Is this worth the time?

Initial thought is that if fits financially, go and enjoy the experience.  There is obviously interest in your son so why not.  Especially the more you read on here about "enjoy the ride" and how quickly this all goes.  I treat these trips as great bonding time with my son and tell him regardless of the outcome of any of this, I wouldn't trade the time with him for anything.  Also - not sure what class your son is, but why limit any options at this point.  A visit and it may become his dream school.  JMO...

Just based on the info you have given, it sounds like there is at least mild interest and it is quite possible that they will encourage him to walk on.  If both the PC and HC saw him pitch, the camp is really not necessary.  They are likely throwing that out as some combination of testing your son's interest (which he can address for about $200 less) and feeding their crew of assistants.

I would say if your son has any interest, do some deeper research on the school and educate yourself on the various versions of "walk on".   Then, if son still has some interest, he can contact the coaches, letting them know he has interest, can't make it to that camp, has other offers and is looking forward to hearing if they are still interested in him.

I wouldn't go.  HC, RC and PC have all seen him throw and haven't jumped yet.  Any one of the three could have sold the other two if they were really high on him.  JMO but wish you the best however you decide. 

Mixed messages galore. Sounds like they are interested in seeing your son again (and in the $200). If your son has more than mild interest (like they seem to have in your son) after digging around, and you can swing the funds, it might be worthwhile going.

Here is a way to test their sincere interest. 

Tell them that your son has a very busy schedule and can't stay for the whole camp. He has the time to come in and pitch a few innings and leave. If he can fit this into his busy schedule would they pro-rate the cost for his time spent there? $50 or $100? 

Per NCAA guidelines they can not make the camp free, but at least when my son was being recruited a college did just this. Their camp was a two day event and my son came in, warmed up, pitched and then left. I don't remember the details, but I think he paid 25% of the fee.

Like others have speculated they have seen enough of him to have a pretty good idea what they want to do so skipping the camp probably has little impact.  

Iowamom23, when he told your son "while this isn't what they're offering, he should be aware that many of their players are walk ons", did your son take that as:
- we're not ready to offer you a preferred walk-on spot
- we still might offer you a scholarship
- something else

Being very green to all of this, couldn't you just ask the coaches their level of interest?  Sounds like he is a pitcher.  Could you ask where he stands on the "board?"  

$200 for a college sponsored camp?  Wow, that seems steep to me.  Don't remember ever paying that kind of money for anything other than a larger showcase type event.  Agree with the others that if all 3 guys have seen him, it seems like they could make the call either for or against making some kind of offer.  Kinda thinking that they hope he shows up loves the place and they can possible talk him into a walk on spot since they've already mentioned it....but I guess there's no real way to tell without going.  Good luck!

My initial thought was to visit the school without baseball to see if your son even likes it.  You've stated that it is a step up academically, but not a dream school....understood.  The coaches interest is not overwhelming.  Sometimes you have to take your kids to a school just to check it out....more times than not my kids walked away surprised or impressed with how much they didn't know about a particular college.   However, I like BOF's idea better thereby testing their interest and pro-rating his baseball $$ time there.

BOF posted:

Here is a way to test their sincere interest. 

Tell them that your son has a very busy schedule and can't stay for the whole camp. He has the time to come in and pitch a few innings and leave. If he can fit this into his busy schedule would they pro-rate the cost for his time spent there? $50 or $100? 

 

This sounds like a good plan.

MidAtlanticDad posted:

Iowamom23, when he told your son "while this isn't what they're offering, he should be aware that many of their players are walk ons", did your son take that as:
- we're not ready to offer you a preferred walk-on spot
- we still might offer you a scholarship
- something else

I think son took is as we might still offer you a scholarship. I'm guessing they have an offer out to someone they like better, but want to keep son on a string just in case. And if they can get him to walk on, even better.

real green posted:

Being very green to all of this, couldn't you just ask the coaches their level of interest?  Sounds like he is a pitcher.  Could you ask where he stands on the "board?"  

You absolutely could do that. You could also ask them the chances of being offered a scholarship. Many coaches will even give you a straight answer.

BOF posted:

Here is a way to test their sincere interest. 

Tell them that your son has a very busy schedule and can't stay for the whole camp. He has the time to come in and pitch a few innings and leave. If he can fit this into his busy schedule would they pro-rate the cost for his time spent there? $50 or $100? 

Per NCAA guidelines they can not make the camp free, but at least when my son was being recruited a college did just this. Their camp was a two day event and my son came in, warmed up, pitched and then left. I don't remember the details, but I think he paid 25% of the fee.

Like others have speculated they have seen enough of him to have a pretty good idea what they want to do so skipping the camp probably has little impact.  

That's a good idea.  Son attended a camp and was asked to come back to a follow-up camp for a second look at no charge (regarding NCAA, guess they figured it wasn't free since he paid for the first).

It would also be smart, as RG and Mid point out, to ask what their level of interest is and, if interest is reasonably strong, if there is a chance that any $ will be offered.

I also meant to add earlier about walk-ons... pretty sure you are already aware - there is true walk-on and varying degrees of preferred walk on.  If that is the path they continue to push, ask for clarification of what their meaning of walk on is as it relates to your son.  

I am reading back my post and realize that i am responding to you as if to suggest you are taking these actions.  Obviously, son should be handling as much as possible.  Although, with issues where your $ is directly involved, nothing wrong with you being directly involved as well.

I would vote to go unless you expect it to be a complete zoo.  To have the RC, HC and then the PC come to watch him pitch (assuming he was in fact the prospect they were watching each time) would indicate a level of interest from a school that is a "step up" both academically and athletically.  I think I must have missed what class your son is in and can only assume that he is not a graduated senior.  If he has any chance of playing there, which he apparently does, $200 is a small price to get better acquainted with the staff and see if there is any fit with the PC specifically and other coaches in general.  If you don't want to spend the $200, I would at least see if you could set up an UV (after saying schedule does not work for camp) and maybe see how much time and attention the coaches are willing to invest.  If college cost is an issue, that could be communicated and then see if an offer is forthcoming and/or what other avenues for scholarships are available.  It certainly cannot hurt to have this school showing continued interest - at any level - when talking with the other schools.  Having your son talk about visiting this particular D1 program while talking to the other schools may help the other schools sharpen their pencil.

cabbagedad posted:

I am reading back my post and realize that i am responding to you as if to suggest you are taking these actions.  Obviously, son should be handling as much as possible.  Although, with issues where your $ is directly involved, nothing wrong with you being directly involved as well.

Son handles all coach communication, except if they figure out who I am when I'm at games, then they usually approach and introduce themselves. I figure the most important thing he's getting out of this process is the ability to talk comfortably to adults.

Iowamom23 posted:

MidAtlanticDad posted:

Iowamom23, when he told your son "while this isn't what they're offering, he should be aware that many of their players are walk ons", did your son take that as:
- we're not ready to offer you a preferred walk-on spot
- we still might offer you a scholarship
- something else

I think son took is as we might still offer you a scholarship. I'm guessing they have an offer out to someone they like better, but want to keep son on a string just in case. And if they can get him to walk on, even better.

2017LHPscrewball posted:

I would vote to go unless you expect it to be a complete zoo.  To have the RC, HC and then the PC come to watch him pitch (assuming he was in fact the prospect they were watching each time) would indicate a level of interest from a school that is a "step up" both academically and athletically.  I think I must have missed what class your son is in and can only assume that he is not a graduated senior.  If he has any chance of playing there, which he apparently does, $200 is a small price to get better acquainted with the staff and see if there is any fit with the PC specifically and other coaches in general.  If you don't want to spend the $200, I would at least see if you could set up an UV (after saying schedule does not work for camp) and maybe see how much time and attention the coaches are willing to invest.  If college cost is an issue, that could be communicated and then see if an offer is forthcoming and/or what other avenues for scholarships are available.  It certainly cannot hurt to have this school showing continued interest - at any level - when talking with the other schools.  Having your son talk about visiting this particular D1 program while talking to the other schools may help the other schools sharpen their pencil.

He's a 2018. A former coach of my son's knows the HC and chatted with him at the game he attended, and HC told him he was there to see my son and one other of our players.

You have gotten good advice but....they have seen your son enough to offer even a walk on opportunity.

Have him call and ask straight up, if I don't attend your camp will you still be interested? 

I agree with Catch1721 on this.  They've seen him.  They have lukewarm interest.  Nothing that they'll see at the camp that they haven't already seen.  Especially for a pitcher.  He won't likely be throwing against any deep pool of hitting talent, so more likely that he'll be looked at in the pen, which these guys have recently seen (if they hadn't seen him since sophomore year, a different mindset, but they've seen him in past few weeks).

He's already attended their camp once, so he's seen the facilities and campus.  Really nothing to gain there.

IMHO, attending makes him appear a bit desperate and continues to feed them more leverage (whether it's real or not, they perceive it as such and will likely temper any money offered because of this).

Unless you son really wants to attend this school, I'd say skip paying any more to them.  Seems to me as though he's being strung along a bit.  They have one on the hook and are looking to milk for another $200.

scenario our son had was similar, i'll share it just to give you another perspective, as every situation is different.

HC saw my son (he was an upcoming junior at the time- beginning of summer season).  After that weekend, he offered 25% scholarship.  He then invited him to a camp, said he would like to see him at camp in order to get a better idea of speed and arm strength, and that if he came to the camp and he performed well, the offer may go up.   We did- and the offer did go up, this is the school he ended up committing to. 

So my first reaction to your post was that they may be trying to fill seats in their camp, then I thought about it, and remembered what we went through.  Thought it would good to share the experience - you really need to take all of the good input and advice, but then apply it to what you know and what your gut feeling is relative to your sons situation. 

Iowamom23 posted:

BOF posted:

Here is a way to test their sincere interest. 

Tell them that your son has a very busy schedule and can't stay for the whole camp. He has the time to come in and pitch a few innings and leave. If he can fit this into his busy schedule would they pro-rate the cost for his time spent there? $50 or $100? 

 

This sounds like a good plan.

My experience say's don't go unless it's a dream school. The reason being they've already seen him throw a bunch. If they wanted him they would have already made their intentions clear. NCAA coaches don't dilly dally . If they want you there is no ambiguity . It sounds like they're trying to get him on campus as a potential walk on . Which isn't bad, but still it is lacking. They don't love him.

Also, a RC friend once told me " The more we see a guy....the more we find wrong with him"

For a pitcher , if the HC, RC and PC saw him throw and there wasn't an offer , you cross that school off the list. You mark it ' Not Interested' and move on.That is important because hanging on to the idea that they might like you or offer you later is a waste of time and just clouds your judgment. In recruiting there is never a voluntary 'NO' from a school. However, if your son calls and asks they will indeed tell him 'No'.....But he has to ask.

The biggest hang up in recruiting is that kids and parents do not know how to gauge real interest.

You're looking for the school that loves the player. It doesn't matter if it's a D1, D2 or D3 school. You pick the school that is most excited about the 'Get' . The school that truly believes your son will help them win games. That's what you are looking for.

NCAA baseball coaches get paid to win. Period. They recruit players that help them do that. If HC's don't win games, they get fired.

But if you insist on going to camp definitely ask for the '1 day ' rate . My son was recruited as a pitcher and during the recruiting cycle I did this several times. I would call and just say " Because of a prior commitment he is only available for 1 day at the camp and can only throw a few innings , can you adjust the rate for 1 day only?" ......They always prorated the cost for me