Anyone heard of it/been to it? (any demarini top 96 showcase) Do you think it's worth it?
http://collegebaseballcamps.co...ableKey=4239&src=CBC
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You should be able to find lots on them. Decent as a clinic, not necessarily a showcase. Paid college coaches provide training and critiques. IMHO recommend as a sophmore entree to the showcase atmosphere, but be sure to take advantage of early bird offers and don't pay full price. Also, they pay referral fees but we are still chasing ours from early this summer!
You'll find a thread on this somewhere else.
My son attended a Demarini event in Connecticut last summer as a sophomore. It was a good event- not cheap - was conducted as represented. We felt it was worth it.
My son attended a Demarini event in Connecticut last summer as a sophomore. It was a good event- not cheap - was conducted as represented. We felt it was worth it.
Save your money. Complete waste of money. Most of the coaches that attend/work the clinics are grad assistants who have no authority to sign your son. If you are looking for a showcase for your son, PG is of the best in the business.
My son attended a Top96 clinic this past summer at Tufts University. He is currently a sophomore and wanted to get a feel for showcases. The event was excellent. Run very well and coaches were very helpful in correcting mistakes and offering great suggestions. Overall the clinic was well worth the money and time.
Live at the 2011 Top 96 New England class of 2012 event
$595
Day One: morning spent largely on evaluations: 60s they gettwo runs on a manual clock start, laser clock end. The manual start seems to defeat the purpose of the laser end but a good improvement over double manual.
Catcher Pops, designated evaluator, changes with each catcher, running stopwatch from near backstop. Central timer near mound would be more accurate and consistent.
2 throws to third, 2 to 2nd, 2 to 1st, 2 or 3 blocks, no receiving or bunt reps.
Batting: BP cut in half by organizers, 1/2 group only had station work, 1/2 group only live 1/2cage pitching. All with tennis balls.
Actual hitting, 8 to 10 pitches, evaluators behind plate area. And they forced you to use their DeMarini BBCORS. should have let the players use their own wood bats. The BBCORS suck.
Well run clinics focused on specific skills.
Meet and greet 5 minute audience sessions with your choice of 5 schools. Some HC, mostly lower level assistants. Several told audience that specific recruiting was not permitted at this event, something a couple coaches told us ahead of time as well. Luckily we saw two of the coaches recruiting our guy in the stands and they went out of their way to talk to us.
End of day private evaluations with an evaluating coach were a nice feature end of day one. No online permanent record kept unless you buy the video for about another $200.
Next day, game only, 1 1 count to start, only one pick off attempt allowed. Runner on base after walk or after one out, batter keeps batting with new 1 1 count.
Negative for catchers is that after picher warm ups they are not allowed to throw down to second to demo their arm.
If you buy the analysis video you get one on one about 4 minutes of direct coach video analysis which is also recorded. You can then watch it again on their proprietary on line viewer called Dartfish. We were able to transfer the Dartfish video from a previous event to you tube with a little bit of difficulty, but we got it there.
No protection from the sun at Tufts and limited seating, come prepared with an umbrella, maybe a chair, sunscreen, you get the picture.
Very nice natural playing areas.
Well run session, kept moving, some downtime but not too bad. About 200 kids, most with average ability.
Overall value given the day of instruction, evaluation, limited clinics and next day single game with a 20 man roster IMHO and no lasting reference for college coaches to see (which for a rising senior only event might be a welcome departure from Top 96 traditional marketing angle of not posting these:
$200
The $595 price tag, which balloons even more with the $200 video IMHO might be better spent on targetted college camps and an independent video. Other Top 96events have much better pricing, especially if you use their early bird discounts.
Good to see the large collection of paid coaches; one can only hope some of them might see our guy do something he likes and call him later.
$595
Day One: morning spent largely on evaluations: 60s they gettwo runs on a manual clock start, laser clock end. The manual start seems to defeat the purpose of the laser end but a good improvement over double manual.
Catcher Pops, designated evaluator, changes with each catcher, running stopwatch from near backstop. Central timer near mound would be more accurate and consistent.
2 throws to third, 2 to 2nd, 2 to 1st, 2 or 3 blocks, no receiving or bunt reps.
Batting: BP cut in half by organizers, 1/2 group only had station work, 1/2 group only live 1/2cage pitching. All with tennis balls.
Actual hitting, 8 to 10 pitches, evaluators behind plate area. And they forced you to use their DeMarini BBCORS. should have let the players use their own wood bats. The BBCORS suck.
Well run clinics focused on specific skills.
Meet and greet 5 minute audience sessions with your choice of 5 schools. Some HC, mostly lower level assistants. Several told audience that specific recruiting was not permitted at this event, something a couple coaches told us ahead of time as well. Luckily we saw two of the coaches recruiting our guy in the stands and they went out of their way to talk to us.
End of day private evaluations with an evaluating coach were a nice feature end of day one. No online permanent record kept unless you buy the video for about another $200.
Next day, game only, 1 1 count to start, only one pick off attempt allowed. Runner on base after walk or after one out, batter keeps batting with new 1 1 count.
Negative for catchers is that after picher warm ups they are not allowed to throw down to second to demo their arm.
If you buy the analysis video you get one on one about 4 minutes of direct coach video analysis which is also recorded. You can then watch it again on their proprietary on line viewer called Dartfish. We were able to transfer the Dartfish video from a previous event to you tube with a little bit of difficulty, but we got it there.
No protection from the sun at Tufts and limited seating, come prepared with an umbrella, maybe a chair, sunscreen, you get the picture.
Very nice natural playing areas.
Well run session, kept moving, some downtime but not too bad. About 200 kids, most with average ability.
Overall value given the day of instruction, evaluation, limited clinics and next day single game with a 20 man roster IMHO and no lasting reference for college coaches to see (which for a rising senior only event might be a welcome departure from Top 96 traditional marketing angle of not posting these:
$200
The $595 price tag, which balloons even more with the $200 video IMHO might be better spent on targetted college camps and an independent video. Other Top 96events have much better pricing, especially if you use their early bird discounts.
Good to see the large collection of paid coaches; one can only hope some of them might see our guy do something he likes and call him later.
My son attended also. My biggest gripe is that the so called private evaluation consisted of the college coach handing out written evaluations and asking if any questions. There were none and the coach was out of there. Meanwhile around the field other coaches appeared to be giving real evaluations or at least spending time with players. One minor beef is that the players were given a choice of 2 BBCOR bats for BP evaluation. Seems that they would have been better off using a wood bat that they were used to rather than one they had never used. Final analysis - an OK value but son is also participating in the Lynn Invitational and Summer Rivalry Classic which cost a fraction of Top96. (LI $150; SRC $0)
I agree with RSF21. It is a very good for a first showcase for a sophomore. My son enjoyed the clinics and there were s mixture of coaches and volunteer. It was exactly as represented on their websites and brochures. Make sure there are schools in attendance that your son is interested in.
quote:Originally posted by LauraZA:
I agree with RSF21. It is a very good for a first showcase for a sophomore. My son enjoyed the clinics and there were s mixture of coaches and volunteer. It was exactly as represented on their websites and brochures. Make sure there are schools in attendance that your son is interested in.
Just to be clear, I think the value is in their lower priced offerings and only with the Early Bird discount. And yes, for rising Juniors its a good first taste.
But this one at $595 was extremely overpriced, as are the PG showcases and especialy the Headfirst ones. If you're gonna pay the big bucks I'd say PG is the best choice of three overpriced choices.
quote:Final analysis - an OK value but son is also participating in the Lynn Invitational and Summer Rivalry Classic which cost a fraction of Top96. (LI $150; SRC $0)
Getting invited to these two, or the Area Codes, are truly the best value, and show your guy is top of list.
Frankly though Im surprised LI is charging that much. They were supposed to be good at finding the best quality, and not basing it on the best that can afford $150.
Kudos to SRC and AC for having the true spirit of the youth game still at heart.
My son is participating in the PG NE Underclass this weekend. We had been advised in this forum that not many coaches attend the NE Underclass, which is a true statement. Now I know they are in Boston this weekend.
My son has now done both a PG and Demarini event. He did the Demarini first as a sophomore, which is good because he needed the instruction more than a permanent, public evaluation. Considering signing up for Headfirst next year because of a high concentration of targeted schools. I do agree that the pricing on all three is really amazing, especially in these economic times.
My son has now done both a PG and Demarini event. He did the Demarini first as a sophomore, which is good because he needed the instruction more than a permanent, public evaluation. Considering signing up for Headfirst next year because of a high concentration of targeted schools. I do agree that the pricing on all three is really amazing, especially in these economic times.
quote:Considering signing up for Headfirst next year because of a high concentration of targeted schools. I do agree that the pricing on all three is really amazing, especially in these economic times.
Lets face it, all three are for profit groups no matter how they spin it. I.e PG only does one 60 run. Tops And PG have no to insufficient BP time beforeassessing your hitting. Same on catcher pops at Tops, catchers dont have the time to break a sweat before getting timed, and even if they did they still have them wait in line for long periods before getting their two timed throws and in games they cant throw down between innings.
I really dont understand why anyone would pay the Headfirst prices. Consider this: your target there is a group of schools with tough admission standards. So the pool they have to look at is much smaller. A good targeted campaign to 3 or 4 of them, which includes their camp, is a much better spend.
RedSox Fan, you make good points re Headfirst, the complication being that only targeting 3 or 4 is fairly limiting. Plus, when you add travel costs in the costs add up. However, my son will attend camps when available.
I've been surprised at how many colleges don't run their own camps, which makes the showcase circuit the only obvious way to get in front of the coaches.
I've been surprised at how many colleges don't run their own camps, which makes the showcase circuit the only obvious way to get in front of the coaches.
I agree. i think the PG Academic offering is less expensive thn Headfirst. Good luck and congrats on having an exceptional student.
Thank you for the detailed description of this showcase. As the cost of these events really add, you need to be informed when making decisions. For example, how the 60 is timed is very important if you are an OF. Needs to be laser start and finish. But most events do not publicize the method in advance.
That is why the message board is so great! Events can be run by the same organization and vary from city to city - but information like this, helps you make better decisions.
And by the way, when did the weekend tournaments start beginning Thursday evenings? Just another $100 for the hotels. This is a BIG money making machine - buyer beware!
That is why the message board is so great! Events can be run by the same organization and vary from city to city - but information like this, helps you make better decisions.
And by the way, when did the weekend tournaments start beginning Thursday evenings? Just another $100 for the hotels. This is a BIG money making machine - buyer beware!
Hi this is a good thread that seems to be evolving into more of a discussion on 'what camps and showcases to spend our $$ on?!?!"
Twotex, sorry I didn't see you at NE Underclass, what team was your guy on? Mine was white. Rain out today was a bummer but at least he pitched yesterday.
We are really researching hard about time and money to spend this fall.
Twotex, sorry I didn't see you at NE Underclass, what team was your guy on? Mine was white. Rain out today was a bummer but at least he pitched yesterday.
We are really researching hard about time and money to spend this fall.
Although we didnt participate in a TOPS 96 this year, I had planned on it. I have access to a lot of emails, etc, so I contacted the schools in the one I was interested in and found out which coaches would be coming. My son's a 2014 pitcher an we decided to wait a year but, there were a lot of the right coaches for us at that particular showcase.
I still lean towards the targetted school approach for schools that are within a day's round trip. We did one of these this summer and you get a number of benefits:
You work for a fair bit of time with the actual pitching coach - without being distracted by coaches from other schools
You see the school, the city, and the facilities
You show initiative
You can see the quality of other players interested specifically in the school (you can compare what you see in the prospect camp to the types of prospects hey actually take - bios on the website)
Doing this in your earlier years might be good from a standpoint, you dont have a lot of time in later years to go and see all the schools you may like to
I still lean towards the targetted school approach for schools that are within a day's round trip. We did one of these this summer and you get a number of benefits:
You work for a fair bit of time with the actual pitching coach - without being distracted by coaches from other schools
You see the school, the city, and the facilities
You show initiative
You can see the quality of other players interested specifically in the school (you can compare what you see in the prospect camp to the types of prospects hey actually take - bios on the website)
Doing this in your earlier years might be good from a standpoint, you dont have a lot of time in later years to go and see all the schools you may like to
I would say the least effective approach has to be showing up at a showcase without letting coaches know in advance that you are interested in their school. And yes, that's exactly the way we approached the first showcase. Live and learn!
Ok, this is admittedly off topic: I was talking to a former assistant coach at an Ivy. He said when he would go to showcases it was hard to weed out the prospects, because he needed to know the following:
1. Can he get admitted?
2. Is he interested?
3. Can it work financially for his family?
4. Can he play?
The more of these questions which can be answered early by the player, the better it would seem to be for the player. He said at the end of the day the academic elite schools are usually looking at the same small pool of players.
The easiest question for a player to answer ahead of exposure is #2. In fact, my son is attending a college camp this month, and wrote a letter to the coach letting him know he is attending, and sending him basic information.
Ok, this is admittedly off topic: I was talking to a former assistant coach at an Ivy. He said when he would go to showcases it was hard to weed out the prospects, because he needed to know the following:
1. Can he get admitted?
2. Is he interested?
3. Can it work financially for his family?
4. Can he play?
The more of these questions which can be answered early by the player, the better it would seem to be for the player. He said at the end of the day the academic elite schools are usually looking at the same small pool of players.
The easiest question for a player to answer ahead of exposure is #2. In fact, my son is attending a college camp this month, and wrote a letter to the coach letting him know he is attending, and sending him basic information.
