I am the dad of a 2017. There is a major D1 school in the southeast that he is interested in. He is a lefty pitcher with great mechanics, decent velocity for his age, needs to put on a few more pounds and hopefully a few more inches. From reading the boards I gather that less is more when e-mailing a coach.
Question, my father in law(who just passed away) was the starting shortstop on this college team's first baseball team back in the fifties. Does this bear mentioning in the e-mail?
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Get on the schools radar now...your son LHP will get a lot of looks from all kinds of schools. Go to that one school asap for a showcases / camps fall or spring...
While at the showcase camp try to meet with coach and in conversation bring up all that info about your inlaw..
Fill out schools questionnaire there might be a spot for family history for you and your father in law.
Even in the PG app if you go to any PG showcases there is a spot for open family and famous people in your family.. I dont know why it matters but I dont fill that part in..
that is just me.. forgetaboutit...
Good luck to you and your son...
Get him seen...
Make up a list of schools he likes and see them all as a back up plan.
*Oh yeah about the email sure add it in.. your son wants to attend that school because its part of your family history.
As a parent, I would steer away from talking to coaches at a camp or showcase. You don't want to put yourself in a position of being "that parent".
Have your player (now) send an email to the head coach and RC, introducing himself, high school, position, grad year, travel team, and fall travel schedule. Add in the closing paragraph something on the order of "Blueblood Univ. has always been my dream school, especially since my grandpa was on the first baseball team in the '50s." Include a short video clip/link a the end.
Use the basic email, make the necessary changes, and send to 10-15 schools on his list. You never know who may show up for some of the fall games!
As to "less is more," e-mails should be short, not multiple pages. But sending them every 2-3 weeks is recommended, not something to be avoided. You want to strike the right balance between showing interest and becoming a pest.
Going to camps at particular schools is a great way to lose a ton of money if you don't do it smartly. But when you have interest in one particular school, heading to one of their camps is a great way to say, "I'm interested in your school and I'm going to prove it now." As the camp approaches, e-mails might ask if the coaches would allow any time after the camp for in-person discussions (legal). Also, sign up for the university's standard prospective student tour -- the one kids take when they aren't athletes -- and make sure the school really is what you're looking for. Make it an investigatory trip to see if indeed this is the one place that's going to be the top goal. Then see if the player shows well enough that the coaches like him and put him on their RADAR to follow and to talk to.
