Junior Day invite

Ha!  I had this conversation with my son a month ago.  I won.  He was the only kid in a collared shirt, the rest were all in athletic clothes.   After the meeting part, I let him change in to a t shirt for the game.

baseballhs posted:

Ha!  I had this conversation with my son a month ago.  I won.  He was the only kid in a collared shirt, the rest were all in athletic clothes.   After the meeting part, I let him change in to a t shirt for the game.

Great insight and appreciated! That was my one reservation is that, since it is structured around a game, they might not expect pants and a collar. We can have both in the car just in case!

We went to football games, and i think he wore a t-shirt and nice sweatshirt with jeans. I'd say for a game some comfortable shorts that aren't athletic shorts, and a nicer t-shirt or collared shirt would hit the middle of the road.

Tequila,

In our Junior Days experiences (3 sons/6 total junior days) we treated it like an Official/Unofficial visit.   All of the schools used Junior Days as a way to introduce the academic side of the house to a list of recruited athletes.  Therefore, it was more than just a baseball game, and a sleep over (in some cases).  Typcially, we'd listen to the Head of the Academic Departments in a large auditorium then tour the buildings, campus then meet up with our athletic sponsor for the game.  Typically, the coach would talk to the recruits after the game as a group and then one on ones.  So, long story short, it was about wearing something comfortable and making a positive, mature impression with the team and coaches.  Khakis (long or short depending on the location and temperature) and a polo or button down shirt will do the trick.     

BTW...As a parent, I thought Junior Days were an excellent way to hear about the school and their programs beyond baseball.   In some cases, I walked away with a much deeper understanding of the school than schlepping aroung campus with a baseball recruiting coach.

Good luck!

My son is attending one this weekend and I had already similar posts and instructed my son to wear khakis and a nice shirt. I would much rather my son be the one who dressed for the occasion than the one who did not.

I vote with the rest. My son never went to a junior day, but visited several campuses. Khakis, and depending on the weather, either a Polo or long sleeve Dress shirt. No tie. I always believed it was better to be a bit over dressed than under dressed. Shows some respect and shows the want to make a good impression. Shows the program is important too him. 

We would do Khaki shorts and a collared shirt.  He typically was only one or two dressed that way but that was just another way to stand out in a positive light IMO.  If weather cold, I would say jeans and collared shirt would be a good compromise.  Never really cared for the athletic shorts and random tshirt look.  Agree with Fenway, Bishop and others.  As they say, only get 1 chance to make good first impression.

I believe I saw this on this site before. You are looking to impress mostly middle aged men and convince them to invest money in you. Wear what you think they would find appropriate. You can't really go wrong with khakis and a nice under armour/nike polo.

Thanks everyone....this is great feedback!

Can't go wrong in a tuxedo.

Son went to two junior days at High Academic schools. One thing we couldn't get over were the high number of recruits in attendance. He figure that some "high on the board" may not have com either. Good info an the tour guides are typically players who can provide answers to questions son had.  I would recommend as others have khakis and a polo shirt. My son brought a tie just in case; but then again he wears a tie to class everyday. (worked for him in HS..he's not one to change a routine.

Just a follow-up to this thread. Son had first junior day at D2 school yesterday. I was shocked at the number of players and parents in high school sweatshirts, baseball caps with sunglasses on top (BTW - it was sleeting during the tour), shorts, sweatpants, etc... My son had on khakis, long sleeve plaid shirt and sweater with a nice jacket on due to inclimate weather.  He was of the small percentage that dressed nice for the occasion and I was glad that he did. Most kids had hands in pockets and acted like it was a bore to be there. After the tour, the pitching coach (who had run the tour because head coach was getting ready for the game) states he was glad everyone came out and to go enjoy lunch and come back later to enjoy the game. Everyone walked out and left. My son and I stayed back so that he could shake hands with coach and tell him thank you for invite and tour. I was very shocked that he was the only one to do so. Is this the norm?? I would like to think that coaches are looking at the players who try to engage and look interested, but maybe that's the hopeful mom in me?

hopefulmom posted:

Just a follow-up to this thread. Son had first junior day at D2 school yesterday. I was shocked at the number of players and parents in high school sweatshirts, baseball caps with sunglasses on top (BTW - it was sleeting during the tour), shorts, sweatpants, etc... My son had on khakis, long sleeve plaid shirt and sweater with a nice jacket on due to inclimate weather.  He was of the small percentage that dressed nice for the occasion and I was glad that he did. Most kids had hands in pockets and acted like it was a bore to be there. After the tour, the pitching coach (who had run the tour because head coach was getting ready for the game) states he was glad everyone came out and to go enjoy lunch and come back later to enjoy the game. Everyone walked out and left. My son and I stayed back so that he could shake hands with coach and tell him thank you for invite and tour. I was very shocked that he was the only one to do so. Is this the norm?? I would like to think that coaches are looking at the players who try to engage and look interested, but maybe that's the hopeful mom in me?

Hi hopefulmom; it sounds like we were at the same Junior Day. I too was a bit surprised at the number of kids in sports attire but I didn't get the impression that it was a big deal to the coaches. My son was in very similar garb to yours and I'm glad he chose that route.

As far as staying back to talk to the pitching coach, We didn't do that simply because it was so nasty and cold but we had already talked to him briefly when we got there, via ongoing email dialog over the past few months, and at a camp earlier in the year.

It sounds like we were! We probably were at the same Prospect camp as well in December and have been communicating with the same people. Good luck!

Not Junior Days specifically, but when my son was going on unofficial visits and to baseball/football games he wore khakis and a 1/4 zip pullover to balance it out. It was always a big debate.  Most others were dressed similar. Esp at the southern schools where dressing up for game day (football) is more the custom.  We did notice those that had committed already were more often in athletic wear.