Expecting too much from Travel ball coach?

What is expected is for the travel ball coach to introduce himself only, shake their hands and hand each of them a roster with the bio and contact information of the players and coaching staff.  The coach should keep a binder with transcript copies if requested.    They can also state that if there are any questions about any of the players, feel free to contact him. That's about it.

^^^^ What Sunwalkingvalley said.  

^^^^^^Thing is, that wasn't done either^^^^^^^

It depends on the coach and the organization.  Some are more proactive than others in getting their players on college rosters.

It can even be school dependent.  They may have a relationship with certain schools which they reach out to - but not others.

It can be player dependent as well.  It's entirely possible a coach will not reach out on behalf of a player that he thinks will be a bad representation of his program.  It's not worth damaging their reputation to vouch for a kid who doesn't deserve it.

I would say that the coach's only obligation is to provide an honest assessment if asked.  Anything above that I wouldn't expect unless they expressly told me they would do it. 

Did the College Coaches approach the Travel ball Coach?  How do you know they were there to watch this specific player?  If they were there to see this kid, and he is interested in those schools, then the player needs to step up and initiate contact with the coaches.  Do not expect any help from anyone.  Yes, some organizations do far more then others, but in the end, it is up to the player and his family to contact the schools he is interested in.

I think there are a few really good takeaways from the gist of this thread.  Specifically, questions to ask a travel ball coach/organization on how they interact with college coaches, promote their kids, help get their kids a good baseball match for those that move on to play in college.

Get expectations agreed upon between family and coach before choosing a coach / organization.

If the travel coaches knew the college guys were there and didn't at least say hello, I think that says a lot about the organization and the coaches.  Does that organization regularly get kids into college ball?  My son's travel coaches at 17U were VERY good about promoting him to coaches....and if there was even ONE college coach at a game watching anyone, all 3 coaches would be out before the game talking to him and making sure he has any info he needed.

my sons organization was very active behind the scenes but not so much in public. They coached the team, certainly had conversations with schools before and after games when requested but most of the work was done outside of the spotlight. previous relationships with some schools had some influence on the interaction as well.

Bottom line is there are lots of ways to skin a cat but IMO yes the travel coaches should be active in supporting the efforts.

Trust me if the coaches want to talk to the Coach they will approach him. He won't have to go track them down. Good coaches build good relationships with college coaches. Heck with all coaches at every level. When I coached showcase baseball they called me. When they watched us play they would always seek me out if they wanted to talk. So if the coach didn't go seek out these college coaches it's not an issue imo. If the coaches like what they see and or want to talk to the coach they will. College coaches know what they are looking for and they know it when they see it. If they like a kid the kid will know it eventually.

Rob T posted:

It depends on the coach and the organization.  Some are more proactive than others in getting their players on college rosters.

It can even be school dependent.  They may have a relationship with certain schools which they reach out to - but not others.

It can be player dependent as well.  It's entirely possible a coach will not reach out on behalf of a player that he thinks will be a bad representation of his program.  It's not worth damaging their reputation to vouch for a kid who doesn't deserve it.

I would say that the coach's only obligation is to provide an honest assessment if asked.  Anything above that I wouldn't expect unless they expressly told me they would do it. 

Agree with Go44, this is a good thread. One question for you, Rob T: why in the heck would the coach have a kid in his program who he thinks will be a bad representation of his program? That's a coach I would steer clear of  . . .

2019Dad posted:

Rob T posted:

It depends on the coach and the organization.  Some are more proactive than others in getting their players on college rosters.

It can even be school dependent.  They may have a relationship with certain schools which they reach out to - but not others.

It can be player dependent as well.  It's entirely possible a coach will not reach out on behalf of a player that he thinks will be a bad representation of his program.  It's not worth damaging their reputation to vouch for a kid who doesn't deserve it.

I would say that the coach's only obligation is to provide an honest assessment if asked.  Anything above that I wouldn't expect unless they expressly told me they would do it. 

Agree with Go44, this is a good thread. One question for you, Rob T: why in the heck would the coach have a kid in his program who he thinks will be a bad representation of his program? That's a coach I would steer clear of  . . .

Not necessarily a bad kid per se - but perhaps one that he doesn't believe he should be selling to a particular school or level of school. I think many coaches would rather not make contact at all in that case.  They will give an opinion if contacted - but don't want to make contact if they don't have anything positive to say.

You would hope the coach was upfront with the player in that case obviously, but as you know - sometimes players and parents have trouble hearing even if they are listening.

Of course I'm sure there are plenty of situations where a kid ends up on a team for one reason or another and the coach discovers along the way that the kid has issues. In a hypothetical  world I guess the coach would just get rid of that player - but reality isn't always ideal.

Goin_yard posted:

Did the College Coaches approach the Travel ball Coach?  How do you know they were there to watch this specific player?  If they were there to see this kid, and he is interested in those schools, then the player needs to step up and initiate contact with the coaches.  Do not expect any help from anyone.  Yes, some organizations do far more then others, but in the end, it is up to the player and his family to contact the schools he is interested in.

Absolutely right on,  yard.

If they are interested in you they will contact you. If they are there watching a travel team play, showcase team, they make sure the players they like know they like them. What's the point of going to watch players if you are not going to reach out to the one's you like? It simply doesn't work that way. When a college coach goes to a showcase event they take notes on the players they like. They get all the contact information for the one's they like. They seek out the coaches of the players they like. That's the whole point.

It's not the showcase team's coaches decision on who likes their players or not. It's not their call on where to steer their players with college coaches. In other words I have a kid who UNC is very interested in after watching him play. They ask me about the player. "Oh he can't play for you guys." "Your not a good fit for him." They evaluate the players you put on the field. They decide if they think the player can play for them. They reach out to the player and family. They will evaluate him to the degree they feel they should. I can have my own opinions. But that is shared with my players and players family. That's who I represent.

In other words "I know they like you and want to offer. And I know ________ is going to offer you as well. In my opinion looking at both rosters and your abilities I think _________ is the best fit for you. But you guys are going to have to weigh all the factors and go where you feel the best fit for you is." I am never going to share that conversation with those college coaches.

You are going to have players who every time you play there is interest. You are going to have players that only will get interest from a certain level of coaches present. You are going to have players that are marginal for one level but not marginal for another. College coaches will let you know what they think. If there is interest you will know it. And if there is not you will know it. Seeking out coaches to let them know you are interested in them would work in the following scenario. Your so darn good that they don't think there is any need to even bother. Because they are sure you are above their ability to get you. You made their day by letting them know you would be interested. Outside of that if they love you they will kiss you.

Yes I have had kids sign that I believed it was over their head when coaching showcase teams. And yes sometimes I was right. And yes sometimes I was wrong. But that's not my call with those college coaches. They get paid to evaluate the players I put on the field. They get paid and keep that check coming by making good decisions based on their opinion not mine. They might ask an opinion and I learned a long time ago "You saw him play. Your going to have to make that call." And I believe in being brutally honest with players and families. But also letting them know that it is their decision and they have to make the call they believe is best for their son.

I have sat and will sit with many college coaches from all levels when evaluating players at showcase events. When they like a player they want that player to know. And they make sure he knows. And the comments range from "No need for me to even talk to that kid he's one of yours Johnny." Ref D2 coach to major D1 coach. Never have a heard a coach say "I really like that kid but I just don't know how to get the word back to him." Or "I really like that kid but his showcase coach doesn't think he can play for us. So were going to back off."

Some coaches opinions carry weight. It could cause a coach NOT to come see a kid. But once seen and liked no one gives a rat's a__ if you don't think he can play for them. They do their own evaluating that's what they get paid to do.

Contacting the schools you are interested in? By all means. Seeking out the coaches present at events who are evaluating players? Nope. If they like you they will seek you out. Unless your a freaking stud and a certain D2 coach is there. Please go find him and let him know your available.

We should specify too travel team coach or head of organization. The coach of any team not directly coached by the head of the organization can do very little to help other than answer questions. However the head of our organization does an outstanding job of helping kids get placed. He has developed a good reputation and rapport with many college coaches. He is certainly able to encourage schools he has a relationship with to take a look at a kid. In our organization basically anyone who wants to play in college will play in college. Certainly not always where or at the level they want but he will help you get placed. 

I would normally expect your travel coaches to know the college coaches already; to make a point of having conversations with all college coaches present either before, during or after the game; to find out whom they came to see; to discuss those players; and also to see how they felt about other team members who are interested in that school, so that the college coaches would realize who was interested in them and therefore know to pay a bit of attention to them.

If your team's coaches didn't already know the college coaches and then also did nothing to get to know them, that team should cease to exist, because everyone on it should go elsewhere.