefty...

This kid has already been to camps and was well known by colleges and area scouts as well through his travel club.

So, IMO, just because your not on varsity does not mean squat.

xbaseball, If the player is interested in a school that's close by, and they have a camp that's affordable, then I would do that. Approach it as a chance to get good instruction, see the facilities and meet the coaching staff, rather than a recruiting opportunity. If they like you son, they'll remember him.

Elroy, just a bit of unsolicited advice. Relax. Try to enjoy your son's team's high school days because they go by way too fast to waste a second on that kind of angst. From what you wrote, sounds like everything turned out fine. Besides that, if this player is well-known by colleges and area scouts and highly regarded by PG, then what happens in HS doesn't matter all that much.

Yes, there are some bad coaches out there, but I think for the most part they aren't plotting conspiracies to keep certain players off the field. They have reasons for the decisions they make that the rest of us don't know about, and don't have to agree with.

I write this as the parent of an underclassman who did play varsity early, and who had to endure anger and bitterness from other parents who thought it should have been their sons. They had no idea how hard it was for 2B. Chill. Everything is going to turn out OK in the end.

2BMOM- The player I described wasn't my kid and they didn't even play on the same team...just an example of what happens in, not just baseball, but in many high school sports...

quote:

Originally posted by Elroy:

So, IMO, just because your not on varsity does not mean squat.

That statement, on it's own merits, is correct.

The reality though, is that it is in the vast minority by a wide margin, from the usual.

If you go back and read my post, it advises not to contact the coach because you don't yet have anything to talk about. In your example, that player has a great deal to talk about and interest a coach. Two wholly different circumstances.

I probably should have been more clear, but when you want to contact a coach, you have to put yourself in his shoes and answer the question, what does this kid have that I would be interested in. If the answer is that he hasn't played up to at least a varsity level of competition yet (and that includes summer teams, etc), or been highly ranked/rated at a showcase or by a scout, then the answer is probably, nothing.

There are certainly exceptions to this however, as you pointed out.

Elroy does make some good points but overall what CPLZ is true. This is where 2B mom's point comes in - don't rely just on HS to get noticed / exposure. You might be playing on a horrible HS team that plays favorites etc... and if that's all you do then you're in trouble. Get out and find a good summer team and it will be more beneficial than HS.

Here is what I have to add and it kinda ties back into what CPLZ is saying. NEVER talk to a coach and bring up how you feel that you are on a team that plays favorites. Whether it's real or perceived it's will give a bad impression with the college coach. His first impression will be that you might be someone who is a complainer when things don't go your way. If you feel this way then stress the other areas that make you qualified - summer, PG rankings etc....

If you have the qualifications through summer / PG and never step foot on the field for your HS varsity the college coach will know that you either play on a stacked team full of talent or the coach is a moron - you won't need to explain things away. But if you haven't stepped foot on the field as a varsity player and don't have the other stuff then you won't make an impression with the coach.

Go to their camps and try to impress them / start the process that way.

You put it all together very well, coach!

quote:

Originally posted by 2Bmom:
You put it all together very well, coach!

You guys did the hard work - I just came in to put the pieces together and take all the credit - you know like a politician

What the original post doesn't tell us is, what year is the player in question? And why isn't he on varsity?

Let's say we're talking about a current sophomore who played JV last year and is hoping to play varsity two months from now. It's not prime time for recruiting this kid yet, but plenty of college coaches welcome initial contacts as a way of building a "follow" database. They will frequently respond by putting you on the mailing list for their camps, etc. There's no harm in this, as long as you follow coach2709's advice so as to avoid the kinds of comments that can make a terrible first impression.

If we're talking about a current junior who was on JV as a sophomore, depending on his situation he may still be quite a comer. We have a kid on our travel team who was coming off a back injury a year ago as a sophomore, and he was cut back to JV partly because his MPH was way down, and partly to assure he got regular work on the mound in game situations. That doesn't mean he's not a collegiate prospect. At this point, he's back to 100% and progressing the way you want to see a kid his age progress. I definitely think he's Division I material.

Now, the reasons why some players end up on JV as a sophomore may vary. Maybe there's a logjam at your position. Maybe you were hurt or recovering from injury. Maybe you're just a late bloomer.

True, I don't think college coaches are going to be terribly impressed by your JV stats, but I also don't think they'll rule you out because you were on JV last year. Actually, lots of programs look for those "finds" -- kids they can sneak in under the RADAR (and sometimes land for low percentage offers, or even as recruited walk-ons) -- as long as they ultimately show the requisite level of talent.

In the end you will need to produce at some point in order to turn anyone's head, but there's no reason not to open the lines of communication now as opposed to later. But send the note in that vein -- opening up a file on yourself -- and not acting like you're an established, elite player already.

quote:

What the original post doesn't tell us is, what year is the player in question? And why isn't he on varsity?

Agreed. Big difference between frosh, sophomore and maybe even juniors in some cases. Especially if there attending a traditionally strong baseball school with big (2,000+) enrollments like we have here in STL. At these types of schools there are lots of current and past college players that had minimal varsity playing time until they were seniors. Lots of solid baseball players unfortunately get cut or have to play JV due to competition and numbers.

So I think that if you are at lease a sophomore and have the projected skills and talent neccesary to play at the level of the school that you're interested in, I think that you should go ahead and contact the school. Be sure to empahsize your significant accomplishments, summer/travel team and any showcase measurables that woud help your cause. Whats the worst thing that can happen? They can say no...

I Am a young sophomore, could possibly repeat a grade AND do a PostGrad year to makeup for physical maturity. The school I am interested in is Columbia. Playing with kids my own age, I am the best on the field. But with how young I am, I am usually playing with guys about 6 months to a full year older than I.

If that makes any difference.

quote:

Originally posted by xbaseballkidx11:
I Am a young sophomore, could possibly repeat a grade AND do a PostGrad year to makeup for physical maturity. The school I am interested in is Columbia. Playing with kids my own age, I am the best on the field. But with how young I am, I am usually playing with guys about 6 months to a full year older than I.

I don't know if that would be a good idea. That may send the coach the impression that you aren't academically ready for college. I think a year in junior college playing ball for a good JUCO team probably would do you better than retaking an other year of high school. In addition you can work on some of those prereqs that you will have to take as an undergaduate at any major university.

quote:

The school I am interested in is Columbia.

1. Get really good grades! Top 10% of you graduating class.
2. Earn a position on a reputable travel team for competition and exposure.
3. In the summer before your last year of high school, attend the Stanford baseball camp. Columbia and all the Ivy schools work & recruit this camp.

None of this will guarantee you entry into or interest from Columbia. But all of this will factor into the opportunities provided and the decisions leading you to whichever school you ultimately attend.

Best of luck.

There can be extenuating circumstances, but for the most part, I would agree with the wait until varsity to contact coaches.

Sometimes a HS program is so strong, that the "wait for varsity rule" cannot apply. We have a couple of local parochial schools which are usually nationally ranked. They are so deep, it is usually wait, and start only as a senior. Many of these players have gone on to play on the college level, and some on the D1 level. Without summer ball and showcases, such as PG, these players would have "nothing to talk about."

@Wklink- It is not that I would just retake the year, it is that I would transfer to a highly academically reguarded prep school to repeat the year.

@dbg_fan- I am within the top 5% of my grad. class

quote:

Originally posted by xbaseballkidx11:
@Wklink- It is not that I would just retake the year, it is that I would transfer to a highly academically reguarded prep school to repeat the year.

@dbg_fan- I am within the top 5% of my grad. class

Hi "kid" - advice from admissions perspective here. Not knowing your transcript, curriculum, scores, etc., but based on on your saying you are top 5%, I would say doing a repeat is not a good idea. (Unless you are in a terrible HS where a very low percentage go to college, and you feel you are behind where you should be for Ivy.)

Keep advancing in your academics and even take on a more rigorous courseload next year. Take more honors/AP, take a 6th academic class if possible. Show admissions you are eager for the challenges of Ivy League academics. You still need to impress them, not "just" a coach. Then, if coach wants you but suggests a PG will help, you can decide that later.

Just my 2 cents. I have seen a few gets get to Columbia that way, (verbal commit with PG year) esp in football, not so sure about that practice in baseball there. Keep working hard!

He's not suggesting the PG or the repeat to help his grades, as is so often the issue. He's thinking about being physically more mature and more attractive athletically.

I think that could be something to consider, depending on where one is in the physical maturation process.

Exactly! Thank you. I'm built just like my dad. He was young just like me, and in His senior year of high school he was 6'0 about 160. In his freshman year of college he grew 4 inches and added 20 pounds, and I know that's how I will grow so that is my inclination, to become more physically mature and athletically enticing.

A friend of my oldest, one year older, was an O Tackle in HS. 6'6", 250. Could not get anyone to look at him or give him an offer. Went to a prep school for a year out east, exited 6'8" 300 lbs. Became the first true freshman to ever start on the offensive line for Boston College and now as a senior is ranked to go #4 in the upcoming NFL draft.

A year can make a world of difference to a physically immature player.

I feel like the Prep year would be a wonderful idea. But, also, do you think it could make a large difference?