Is it normal that no school fits?

Perhaps your expectations are too high or misaligned?

Just curious as to what your expectations are to find "THE ONE"?

3up-3down,

Not trying to be nosey, but how many schools have shown serious interest? If it is a small number keep searching. If it's a large number I have to agree with redbird.

I think we too often talk about "the fit" on here. Not sure there is such a thing as a perfect fit before attending a school. Unfortunately, many find out too late that the perfect fit turned into a perfect nightmare. Others find out they actually did make the right choice. There should always be a best possible fit and that is the one! One thing for sure... they're not all the same! I would keep looking, but keep all your options open for as long as possible.

Best of luck

Your son is a 2010, I know that many of the schools that are recruiting him are fine schools with excellent programs. He must be a very good player for that attention. He is confused. Been there, done that.

Take next year to go visit some of the schools that are recruiting him, sometimes that helps. I know you just took a trip to a top bb program, wonderful school where many would love to go play, but that's ok, he is young and it is early. Do not let anyone pressure him, that may be what he is feeling right now and he is not ready. Maybe you are pressuring him as well, just let him play through his junior year without stressing about where he will go in 2 more years. Put it aside for now, he really has a lot of time to sort it all out. Tell the coaches that he is just not ready to commit.

That's why I don't like this early committ stuff, it's not for eveyone.

The more narrow the criteria you establish, the smaller the population of potential schools. Also, if you only spend time with those that show an interest, then you have by definition limited your opportunities.

Expand your horizons. Once your kid leaves the bedroom down the hall, it will make very little difference if they are 3 hours away by car or 4 hours away by plane. They still will be away at school.

There is over 3,500 4-year colleges in the US. If your kido is a 2010, he has lots of time to go and visit schools, introduce himself to baseball coaches and explore opportunities. The key is to be open and to create criteria that makes sense.

We are in Calif, my eldest is in Texas and my youngest is in Virginia. Both found schools that met their criteria, they are happy and learning. And in spite of the distance both made it home for Thanksgiving and are back at school for Monday classes.

I would agree with what TPM said above. However, each year it is becoming more and more obvious that the timeline is changing.

Each year, many of the nation's top programs are done recruiting the next year's class by the end of the previous (junior) summer. Then they are concentrating on the next year's class. Not saying this is a good or a bad thing... Just think people need to understand that recruiting has pretty much moved up a complete grad year at many top schools.

Still would agree that if a player is not comfortable he should not make any early verbal commitments. But, then again, don't let the best "fit" fill up their recruiting class... Or at least be aware of that possibility. Once again, we have noticed this increasing each year at a very rapid rate. FWIW

PG you know all of this better than we do, but I do know the overwhelming pressure when too much is put in front of you, especially early. Sometimes, those big schools with their overpowering buildings and thousands of people and huge campus are not for everyone.

Actually I think his son is just beginning the process, not sure if there has been actual offers, so the player has time to visit, meet the coaches, see the campus and decide. The whole thing is just sometimes overwhelming and there is a whole lot of growing up that's done between now and next summer when offers come. They are in the elimination stage.

I am aware of the school recently visited, and not sure if any of ours here would committ there asap. I could see mine finding lots of issues there. Great school, bb program fair. I can understand. He has great options to seek out and time to do it. JMO.

I also think that dad needs to relax and trust his son.

3up-3down,

My 2010 is in a similar situation. I like the advice to not rush it and let the Junior year play out. For ours, there is still some growth expected and we think he will get more looks with a little more size. We are also prioritizing academics and will be looking at specific majors.

I'm not sure I agree with there being little difference between a 4 hour drive and a 4 hour flight. Not only the cost, but the ability to transport stuff and have the whole family visit without paying for 4 airline tickets. I know that is a personal issue, but is big for our family.

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
I would agree with what TPM said above. However, each year it is becoming more and more obvious that the timeline is changing.

Each year, many of the nation's top programs are done recruiting the next year's class by the end of the previous (junior) summer. Then they are concentrating on the next year's class. Not saying this is a good or a bad thing... Just think people need to understand that recruiting has pretty much moved up a complete grad year at many top schools.

Still would agree that if a player is not comfortable he should not make any early verbal commitments. But, then again, don't let the best "fit" fill up their recruiting class... Or at least be aware of that possibility. Once again, we have noticed this increasing each year at a very rapid rate. FWIW

PGStaff, you hit the nail on the head with this post. For me, having never been through the recruiting process it is easy to uncertain of a timeline. I would rather have him wait until after the 17U WWBA in July. That is what we have decided to do. Of course, that could change if the schools timeline is different than ours.
He has received 20 or so letters recently with roughly half showing serious interest.
Thanks for the advice.3up

quote:

He has received 20 or so letters recently with roughly half showing serious interest.

You are setting in a good position. I'm guessing you and your son have a list of what you consider top choices. If some of those top choice schools have contacted you, all the better. If not send me a PM.

Often suggestions are made to contact all your favorite schools telling them how interested you are in them. I would use caution when doing this because it can back fire. The player sending the same information to many schools can turnoff some coaches. Lots of friends among the coaching and recruiting community. Those who are selling themselves (marketing) using the same message to lots of schools... sometimes can gain a reputation for being less than genuine. I've seen coaches lose a bit of interest and give a little less effort in recruiting the kid who is contacting everyone with the same message.

I would estimate that well over 95% of all recruiting at the higher levels is instigated by the college rather than the player. That is when the message you give them is most important.

I think too many believe it's all about marketing when the truth is... it's all about what takes place on the field and in the class room.

Not sure if any of this fits your situation, but it might fit for others who might be reading. Hope I didn't confuse anyone with these opinions.

Best of luck

The beauty of this thread is that it exposes this process for what it is. Most people reading this would wonder how any parent could be the least bit unnerved when 10-20 schools have shown serious interest in their junior student/athlete. Most posters here think that they would trade places in a second.

What we sometimes forgeet,however, is that because the future is unknown, it is as daunting for those with many options as it is for the person who feels there are too few options. The " right fit" does not reveal itself early. I am sure there are some who have changed their mind about the "fit" sometime into their academic career. Not knowing for sure where the "right fit" is hiding causes all of us parents the exact type of anxiety, regardless of what the potential options are.

The best advice I was given involved the unsavory fantasy of assuming my son was not playing baseball. The question we have to ask ourselves is, would this be a place he would want to be if was not playing baseball.

quote:

The best advice I was given involved the unsavory fantasy of assuming my son was not playing baseball. The question we have to ask ourselves is, would this be a place he would want to be if was not playing baseball.

Double Eagle,

I agree, that is great advice. However, in many cases the choice for just wanting to go to college vrs where they want to go to college for baseball, is often different. Personally, I don't think there is anything wrong if someone chooses a college based on baseball first. Some would sacrifice the perfect college for the perfect baseball program. I don't see anything wrong with that, if that is what they're looking for.

quote:

I agree, that is great advice. However, in many cases the choice for just wanting to go to college vrs where they want to go to college for baseball, is often different. Personally, I don't think there is anything wrong if someone chooses a college based on baseball first. Some would sacrifice the perfect college for the perfect baseball program. I don't see anything wrong with that, if that is what they're looking for.

Great point. Oftentimes players don't have the luxury of being able to play at a school that is among their top choices for academics/geographical location/campus environment. Compromises sometimes have to be made, and it's up to the individual player to determine what types of compromises he is willing to make.

.

quote:

Originally posted by Infield08: Oftentimes players don't have the luxury of being able to play at a school that is among their top choices for academics/geographical location/campus environment. Compromises sometimes have to be made, and it's up to the individual player to determine what types of compromises he is willing to make.

Right on it.

First....Referring to a related thread...the blogging/bragging that often goes on here would lead one to believe that an early perfect fit is the ONLY logical result. It Ain't.

Fact is that life is arranged into a bell curve, the fortunate few "outliers" have the fairy tale ending, the rest of us and our sons grind out as much limited sucess as we can, making mistakes and compromises, and in the process learning lessons and building character.

The "natural" metaphore is to baseball itself. Most every team has a star or two to whom things come a little easier, the rest may reach their goals but in a different manner. No two paths are the same and there are as many ways to the prize and the prize itself may shift.

PG makes a couple great points...

quote:

in many cases the choice for just wanting to go to college vrs where they want to go to college for baseball, is often different. Personally, I don't think there is anything wrong if someone chooses a college based on baseball first. Some would sacrifice the perfect college for the perfect baseball program. I don't see anything wrong with that, if that is what they're looking for.

IMO, unless you are one of the outliers and it is ALL vailable to you (Stanford), there is no way to seperate/compartmentalize baseball from the total package. Life is a balancing act, you have to decide what you value and how much you value it. No on can tell you. The good news is that the very act/process of having to do so teaches you a great deal about who you are and what you value in a way that could not have understood previously.

Another great PG point....

quote:

it's all about what takes place on the field and in the class room.

TO a great extent the perfect fit depsnds upon the players ability to overcome challenege and adjust and adapt and compete. No marketing or preplanning is going to stop that from happening. Educations are available at most any school if you REALLY want one. And Players fail to get an education at the best of schools. It is their choice. As far as baseball is concerned...when you arrive all you have been given is an opportunity, that's all. YOU have to make of it what you will, no matter where you go. In the end, as you rise the talent pool increases, at some point you are going to have to overcome. You have to trust that your son has the charcater to make the most of ANY situation he encounters. In the end THAT is the prize. Not our ability to "set it up" for him.

Strive for that perfect fit, yes, but understand that there are many different paths...and often choices and compromises to be made based upon YOUR personal needs. Fact is, you will only truely know if you made the right choices long AFTER.

44
.

quote:

TO a great extent the perfect fit depsnds upon the players ability to overcome challenege and adjust and adapt and compete. No marketing or preplanning is going to stop that from happening. Educations are available at most any school if you REALLY want one. And Players fail to get an education at the best of schools. It is their choice. As far as baseball is concerned...when you arrive all you have been given is an opportunity, that's all. YOU have to make of it what you will, no matter where you go. In the end, as you rise the talent pool increases, at some point you are going to have to overcome. You have to trust that your son has the charcater to make the most of ANY situation he encounters. In the end THAT is the prize. Not our ability to "set it up" for him.

Strive for that perfect fit, yes, but understand that there are many different paths...and often choices and compromises to be made based upon YOUR personal needs. Fact is, you will only truely know if you made the right choices long AFTER.

Going,..going,...its gooooone!!

Another great post by 44!!!
Homerun!!

Long gone....

There are some really great posts here that drill down to the heart of the matter in chosing the right school. The correctness of the choice may not be evident until the spikes have long been hung up. While external factors are important, so much of the school chosen being the "right fit" don't include external factors.

Most of the "right fit" comes from inside the student-athlete.

quote:

While external factors are important, so much of the school chosen being the "right fit" don't include external factors.

Most of the "right fit" comes from inside the student-athlete.

Ain't that the truth!

As my kids coach likes to say, "..if you need to find out what the problem is you just need to jam your face in the mirror...."

Some might not agree with me but I think that early commitment is player/parent driven. A good recruiting coach will make sure that you have explored other options so that you will know that his program is the right choice.

Coaches begin their courting early, but nothing is definite until they make an offer. The earier they get to know you (and you them) come to our camp so we can see you, the early unofficial visits just makes it that much easier for the coach to eliminate and sometimes more confusing for the player. Remember he's done this many times, you and your son have only done it once. Also remember, that while it seems that you are getting much attention, so are many others. This sometimes scares the player into making a hasty decision, thinking that there will be no offer. Actually, there will be no offer if the coach has someone else in mind first and sometimes this is hard to figure out.

Now if this is THE place that seems to be the fit, bring this up to the coach as soon as possible, his offer will mean he is very serious about you, his lack of offer means he has someone else he is waiting for first.


If your son is one of the lucky ones to be able to decide where HE wants to go and he needs time they will wait.
JMO.

It is driven by schools that do not want to miss out on a kid they see as a player that will not be around for long once the process gets started on them. They want to lock them up before someone else can. I have 2 2011's already verballed to SEC and ACC schools. In both cases these players were seen this fall and it was a no brainer they were going to be a couple of the top players around. The parents in both cases were surprised that the offers were even going to be there this early. The players were happy because both of them wanted to go to the schools they have the opportunity to attend. Players and parents can want to get an early offer but its not going to happen without the coach of the program actually wanting them to. The players taken this early or given this type of opportunity this early are the players that schools believe are no doubters. It is driven by the desire of the schools to lock up kids before someone else can lock them up.

There might be parents and players that want to make early verbals. But the coach that has the authority to actually offer the opportunity is the only one that can actually make it happen. It is driven by the schools desire to beat the competition to the punch.

quote:

There might be parents and players that want to make early verbals. But the coach that has the authority to actually offer the opportunity is the only one that can actually make it happen. It is driven by the schools desire to beat the competition to the punch.

Absolutely!

That's absolutely correct.

If more players said no I am going to wait, so would the coaches. It's a game, coaches play it better,they put the sense of urgency out to everyone, knowing they will take only a few, only the few that they want. Yes more and more are being offered early, but it still is to the most talented players.
I will never be in favor of early recruiting. I would only trust the ones who know how to do it right.

JMO.