Hosting a Showcase

The best run showcases we've been to are the HeadFirst Showcase and the AZ Fall Classic's.  You are def not competing with HeadFirst, give them a call and ask how they run it. 

• Ensuring you have enough staff to run skill testing stations simultaneously, and enough staff to observe, coach games, offer on field coaching for numerous positions.
• Don't overscribe the number of players if you don't have the staff.
• Enlist other colleges coaching staff to attend.  Probably some you know that you're not necessarily competitors.
• Keep it to one day, or half day, and have the costs in line with that.
• What geographic radius are you recruiting from?  Define it and market it accordingly.
• Utilize PG or PBR subscription to invite players.
• Or, to reduce costs, maybe join another showcase venue and assist them.  Offer to be an on the field coach at a position with your expertise that your possibly recruiting for...

Just a few thoughts...thought I'd help bump this thread...

Thank you. This is definitely helpful. I think one thing I'm slightly unsure of is how to go about chatting it up with a prospect afterwards, if I think they could help us out. Should I wait and call or email? Or pull them aside and offer?

Coach27

Define your goals and objectives. Since you are a College coach and teacher, you may desire to operate a camp which will define your teams goals and describe what a student athlete will learn from your coaches and your school. Select a day of the week when the travel teams are not playing.

During a 6 hour session, present the Head Coach, the student advisor and former players.

If you have a former player who played professionally used 1 hour for a clinic. Maybe create a game where everyone hits including pitchers. Always run the 60 yard and 30 yard provide the results to each player. Have your track coach provide running tips and then run again.

We did this several years during the Area Code games.

Qualification of a prospect goes both ways. The prospect is also qualifying your program. Design a new camp T-shirt! Use the player's name or a number for ID.

Create a name for this event, do not use the name showcase.  Use wood bats.

Bob

Make a list of the things that bothered you when you were a kid and try not to do them. You're probably going to be very busy that day, but I would ask any good candidates to stick around for a chat.

Here are some things that I would do if I were running a showcase:
- Use your website to communicate all important information.

• Clearly list the deliverables, and deliver them when promised (e.g. written eval, online stats, etc.).
• Publish the schedule on your website and stick to it as closely as possible.
• Publish the skills reps (e.g. 10 hacks, 6 ground balls for IF, 6 pop throws, etc.).
• If sim games, list any special rules.
• Clearly state your return policy (e.g. weather postpone/cancel, player injury, family emergency, etc.)
• Explain any applicable recruiting rules, especially if you're inviting NCAA coaches.
• What type of bats you're allowing. Don't let them sneak in a BESR.
• Make an FAQ.

- Get as much on-field help as possible. Even non-baseball people who can run errands, move people, etc.
- Schedule proper warm-up time before skill stations.
- Allow 2 attempts at the running events.
- If you're playing sim games, limit the number of players by position.
- You might want to create a Twitter account just for the showcase, or for your school's baseball showcases/camps.
- Invite someone from Admissions to set up a table to answer questions.
- Post announcement on all the free message boards that cover baseball within n hours of school.
- Send website to presidents of high school coaches associations.
- Send website to travel team coaches.

Fantastic information. Thank you, so much!

I would add that I think the players (and the parents) appreciate it if the coaches interest is expressed during or right after the event.  From what I've seen it's usually done after although at one camp I saw a LHP brought over to HC and RC right after he pitched to discuss and then he left the camp to go on campus tour with RC.  Son said he got the offer right there.