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Please tell us more about number 3. Emails appear to be such a well established way to make contact these days.
What?
I doubt many current college coaches will read this so as a parent who you may think knows it all I am responding.
The recruiting process has to be approached for what it is, marketing a program. It's a way of courting a player for them to get to know each other. It can be a very frustrating experience if one doesn't understand that. Tons of letters, tons of phone calls (or lack of either), emails means nothing until that offer comes to the table.
Unless the player is one of those "blue chip" guys often mentioned, the coach and his coaching staff is in complete control of the situation, because in the end after sending out hundreds of letters, making many phone calls, offering visits, meeting the teams needs, he most likely has less than 15 opportunities to give out in a year.
The recruiting process has to be approached for what it is, marketing a program. It's a way of courting a player for them to get to know each other. It can be a very frustrating experience if one doesn't understand that. Tons of letters, tons of phone calls (or lack of either), emails means nothing until that offer comes to the table.
Unless the player is one of those "blue chip" guys often mentioned, the coach and his coaching staff is in complete control of the situation, because in the end after sending out hundreds of letters, making many phone calls, offering visits, meeting the teams needs, he most likely has less than 15 opportunities to give out in a year.
quote:he most likely has less than 15 opportunities to give out in a year.
And, only after a year of college is behind you, can that quote really be understood.
Nice point, TPM.
I feel for all those parents and players at this time of year. You read that it is to be a fun and exciting time but I think for most it is a time full of anxiety and pressure. Good Luck to all those 07 waiting for the call from their dream school!
quote:4. DO NOT CALL unless you are offering!! PERIOD!!
Say what? Surely you jest. Coaches shouldn't call unless they have an offer to make? There are too many factors that go into the offers when they are made, not including the negotiating that can go on after the initial offer.
Does the term 'sour grapes' apply here?
FBM,
Good point, and a coach doesn't call just to make an offer without knowing something about the player (besides seeing him play). Coach calls to talk to the player,maybe the parents, get to know him and where his head is at, it may take a week or may take months for him to decide if that player is right for his program.
And works both ways, certainly wouldn't have wanted my son to accept an offer unless he got to know the coach or coaching staff. JMO
Good point, and a coach doesn't call just to make an offer without knowing something about the player (besides seeing him play). Coach calls to talk to the player,maybe the parents, get to know him and where his head is at, it may take a week or may take months for him to decide if that player is right for his program.
And works both ways, certainly wouldn't have wanted my son to accept an offer unless he got to know the coach or coaching staff. JMO
I would hate for any parent to be so upset on Sept 4 about the offers that their child has and doesn't have, that they would feel bitter or upset. There is so much time left and the dream school the player has in mind, may just present itself at a later opportunity. If not, there's probably another one around the corner that just hasn't called yet!
However, like FBM says, when that dream school calls, they're expecting cooperation, interest, and a willingness to go through the recruiting process. A chip on anyone's shoulder... dad, mom, or player can end an opportunity real quick!
Good luck to our '07s and continue to have patience and grace during the LONG recruiting process.
However, like FBM says, when that dream school calls, they're expecting cooperation, interest, and a willingness to go through the recruiting process. A chip on anyone's shoulder... dad, mom, or player can end an opportunity real quick!
Good luck to our '07s and continue to have patience and grace during the LONG recruiting process.
That's a blanket statement that definately does not apply to all coaches. As a coach, I wonder why all the blame is always put on the coaching staff, and none on incoming players that went to a school that was above their competitive level. I did it when I went to college, and take full responsibility that I DID NOT DO my research and chose a school that I struggled at to play. Here's some numbers for you all. Last season I sent out over 300 recruiting letters, had conversations with about 200 kids, I had 48 visit, 30 apply, and 9 freshman. That means 3%, oh and I've been contact by 6 from last seasons recruiting class interested in transfering into my program because they are not happy. Of course, I give the standard answer, you must get a release etc... If any HS kids are reading this PLEASE do your RESEARCH on the program and the coach before going into their program.
Here is a past thread that might shed some light on this subject... I sincerely hope!
A past thread
A past thread
Can you be more specific about what kind of research one would do to determine whether a kid is up to the competition? Up until your post, I was more worried about whether my kid could hack it academically at some of the schools we've been talking to. We hear differing opinions about D1 vs D2...that there is a fine line between the competitive nature of these programs. How would you know where to direct a kid? Then, at the JUCO level, we hear that these are really kids trying to get drafted or more interested in major league careers than college.
Newcomer, you ask some good questions about research. Here are some things that our family has found helpful. Attend baseball games of colleges son is interested in (both home and away) to observe the players' talent (as well as the coach's style). Attend team scrimmages in the fall and team practices in the spring and compare your son's ability to theirs. Also, you can look up team rosters on the web and contact specific players to ask questions about their program. We have done this for several colleges and have received illuminating information that has helped us know which schools to target.
Newcomer,
First thing you could do, is take your son to watch a college game, if you have not aready done that. I know some people who have taken their sons to games played at different levels and conferences. Watching those games ended up determining where they went. I think that is one important aspect in the recruiting process we tend to forget about. JMO.
First thing you could do, is take your son to watch a college game, if you have not aready done that. I know some people who have taken their sons to games played at different levels and conferences. Watching those games ended up determining where they went. I think that is one important aspect in the recruiting process we tend to forget about. JMO.
quote:Originally posted by Newcomer:
Can you be more specific about what kind of research one would do to determine whether a kid is up to the competition? Up until your post, I was more worried about whether my kid could hack it academically at some of the schools we've been talking to. We hear differing opinions about D1 vs D2...that there is a fine line between the competitive nature of these programs. How would you know where to direct a kid? Then, at the JUCO level, we hear that these are really kids trying to get drafted or more interested in major league careers than college.
Newcomer: The best thing you could do is go and watch the college game. Checking the rosters and player profiles on line and seeing what type of players the college recruits. Some will recruit high visibility players, other will focus on JC transfers, and others will get late recruits that other schools did not recruit.
Choosing the type of schools is very important! If your son is going to have problems hacking it in class work, that will effect him on the field with the amount of baseball work they have to do all year long! Schools will look heavy at this!
You asked about D1 or D2, you might have heard that the D2 schools in California are some of the toughest in the country. Chico State took second this last year in the D2 College World Series and have have gone to the D2 World Series several times in the last eight years, but they came in 4th place this last year in their conference!
Newcomer - I would also advise to evaluate a program within it's division. There can be a HUGE difference between schools and conferences within each division of DI, II, III, NAIA, JUCO! 
Further to the point of attending games --- speak to the parents of the players as much as possible for an additional perspective on the program, keeping in mind that the third string catcher's Dad probably has a radically different view of the team than the starting ss's Mom does.
Remember that, as parents, we often hear what we want to hear from the coaches. Remember also that coaches have to walk a fine line with their selection of words because parents hear what they, etc.
Remember that, as parents, we often hear what we want to hear from the coaches. Remember also that coaches have to walk a fine line with their selection of words because parents hear what they, etc.
Sorry...I'm still trying to figure out what "urrebt" means in the thread title. 
Yeah, me too.
Actually, I'm still trying to understand the WHOLE title?!?!
Actually, I'm still trying to understand the WHOLE title?!?!
quote:is for urrebtTo Whom :"College Coach" it may Concern
quote:Originally posted by justbaseball:
Actually, I'm still trying to understand the WHOLE title?!?!
I didn't want to admit it but me too.
quote:is for urrebtTo Whom :"College Coach" it may Concern.
If MN-Mom were to run a contest entitled "Most Unique Thread Title," this one would be hard to beat!
quote:is for urrebtTo Whom :"College Coach" it may Concern.
It is German and it means "If you want to avoid running up a large debt, tell the college coach you are concerned"
Sprechen Se Deutcsh? Sorry OS - I couldn't resist.
I have to conclude "urrebt" is a bad word in someone's language or vocabulary...and in this thread, I believe the "College Coach" is for urrebt! 
I have to hand it to everyone who posted an intelligent response to this thread's initial topic.....I still have no idea what the post is about.....and go back to Grateful's post....
"What?"
"What?"
gee I may have a problem, I understood it 
"to whom it may concern: (this) is for the inept college coach"
OS8's keyboard has coffee or other beverage in the same places my old one does
.
"to whom it may concern: (this) is for the inept college coach"
OS8's keyboard has coffee or other beverage in the same places my old one does
.
Bee>:
Many thanks for buzzing in on this one! We were all coming down with the hives after having been stumped by this one! We felt really stung by it!
Didn't you tell me once that you were a codebreaker during WWII?
Many thanks for buzzing in on this one! We were all coming down with the hives after having been stumped by this one! We felt really stung by it!
Didn't you tell me once that you were a codebreaker during WWII?
Bee,
Thank you for that interpretation, and I wish you had shared it a little earlier. I have been wondering about the subject line every time I glance at this. Ahhhh, now I understand.
Thank you for that interpretation, and I wish you had shared it a little earlier. I have been wondering about the subject line every time I glance at this. Ahhhh, now I understand.
hey Prep/ Mn-Mom, I only understood the subject line tho
theory: OS8 has a laptop, prolly a dell - and a lazy thumb laying on the touchpad while he's typing on a shakey keyboard.
parts of sentences fly everywhere as the thumb inadvertantly moves the cursor - - AND the topic "subject line" can't be edited
Prep, our best to the Fam
Bee>
.
theory: OS8 has a laptop, prolly a dell - and a lazy thumb laying on the touchpad while he's typing on a shakey keyboard.
parts of sentences fly everywhere as the thumb inadvertantly moves the cursor - - AND the topic "subject line" can't be edited
Prep, our best to the Fam
Bee>
.
IMO - Bee did a nice interpretation job. But I still dont understand a single word of the message.
Bee interned with OSS on the "enigma" project, then later with MI6. 
I couldn't get a literal translation, but I think it's not a thank you note.
I couldn't get a literal translation, but I think it's not a thank you note.
Dad04,
I didnt understand it - and still dont - but I did sense it wasnt a love letter.
LOL
I didnt understand it - and still dont - but I did sense it wasnt a love letter.
LOL
"Enigma"..."OS8"...
I'm starting to think that some of you qualify as "K.I.A.'s!"
Keep it on a "need to know" basis; but, that's code for "Know It All's."
If I knew more, I'd be in a better position to know.
I'm starting to think that some of you qualify as "K.I.A.'s!"
Keep it on a "need to know" basis; but, that's code for "Know It All's."
If I knew more, I'd be in a better position to know.
Prepster, that last line is a great Yogi-ism!
no MI6, but grandpa Bee worked on software for the F16 flight simulator
no also on the enigma project, I eat alot of bran
no also on the enigma project, I eat alot of bran
I can neither confirm, nor deny whether or not Bee was part of the MI6, Enigma Project, OSS, etc.....but I can tell you that his HQ is perched at the end of a twisting / turning nondescript road with lines of sight in all directions and is heavily guarded by a large pack of mountain lions. You know how they have the nurses sedate the spies in the movies? Let's just say he's got one on the premises so you'd better be nice.
quote:Originally posted by Beezer:
I can neither confirm, nor deny whether or not Bee was part of the MI6, Enigma Project, OSS, etc.....but I can tell you that his HQ is perched at the end of a twisting / turning nondescript road with lines of sight in all directions and is heavily guarded by a large pack of mountain lions. You know how they have the nurses sedate the spies in the movies? Let's just say he's got one on the premises so you'd better be nice.
It's tough to get to but a sweet crib, indeed.
quote:Originally posted by Dad04:
It's tough to get to but a sweet crib, indeed.
Dad04 - I'm not quite sure if that's the place or not because during our meeting, he served me some chilled Russian serum which clouded my memory a bit.
Ah yes......best sipped a glass at a time.
I belive this poster is asserting that schools will send out posiive info regarding a player's skill that appear to show interest, but are only form letters/communications. Sort of like filling out publisher's clearninghouse entry at one time or another thinking we were a winner only to be embarrassed by the realistic nature of the correspondence.