Things have changed since my son started the recruiting roller coaster ride in or around 2000. Showcasing has changes from a recruiting event to an industry. While not openly discussed I know the high cost of showcasing has become a financial stumbling block for many players and parents. While the US mail has not changed significantly, the use of email has exploded. The phone call has expanded to include the voiceless text messaging and even video messaging. (Even the antiquated Fungo has an LG enV cell phone with video). College camps have changed from a weekend of "instructions and good times" to what may be a viable recruiting tool. All this has changed but surprisingly the REAL ingredients of being recruited have NOT changed. The number of college roster slots available to high school players has not changed. Coaches are STILL looking for the same traits in a player and their goal is to select the BEST talent and college coaches will always be VERY RECEPTIVE to any method of seeing a talented player.
If I had a son today that wanted to play college baseball I would have to do things differently. Since my income has remained virtually the same I would still have to create a “recruiting budget” and that TOTAL budget would be about the same. Since playing the game of baseball is the heart of soul of baseball he would still play on a quality summer baseball team and the family would still travel around with the team. With the cost of gas increasing to an all time high I would have to readjust my budget and allow more money to travel expenses. This increased “travel allocation” would have to come from somewhere and I think I would pull from the showcase monies. With email and text messaging being virtually free I would devise a method of capitalizing on the electronic wizardry and use it to my benefit. Digital photography and high speed internet has created a very good and inexpensive method of promoting your son. I would create a website that displayed his skills and would also create a short DVD that is much more easily mailed and viewed vs. the old VHS tapes. I would create a college database and target different colleges. I can visualize a coach (or a student assistant) receiving an email with a link to a player’s website that showed a 45 sec video clip of a player introducing himself, swinging the bat , throwing (w/imbedded radar reading), running home to first w/imbedded elapsed time. I would also create a “want to see more? --- click here” section that would provide additional information or provide me with the college name. Still want more information? AFTER talking to the head coach we would then consider the college camp. Exposure alternatives are developing every day and parents need to be aware (and thinking) and maybe even changing how the recruiting process works. Human nature is against change. For years I have walked past the “self checkout” in Wal-Mart but now I am an avid user ------ It’s quicker and works better.
Fungo
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