For those have or had a son playing in college.
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Junior College is not on your list
For some a JC is the eventual college, for others its a step.
You also seem to be missing HS and college level summer teams.
For some a JC is the eventual college, for others its a step.You also seem to be missing HS and college level summer teams.
Ditto! Junior College
East Cobb, USA Baseball, and Other Tournament all apply to summer teams
Arizona Fall Classic and the All Academic Game.
Fall tryouts.
High school game at a tournament at the eventual college field. I voted with "high school game."
Junior college!!
Internet? and then at visits
Junior College!
PG tournament, Long Island, New York.
Area Code Games Tryouts, Allentown, PA
Stanford All-Star Camp
Area code 2x, USA Baseball 16U, Arizona Fall Sr Classic, Academic Game, PG National 2x, Scout team, Stanford Camp.
Best are Area Code, Academic Game.
BTW he has not declared yet but will in the next 3 days....
Best are Area Code, Academic Game.
BTW he has not declared yet but will in the next 3 days....
College camps, Stanford camp, couple PG showcases but he ended up going the JC route rather than out-of-state or not a guaranteed roster spot which were his D1 options.
Just looking at who commits vs. their backgrounds it seems like a lot of schools sign players out of the big WWBA events.
Just looking at who commits vs. their backgrounds it seems like a lot of schools sign players out of the big WWBA events.
Headfirst
D1 HS Clinic.
HS.
Head First and a college camp.
Jupiter
seen at PG event by Pro Scout who referred him to college coach at JC. fyi, all coaches who had interest saw son at PG events. (tournaments as well as showcases)
Strong reference by another D1 coach.
(major interest in some other schools was from camps and East Cobb 17u wood bat championships)
(major interest in some other schools was from camps and East Cobb 17u wood bat championships)
I'm refreshing this thread because it is a very interesting topic to a parent of a rising junior (me). Any more input?
Lots of interest and offers generated from showcase tournaments but the college that eventually got him recruited him the high school bleachers at every game he started as a junior.
Son was first seen at Stanford camp. Was followed up at Arizona Fall Sr Classic (incl. Academic game). Was seen by numerous programs that followed him at PG Nationals in Arizona (2x’s) Rising Jr and Sr. I have no idea on what, if any, conversations were had between pro scouts and college programs at these events. I know that many of the east coast schools that were following him asked if he was going to Jupiter.
East Cobb as a 15 year old playing in the 18U tournament. We had no idea they were following him until his junior year.
My son's eventual school first saw him at one of their summer camps, the summer before his freshman year in high school. Recalling that brings a story to mind.
At the camp's conclusion, I picked him up in the baseball office, and his eventual head coach was there. As we walked toward the office door, the coach sort of tugged at my arm, creating some distance between the two of us and my son, and said softly, "He has a chance."
Like most children, it seems, mine had "rabbit ears;" so, once the two of us were at the car, he said, "Dad, did he tell you that I have a chance?" "Yes, he did," I replied.
Looking back on it, those few words of encouragement helped sustain him through hours and hours of dedicated effort to improve during high school.
I hope that most coaches realize the difference they can make in ways such as that. Now that he's a coach, himself, I'm pretty certain that he recalls the power of those encouraging words that day.
At the camp's conclusion, I picked him up in the baseball office, and his eventual head coach was there. As we walked toward the office door, the coach sort of tugged at my arm, creating some distance between the two of us and my son, and said softly, "He has a chance."
Like most children, it seems, mine had "rabbit ears;" so, once the two of us were at the car, he said, "Dad, did he tell you that I have a chance?" "Yes, he did," I replied.
Looking back on it, those few words of encouragement helped sustain him through hours and hours of dedicated effort to improve during high school.
I hope that most coaches realize the difference they can make in ways such as that. Now that he's a coach, himself, I'm pretty certain that he recalls the power of those encouraging words that day.
quote:Originally posted by DaddyBo:
Strong reference by another D1 coach.
(major interest in some other schools was from camps and East Cobb 17u wood bat championships)
How great was that recommendation to his eventual coach?!
The coaching fraternity is just that: a fraternity. Many of them are good friends with one another, and they pass along comments about players often.
This is one of the reasons you hear it said to recruited players, "You never know who's watching."
Son participated in PG events, college camps, scout-ball, and a number of other events before he committed. The school where he eventually signed had him on their recruiting list, but I think he was pretty low on the list? The Associate HC/Recruiting Coordinator spoke to his high school coach early on after his Sophomore season. But there was no communication with my son until he watched him play at the Arizona Fall SR Classic in October of his senior year. We went on a visit a few days after the tournament, he committed a week later, and signed in November. We had given up on his school three months earlier when no interest was shown in July. It all worked out in the long run, and in less than six weeks he'll be off to school...in fact, my wife bought his bed sheets and other items for his dorm yesterday.
None of the above.
My son's good friend was already playing for the school. His friend told the college coach, " my friend can really hit." The rest is history.
My son's good friend was already playing for the school. His friend told the college coach, " my friend can really hit." The rest is history.
Spring tryouts (no fallball there)
There are so many lessons to be learned from this thread, and from those of you who have "been there, done that". Great thread.
2 Headfirst camps. Had the opportunity to pursue preferred walk-on status at some pretty hefty local D-1's, but as for an academic and baseball fit DIII worked out much better for me.
Here's some feedback on my son's experience:
High school - Good team in great conference. Little to no college coach interaction from HS coach.
Summer and Fall Showcase teams - Decent exposure at showcases with little assistance from coaches.
Perfect Game - Gives you a rating that is unbiased and trusted by college coaches/recruiters.
Individual College camps - Best exposure of all in my son's case. Puts you in front of the decision makers at the school's you're most interested in. This is what sealed the deal for my son.
I think it's important to remember that the avenue that’s most successful is directly correlated to your son's ability. The higher your ability, the more success you'll have in multiple venues. From a D3 perspective, zeroing in on your top 3 or 4 school choices and then attending their camps is very effective.
High school - Good team in great conference. Little to no college coach interaction from HS coach.
Summer and Fall Showcase teams - Decent exposure at showcases with little assistance from coaches.
Perfect Game - Gives you a rating that is unbiased and trusted by college coaches/recruiters.
Individual College camps - Best exposure of all in my son's case. Puts you in front of the decision makers at the school's you're most interested in. This is what sealed the deal for my son.
I think it's important to remember that the avenue that’s most successful is directly correlated to your son's ability. The higher your ability, the more success you'll have in multiple venues. From a D3 perspective, zeroing in on your top 3 or 4 school choices and then attending their camps is very effective.
Son has verbally committed D1. He was "noticed" playing for a regional travel team. Played in PG events and leveraged that in emails to coaches. Had several coaches come to his high school games - but only after seeing him elsewhere. I am not certain - but I believe the first time he was seen - discovered - by the college he will be attending was at a USA baseball or PG event.
A big break for son was getting a try out as a summer sophmore to USA finals. He didn't make it but the experience was great for him, and that also helped us as how to move forward in the process and that was to play the game (not showcases) every chance he could.
He attended one camp and I feel it wasn't necessary as he had already been to Jupiter and got significant interest. His summer travel experience was worth every penny as well. HS ball only one local coach from a team that draws from south florida.
Things have changed in the recruiting process, however, nothing can ever take the place of a scout or a college coach seeing you play, I mean standing there and watching you, becoming a fan and than following your progress. That may be a tournaments for some, showcases or camps for others.
The biggest thing is deciding how to go about the process without breaking the bank or wearing down your player (which many folks do). Get out there and be SEEN.
Good read here for good suggestions.
JMO.
He attended one camp and I feel it wasn't necessary as he had already been to Jupiter and got significant interest. His summer travel experience was worth every penny as well. HS ball only one local coach from a team that draws from south florida.
Things have changed in the recruiting process, however, nothing can ever take the place of a scout or a college coach seeing you play, I mean standing there and watching you, becoming a fan and than following your progress. That may be a tournaments for some, showcases or camps for others.
The biggest thing is deciding how to go about the process without breaking the bank or wearing down your player (which many folks do). Get out there and be SEEN.
Good read here for good suggestions.
JMO.
...and what a great career it's been for your son, TPM!! 
You know, your mention of camps brought a thought to mind:
So often, posts here tend to concentrate upon a camp's value as an opportunity for the player to be seen and evaluated. However, it needs to be kept in mind that camps can also serve as a great way to help distinguish one program from another if a player has a serious interest in more than one.
In my son's case, the choice came down to two universities. He'd already been to one's summer camps; so, he felt like he knew them pretty well. However, he felt like a real outsider trying to evaluate the other program.
Because of this, he decided to attend the other school's 2-day camp during the holiday break of his junior year. In those two days, he got to know the coaches and the players who served as instructors much better than he would have, otherwise.
Having attended both schools' camps put him in a much better informed position when he made his decision seven-or-so months later.
You know, your mention of camps brought a thought to mind:
So often, posts here tend to concentrate upon a camp's value as an opportunity for the player to be seen and evaluated. However, it needs to be kept in mind that camps can also serve as a great way to help distinguish one program from another if a player has a serious interest in more than one.
In my son's case, the choice came down to two universities. He'd already been to one's summer camps; so, he felt like he knew them pretty well. However, he felt like a real outsider trying to evaluate the other program.
Because of this, he decided to attend the other school's 2-day camp during the holiday break of his junior year. In those two days, he got to know the coaches and the players who served as instructors much better than he would have, otherwise.
Having attended both schools' camps put him in a much better informed position when he made his decision seven-or-so months later.
Prepster the other thing that was lost on me prior to my son going to a couple of camps is that these kids are being taught by college coaches and they are actually learning something. I know my son came back and figured out that his HS coach was clueless and did not know what he was doing after going to a couple of camps, that in my view were just to get him seen, but in the end he had a great time and learned something. It was definitely a D’Oh moment for me.
Thanks Prepster, it's been a tough road, the future remains unclear but he keeps working at it. All I know is that he works really really hard and takes his job seriously at trying to be the best he can be, and not just be like someone else.
You make a very good point. He only attended that camp because it was his top choice, seriously being recruited and lo and behold after that the love affair was over.
Camps can be expensive if they are being used as a tool, so just like everything should be taken into consideration what value you will get in return.
As BOF suggests some are excellent for their instruction.
You make a very good point. He only attended that camp because it was his top choice, seriously being recruited and lo and behold after that the love affair was over.
Camps can be expensive if they are being used as a tool, so just like everything should be taken into consideration what value you will get in return.
As BOF suggests some are excellent for their instruction.
Absolutely, BOF!
I've mentioned the learning value of camps quite a few times, as have a number of others. However, so many who post here insist upon focusing on the "being seen" part.
The more you play the game, the more you realize how much more you need to know about it.
A very recent illustration:
Two nights ago, I was on the phone with my son, who was returning from a two-day camp in Richmond where he was one of about 6 or 7 college coaches serving as instructors. During our conversation, he got to talking about how much he thought of the other instructors.
He said, "You know, I sat in on a couple of hitting stations because I always find it interesting to see how good coaches go about teaching hitting." This comes from a former minor league player who would tell each of his minor league managers that he intended to coach one day and wanted to learn as much about all aspects of the game as possible while he was playing on that team. (They'd routinely go out of their way to see that he did.)
If coaches are still learning from coaches, it stands to reason that even the best high school players can learn something while in camp, as well. ...but, somehow, so many people seem to just want to write about the visibility part.
I've mentioned the learning value of camps quite a few times, as have a number of others. However, so many who post here insist upon focusing on the "being seen" part.
The more you play the game, the more you realize how much more you need to know about it.
A very recent illustration:
Two nights ago, I was on the phone with my son, who was returning from a two-day camp in Richmond where he was one of about 6 or 7 college coaches serving as instructors. During our conversation, he got to talking about how much he thought of the other instructors.
He said, "You know, I sat in on a couple of hitting stations because I always find it interesting to see how good coaches go about teaching hitting." This comes from a former minor league player who would tell each of his minor league managers that he intended to coach one day and wanted to learn as much about all aspects of the game as possible while he was playing on that team. (They'd routinely go out of their way to see that he did.)
If coaches are still learning from coaches, it stands to reason that even the best high school players can learn something while in camp, as well. ...but, somehow, so many people seem to just want to write about the visibility part.