I am in the process of researching how to start a website for my son. i was gonig to use Godaddy and purchase a domain but wanted to wait and make sure I had all my ducks in a row. What are some of the lessons learned, do's and dont's that you have learned from. what is a good road map to get this done. What should be taken into account. Etc Etc.Any and all info would be greatly appreciated.
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Are you asking a technical question or a baseball question?
A bit of both. Just looking for input from those who have done one. What is the best way to go about developing a website for recruitment purposes. What worked for some, as well as what did't work.
PA Dad… I just sent you some examples and notes as a "Dialog" which can be accessed via the button on the top of the page. "Dialog" is essentially a private message.
Rich
Keep it simple, keep it up to date, and know your message. Have it QC'd by someone who is not familiar with what you're selling
Your first step is to collect all your information into one place: son's coaches' contact information, media mentions, video, stats, PG ratings, etc. Collect the info as well as the links to the info (if published). Case in point: if you've attended a PG event, most likely the games were scored GameChanger and you have access to your son's performance.
Once you have collected your information, group it into buckets that will eventually become the pages to the website:
Home
Vital Information (contact info, school, summer team, coach info, quick topline highlights)
Stats
Video
Press Mentions
Showcase Information
Testimonials
And so forth.
The aforementioned two steps will not only save time, but give you the direction you need so that the actual site creation is simplified.
If anyone is interested, send me a PM and I'll send you my son's web site URL.
What make is the catchers mitt?
bob williams
Founder of the Area Code games
keep it simple. create a youtube channel.
If the catchers mitt is broken like a 1b mitt, then I see a "one hand" catcher who does not shift to block the low pitches. You then are losing $ on a web sIte.
College coaches desires defense and catchers who can "read the bat".
Any questions on a catchers web site. Defense, defense, defense.
Bob
Having video is very helpful. Use of a filming service like Play in School is one way, PG offers something similar if you do their showcases, some do it themselves (subject to the warning that you sometimes get what you pay for!).
I'm not sure I like the personal web site idea at all. There's a rule in politics that you never brag about yourself, you get someone else to do it for you. That rule actually applies in a lot of contexts, and I think this is one.
Is it somewhat pointless for a player to reach out to target school coaches with an introductory email expressing interest when he doesn't have any video to share yet?
Something my 2016 and I have been wondering about lately.
Thanks for the shout out Midlo Dad!
I think there are few really good reasons to bring in 3rd parties to handle film/websites...
- Time. Usually not worth the time involved to film/edit/create website if only going to do it for your 1 kid.
- Trust. What you see on our videos is 100% trust worthy. The second I speed up a bat in the editing process is the second I'm out of business.
- Look. Professional presentation doesn't make your kids any better or worse baseball players. But presentation matters in the real world. Thats why we print resumes on nice paper instead of scribbled on bar napkins.
- Price. Our team packages are so low its crazy. Individual packages are close to what others charge when filming teams.
Soylent - I always think about the recruiting process like a job search. So change your question a little. Would you reach out to a potential employer without a resume? What would motivate them to call you back? Remember, you are looking for feedback & information. College coaches are the best source for that information. Their responses will help you zero in on where you need to be targeting.
Rich
Is it somewhat pointless for a player to reach out to target school coaches with an introductory email expressing interest when he doesn't have any video to share yet?
Something my 2016 and I have been wondering about lately.
Probably (if he doesn't have a PG or similar on-line profile to promote). His time would be better used filling out the on-line recruiting questionnaires.
Work on that video. 
I'm not sure I like the personal web site idea at all. There's a rule in politics that you never brag about yourself, you get someone else to do it for you.
That completely depends on how the information is presented, so if the info is delivered as a matter of fact (e.g., consolidating information in one place and keeping it up to date), then this is a resource.
Now that's my opinion. Here's a fact: joemktgson has received a significant amount of website traffic from a wide variety of schools, including some that were not on the radar. Through the inclusion of Google Analytics, we're able to identify who is coming in to visit, e.g., if the location is Ann Arbor, you can be fairly accurate in your assumption as to who is visiting (esp. when correlated with the network provider of the visitor).
It's a tool, not a means to an end.
One more thing: I've posted a few times on the benefits of using a 3rd party email provider when sending out emails, e.g., MailChimp. Why? Because you can see who opened and who clicked.
Is it somewhat pointless for a player to reach out to target school coaches with an introductory email expressing interest when he doesn't have any video to share yet?
Something my 2016 and I have been wondering about lately.
Probably (if he doesn't have a PG or similar on-line profile to promote). His time would be better used filling out the on-line recruiting questionnaires.
Work on that video.
Thanks MAD. Yeah we're starting to feel behind on this. Have good video on mound and at the plate from last summer but son has grown about 3" since then and done some considerable filling out. Vids from last summer look fine to him but to me it's night and day difference physically. Two starts at P so far this year but haven't shot video... keep wanting to wait for things to green up and feel like he's more in mid season form I guess. Have been thinking about videoing an indoor bullpen... is that good, or is live game footage better to use? Not intending to hijack this thread, think this question fits with the OPs parameters of do's and dont's. Appreciate any input.
I am in the process of researching how to start a website for my son. i was gonig to use Godaddy and purchase a domain but wanted to wait and make sure I had all my ducks in a row. What are some of the lessons learned, do's and dont's that you have learned from. what is a good road map to get this done. What should be taken into account. Etc Etc.Any and all info would be greatly appreciated.
I had used Go-daddy and helped my son set up a baseball website that we feel worked very well. We used a web address that used his name plus "baseball.com" for emphasis. And here are the things we included on the website:
The 1st page included a verily large current picture of him in his baseball uniform, which was somewhat of a close up and showing his jersey number. Under that we put his name and positions he plays followed by some information (height, weight, pitching velocities for fast ball, change up and curve, infield and outfield throwing velocity, 60 yd time; GPA and SAT scores). Contact information such as phone number our mailing and e-mail address was listed. Also listed were a few stats like Batting Ave and ERA for each of his HS years and links to detailed stats that the HS Coach published in MaXpreps.com for the team. We also included several links to any current years accolades published in any local news articles, using the headline or my sons name as used in the article and source for the title of the link.
On the second page we listed the various travel teams he played on and names and contact information for those team's coaches with links to those teams web sites. I took some short outtakes of the best LIVE GAME videos that I have of my son hitting, making defensive plays, and pitching (we only include three). Also on this second page was a list of not only the games scheduled and results of his HS team but also for his travel team (essentially, everything for the year). We made sure to keep all the information current.
Any time we talked to or responded to a coach or recruiter, we gave them our contact information and the web address. We got a lot of positive feed back from college coaches regarding the web site that it helped them keep track of what was going on when they could not be there. Since my son did some pitching (more so in travel ball than HS), the difficult part was the coaches and recruiters interested in him as a pitcher wanted to know when he was going to pitch and we couldn't publish any of that since we just didn't have much advanced knowledge when he was going to be used as a reliever or even as a starter. When they called for such information, they understood when we weren't able to affirm whether he was going to pitch or not in the upcoming game. And they had the teams coach's contact information too who is really the one could give the most accurate prediction anyway.
Well, I hope that helps some. Good luck.
IMO, you aren't behind at all. If you have a video ready before the end of the high school season, he can send that out to generate interest in his summer events when the coaches are really out scouting. I think you're wise to wait until you can show him in the best light. I would include mostly "skill" footage, and a little game footage only if you catch something noteworthy. If his velo is good, I like the radar gun in the foreground of a few pitches. Good luck.
We made a one page website. Worked very well.
Make sure it's not a place to brag to Grandma. Two pages is too much. Think of this as bullet points in a magazine ad. No Flash or blinking thingies. Embed 1-3 short (30 secs or so) YouTube videos in the page.
Set your expectations. It will NOT attract INITIAL interest. Dozens of coaches searched Google for "first last baseball" or "first last gradyear". It may sway a coach after they learn about you. What makes your kid different?
We made a one page website. Worked very well.
Make sure it's not a place to brag to Grandma. Two pages is too much. Think of this as bullet points in a magazine ad. No Flash or blinking thingies. Embed 1-3 short (30 secs or so) YouTube videos in the page.
Set your expectations. It will NOT attract INITIAL interest. Dozens of coaches searched Google for "first last baseball" or "first last gradyear". It may sway a coach after they learn about you. What makes your kid different?
Two pages certainly CAN BE too much. But, it's better to use "whitespace" properly than to jam too much onto a single page.
Good points, particularly with regards to things like "no Flash or blinking thingies".
I know this has been discussed in separate threads, but I'm wondering how the individual player website stacks up against fieldlevel and berecruited. Wondering specifically if coaches find convenience in being able to search players by position, grad year, etc... Or if they mostly see it as garbage in, garbage out. My two cents on berecruited is that it's about 90% marketing... Used mostly by the guys charged with filling school camps, plus a lot of additional spam. We've avoided that one, but set up a fieldlevel page and seems a little more useful. Definitely planning a simple individual page too similar to what's been outlined above.
Truman, you are 100% correct.
The Listerine trademark was sold with a contract written on a restaurant napkin.
Years ago, the San Diego Coach mentioned all the videos, he had receive and showed me "file 13".
Bob
Bob -
With all do respect. While "the San Diego Coach" may "file 13" "all of the videos he had received" I do not think that warrants not having film ready to go.
It is 2014 and no matter what 1 coaches opinion of film is the reality is that it serves a valuable purpose. Is that coach more or less inclined to drive to San Francisco based off of some high school coaches word or because he saw 60 seconds of arm action with his own eyes on his computer?
Also, I wonder why every pro scout carries a video camera with them to every game they attend?
Rich
How ironic.
This clip just hit my inbox.
It is a snippet from Jack Warren of Top Coach Podcast interviewing Blake Beemer from Penn St. Jack thought I'd like to hear it so he pulled that little part out. This interview was done today or yesterday I think.
http://topcoachpodcast.com/wp-...n-watching-video.mp3
FYI, if you aren't already tuning in to TopCoachPodcast.com you really should.
Rich
D1 coaches looked at son's videos - after they had interest.
Again, these must be videos that set you apart from others. ie. you faced a #1 prospect/team, you hit a 400ft HR, you made a webgem play, etc.
Again, respectfully, I disagree.
This is not football. Coaches do NOT want a highlight reel.
They are using film to break down a kids skill set. That means providing them skill work. Showing them a diving play in the hole doesn't show them you have good hands, footwork, etc. "Running into a ball" and hitting a 400 ft HR does' t mean you can hit.
They need/want to break down mechanics. Not watch highlights.
The D1 coach in the interview I just posted explains that.
Rich
Again, respectfully, I disagree.
This is not football. Coaches do NOT want a highlight reel.
I'm not sure what you're disagreeing with. I can only describe our actual experience.
We showed important events (with a zoom lens) like the ones I described, and D1 coaches watched them, and head coaches made favorable comments to us on visits about those videos. (Strangely enough, one of those was an unusual 'diving play')
You and I agree that Grandma's highlight reel where Little Johnny makes 3 easy catches in the outfield, or he strikes out 2 mediocre HS hitters, is not a good idea.
The volunteer coach in your podcast seems to be talking about looking at videos where they don't know, or already have an interest in, the kid.
I'm talking about videos where the coach is already interested in and has heard of the player, and now he needs to know what makes you different. What makes Johnny better than the 35 other kids in his stack?
Rich;
During my 17 years with the Area Code games, the MLSB filmed all the top players and later when I was visiting the Seattle Mariners office, the Assistant Scouting Director opened his computer to show me the results of my "kindness" to the MLSB.
The players were grouped LHP. RHP, Infielders, outfielders, catchers and a short 60 second sequence for each player.
My expression went from WOW! to disappointment.
Yes, good film, video or U-tube can differently benefit a young player. Keep it short to the point.
You cannot "shot gun" the marketing package, It needs to pinpoint the coaches who have expressed interest. Be cost effective. Know your budget and be honest with your ability.
Focus on your best tool and somehow work in the 6th tool. Maybe a brief interview with a pro scout or former college player [alumni] from the college. Someone that the coach knows.
Rich, I wish you could have traveled with our teams to Australia last
December. We had 12 players, who definitely will be drafted or play major college baseball. Maybe I should expand our web site to include a 60 second video on each player. We had 5 former pro players traveling as coaches.
Thank you;
Bob
Goodwill Series Inc. [1983-2014]
I am in the process of researching how to start a website for my son. i was gonig to use Godaddy and purchase a domain but wanted to wait and make sure I had all my ducks in a row. What are some of the lessons learned, do's and dont's that you have learned from. what is a good road map to get this done. What should be taken into account. Etc Etc.Any and all info would be greatly appreciated.
I had used Go-daddy and helped my son set up a baseball website that we feel worked very well. We used a web address that used his name plus "baseball.com" for emphasis. And here are the things we included on the website:
The 1st page included a verily large current picture of him in his baseball uniform, which was somewhat of a close up and showing his jersey number. Under that we put his name and positions he plays followed by some information (height, weight, pitching velocities for fast ball, change up and curve, infield and outfield throwing velocity, 60 yd time; GPA and SAT scores). Contact information such as phone number our mailing and e-mail address was listed. Also listed were a few stats like Batting Ave and ERA for each of his HS years and links to detailed stats that the HS Coach published in MaXpreps.com for the team. We also included several links to any current years accolades published in any local news articles, using the headline or my sons name as used in the article and source for the title of the link.
On the second page we listed the various travel teams he played on and names and contact information for those team's coaches with links to those teams web sites. I took some short outtakes of the best LIVE GAME videos that I have of my son hitting, making defensive plays, and pitching (we only include three). Also on this second page was a list of not only the games scheduled and results of his HS team but also for his travel team (essentially, everything for the year). We made sure to keep all the information current.
Any time we talked to or responded to a coach or recruiter, we gave them our contact information and the web address. We got a lot of positive feed back from college coaches regarding the web site that it helped them keep track of what was going on when they could not be there. Since my son did some pitching (more so in travel ball than HS), the difficult part was the coaches and recruiters interested in him as a pitcher wanted to know when he was going to pitch and we couldn't publish any of that since we just didn't have much advanced knowledge when he was going to be used as a reliever or even as a starter. When they called for such information, they understood when we weren't able to affirm whether he was going to pitch or not in the upcoming game. And they had the teams coach's contact information too who is really the one could give the most accurate prediction anyway.
Well, I hope that helps some. Good luck.
Did it work?
Bob -
I would go with you to Australia at the drop of a hat.
Great post regarding MLSB & the Mariners.
I re-read your earlier post and noticed an important detail about the San Diego coach…. you said "years ago…".
We are in such a different time technologically even from 6 years ago when I started Play In School.
Let me know if you need a BP thrower or someone to carry bags from Dec 18 to 31 this year!
Rich
My son does not have a web site, A coach asked for updated video. Summer coach shot a 10 pitch indoor bull pen. We edited it down to 1:37, put it on you tube and he sent the link to the coach. He also sent it to all coaches that are in contact with him as well as all coaches from his original target list. All the coaches that have been in contact with him responded with a thank you for the update. Several other schools responded stating they were interested and wanted him to visit or requested HS schedule, including his #1 who he thought was dead in the water. He has been on 3 unofficial visits the only question I have asked on all three visits was, Do you look at all video sent to you from players? All three said someone on the staff does look at all videos, but all also said they can tell right a way if they like what they see.
So to you question of dos and don't. I would include a short video that high lights skills.
I am in the process of researching how to start a website for my son. i was gonig to use Godaddy and purchase a domain but wanted to wait and make sure I had all my ducks in a row. What are some of the lessons learned, do's and dont's that you have learned from. what is a good road map to get this done. What should be taken into account. Etc Etc.Any and all info would be greatly appreciated.
I had used Go-daddy and helped my son set up a baseball website that we feel worked very well. We used a web address that used his name plus "baseball.com" for emphasis. And here are the things we included on the website:
The 1st page included a verily large current picture of him in his baseball uniform, which was somewhat of a close up and showing his jersey number. Under that we put his name and positions he plays followed by some information (height, weight, pitching velocities for fast ball, change up and curve, infield and outfield throwing velocity, 60 yd time; GPA and SAT scores). Contact information such as phone number our mailing and e-mail address was listed. Also listed were a few stats like Batting Ave and ERA for each of his HS years and links to detailed stats that the HS Coach published in MaXpreps.com for the team. We also included several links to any current years accolades published in any local news articles, using the headline or my sons name as used in the article and source for the title of the link.
On the second page we listed the various travel teams he played on and names and contact information for those team's coaches with links to those teams web sites. I took some short outtakes of the best LIVE GAME videos that I have of my son hitting, making defensive plays, and pitching (we only include three). Also on this second page was a list of not only the games scheduled and results of his HS team but also for his travel team (essentially, everything for the year). We made sure to keep all the information current.
Any time we talked to or responded to a coach or recruiter, we gave them our contact information and the web address. We got a lot of positive feed back from college coaches regarding the web site that it helped them keep track of what was going on when they could not be there. Since my son did some pitching (more so in travel ball than HS), the difficult part was the coaches and recruiters interested in him as a pitcher wanted to know when he was going to pitch and we couldn't publish any of that since we just didn't have much advanced knowledge when he was going to be used as a reliever or even as a starter. When they called for such information, they understood when we weren't able to affirm whether he was going to pitch or not in the upcoming game. And they had the teams coach's contact information too who is really the one could give the most accurate prediction anyway.
Well, I hope that helps some. Good luck.
Did it work?
Yes, I would say it did. Though just how much it did is hard to say (playing on a high level travel team and HS league that drew attention and a good experienced HS coach with connections, all contributing factors). College coaches and scouts were always able to see the latest information and would know when and where my son was going to play next and against who.
Food for thought with regards to YouTube...
First of all, we use YouTube. It is the number 2 search engine in the world. Owned by the number 1 search engine, Google. That is an important reason why I use YouTube.
That being said, I would strongly warn people against sending a "YouTube link" to a coach. Why? A million distraction. Videos of cats, people of Walmart, etc, etc.
Take a look at this "youtube link"… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wxw1dtwY7k0
On my computer I count about 25 other videos. Distractions. This makes is really easy for a coach to move on to the next kid or a video of a cat or what ever pops up on the side.
Compare that to embedding the same video on a website…
http://www.playinschool.com/bandits/manto.html
Much cleaner. Less distractions. Higher likelihood the the coach stays locked in.
Just a little little food for thought. Same kid, same video, cleaner look. Presentation does matter. Limit distractions when possible.
Hope this helps a little.
Rich
