My son has been invited to several "JR DAYS' in the comming weeks. What can we expect at them and are these serious recruiting tools for a programs short list of recruits or should we expect to be one of many players there.
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All schools do JR days differently. Some only invite a few top recruits others invite in mass.
It's their way of showing off their school and program.
If the schools are close I suggest, make the short trip, but I wouldn't spend money unless it was in your plans to take an unofficial visit.
It's their way of showing off their school and program.
If the schools are close I suggest, make the short trip, but I wouldn't spend money unless it was in your plans to take an unofficial visit.
Everything is close in Nebraska. That place is so small and terrible that.... just messing with you. I'm from North Platte.. and I hear I'm missing a lovely winter! Here's why junior day is good. The coaches invite you out. They put together a list of things that they'll take you through. It gives you a chance to meet the coaches, see the facilities, probably see a game, and build a foundation on whether the school and the program interests you. On the other side of things, the coaches will appreciate the attendance. When it comes time to get out and start evaluating the juniors, they'll remember that your boy came to junior day. Coaches appreciate feedback and response from players that they are recruiting. they spend all day in the office implementing and following through with their recruiting plan. The team gets a day off in the spring and the coaches are on the road recruiting. They spend a couple hours each night on the phone talking to recruits
They appreciate a responsive recruit. That shines a good light on you in their eyes. A stand offish recruit isn't very fun to deal with. I'm not saying that by not attending you're labeled as stand offish. I'm saying that they will appreciate your attendance. Pick one or two or maybe even three schools that are high on your list that have invited you. It's a chore for you as well to make a whole day of it and coaches understand that. I wouldn't go running around to every single invite you get. You'll get burnt out.
They appreciate a responsive recruit. That shines a good light on you in their eyes. A stand offish recruit isn't very fun to deal with. I'm not saying that by not attending you're labeled as stand offish. I'm saying that they will appreciate your attendance. Pick one or two or maybe even three schools that are high on your list that have invited you. It's a chore for you as well to make a whole day of it and coaches understand that. I wouldn't go running around to every single invite you get. You'll get burnt out.
I forgot, if you get an invite and can't go, call or write.
Mine went to one junior day, about 75 recruits. It was a good experience because he knew he didn't like the school and told the coach who called in July right way he wasn't interested. I know that some schools do not do a huge junior day, but invite a few each weekend for a visit, that to me sends a better message.
It's good to have different opinions but I agree you do not have to attend each and everyone and in reality if that coach really is serious he couldn't care less if you came or not, he will go after you anyway.
Mine went to one junior day, about 75 recruits. It was a good experience because he knew he didn't like the school and told the coach who called in July right way he wasn't interested. I know that some schools do not do a huge junior day, but invite a few each weekend for a visit, that to me sends a better message.
It's good to have different opinions but I agree you do not have to attend each and everyone and in reality if that coach really is serious he couldn't care less if you came or not, he will go after you anyway.
My son has been been invited to several as well, and has attended two. One school he wasnt too interested in, but we went anyway because it wasnt too far away, and the other school he was very interested in. He loved the school and the coaches at the school he wasn't interested in, and didn't like the school he was interested in. Go figure.
quote:Originally posted by bcb3:
My son has been been invited to several as well, and has attended two. One school he wasnt too interested in, but we went anyway because it wasnt too far away, and the other school he was very interested in. He loved the school and the coaches at the school he wasn't interested in, and didn't like the school he was interested in. Go figure.
That's why they are good, they help in the elimination process.
Some schools will combine a Junior Day with a small Camp,which they charge $$ for, which is a legal way to see the player in action.
If I understand correctly, they must open it up to un-ininvited players to satisfy the NCAA requirements for a "Camp", but they can limit it to "X" number of players.
We attended a Junior Day at Creighton, and it was very well put together and very informative for both kids and parents. We got tickets to the basketball game that evening, and had Lunch(which we paid for) at Rosenblatt Stadium (College World Series venue).
Did another one at Iowa, which did not include a camp, but was a very good event also!
If you are at all interested in a school, and they have a Junior Day, I would highly recommend that you attend!
If I understand correctly, they must open it up to un-ininvited players to satisfy the NCAA requirements for a "Camp", but they can limit it to "X" number of players.
We attended a Junior Day at Creighton, and it was very well put together and very informative for both kids and parents. We got tickets to the basketball game that evening, and had Lunch(which we paid for) at Rosenblatt Stadium (College World Series venue).
Did another one at Iowa, which did not include a camp, but was a very good event also!
If you are at all interested in a school, and they have a Junior Day, I would highly recommend that you attend!
I was recently invited to the JR day at Creighton.Its a very long drive for us and i was just curious how many prospects attended this event in the past before we head all the way up there.
No telling. And i'm sure it varies from year to year. It's all a matter of response. Just call and ask them. They should have a general idea of how many are coming. They owe you an honest answer.
Son just got an invitation from Florida Gulf Coast Univ. for junior day. It looks like a form letter sent to many kids, similar to a camp invite.
I would guess that their is some value to these days like seeing and getting a feel for the campus, but I don't think, this one at least, is very exclusive.
I would guess that their is some value to these days like seeing and getting a feel for the campus, but I don't think, this one at least, is very exclusive.
Here's the way I'm approaching it. We will have 22 kids on my son's varsity roster this year. He is the only one being invited to JR Days and receiving letters from D1 schools. So, whether they are form letters or not, the other kids aren't receiving them so it must mean something.
quote:Originally posted by 6'5"RHP2010:
I was recently invited to the JR day at Creighton.Its a very long drive for us and i was just curious how many prospects attended this event in the past before we head all the way up there.
Here's a previous thread on Creighton Junior Day!
http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1786003481/...831049113#9831049113
Everything a player receives, be it an email, letter, questionnaire or a call means something--how much though is the question---it takes time to tell the positive signs
JR days are a great way to get a feel of the process and see a school---don't be surprised if your son doesn't run into guys he played against
JR days are a great way to get a feel of the process and see a school---don't be surprised if your son doesn't run into guys he played against
quote:Originally posted by BBfun:
Here's the way I'm approaching it. We will have 22 kids on my son's varsity roster this year. He is the only one being invited to JR Days and receiving letters from D1 schools. So, whether they are form letters or not, the other kids aren't receiving them so it must mean something.
Realistically what it could mean was that your son attended another event that triggered the invite, or his rating or state ranking and the others did not have that opportunity.
Understand that junior days is a marketing tool for a coach and his program. I know we attended one junior day that was not a good fit for my son, but I have recommended that program to others.
Go if you can, within reason. It shows interest, and in the long run, provides those useful comparisons that help your son make his decisions later. As much as we love them, 16-17 year od young men still have heads full of mush when it comes to thinking about what they want from college and baseball. You can only make these factors concrete for them by going to a campus. Junior day is great because you get a campus tour, a baseball facility tour, and also get some idea of the coaches' personalities. A friend's son's number three choice vaulted to number one after a one day campus visit. The campus' beauty and the friendliness of the team swung it for him over local weather and closeness to home. All things being equal, my own son wanted big time football and basketball programs in addition to baseball so he could attend those games in the fall and spring.
Excuse my ignorance but what is JR day?
Junior Day is an event that some/many D1 programs have each year for high school juniors. The programs invite players on their prospect list in an effort to familiarize them with the school. Typically, coaches will talk about the program, a tour of the school will be conducted, lunch will be served, and free tickets will be given to a game (usually baseball). Per NCAA rules, all travel expenses and lunch costs must be paid for by each prospect.
Some schools invite only a few prospects, while others may invite more than 100 -- obviously a way higher number than they'll eventually be able to recruit.
Some schools invite only a few prospects, while others may invite more than 100 -- obviously a way higher number than they'll eventually be able to recruit.
we have been to three Jr days here in the north east since I started this thread. They were all pretty much the same, coach talks to everyone about the program, introduces his staff they all say a few words, some then had the training staff and accedemic support staff there to explain their roll with the team. then we walked around the campus mostly the baseball facilities. Go back to where we started coach and staff take questions from the recruits and parents and then they give out tickets to the basketball game. Each time there were about a dozen rercuits there of which the coaches say they usually sign 1-3 players that attend their JR Day. One coach told the boys if this is the school for you and you know this is it, Then call or email me when you get home and we will have you back individualy and I can make a verbal offer to you now. At the game the coaching staffs sat with the boys and chatted with them and the parents then most said their goodbyes at halftime and headed home. It has been a great way to get my son to visit schools other than just taking a regular tour or going to an open house, only problem is he likes every school he sees and has not weeded any out yet. Oh well. We have a few more to do in the next few weeks. My guess is it will be much of the same.
My junior has not been invited to any junior days. He is targeting many California colleges, mostly UC's and a few CalState's. Does anyone know if these junior days are big in California? We're trying to get a read on interest from several programs. If he isn't invited to any is this a good indicator that there is no interest?