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7 replies

How do you know when.....

S seventhinningstretch10+ posts
I have a 2012 RHP with a solid arsenal of pitches, velocity 85 to 86 and working on getting it to 88.
Excellent honor student. Has played on Varsity since a 10th grade, started several games number two in the rotation. Has played for one of the best showcase/travel organizations. Has done many college prospect camps and tournaments the last few years.
Set his sights on two minor DI's and both stated get your velocity up and we will talk more.
A couple of DII's have been exchanging e-mails back and forth whenever he has contacted them to let them know the fall tournaments and pitching rotation.They ask him come back to ther prospect camp and they can see how he is progressing.He has pitched in front of them before.
So what do you do?
I have read many posts and they all say stay in front of the coaches as much as possible.
How do you read into the cordial e-mails? Does this show some sort of possible interest?
I know that you keep responding no matter what but if another college camp coincides with the one that you have attended several times and the coaches keep you in the lurch do you go to the other camp in hopes of starting a new realtionship? This whole thing is a big money pit that just never seems to end. Have signed up for six camps between now and Christmas and just do not know what to expect.
I know DII's are usually late on their committment to players but I hate to keep going to other camps that really are not a hot spot for the player both with academics as well as baseball.
Can you come out and ask them if the player even has a shot with the DII coaches? Am I on your radar? In speaking on many occassiosn with the DI coaches they were very direct on the reason that he is not on the radar screen. I get the impression the DII guys are waiting and seeing what else is going on so it leads me to believe he is not at the top of the list but a possible fallback for a guy that may commit esle where. Has anyone had a similar situation?
I am only trying to answer a few very confusing thoughts that I have. I have read and read every blog here and it's been a great information highway but I wanted to give a few of my own questions on the board for the guys that have lived this.

Thanks
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shortnquickshortnquick500+ posts
Seventhinning
Tons of questions in your post but all good ones. I have gone through the process as a Dad whose son is now playing in college and I have gone through and continue to go through the process as a summer coach who helps in the recruiting process by contacting college coaches for my players, at this time of the year on a daily basis. I ask college coaches a lot of the same questions you have brought up in your post in an effort to get solid answers. The best advice I could give you is to have your son contact the coach and get a solid answer on “where do you see me at this point as far as playing in your program, I am sorting out my options and need to know if I should be considering XYZ University”. If your summer coach or HS coach are involved, they should know how to ask and correspond without being overbearing to the coach.

You should get an answer to this question; if it is too ambiguous of an answer ask it again. If a coach wants your son, you will know it as any answer you get will not and will never be ambiguous. Coaches are not shy to tell a player if the really want them. If you think that a coach is holding back just in case he has other scholarship offers out and is waiting to hear from those players you should get that answer also. If a coach does not answer at all there is probably little to no interest. A “No” answer is not a bad thing in the process because it helps you move to another option or possibility. But the point is to get an answer to your inquiry on where your son stands with them.As you said in your post…be direct… but also be respectful.

When there is a conflict between a camp for a school that he has been in front of before and a new school, tell the coach of the school where you have been to the situation. The answer they give could give you the answer on where to go.

Sounds like you are doing a lot of the right things. Stick with it and keep working the process and don’t hesitate to ask the coaches the direct and hard questions.
S seventhinningstretch10+ posts
Thank you for the response.

You just confirmed some of my thoughts. I am a realist in this situation. I have a solid understanding of my sons abilities and where he falls in the DI and DII saga.

I plan on having him post direct questions in the e-mails but also do it with respect. The three or four that have been answering his e-mails have been kind and cordial. I plan on having him be the same.
BOFBOF10,000+ posts
Many of us here know the stress and anxiety when it comes down to crunch time. Have a plan that starts with a JC option as a last resort and then work from there. You are going at it right having your son ask direct questions, there is nothing better than a phone call however. Be prepared to ask where do I fit on your recruiting list 1-10.

Do not underestimate D3’s as there are some very competitive programs around and we found that for a high academic kid there was more academic aide that athletic.

The good news is that you have a lot more time than you think. Mine signed May 1st, but I know of kids who have been picked up the summer after they graduated HS. This happened to a couple of pitchers like your son whose velocity came up later in the process. It is not ideal but with the draft and other issues roster adjustments happen all the way through August. Keep the faith and your son working hard and it will work out.

Good Luck!
fenwaysouthfenwaysouth10,000+ posts
7thinningstretch,

I think you've received some very good advice so far. I'll try to add to that, and hopefully it will make sense to your situation. It is true that many on this site have been through this....some more than once. I've heard it described as the best of times and the worst of times. You'll get through it.

My first thought after reading your post is....is your son looking in the right places, and is he playing "offense" or "defense"? You stated he has an arsenal of pitches, throws 85+ mph, and is an excellent student. There is no doubt in my mind (based upon those skills) that he will be wanted by many programs. It is October 2011, and I think it may be time for your son to revisit his goals and the type of schools he is targeting. You have interest from a couple minor D1s and some D2s, that is great, but please don't sit by and wait for them. Reach out to some new schools that are different from the others (if it was me, I'd take BOFs advice to see what D3s are a fit for your son). Please think about some new schools and possibly their geographies by expanding your son's recruiting search for the right academic and athletic school (use the search tool in collegeboard.org). I speak from experience as we had to review our goals, approach and geography a couple of times during our search. It took 18+ months, but my son was very sure when we found the right situation for him. There is no one size fits all when it comes to this stuff, your son has find his own way. Give it some thought, and let us know what we can do to help. Best of luck.
Last edited by fenwaysouth
S seventhinningstretch10+ posts
Again thanks for all the cordial repsonses.

I understand the JUCO route but to be honest at this point he has been accepted at a couple of Highly regarded Universities in which his academics would take over and possibly hang up the cleats. It would be a mistake, but at this point it's about the future and education.

As far as the demographics we have expanded our searches outside our general state and when looking at the schools rosters most of the kids at the DII level are 99% from that state and usually within spitting distance of the college. This option has been talked about but not pursued 100%.

Our DII's here in Florida I feel academic wise are a good fit, baseball wise I could see him being a true contributor and asset to the team at the start.
I do not brag about my kid, but I have seen what he is capable of and at some point his fit with a Coach and team will come around. Hearing the stories about the later time frames I am OK with. I am sure there are a lot of success stories of people reading these blogs and are saying hang in there, if it's meant to be it will be.

As a parent it's that anxiety of assisting and GUIDING them in their decisions and not having any clue and only hearing all these stories of "early commits and so forth" it makes you second guess what your are doing and the route you are taking.
I guess if it was easy everyone would be doing it.
KrakatoaKrakatoa1,000+ posts
To reiterate what BOF already stated, make DIII and NAIA part of the 'saga'. Good heavens, Lewis-Clark State, Lee, Oklahoma City, Lubbock Christian (all NAIA) could defeat many a solid DI program. NAIA's also have athletic scholarships. The DIII world has some of the best academic schools in the nation and many also play a very high caliber of baseball with pitching staffs in the mid to high 80's and funneling up well into the 90s. There are some great schools out there that are just waiting for you to discover. There are some top-notch NAIA schools in Florida (Embry-Riddle being one). Good luck!
Last edited by Krakatoa

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