Hi all. Son is HS jr. wanting to catch in college. We live in Maryland. Do you have your sons send videos? Who makes them and what should be on them, for a catcher, specifically.We would not be good enough to do our own... HELP!
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Don't send tapes unless they ask for them. Keep them simple. I had the opportunity to listen to a college coach talk about videos stacked in the corner full of professional editing and eye of the tiger music. Give the college coach's credit for their experience. Show about 2 or 3 minutes of swings, show a couple of throw downs and 2 or 3 minutes of receiving and blocking. We put ours on DVD. it's a better format. All total I think it's about 6 minutes and that's probably too long. Just my .02 cents. Good luck.
I agree with no-e2 except I personally like the eye of the tiger music when followed by --- War Eagle! 
Like no-e2, I would have a tape or a DVD available to send because a situation could arise where a coach could request a tape. While I did make one for my son I never did send one out. (I made it myself) If you cannot make one yourself I think I would go to the high school administration and ask them if they have someone on staff or maybe a student that could make a tape. Personally I wouldn’t invest more than $25 to make a tape and wouldn’t be too concerned if I didn’t have one. Warning: There are people that make “player videos” and push them as an effective marketing tool. I wouldn’t use them. I think seeing your son in person at a showcase or at a game are the most effective marketing tools available. You need to get your son on the same wavelength as the coaches, and most coaches are not caught up in video marketing. Most want to see the player in action. If you want to create some interest from coaches you can have your son to start a letter campaign to selected schools.
Fungo
Like no-e2, I would have a tape or a DVD available to send because a situation could arise where a coach could request a tape. While I did make one for my son I never did send one out. (I made it myself) If you cannot make one yourself I think I would go to the high school administration and ask them if they have someone on staff or maybe a student that could make a tape. Personally I wouldn’t invest more than $25 to make a tape and wouldn’t be too concerned if I didn’t have one. Warning: There are people that make “player videos” and push them as an effective marketing tool. I wouldn’t use them. I think seeing your son in person at a showcase or at a game are the most effective marketing tools available. You need to get your son on the same wavelength as the coaches, and most coaches are not caught up in video marketing. Most want to see the player in action. If you want to create some interest from coaches you can have your son to start a letter campaign to selected schools.
Fungo
I agree about DVD/CD as opposede to tapes.
Also agree keep it simple and no pro edit/music etc.
We put a lot of clips with natural ball park sound. Cut out all the excess.
When a coach looks at the CD/DVD he sees a window full of captioned icons. The captioned should show how long (Innings) it is and what it is about. From this he can get right into it. We never expected the coach to look at all of it. A couple did and asked for more from the current year he was starting. If the coach sees what he likes he will watch enough until he is satsfied. If he dosen't need or like what he sees he will trash it. We included news clips and awards.
Always call and email to follow up with the coach making sure he revieved it and had lookede at it. He will let you know if he is interested.
Video was our only source of promotion to schools that we could not get to easily. I also had a collage of great shots for the DVD cover showing my sons mechanics. You have to get the coaches interest quick and entrigue them to watch the clips.
Also agree keep it simple and no pro edit/music etc.
We put a lot of clips with natural ball park sound. Cut out all the excess.
When a coach looks at the CD/DVD he sees a window full of captioned icons. The captioned should show how long (Innings) it is and what it is about. From this he can get right into it. We never expected the coach to look at all of it. A couple did and asked for more from the current year he was starting. If the coach sees what he likes he will watch enough until he is satsfied. If he dosen't need or like what he sees he will trash it. We included news clips and awards.
Always call and email to follow up with the coach making sure he revieved it and had lookede at it. He will let you know if he is interested.
Video was our only source of promotion to schools that we could not get to easily. I also had a collage of great shots for the DVD cover showing my sons mechanics. You have to get the coaches interest quick and entrigue them to watch the clips.
I think video is the greatest method of attracting interest next to being seen in person. In our case it was the only way to get noticed by schools in Florida,Georgia SC and so on. If your video interests them they will tell you where to hook up with them.
I also would add that I haven't seen a pruduced video I like . Too much garbage and noise. Great for a home video but not great for promoting t5hye player.
I also would add that I haven't seen a pruduced video I like . Too much garbage and noise. Great for a home video but not great for promoting t5hye player.
College Apps go to one office---admissions
Videos go to baseball---there is no conncection between the two
Videos go to baseball---there is no conncection between the two
Most coaches I talked to wanted the appication sent through them. I assumed they wanted to get it approved and deal with any issues.
With most schools a coach will simply deliver the application to the office of admission and again point out that this is a recruit they would like to have. Again, depending on the academic quality of the school an endorsement from a coach may be necessary for a player to be admitted.
I agree with all the other comments above. I wouldn't mass-mail a video to anyone though.
Make one, have it ready in case you're asked. We never were. They want to see the player in person. That was drilled home to me over-and-over by smart folks. It turned out to be totally true.
Make one, have it ready in case you're asked. We never were. They want to see the player in person. That was drilled home to me over-and-over by smart folks. It turned out to be totally true.
Justb My son is at a school that never saw him inperson.
Had several offers including the #4 JC that made offers without seeing him.
Several schools did ask for him to workout for them and would not make an offer without seeing him.
I is definitly better to be seen but not always possible. For a pitcher it is easy to see if a guy is a recruit or not if you include high level game action.
Had several offers including the #4 JC that made offers without seeing him.
Several schools did ask for him to workout for them and would not make an offer without seeing him.
I is definitly better to be seen but not always possible. For a pitcher it is easy to see if a guy is a recruit or not if you include high level game action.
