Is there more to pick then just baseball

My son and I had a very simple situation---find where you want to be and we will make it work


Same with my stepson

Novicedad you are going to have to change your screen name – you’re no novice!
I think one of the main problems with the recruiting of a high school baseball players is that it’s over (done - finished - ended) for 99.9% of the parents and players before they become educated enough about the recruiting process where they can effectively affect the outcome. I think the general feeling among many parents is that “everything” will play out as it should so they basically stand by, do nothing and wait for things to happen. Since they have no sense of direction they can find themselves at the mercy of anyone claiming they can “help” their son. To make it more confusing most parents tend to have rose-colored glasses and have a distorted view of their son’s baseball. Most have no trusted contacts in the “baseball world” to help them with the process. Let’s face it ---- this all adds up to be a very frustrating time for many parents and players and many bad choices are made during these times

The HSBBW was founded on the idea that there was no place for the parents of a high school baseball player to find information about the recruiting process. The founder of the HSBBW, Bob Howdeshell, had a son in high school that had obvious college skills. Bob searched for answers to his questions about recruiting but couldn’t find a reliable source so he decided he would start one. Bob started a “place” where parents of high school parents and players could share information about the recruiting ride and each could describe the bumps and pitfalls we would face along the way ----- that was when and why the HSBBW was born.

I attended a camp today at a small D-1 and while I was there I talked with a mother of a rising hs senior with very good baseball skills. We talked about these very same things we’re talking about in this post. I suggested she log on to the HSBBW to gather as much information as possible. Maybe she and others can gather some information that will help in the recruiting ride.

NoviceDad,

Here's just another perspective:

We did everything with the eldest.

Checked the schools out.
Really never even cared about money.
Looked for fit.
Academic fit - social fit - coach fit - teammate fit - you name it - we looked at it.

We knew people in the game - we had baseball experience from great granddad - to granddad - to dad - to uncle - to cousin - and to about 20 very close lifelong friends. From the pros to college - from top D-1 to Juco - and everything in between.

My son knew in his heart he would have to earn everything at the next level. Noone had to tell him anything about being given anything.

He was totally prepared - physically and mentally.

He got great grades - had excellent skills - had a great passion - and had great results from 8 to 18.

And when it was all said and done - the initial recruiting experience/process/circus turned out to be a total - pure - 100% unmitigated disaster. LOL

Here is what I learned - (and I assure you I try to learn every single day of my life.)

"You better market yourself - even if you stink".

Thats it.

Thats all I learned.

I figure - at this point - either I am just simply stupid and have lost the ability to learn - or this recruiting process has become - for the most part - an extended exercise in pure marketing BS.

Just my perspective.

If someone is picking their school on just baseball, they are making a huge mistake. Your son has to go into this asking himself "if I was injured and couldn't play baseball, would I still want to be at this school?" If the answer to that is no, he should move on, regardless of how good the scholarship offer is, or how much he (and you) like the coaching staff, the conference, the facilities, etc.

I held my breath this summer when my son went to his chosen school to take a class. (they have a special setup where incoming freshmen can take an accelerated class for credit, it's a GREAT idea) This was going to be the real test, a college class at the college that HE chose. Yes, he loves the coaching staff and is excited about going there and playing, but this was going to be an experience at college that had nothing to do with baseball, and I was nervous.

After the first three days there, of going to class, studying, doing work and writing, he called me and said "Dad, I REALLY like it here." The grin on my face was ear to ear. I'm not worried about anything else now, my son will get his degree. And, in the end, isn't THAT what is most important here, for most of us?

I haven't posted much but read the posts all the time. My son is a good ball player(so I have been told). When he was looking at schools last year I noticed his hesitation to look at any large school. He has a learning disability so he knew school was going to be a hard road for him. Baseball is his passion and without it he would not have graduated high school. He knew he had to work very hard to get the grades he had in order to play. Last year he met a college coach who stayed in constant contact with my son. He always treated him with the utmost respect and said that they would work on his grades once he got into college. Luckily I let him follow his heart and he chose this small school who has embraced him both academically and athletically. In all his years of public school I was never able to get him any special ed help. After meeting with the college he is already assigned a mentor. He has so much more confidence that he will be a successful college student (and go on to be a great teacher) that I really am extremely happy for him. He told me that he didn't think any college would want him with the grades he had but that turned out to be so wrong!!!! So my small bit of advise is to let the young man take the lead and be there at his side to help guide him forward!!!!!!!!!!

quote:

If someone is picking their school on just baseball, they are making a huge mistake.

While it may appear that parents and players are JUST looking at baseball programs, I don't think ANY baseball player or parent picks a school on JUST baseball or JUST any one thing.. While my son allowed baseball to be the overwhelming influence in his selection, there was no way to ignore EVERY other influence. Sure there are many players like my son that attend college with the main purpose of playing baseball or other sports. That will never change. I can remember my son and the family taking an unofficial visit to Mississippi State University, without question one of the most respected baseball programs in the nation. Arriving in the town of Starkville, MS my son suggested we move on and head back home -- he didn’t like the setting ----- we never stopped at MSU and he NEVER looked at the stadium or the program ---- until he played AGAINST Mississippi State. What may be the number one influence to one player may be less than that to another. Some players chose their colleges based on their baseball program while others chose their college based on the engineering department. I guess it sounds better to say: “My son picked his college because of their great engineering department” --- vs --- “My son picked his college based on their great baseball program?”

Fungo, I totally agree with what you're saying. For us, the baseball "fit" was the first consideration. Then we looked to see if everything else fit. While my son's journey is probably a poor example for anyone to follow because it wasn't what I would call successful, I don't think we'd change that part of the ride.

For us, he wasn't going anywhere beside right here in town if he didn't have a baseball scholarship to pick up most of the tab. He and I both knew what had driven him in HS to be successful and that was baseball. We both knew that the kids he'd spend the majority of his time with were baseball players. Now, after that was considered... then was the location right, was the school size right, was the academic support what he would need, could he see himself fitting into that school. If baseball wasn't a fit, we didn't even consider anything else... it was on to think about another option.

Recuiting and finding that "fit" is so very different for everyone...

quote:

If someone is picking their school on just baseball, they are making a huge mistake.

Geez, don't base it/blame it on ME! HA! HA!...couldn't resist.

quote:

If baseball wasn't a fit, we didn't even consider anything else...

lafmom, a very good point and I think this approach is VERY common. More common that most will admit.

ITSINTHEGAME

If you don't mind me asking. What made it a disaster?

And how do you "market" your player without coming across as some freaky overzealuos dad/mom?
I know you should send letters and follow up with phone calls to let the coaches know you exist, but what else can you do beyond that? Right now we are sending letters and getting the standard package and "come to our camp" stuff. My son is an 09.
He plays on a top travel team, we will try a showcase or 2 in the fall and more next summer.
Is there anything else?

Thanks

To my son the most important thing was location. Had to have good education and a reasonable team.
That approach paid off for us. my son loves Charleston SC. The people are friendly and there is always something to do. Beaches, other universities and warm weather. Location was top of our list.

Triple Dad

You want to talk "overzealous" I can tell you all about it

When my son came out of HS in the early/mid 90's every college in the country knew who he was--keep in mind back then there were few if any showcases -- But I marketed him like the lunatic my wife says I can be---after he got his situation I was at a tournament standing behind a group of college coaches when I hear a coach ask aloud "Anyone know where the Rizzi kid ended up---his Dad must have inundated every coach in the country with info on him" - I chuckeled when another coach responded " He must have done something right because the kid is headed to New Mexico State "--kids from NY do not go to New Mexico State

I did what I had to do back then and what I thought I was right is what I did---but I learned a lot in the process

TripleDad,

If I may - let me be very direct.

As usual - I threw my two cents into this interesting topic just to give my personal perspective. Certainly no advice whatsoever on the recruiting process.
Our experience was a disaster - lets just leave it at that.

More importantly:

I am the last person in the world you want advice from when it comes to college recruiting.

You should get advice from parents that have done it successfully. And there are many here - and I think you should listen to them carefully.
From TR to Fungo to TPM - and many many many others. They know what they are talking about. And the articles that Bob and Julie have created and sustained concerning the recruiting process are as valuable to a parent as any I have seen anywhere.

I have always believed that you should listen closely to people who have done things successfully. In any endeavor - whether it be business,music,family or sports. There is alot to learn from them.

Just my opinion.

its, I think it's unfair to judge the recruiting process by the results. I've said this time and time again that you can do everything correctly and the results can still be a disaster.

quote:

Originally posted by justbaseball:

quote:

If someone is picking their school on just baseball, they are making a huge mistake.

Geez, don't base it/blame it on ME! HA! HA!...couldn't resist.

That's funny!

IITG,
What happened to your son is more common than you think, just many don't talk about it.
Fungo is correct, you can do everything right and still things don't work out. But then you don't give up, you learn from any situation and move forward, and find success. Sometimes for many players, it takes more than one time to get it right.
I was thinking the other day about how we stress about helping our sons make the right choice and still worry it won't work out. That's so normal, even when your son is there you think about it each year they begin a new season, did he make the right choice, will he play this year more than last, is the school too difficult, campus life too distracting , the baseball coach and program too demanding.
Even after they leave and go forward you still wonder if they made the right choice.

Fungo,

You most likely are correct - but I still wouldnt want to get a heart operation from a surgeon that botched his last one.

I would always opt for the surgeon that hasnt messed up yet.

jbb, there is no WAY I would blame you. . .you might be responsible for one or two mistakes, but no more than that

I suppose I should clarify what I was saying...I wasn't saying that a baseball fit wasn't important, it is. However, you have to look at the entire package, in my mind. I guess what I was trying to say is that if School A offers a 50% scholly and School B offers a 33% scholly, and both are good baseball fits, but School A is not a place where your kid would want to be if he wasn't playing ball, and School B is, the choice is now getting tougher.

The one thing that cannot be controlled is the coach who recruited you and brought you leaving the program---the player loses his "rabbi" so to speak---the new guy obviously will want to bring in his players

quote:

So my small bit of advise is to let the young man take the lead and be there at his side to help guide him forward!!!!!!!!!!

An excellent observation..............

ITS

Sorry for asking, none of my biz anyway.
The tone of your post coloured a certain amount of disdain for the whole thing. Hopefully I can learn enough in here to avoid some of the recruiting landmines.

Just poking my nose in to say ... someone who is relatively new to the forums might get the impression from itsinthegame's comment about his son's recruiting experience that it didn't work out very well. Those who have been around for a while know that his son had some bumps in the road, but fortunately he persevered and kept working hard. He ended up being very successful in college and is now playing professional baseball! A very good example of never giving up.