Early Signing Come and Gone -- Now What Happens?

http://www.hsbaseballweb.com/no_early_signing.htm

No Early Signing
What To Do Next


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by: Bob Howdeshell
High School Baseball Web

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You did not sign a Letter of Intent in the early signing period. The phone has not been ringing-the letters have stopped. What do you do now? Is the dream of playing college baseball over?
Maybe not -- But it is time to be PRO-ACTIVE and get back to work. Here are some tips.



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High School Seniors
The early signing period has come and gone, the high school season is about to start. You may have received a call or two phone calls from college coaches but nothing is really going on, contact from colleges just isn't happening. Your frustration level is WAY up - your self-confidence has taken a pretty good "lick." Think that you are alone? Trust me on this one - You are not alone. Thousands of high school baseball players are in the same situation that you are.
What do you do now? Obviously you can't give up the dream of playing college baseball. You've worked too hard to do that. Have you explored every option? Here are a few ideas and helpful hints.

First some good news - There are more college scholarships awarded in the late signing period (April on) than in the early period. The large D1's sign the bulk of their kids in the early periods. BUT the majority of the DII, DIII, NAIA and Juco schools sign their players in the later periods.

I talk to many parents at this time of year that tell me "we sent out 50 - 75 letters" just like you said to do. My son heard back (by mail) from almost all of them. Why didn't any of them pursue him further?

There can be a variety of reasons for that answer. What I usually discover is that the letters went to the 50 or so strongest Division 1 baseball programs in the country. (LSU, Stanford, Georgia Tech, etc.) The truth is these schools get hundreds and even sometimes more than a thousand letters (each year) from hopeful high school players. I know of 10 or more schools that responded to over 500 letters.

Getting a letter from a school DOES NOT mean that they are recruiting you.

It is probably time to step back and take a second look at the caliber of college baseball that you are really capable of playing. Not everyone can play for a Top 10 team. There is no shame in that!

It is probably the time to contact some of the smaller schools, again the DII, DIII, NAIA and Juco programs. Most players and parents miss these the first time around.

I would also suggest that you focus your search closer to home, if there are schools in your area. Keep in mind that the college programs will be playing the same time that you will be. It would be very difficult for a college coach at a school several hundred miles away to make it to one of your games.

Here are some ideas to try:


Make a phone call to any coach that contacted you before the early signing period, ask the coach if there is any interest still. If not then ask the coach for any schools that he might recommend. Coach's talk - he may know of a school that would be a good fit for your abilities

Start a new list of schools - Keep it small - no more than 20.

Send letters of introduction to those schools (see the Player & Parent section of the Recruiting Tips, for letter suggested formats.

You can use Addresses & EMail Links to find college baseball web sites. This link will take you to the "College Baseball" section.

Make sure that you include a copy of your high school baseball schedule with the letter.

About one week after mailing the letter CALL the coach - this is very important - it will show initiative and let the coach know that you are interested. (the player should make these calls not the parent)
There are no restrictions on high school players calling a college coach. If the coach is not in ask to leave a message or voice mail and ask for a return call. Tell them you are following up on a letter that you sent. (Speak clearly and loudly .... no mumbling or talking like you do with your friends on the phone) You can use email for this too -- but I find that the telephone works better at this stage.


If these coaches are not interested ASK them if they could recommend any schools - immediately send a letter to those schools

Follow these letters up with phone calls

Ask your high school coach to make a few calls to college coaches that he may know. The same for your summer team coach.

If you know any of the area professional scouts a good idea would be to contact them and ask if they know of any programs that would be a good "fit" for you.

Another source might be the instructor or owner of the training center that you workout at in the off-season. Many of these guys have contacts with college coaches.

Do not forget about the junior and community colleges in this process

It's not too late but it is time to be PRO-ACTIVE and make contact with schools. As the baseball season starts you will have even less time to make follow-up phone calls, etc.

You have been playing baseball most of your life. You don't want to quit on your dream now do you?

GOOD LUCK!

quote:

Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom:

Go Golden Eagle Flashes

OS8,
I like to recognize good posts and that was a very good reminder from Bob, helping parents to understand that there is lots more time left until their sons get to sign.

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I side with everything said so far...

…and gonna go out on a limb...and add a little more...restate the previous…and ramble a little…

We had an early sign and a non early sign (NES) so we have been all the way down both roads.

You already know the bad news.

But you may not have considered the good news….

The good news is that you’re not stuck agonizing with a single offer from Podunk U who has bad weather, bad academics, bad coaching and is expensive and on the other side of the country.

The good news is that you are wide open. The good news is that it still only takes ONE connection.

The good news is that if you can get beyond the ego of not being an early sign, and deal with a little uncertainty, there is a great deal of opportunity, and work left in the next 8 months of the recruiting process. Grades, injury, collegiate academic failure, personal issues, the draft, players that underachieve all can, and do, open up doors and spots right up through August. Specifically be aware that rosters and plans for collegiate teams can really shuffle in May and June with the end of the season and the draft. With my non-early-sign we were in the game for the next 8 months after the early signing period. We saw players commit, and spots open up right until the week before school started.

I am very fond of plan B or insurance. If it were me I would come up with a list of schools that made real sense to me based upon something other than baseball. I would consider academic wants, desires and needs. My geographical desires. My social desires. My ability to pay. My best hope for school size and makeup. If you can factor in some baseball into the decision all the better, even if it is a walk on. If it were me I would apply to a couple schools I am sure that are good personal fits, if they have baseball or not. This is my insurance policy. The worst case is that I walk on and baseball or not, end up with a good life fit at a school that really works for me.

With Plan B in place, the second thing that I would do is to use your contacts. If you have done camps and showcases then you have contacts. Use them. Relate the situation to them, ask for suggestions. I just saw a copy of an interview with a DII coach who said that he gets up to 50 calls and a 100 letters a day, far too much for him to reply to but he did say that most of his recruits are personally referred by people he trusts. I am sure that many of those who have seen your player would have some suggestions. I have come to believe that in a recruiting world where EVERYONE writes letters and sends Emails, and calls, coaches are buried in them. IMO personal contact and referrals are quickly becoming the most valuable, and perhaps the only, new currency to hold. You paid for some of these USE THEM. I have found that people really want to help.

The next thing I would do is to reevaluate everything. Your players’ baseball ability based upon the information gleaned from my showcases and college camps. Where do they think his ability puts him? Honestly. You may think he’s a much better player and he may well be...but the only opinion that counts (valid or invalid) is the recruiters. Then take your insurance list and see if there any cross matches by baseball. If so, focus your efforts on those schools. If you do come to the conclusion that he is under-appreciated figure out why, and go after that characteristic with a vengeance, if you can, now. While there is still time. If it cannot be overcome short term (6 months) then factor that into any decisions regarding levels of collegiate play (divisions and conference differences).

Other ways to open up the horizons are out of state, different divisions, lesser know schools. Good example, check the rosters of schools from more “of the way states”; those rosters can be all in state. Getting direct interest from a player from Florida, California, or Texas, places where they may not often successfully recruit, is a real bonus in many cases. It has been said here before many times that college programs want players who REALLY want the opportunity at that school.

I am not a fan of going to college camps with the primary goal of recruiting UNLESS you have really researched their needs, they have a sincere interest in your player, and they are a real good “fit”. But if they are a good fit, great option.

Yes, Showcases from here on get more problematic due to “quiet” regulations, limited player #’s and season, but there are still opportunities out there. Keep yourself educated. I do know that some June Showcases will also take uncommitted players from THE PREVIOUS class. It is a great way to get seen at just the time when coaches may be jostling rosters.

Lastly consider the possibility that it is better to find a good fit long term than panic short term. After the early signing period ended we also started evaluating and courting JC’s that we thought were good fit. Check the rosters of most DI schools and you will find transfers. It’s a great option for player development, and leaves all the 4 years open at a later date. At one level it can be looked on as a way to extend, and rekindle the early recruiting period.

If you have read much here you will see that players that sign early are only but a %, of the players that go on to play and star at the collegiate level and beyond. There many different paths into collegiate baseball, the key is to find one that also meshes with the needs and desires of your family and your player.

Good luck!

44
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Great post, observer! You made some terrific points and suggestions. We will keep them in mind in case things don't materialize next summer for our '08 son.

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Infield08..

Cool. Lets hope your son is an early, but if not, best wishes and I hope it helps...

Establish those relationships...adapt and adjust... look for the best fit...don't panic...keep working...

44
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Observer, I also enjoyed your post. My son received all county and state recognition this past year, and got a substantial amount of attention along the way, but nothing materialized for him in the early signing process, with the exception of one D1 school which orally promised a scholarship, which he ultimately decided to accept. Then, they simply took the deal away at the last minute. I got to witness my son in tears, and saw the effect that had on my son, which was heart breaking. I would not have believed it, except that I have read of teams that signed ten, fifteen, eighteen players, and you know that they all are not around come spring. Sounds insane, but I have come to view this entire process as one so complicated and multi faceted and confusing that it is hard for an adult to understand it, let alone a seventeen year old. I appreciate your comments on how to make the best out of such a wild landscape.

Sam

So now what is the plan for your boy?

observer44 - classic post!

I have said it before, you are one of the best writers/thinkers (if not the best) on the hsbbweb. Hopefully, young men out there still looking for a chance can find this advice and utilize it.

quote:

...with the exception of one D1 school which orally promised a scholarship, which he ultimately decided to accept. Then, they simply took the deal away at the last minute.

This is bad...if there was a verbal agreement, both sides should have honored it. No doubt it happens more than we think, but this is bad.

Nice post 44.

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Cleveland Dad and Justbaseball...

Very gratified when two of the sites best and most respected find value.

Thanks!

44
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SF SAM...

Thanks. Sincerely glad you found some value. Sincerely hope it helps.

I loved your term ““Wild Landscape”! I will use that! As you’ve learned the hard way it’s a wild and wooly game. It doesn’t get any easier, before college ball...or during.

I can empathize with you the process can be heartbreaking, brutal, frustrating, complex, unfair, and worse. But remember that you are not alone...while at times on the HSBBW it may appear that EVERYONE is an early sign...I can assure you that tons of us here have been down this road. Maybe we should have a “Story Thread” for those of us whose sons took a more circular route!

Without going into detail...I can assure you we felt exactly that same way with our NES after the early signing period had come and gone. Going in we had every reason to be optimistic...made many of the right moves…and got soundly ignored by everyone outside of his dream DI school who offered a Recruited walk on which disappeared when their recruiting went much better than they thought.

You cannot completely tame “The wild landscape"....but remember that “Wild” also means dynamic and fluid, things happen, spots open “late”...With others signed your son should definately move up. Use the info from the sources above and go to work. Be prepared, be there, be the next in line. IT ONLY TAKES ONE. And if it doesn’t work, You’ll still have a positive plan B as a fallback.

Got get ‘em!

44
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Keep in mind that the early signing period is when the colleges strive to sign the upper tier players or that"special" player they want in their program.

A good number of these players will never make it to the campus because of the draft or academics.


My suggestion is to just keep plugging away and it will all happen if the player has the talent and has been properly exposed and marketed