Not to early to look

I think it's great that your son took advantage of the opportunity. I have seen many on this board who say it's too early and others who say if you aren't doing anything by now you're already late.

We did something very similar - last fall when 2013 was a sophomore we went to a mid D-1 Open House day on a high school holiday. We did the campus tour, listened to the sessions, etc., just to see if the SCHOOL seemed like a good fit. It did.

2013 was scheduled to attend a showcase at this same school two weeks later, so he had emailed the coaches in advance to let them know that we would be on campus for the Open House and would try to stop by. Of course they could not/did not reply.

Following the open house we stopped by the baseball office and the recruiting coordinator came out and spent 15 minutes just visiting with our son. He explained what he liked about the information on his Web site and gave us suggestions of things that coaches (all coaches) like to see. He explained the angles they like for the videos, etc.

He thanked us so much for stopping by and said he had been expecting us. He thought it was terrific that we had spent a school holiday driving two hours from home for a sophomore to check out a school. Two weeks later at the showcase he remembered 2013's face and name and told him it was great to see him again.

Breaking the ice is by far the toughest thing for a 16-17 year-old kid. I've seen it written here many times: remind your kid that these coaches talk to teenagers every single day. They're used to it and they know how to talk to them.

I've continued to be impressed that the recruiting coordinator took the time. Yes, I know it's his job. But as we continue to visit schools we are seeing that some folks (in athletics and not) just don't make you feel welcome.