Contacting coaches before a camp

I think it is a great idea to contact the coaches for the schools he is interested in. How else are they going to know he is interested? If you tell them you're interested, then you remove all doubt!

quote:

Originally posted by fenwaysouth:
I think it is a great idea to contact the coaches for the schools he is interested in. How else are they going to know he is interested? If you tell them you're interested, then you remove all doubt!

AMEN! to FenwaySouth

If you don't ask them in advance to take a look, your chances of them looking at him are slim to none. Exception: Stud pitchers and hitters who consistently hit frozen ropes even when cold, especially against the stud pitchers. They will always get noticed.

Plenty of posts on this site for you to explore MAD.

I would suggest doing some homework before contacting. Ask the showcase director to provide you with the names of the coaches in attendance versus the schools designated to attend.

Here's why:
1. Most of these showcases are moneymakers for directors and coaches.
2. Most coaches will send the volunteer or operations guy to give these coaches a chance to make money.
3. The volunteers and ops guys do not make any decisions toward recruiting.
4. They will gather your email address and the process will start over by them inviting you to attend their college camps.

If the coaches are volunteers or ops guys, just stay away. Waste of money. I coached the last 8 years in college and understand how crucial these type of events were to our non-paid coaches on the staff.

Let me know if I can help.

Lantz Wheeler
www.baseballthinktank.com

Thanks gentlemen. I guess it’s never too early to make a connection.

Lantz, the showcase director did send names and e-mail addresses. All of the ones I checked were listed on their school’s web site as recruiting coordinator.

My next questions would be:

1. Are the coaches observing or interacting?
2. Is it a one day event or two?

I would strongly recommend choosing events that allow the coaches an opportunity to interact and instruct versus solely evaluating.

Coaches are interacting.
Two day event: 1 day skills, 1 day games

If your son is on highly competitive summer club team have that coach connect with attending coaches that he knows. That can be a door opener and be sure to have the club coach confirm the introduction has been made or... awkward.  It's a bonus if your '15 has taken his SAT/ACT to promote (or ignore. )