Do all of the coaches that are listed on the website actually show up to this event?
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Let me preface this by saying I have never been to a Headfirst event. However, I was considering taking my son to one this year so I emailed Headfirst and got a phone call from them. They were very nice and said they only list the coaches who will be there. If for some emergency that coach cannot be there they take him off the list.
We were fortunate to attend their showcase last summer. It is the best showcase imo for players wanting to go to an academic college. The listed coaches were all there. Best of all they are all on the field with the players and coach the games as well. It was a great experience for my son and started off his recruiting. He will be attending one of three schools that saw him play at the showcase.
Dlock: Though I didn't check, one of Headfirst's bragging points is that they don't list colleges who won't be attending one of their events. And from my experience, I have no reason to doubt them. They are really well run and worth the time, money and effort.
On the other hand,our experience at a PG showcase was pretty much the opposite--though absolutely well-attended by schools, there waS lots of standing around and, in the end, it seemed likewe didn't get a lot of bang for the buck.
On the other hand,our experience at a PG showcase was pretty much the opposite--though absolutely well-attended by schools, there waS lots of standing around and, in the end, it seemed likewe didn't get a lot of bang for the buck.
Though 2012 hasnt been to either yet, what I have seen from researching is that Head First is VERY pricey at $900, while PG is MODERATELY pricey at a range of prices up to $700. As I said, I can't speak to the standing around but with PG you get an evaluation and a web listing which allows for the money to have an effect over time with coaches who are there AND not there, while Head First offers NO evaluations and its the coaches that are there who are the sole beneficiaries of the scouting.
Note that PG is putting on an Academic event June 4/5 this year.
No denying Head First seems to have earned a brilliant reputation in this niche however.
Those with actual experience from these two top tier organizations should correct my perceptions or offer their opinions as well?
Note that PG is putting on an Academic event June 4/5 this year.
No denying Head First seems to have earned a brilliant reputation in this niche however.
Those with actual experience from these two top tier organizations should correct my perceptions or offer their opinions as well?
Am I just missing it or are the prices for PG's showcases not listed on their site? 
Sandman,
Our philosophy...
We cheat the other guy and pass the savings on to you!
Just kidding!
I'll check and find out why the prices are not listed, if they aren't. Seems like they should be. I know they are on the invitations.
Our philosophy...
We cheat the other guy and pass the savings on to you!
Just kidding!I'll check and find out why the prices are not listed, if they aren't. Seems like they should be. I know they are on the invitations.
quote:Originally posted by slotty:
On the other hand,our experience at a PG showcase was pretty much the opposite--though absolutely well-attended by schools, there waS lots of standing around and, in the end, it seemed likewe didn't get a lot of bang for the buck.
I cannot speak to the Headfirst events.
However I did want to comment on my experience with the two PG events my son attended. It was just to opposite of what you describe. Granted my son is a pitcher so the schedule of events are different, but I witnessed other kids who are position players that were well scouted.
In my view you cannot go to a better event than the PG tourney in Jupiter. Here is a link to my review on it.
http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/f...717005895#3717005895
I also comment on the PG Showcase my son attended as well.
My 2011 Pitcher was at the PG Academic in June and the Headfirst in New York. The main difference for us was as follows. PG had very few coaches present except Service Academy's and Ivy League Schools. The main pro (or con) was the PG rating. At the Headfirst Showcase son got to mingle with all listed coaches and was seen by over 40 schools. I felt we got a lot of bang for our buck for a pitcher only and have recommended Headfirst to many of his friends who want to go the academic school route.
So as a 2013, would it be better to attend one of these showcases in August 2011 or November 2011.
Have not heard anything negative about the Head First camps except for the price. There are so many other camps out there to take advantage of that do not cost nearly as much. I find that some bigger college camps also have many other college coaches attend. The TOP 96 camps have always been a great start to "showcaseing".
www.bristolcountyeagles.org
www.bristolcountyeagles.org
What are the GPA requirements to attend a Headfirst camp?
$895
quote:What are the GPA requirements to attend a Headfirst camp?
I would absolutely call them with specific questions like that. They will tell you straight up if there is a requirement.
When my son attended two summers ago, I was not aware of a specific GPA requirement for HeadFirst. Remember, your son is competing with high academic acheivers who also happen to be baseball players. The $895 investment probably wouldn't be worthwhile if he doesn't have academic makeup to get into some of the listed schools. I would absolutely double check the academic requirements for a handful of schools before I write the check. The other challenge for many is writing the check in advance (winter/early spring) of the summer showcase knowing that your son will have offers July 1. We swallowed hard and paid the $795 at the time as an "insurance policy". That "insurance policy" really paid off as it gave my son additional options, and opened up some new doors.
You fill out a profile, and the coaches have access to that profile. Within that profile is your SATS, ACTS, GPA, class rank, academic achievements and athletic achievements. So, a coach has specific criteria he can do a filter in advance of the showcase to focus on those players. The coach can then go watch & focus on those players that he has a need for (ie pitching), and those that he knows have a chance to get accepted. Just as the coach is profiling your son, your son needs to profile the college. Your son should call or email a coach if he is interested in the school, and let them know he will be at a (Headfirst) showcase.
HeadFirst
quote:Originally posted by fenwaysouth:
The other challenge for many is writing the check in advance (winter/early spring) of the summer showcase knowing that your son will have offers July 1. We swallowed hard and paid the $795 at the time as an "insurance policy".
I wrote my check as well in the winter, and at the time also paid $795. My son verbally committed to the school he is now at, 3 weeks before Headfirst was to begin. We had a friend who was shut out of the sold out camp, and attempted to try and transfer, or at the very least get him in the camp. Headfirst would not allow this.
Be aware Headfirst has no refund or transfer policy, period. Once you write that check, there is no turning back. They already know from past experience, that a certain number of kids will not attend, and they build that into the total number they accept, until it is declared sold out. Not very customer friendly.
IMO they have this policy because they can!
quote:Originally posted by birdman14:
I wrote my check as well in the winter, and at the time also paid $795. My son verbally committed to the school he is now at, 3 weeks before Headfirst was to begin. We had a friend who was shut out of the sold out camp, and attempted to try and transfer, or at the very least get him in the camp. Headfirst would not allow this.
Be aware Headfirst has no refund or transfer policy, period. Once you write that check, there is no turning back. They already know from past experience, that a certain number of kids will not attend, and they build that into the total number they accept, until it is declared sold out. Not very customer friendly.
IMO they have this policy because they can!
I cannot judge this organization because I have not had any personal interaction with them. As I recall, the large fee for their camp compared with other options is probably what kept me away.
Regardless, if what happened to you happened to me, I would certainly be upset. I understand a no refund policy, but I would think you should have been able to pass/transfer it to another kid since they are already staffed enough for the expected number of kids at that event. Furthermore, if a kid is sick or injured at the time of the camp, you would think they would at least offer you an option to attend another camp if you gave them adequate notice.
Based on my knowledge of the Perfect Game and Top 96 organizations I believe they would be much more amenable to working something out, rather than taking an intractable position in only their favor. That is why I highly recommend PG, and also give TP96 a decent review.
Poor customer service eventually catches up with businesses, just as positive reviews and experiences keep other businesses thriving.
It's funny, 2 years later and I'm still PO'ed about it. The shear arrogance in the way they handled it, during my phone conversation, was obnoxious.
everyone today wants it their way
Since this discussion has touched closely upon our refund and transfer policies, we wanted to clarify a couple of items.
Is it correct that we have a no-refund policy. However, we do permit transfers between Headfirst events in nearly all circumstances up until either thirty days before an event or the time at which the event sells out. We have already executed at least thirty such transfers so far this year in response to injuries, shifting family calendars, etc. We feel that this policy strikes a fair balance between protecting the interests of customers and preserving our ability to execute our events in the manner that has made them exceedingly popular among both college coaches and student-athletes.
It’s worth mentioning that we take these policies extremely seriously and have tweaked them each year in an effort to make them optimal for everyone. The reason our Camps receive overwhelmingly positive feedback from those who do attend is because the events are extremely efficient. We know that time and money are valuable for everyone involved, and are committed to making sure that each attendee gets as much exposure as possible over two days.
Injuries of course present extremely difficult situations, given that our events often sell out weeks/months in advance. These cases are handled exclusively by our Camp Directors/Founders, and we work with families to find equitable solutions whenever possible. That said, it would be impossible to run our Camps effectively without having some clear, overarching policies that are not subject to change. Everyone registering for anyone of our events is made aware of the policies before payment is made.
As always, we’re happy to answer any questions about this – and we certainly respect the feelings and opinions of those who take issue with our policies in this area, always taking the time to explain our position as best we are able. Please feel free to contact us directly anytime at showcase@playheadfirst.com or (202) 625-1921.
Thanks and good luck to all during the upcoming showcase season.
Is it correct that we have a no-refund policy. However, we do permit transfers between Headfirst events in nearly all circumstances up until either thirty days before an event or the time at which the event sells out. We have already executed at least thirty such transfers so far this year in response to injuries, shifting family calendars, etc. We feel that this policy strikes a fair balance between protecting the interests of customers and preserving our ability to execute our events in the manner that has made them exceedingly popular among both college coaches and student-athletes.
It’s worth mentioning that we take these policies extremely seriously and have tweaked them each year in an effort to make them optimal for everyone. The reason our Camps receive overwhelmingly positive feedback from those who do attend is because the events are extremely efficient. We know that time and money are valuable for everyone involved, and are committed to making sure that each attendee gets as much exposure as possible over two days.
Injuries of course present extremely difficult situations, given that our events often sell out weeks/months in advance. These cases are handled exclusively by our Camp Directors/Founders, and we work with families to find equitable solutions whenever possible. That said, it would be impossible to run our Camps effectively without having some clear, overarching policies that are not subject to change. Everyone registering for anyone of our events is made aware of the policies before payment is made.
As always, we’re happy to answer any questions about this – and we certainly respect the feelings and opinions of those who take issue with our policies in this area, always taking the time to explain our position as best we are able. Please feel free to contact us directly anytime at showcase@playheadfirst.com or (202) 625-1921.
Thanks and good luck to all during the upcoming showcase season.
Our experience with HeadFirst was outstanding. Went to Jupiter in Nov 2010. Coaches were very accessible, the ones listed attended, camp was VERY well run. Lots of good information regarding recruiting, working out, etc. While the price may e higher I think it is important to evaluate that against your sons goals. If it is to combine baseball/strong academics HeadFirst is a great value. They may charge a little more, but we found it to be well worth it.
When my son was in HS he attended the Headfirst showcase in Sacramento. Where he ended up playing in college did not result from the Headfirst showcase (at least to my knowledge.)
We found the showcase to be among the best organized and most useful showcases of any he attended during his recruiting process. The coaches in attendance were clearly there to identify talent that could play baseball and qualify for attending their schools.
The coaches were very accessible - the showcase built the accessibility into the structure of the two days.
For a parent and athlete looking for a baseball experience at a higher academic school, I would HIGHLY recommend Headfirst.
As I said, to my knowledge, my son's eventual college of choice was not determined by attending Headfirst.
We found the showcase to be among the best organized and most useful showcases of any he attended during his recruiting process. The coaches in attendance were clearly there to identify talent that could play baseball and qualify for attending their schools.
The coaches were very accessible - the showcase built the accessibility into the structure of the two days.
For a parent and athlete looking for a baseball experience at a higher academic school, I would HIGHLY recommend Headfirst.
As I said, to my knowledge, my son's eventual college of choice was not determined by attending Headfirst.
Rob, your post is very timely. My son and I were talking about the Headfirst showcase in Florida. Over the summer he decided that he prefers emphasizing the academic aspect of the college decision since he wants to go to law school. He is no longer enamored with the DI distinction. In fact, he currently believes he would like to go to a medium to small college in the northeast with a good track record of having students admitted to law school. I circled the colleges on the list of attending schools which fit the bill, and it was the majority of them.
It would be good to start figuring out if he might find a fit over the next year (he's a 2013). So we will see over the next day or two if he commits to going.
It would be good to start figuring out if he might find a fit over the next year (he's a 2013). So we will see over the next day or two if he commits to going.
Just got back from the Headfirst camp in Florida. What a fantastic event. It was everything promised and more.
this is smithers, jr., y'all.
awesome, awesome time. honestly. if you have $900 plus travel expenses to spend on a showcase, and you have to pick one, it has to be headfirst. the coaching was excellent, and, as others have said, the college coaches are insanely accessible.
the one caveat i have with the camp is that i didn't think the competition was insanely elite or anything--not that i am, but still. perhaps that has to do with it being a late fall showcase, rather than a summer one
awesome, awesome time. honestly. if you have $900 plus travel expenses to spend on a showcase, and you have to pick one, it has to be headfirst. the coaching was excellent, and, as others have said, the college coaches are insanely accessible.
the one caveat i have with the camp is that i didn't think the competition was insanely elite or anything--not that i am, but still. perhaps that has to do with it being a late fall showcase, rather than a summer one
I agree with Smithers, I attribute the level of competition to the fact that it was largely 2013s and younger (being November), and you do cut out a lot of folks when you self-select to high academic achievers looking for high academic colleges.
quote:Rob Kremer said...For a parent and athlete looking for a baseball experience at a higher academic school, I would HIGHLY recommend Headfirst.
I agree 100%. HeadFirst augmented my son's search and led us to his eventual college who saw him at the HeadFirst camp in Richmond, VA July/August 2009.
The HeadFirst staff made themselves available for questions before, during and after the event. Brendan Sullivan runs a fantastic event that is more than just a combine and showcase. As smithers505 son suggests, if you have the money and these are your target schools, this is the one to go to.
My son, a 2012 RHP, benefitted greatly from his one Headfirst experience (summer between soph and junior years). For my son it was the launching pad into the recruiting process and, like Fenway said, it was a great complement to our other efforts (attending school camps, campus visits, narrowing down school choices, etc.). It led to ongoing, substantive email correspondence with the coaches from half a dozen of the country's absolute best schools.
I can confirm that the coaches were extremely approachable at the event itself. In terms of the overall talent level--at least at this one Northeast event--the players attending appeared to be primarily D-3-to-Ivy caliber.
I can confirm that the coaches were extremely approachable at the event itself. In terms of the overall talent level--at least at this one Northeast event--the players attending appeared to be primarily D-3-to-Ivy caliber.
So there seems to be no disputing that Headfirst has tapped into a much demanded niche here, and that they do it better than anyone else.
If you have the money burning a hole in your pocket, you could waste it on far less appealing things. Point conceded.
But my really question to spice up this post is whether or not paying for any Showcase is a worthwhile expenditure.
Let's take the academic showcases as our discussion point, since that is what this thread is focused on.
To set the stage you have arrived at an assumption that to have a chance to play ball in college you need to get on 'the radar', whatever form that may take.
How does one get on 'the radar'? Well, most importantly it is through building a case to be on that radar. If you don't have the talent, that blip on the radar will disappear rapidly.
At the end of the day you need to be talented enough to play at the school of your choosing or you simply will not play.
So is an academic Showcase the place you want to go to discover if you have that talent? Probably not since if you do not you will be exposed as not worth pursuing.
So where do you affirm that you have the talent to play? Well, achieving recognition in your state's system of All State, All Division, All Conference etc. listings is a key differentiator and one which I know earned an NLI for one of my son's friends, virtually sight unseen. Did he need a Showcase? Nope. So if you are at this level, it’s not likely you need a Showcase either. In fact, it risks bringing you down a notch on that so-called radar. You are better off marketing your achievement to the schools you would most want to play at, approaching it the same way as the college application process; have a one or two reach schools, a few challenging yet achievable schools, and one or two fall backs. From there you would build your relationship with the coach and get seen as discussed further below.
So let's then say that you are in the majority of high school players not receiving that recognition. It doesn't mean you do not have the talent; just that you have to work harder at exposing your talent. I would still say that a Showcase is still not the place to find this out. Your next step most likely would be to find someone other than your parents, and other than someone who wants you to keep paying them money for lessons, who will give you an honest assessment of your skills.
The place to get this honest assessment may most safely be at a college clinic which promises an evaluation and to which you have no current intention of applying for ultimate acceptance. Again, what I am recommending here is to know what you have to work with before you let the world know what you have to work with.
So now let's assume this independent evaluation says you are capable of playing college ball at such and such a level. Now you're getting closer to realism on where to target your recruiting search.
Well, since you now know the level you might do well at, you then look at your Academic accomplishments to determine the best school for the combination of education and baseball. Given that we are looking at academic showcases, you also know that these schools have a much smaller pool of players to look at because they have the Academic constraint to deal with. You have a big advantage if your grades are great, and you know how well you can play ball. You also will have the advantage of knowing that the number of schools that match what you have is seriously diminished and much more manageable in terms of outreach and contact.
So now that you know who some of these schools are, you would reach out to the coaching staff to ask them how best to get in front of them. Ask them where they will be.
If they will be concentrated at a Headfirst Showcase, then great, consider the cost and attend it. But if the cost is a factor, you might be better off narrowing the number of schools you want to apply to and instead build up a relationship with the coach. Have him contact your HS and Travel coach, or have them call him. Let him know your schedule, especially if you are travelling to a tournament with an hour or two of them, and find out when their own camp/clinic is being held.
Let's face it, if you are bright enough to get into their school, and you have a reasonably good level of talent, that talent will make you all the more attractive to the Admissions process, and all the more attractive to that coach. You don’t need an expensive Showcase to take advantage of that. He will want to see you and will figure out with you how to do that. You have the upper hand and edge here, why pay someone else to take advantage of what you already have?
It has to be a relationship and communication based exercise.
Just showing up at an academic Showcase is like playing roulette. You might get lucky, but more likely you will not unless you have a coach there who is specifically looking at you. Do you need to pay nearly a $1,000 for that? It's your pocketbook.
If you have the money burning a hole in your pocket, you could waste it on far less appealing things. Point conceded.
But my really question to spice up this post is whether or not paying for any Showcase is a worthwhile expenditure.
Let's take the academic showcases as our discussion point, since that is what this thread is focused on.
To set the stage you have arrived at an assumption that to have a chance to play ball in college you need to get on 'the radar', whatever form that may take.
How does one get on 'the radar'? Well, most importantly it is through building a case to be on that radar. If you don't have the talent, that blip on the radar will disappear rapidly.
At the end of the day you need to be talented enough to play at the school of your choosing or you simply will not play.
So is an academic Showcase the place you want to go to discover if you have that talent? Probably not since if you do not you will be exposed as not worth pursuing.
So where do you affirm that you have the talent to play? Well, achieving recognition in your state's system of All State, All Division, All Conference etc. listings is a key differentiator and one which I know earned an NLI for one of my son's friends, virtually sight unseen. Did he need a Showcase? Nope. So if you are at this level, it’s not likely you need a Showcase either. In fact, it risks bringing you down a notch on that so-called radar. You are better off marketing your achievement to the schools you would most want to play at, approaching it the same way as the college application process; have a one or two reach schools, a few challenging yet achievable schools, and one or two fall backs. From there you would build your relationship with the coach and get seen as discussed further below.
So let's then say that you are in the majority of high school players not receiving that recognition. It doesn't mean you do not have the talent; just that you have to work harder at exposing your talent. I would still say that a Showcase is still not the place to find this out. Your next step most likely would be to find someone other than your parents, and other than someone who wants you to keep paying them money for lessons, who will give you an honest assessment of your skills.
The place to get this honest assessment may most safely be at a college clinic which promises an evaluation and to which you have no current intention of applying for ultimate acceptance. Again, what I am recommending here is to know what you have to work with before you let the world know what you have to work with.
So now let's assume this independent evaluation says you are capable of playing college ball at such and such a level. Now you're getting closer to realism on where to target your recruiting search.
Well, since you now know the level you might do well at, you then look at your Academic accomplishments to determine the best school for the combination of education and baseball. Given that we are looking at academic showcases, you also know that these schools have a much smaller pool of players to look at because they have the Academic constraint to deal with. You have a big advantage if your grades are great, and you know how well you can play ball. You also will have the advantage of knowing that the number of schools that match what you have is seriously diminished and much more manageable in terms of outreach and contact.
So now that you know who some of these schools are, you would reach out to the coaching staff to ask them how best to get in front of them. Ask them where they will be.
If they will be concentrated at a Headfirst Showcase, then great, consider the cost and attend it. But if the cost is a factor, you might be better off narrowing the number of schools you want to apply to and instead build up a relationship with the coach. Have him contact your HS and Travel coach, or have them call him. Let him know your schedule, especially if you are travelling to a tournament with an hour or two of them, and find out when their own camp/clinic is being held.
Let's face it, if you are bright enough to get into their school, and you have a reasonably good level of talent, that talent will make you all the more attractive to the Admissions process, and all the more attractive to that coach. You don’t need an expensive Showcase to take advantage of that. He will want to see you and will figure out with you how to do that. You have the upper hand and edge here, why pay someone else to take advantage of what you already have?
It has to be a relationship and communication based exercise.
Just showing up at an academic Showcase is like playing roulette. You might get lucky, but more likely you will not unless you have a coach there who is specifically looking at you. Do you need to pay nearly a $1,000 for that? It's your pocketbook.
I can only speak for our experience.
My son shook hands and spoke to coaches of 6 of his "top 10" schools last weekend, all of which were in attendance. These coaches were either head coaches or recruiting coordinators. I have to think this is more effective than an email or a phone call. After my son introduced himself to one head coach, the coached pulled out his clipboard, looked at his notes, and asked my son to send him his spring schedule.
Another coach told my son to send him an email, and the coach will send him his feedback, and tell him where my son stacks up compared to other players. Hope he does.
There were a couple of other coaches my son spoke to who it seemed (from what my son told me), the coaches didn't have much interest. "Stay in touch" means "no interest now" as far as I'm concerned.
My son has attended Perfect Game and Demarini and Headfirst showcases. Our experience has indicated that all showcases are not created equal. There are showcases which don't fit a particular player considering his talent and goals.
There's no "one size fits all" answer here. There's another thread where parents and players indicated how they found their colleges, and the answers varied widely.
Guess we won't know until next year what paid off for our 2013.
My son shook hands and spoke to coaches of 6 of his "top 10" schools last weekend, all of which were in attendance. These coaches were either head coaches or recruiting coordinators. I have to think this is more effective than an email or a phone call. After my son introduced himself to one head coach, the coached pulled out his clipboard, looked at his notes, and asked my son to send him his spring schedule.
Another coach told my son to send him an email, and the coach will send him his feedback, and tell him where my son stacks up compared to other players. Hope he does.
There were a couple of other coaches my son spoke to who it seemed (from what my son told me), the coaches didn't have much interest. "Stay in touch" means "no interest now" as far as I'm concerned.
My son has attended Perfect Game and Demarini and Headfirst showcases. Our experience has indicated that all showcases are not created equal. There are showcases which don't fit a particular player considering his talent and goals.
There's no "one size fits all" answer here. There's another thread where parents and players indicated how they found their colleges, and the answers varied widely.
Guess we won't know until next year what paid off for our 2013.
RedSoxFan21,
I understand what you are saying. Yes, nearly a $1K is expensive. I agree, and it is not for everyone purely because of the cost. If my son had not felt so strongly and passionate about college baseball, we probably would not have done it. Showcases have a place. There place is communicating talent on the field to whatever level of college baseball coach is watching. IMHO, a showcase like HeadFirst is geared toward kids with more academic talent than baseball talent. In addition, a kid with national level talent is going to stand out. In general, it is hard for these schools to find recruits that meet the academic requirements to get into their school. HeadFirst becomes the conduit to do this. Some kids get a couple dozen schools interested in them, and they follow up with the coaches immediately. It is great for one stop shopping for both recruiter and recruited. From that point the recruit can decide whether to go to a specific college camp or not for a second showing. So in a sense, the HeadFirst showcase is a shot gun approach.....but is it really because these schools are very targeted? These coaches have all of your academic/athletic info ahead of time. I think they have an idea who they want to see ahead of time.
In our specific case, we used HeadFirst as an insurance policy when we signed up in early Spring 2009 for an August 2009 showcase. We swallowed real hard on that $795 payment, and my wife and I went back and forth about it. It was not any easy thing to do. My son had offers from schools starting in July 2009, but they were not the RIGHT schools, which made our situation even tougher. It was very difficult for us to match his intended college major with the right baseball program. HeadFirst took that problem away, and short circuited the recruiting process substantially by getting in front of a lot of recruiters that were interested in him. Our insurance policy paid off. Our approach is probably not the norm. I agree with you that a showcase like HeadFirst is not necessary, however you put the success odds in your favor if you do a showcase with many recruiters at the same event.
I understand what you are saying. Yes, nearly a $1K is expensive. I agree, and it is not for everyone purely because of the cost. If my son had not felt so strongly and passionate about college baseball, we probably would not have done it. Showcases have a place. There place is communicating talent on the field to whatever level of college baseball coach is watching. IMHO, a showcase like HeadFirst is geared toward kids with more academic talent than baseball talent. In addition, a kid with national level talent is going to stand out. In general, it is hard for these schools to find recruits that meet the academic requirements to get into their school. HeadFirst becomes the conduit to do this. Some kids get a couple dozen schools interested in them, and they follow up with the coaches immediately. It is great for one stop shopping for both recruiter and recruited. From that point the recruit can decide whether to go to a specific college camp or not for a second showing. So in a sense, the HeadFirst showcase is a shot gun approach.....but is it really because these schools are very targeted? These coaches have all of your academic/athletic info ahead of time. I think they have an idea who they want to see ahead of time.
In our specific case, we used HeadFirst as an insurance policy when we signed up in early Spring 2009 for an August 2009 showcase. We swallowed real hard on that $795 payment, and my wife and I went back and forth about it. It was not any easy thing to do. My son had offers from schools starting in July 2009, but they were not the RIGHT schools, which made our situation even tougher. It was very difficult for us to match his intended college major with the right baseball program. HeadFirst took that problem away, and short circuited the recruiting process substantially by getting in front of a lot of recruiters that were interested in him. Our insurance policy paid off. Our approach is probably not the norm. I agree with you that a showcase like HeadFirst is not necessary, however you put the success odds in your favor if you do a showcase with many recruiters at the same event.
Redsoxfan,
I understand 100% of what you are saying. However before you go plunk down $1000 for a showcase like Headfirst, or any other for that matter, you should have an idea on where your son fits in the whole recruiting scheme. I think TRHit has said here that recruiting is based on “talent and exposure.” The more talent you have the less exposure you need. Lets face it most of the parents of the kids here are not Alflac or Area Code talent level players. So as a parent you have to figure out where you think your son fits and then try to match up schools that fit his talent level. (actually more important is the academic match IMO) This is not an easy thing to do; in fact it is a very difficult task for most of us here with mortal kids. A few lower cost camps, a scout (or scout team), a travel team coach, your HS coach, and your own eye can help you determine where your son fits. I can assure you most of us had a pretty good idea where our sons fit by the time they got to the summer of their Jr year, which is when, IMO, you should be doing a Headfirst or Stanford camp.
The rest is how a lot of hard work and lost sleep. Like fenway, we thought long and hard about some of the more expensive venues. I can tell you this - my son did not even know the school existed where he is currently attending. He had no idea the program saw him at Stanford and they did not follow up with him until after he did not sign an NLI in November. The fact that the coach was recruiting him at a DIII had nothing to do with him getting in, nor how much academic money he got. He is now playing at a nationally ranked DIII, and I can assure you that if you just showed up in the fall at his school a player would have a very difficult time getting a roster spot. It probably has happened, but not often. I am not saying that Headfirst or Stanford or PG, or any event is a must, they just make the odds a little better a program and school that fits your son will see him.
I know some friends of my son (current HS seniors) are struggling with this right now, because they did not get out and get exposed enough, or at the right places. His friend who I KNOW is a hands down dead lock D1 catcher who can rake who is struggling to find a program. So you have to get out and get the exposure, some of it must be done by you and your son via email and videos, etc, and some is getting out to the right venues that fit your sons profile and budget. Best of luck to you and your son!
I understand 100% of what you are saying. However before you go plunk down $1000 for a showcase like Headfirst, or any other for that matter, you should have an idea on where your son fits in the whole recruiting scheme. I think TRHit has said here that recruiting is based on “talent and exposure.” The more talent you have the less exposure you need. Lets face it most of the parents of the kids here are not Alflac or Area Code talent level players. So as a parent you have to figure out where you think your son fits and then try to match up schools that fit his talent level. (actually more important is the academic match IMO) This is not an easy thing to do; in fact it is a very difficult task for most of us here with mortal kids. A few lower cost camps, a scout (or scout team), a travel team coach, your HS coach, and your own eye can help you determine where your son fits. I can assure you most of us had a pretty good idea where our sons fit by the time they got to the summer of their Jr year, which is when, IMO, you should be doing a Headfirst or Stanford camp.
The rest is how a lot of hard work and lost sleep. Like fenway, we thought long and hard about some of the more expensive venues. I can tell you this - my son did not even know the school existed where he is currently attending. He had no idea the program saw him at Stanford and they did not follow up with him until after he did not sign an NLI in November. The fact that the coach was recruiting him at a DIII had nothing to do with him getting in, nor how much academic money he got. He is now playing at a nationally ranked DIII, and I can assure you that if you just showed up in the fall at his school a player would have a very difficult time getting a roster spot. It probably has happened, but not often. I am not saying that Headfirst or Stanford or PG, or any event is a must, they just make the odds a little better a program and school that fits your son will see him.
I know some friends of my son (current HS seniors) are struggling with this right now, because they did not get out and get exposed enough, or at the right places. His friend who I KNOW is a hands down dead lock D1 catcher who can rake who is struggling to find a program. So you have to get out and get the exposure, some of it must be done by you and your son via email and videos, etc, and some is getting out to the right venues that fit your sons profile and budget. Best of luck to you and your son!
quote:. I can assure you most of us had a pretty good idea where our sons fit by the time they got to the summer of their Jr year, which is when, IMO, you should be doing a Headfirst or Stanford camp.
This is a really good point. Junior year is such a HUGE turning point, with toughest classes, SATs, and possibility of significant baseball development .... (or not!
) We plan to sign up for the Headfirst on LI (no real travel costs for us!) --- it will be August leading into senior year which feels late, but to my mind, for my kid anyway, we think that is the right time. And I get the sense that those types of schools do look for players later in the process. Might also look at the "GPA" group at Yale in June but that might be too small and too 'elite' in academics...not sure, will know better by spring. I welcome any insight into that.
And in the meantime, what all of us 2013s need to do, in addition to all this baseball worrying, is continuing to visit colleges to really get a sense of academic and social fit. Big school? Small school? Location? Strength of majors? Kind of students on campus? Will he be happy here??
This was a great thread overall, thanks everyone.
RedSoxFan:
You can send emails, letters, videos, etc., touting your stats or post-season awards, but I'm sure you'll agree that there's no substitute for being seen in person by a coach.
My son was a rising junior when he attended the Headfirst showcase and it was a great jumping off point for him into the whole process. Expensive? No doubt. Now that he's gotten his Likely Letter from an Ivy school, I can say unequivocally that it was worth every dime. But that's just our story.
If a kid is a strong student and academics are at least as important as the baseball program, attending a Headfirst showcase is an expensive but extremely efficient tool in terms of first establishing mutual interest. Establishing that mutual interest is a great base to build off of.
You can send emails, letters, videos, etc., touting your stats or post-season awards, but I'm sure you'll agree that there's no substitute for being seen in person by a coach.
My son was a rising junior when he attended the Headfirst showcase and it was a great jumping off point for him into the whole process. Expensive? No doubt. Now that he's gotten his Likely Letter from an Ivy school, I can say unequivocally that it was worth every dime. But that's just our story.
If a kid is a strong student and academics are at least as important as the baseball program, attending a Headfirst showcase is an expensive but extremely efficient tool in terms of first establishing mutual interest. Establishing that mutual interest is a great base to build off of.
Congrats to your son, Slotty!
Thanks--we couldn't be prouder...or more relieved!!
This board has been a Godsend in terms of navigating the process--both logistically and, especially, psychologically. It nice to know that there are thousands of people going through (or who have already gone through) the same ups and downs.
A personal shout out to Fenwaysouth for providing all kinds of sound advice along the way!
This board has been a Godsend in terms of navigating the process--both logistically and, especially, psychologically. It nice to know that there are thousands of people going through (or who have already gone through) the same ups and downs.
A personal shout out to Fenwaysouth for providing all kinds of sound advice along the way!
Slotty,
Congrats, Slotty.
To give Headfirst another personal testimonial, I had 0 offers and 0 interest before the showcase, largely because I don't play HS baseball and subsequently couldn't get on a very good summer team. Two weeks after Headfirst I had 6 offers from some of the best schools in the country and recently gave my commitment to one of the most prestigious LAC's in the country.
You never know what can happen, and attending Headfirst turned out to be overwhelmingly the best choice I've ever made in my life.
To give Headfirst another personal testimonial, I had 0 offers and 0 interest before the showcase, largely because I don't play HS baseball and subsequently couldn't get on a very good summer team. Two weeks after Headfirst I had 6 offers from some of the best schools in the country and recently gave my commitment to one of the most prestigious LAC's in the country.
You never know what can happen, and attending Headfirst turned out to be overwhelmingly the best choice I've ever made in my life.
Congrats to the whole slotty family. Great news, great school and a great situation for your son. You can exhale!
7Steps - You da man! That is fantastic news. I'm glad to learn of your committment. YOu have certainly done your homework on this site.
7Steps - You da man! That is fantastic news. I'm glad to learn of your committment. YOu have certainly done your homework on this site.
I thought I would report on our second HF experience, this time from one of the Long Island camps.
First, from what I could tell almost all of the coaches listed on their website attended. There were a couple of additional coaches as well.
Batting practice (offensive showcase) consisted of batting cage work. Two players hit in two cages adjacent to each other. In other words, there were always 2 kids hitting at the same time. A player gets 8 pitches unless he is a switch hitter, who gets 10. They announce the name and player number of the kids in the cages.
60s are timed by hand.
There were around 230 players at the camp my son attended. Each team plays 4 games, and there are 4 games going on at a time. A few of the college coaches are in the dugout or on the field, some are behind a screen behind home plate, and some are roaming around. The games are 6 innings long, 5 batters per inning, and each batter starts with a 1-1 count. My son, a catcher, caught 3 innings each game, and had 2 at bats each game. I don't know how innings were allocated among position players. My son was asked if he wanted to play in his secondary position.
The facilities are 100 percent artificial turf.
First, from what I could tell almost all of the coaches listed on their website attended. There were a couple of additional coaches as well.
Batting practice (offensive showcase) consisted of batting cage work. Two players hit in two cages adjacent to each other. In other words, there were always 2 kids hitting at the same time. A player gets 8 pitches unless he is a switch hitter, who gets 10. They announce the name and player number of the kids in the cages.
60s are timed by hand.
There were around 230 players at the camp my son attended. Each team plays 4 games, and there are 4 games going on at a time. A few of the college coaches are in the dugout or on the field, some are behind a screen behind home plate, and some are roaming around. The games are 6 innings long, 5 batters per inning, and each batter starts with a 1-1 count. My son, a catcher, caught 3 innings each game, and had 2 at bats each game. I don't know how innings were allocated among position players. My son was asked if he wanted to play in his secondary position.
The facilities are 100 percent artificial turf.
My son told me that 114 coaches were signed in for HF session two - the only one he happened to count.
