High School vs. Camps

I should add that he plays on one of the premier travel teams in the area. HS is big and has many kids riding the bench that would be starters as frosh/soph at most schools.

Steveie, I wouldn't worry about it. If he is playing on a good summer program, he will be fine. Nobody really comes to watch during the Spring anyway. Tell him to keep working hard and it will work out for him if it is meant to be.

BBFUN, are you speaking from experience? I'm new at this recruiting thing and I would hate to see my kid, or any other kid, miss out on a college opportunity just because a HS coach has his favorites and plays politics!

Coaches like to win. I've never been a fan of saying it is political or coaches playing favorites. That may happen during little league but not high school unless dad is the coach. Your son will get more exposure playing on a good summer team than his high school team. The key is, he needs to play.

Stevieb,

This forum is full of your very question. BBfun had provided the answer. The key to college is being seen by the coaches. You are on the right path. Keep reading the website and you will see the path.

What tournaments are you in this summer?

Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Chicago, St. Louis, and then a few locals.

Those are great locations especially if he wants to play college ball in the midwest. Great locations with plenty of scouting opportunities. Tell him to hustle every play and never take a play off. The scouts will watch you between innings just like during the game.

Will do! I'm not one of these guys who thinks he's headed to Texas or LSU.......just want him to have a good experience at a good school!!

where we play kids have no hs baseball at all...many end with scholarships to good schools - so its definitley doable.

As they say, "there's a place to play for everyone, its just a matter of how you find it"

I would be doing college camps(not major D1's) and showcases where you know college coaches will be.

I would also do showcases where you have a good chance of being seen. Not showcases where there are 400 kids and 10 college coaches.

OR..have him work hi stail off and make the hs team for exposure as well.. In my experience, hs coaches are greddy and will put the best team out there because they want to win!!!!!!!!

or drop money on showcases and keep lining organizers' pockets

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In my experience, hs coaches are greddy and will put the best team out there because they want to win!!!!!!!!

I'm sure some do, but not always the case.

As far as college recruiting goes, the summer is the only season that counts. The high school season is meaningless for that.

But don't count on going to a showcase tournament and hoping to get "discovered". That just isn't going to happen. You need to get your name on the "list" somehow. If you are not on the "list", it won't matter what you do. A good high school season may get you on the "list".

The other way to get on the "list" is to play for a recognized travel team where the coaches will promote you and have credibiity with the scouts and college coaches. In the southwest suburbs, the Longshots, Top Tier, and the Sparks all fill that bill and would be excellent choices. We are on the Longshots this summer and to say I'm impressed with what I have seen so far is an understatement.

But it doesn't hurt to be playing for Naperville Central this year. My son couldn't possibly be playing for a team that has gotten more hype than this team. I told him before the season started that just about every scout will know what you doing, there is no way to play on this team and fly under the radar. But not everyone gets that chance, so that's where a good summer program can fill the void.

quote:

In my experience, hs coaches are greddy ....

In my experience, hs coaches are gritty...