First Letter!

Congratulations and welcome to the start of the process. Hopefully it is the first of many contacts for your son!

Word to the wise:

Set up a filing system before it all gets away from you.

Midlo is right on the mark. Make a copy of every correspondence, jot down a couple of notes that come to mind, file each in a separate school folder, and if that school follows up you can grab the folder and have an accurate dateline and questions at your fingertips. This process is a lesson in life where it is obvious that there's probably nothing more impressive than preparedness when put on the spot. While you can impress a coach with your on the field ability, it may be your brilliance that tips the scale.

Careful, recollection here is that written contact initiated from D1 schools is not permitted until 9/1 of junior year.

Thinking the same thing eraser.

quote:

Originally posted by eraser:
Careful, recollection here is that written contact initiated from D1 schools is not permitted until 9/1 of junior year.

They can send generic information suggesting filling out the online questionaire, visiting the campus and attending a camp. My son has received some. I just didn't see it as genuine interest. It's illegal for a college coach to initiate contact until after junior year of high school. I saw it as ...

1) We noticed you as a sixteen year old last year and don't want to lose track of you so fill out the recruiting form and get in our database.

OR

2) You were playing for a good program at a showcase good players usually attend and we got your name off a list so fill out the recruiting form and get in our database.

The player can initiate contact to see if there is real interest.

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:
They can send generic information suggesting filling out the online questionaire, visiting the campus and attending a camp.

That was the basic information sent...but I imagine it's better than getting no letter.

Any interest at this stage for a 2012 is nothing but positive---it is just the beginning

quote:

I don't think it's from a school he has much interest in attending (too far from home!)...

My daughter played college softball for a school to far from home she had no interest in attending. You never know how perspectives change from the time kids see the possibilities to making a decision.

quote:

I don't think it's from a school he has much interest in attending (too far from home!)...

My daughter played college softball for a school to far from home she had no interest in attending. You never know how perspectives change from the time kids see the possibilities to making a dec

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:
I'm not trying to pee on your parade. But I could get my dog to receive a letter of interest asking him to fill out the recruiting form by getting him on the right list.

Chances are your son and his team crossed paths with the college somewhere and got on a list. A more positive scenario is a bird dog may have been umpiring a game your son played in and passed his name on to a friend who's affiliated with the college baseball program.

Consider your parade peed on. Best scenario is you continue your obvious pride and support of your son throughout this process. Congrats to 2012.

quote:

Originally posted by all322:
Consider your parade peed on.

Contrary to all the kudo's this site passes out, there are reality checks, rule alerts, and blinder adjustments that are also passed on to all who lurk here. This is a long and winding road and IMHO, parents and players should understand that while the acknowledgments are cool, the reality is that schools around the country are all privy to some form of "player lists", and practice various recruiting tactics.

While the post originated from scdigger, the message and replies are read by many others who may be in the same boat but lurking anonymously. IMO, the better one initially begins to understands the big picture, the easier it is to react to situations down the road.

btw- congrats to scdigger and his 2012 son for the beginning of this journey.

quote:

Originally posted by rz1:

quote:

Originally posted by all322:
Consider your parade peed on.

Contrary to all the kudo's this site passes out, there are reality checks, rule alerts, and blinder adjustments that are also passed on to all who lurk here. This is a long and winding road and IMHO, parents and players should understand that while the acknowledgments are cool, the reality is that schools around the country are all privy to some form of "player lists", and practice various recruiting tactics.

While the post originated from scdigger, the message and replies are read by many others who may be in the same boat but lurking anonymously. IMO, the better one initially begins to understands the big picture, the easier it is to react to situations down the road.

btw- congrats to scdigger and his 2012 son for the beginning of this journey.

And by all means, I understand this...this is process...as you said, "a long and winding road"...and we haven't even hit the first curve yet...but we have pulled out into the traffic...

Thanks for all the Kudos. Now, back to reality.

quote:

Originally posted by all322:
A more positive scenario is a bird dog may have been umpiring a game your son played in and passed his name on to a friend who's affiliated with the college baseball program.

yes, I have been known to do just that....

quote:

congrats to scdigger and his 2012 son for the beginning of this journey.

congrats indeed....enjoy the ride....keep everything....

sc digger, congratulations! I remember how excited I was when 2B got his first questionnaire. One of the schools that sent him something during the fall of his sophomore year is still following him, and they are right now his number 1. It just might lead to something. Enjoy it!

Digger, congrats to little digger, (and Dad too), as this is a journey for you both. And, one where he needs you hooked-up to help lead him down the best path. Especially for such a young gun, that is what dads are for. Be very proud, he's your son.

As far as the good, the bad, and the ugly.... The great thing about this site is all the different perpectives. All the information is good, some is just better than others. Evaluate it all, keep what you need, dispose of the rest. BUT, don't discount its worth.

At some point, even the reality checks will help you past a sticking point! Enjoy the ride, it's bumpy at times but it doesn't get any better than this!

GED10DaD

scdigger, tell your son to get on the computer right away to follow up on coach's "letter of interest". I've heard too many stories of kids too bashful to speak to the coaches. Find out where he saw him or heard about him. Best Wishes.

Outside of his first true offer I remember that first letter as one of my son`s happiest days!Remind your son that this is the first of more rewards to come because of all the hard work he has put in. Best of luck and enjoy the ride!

quote:

Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
Word to the wise:

Set up a filing system before it all gets away from you.

Good advice. It piles up fast. We went with the portable budget model, like so:

Good information here. But it will all come down to your son. If he has a warrior's attitude, more self confidence than you can imagine, a work ethic he is not even aware exists inside himself, then he will be successful. We are in the thick of a JC soph year that is ending in baseball and I have a 2012 volleyball player that has gotten many of these same letters. She has witnessed her older brother and the dedication and work it takes to be strong and fit, but mostly the incredible mental fortitude it takes to go through this process.
Good luck to you, and enjoy it, but don't be blind to the work that it will take to get into the next level. This "process" is more about building a young man and the lessons he will learn in discipline, responsibility than it is about just playing ball.