Offical Visits In Spring

Look at it this way


Your son is a senior
Your son has a responsibility to his team
You son should have made his visits before now --it is a bit late isnt it?
The college coach surely can appreciate the fact that he is playing for his team

The colleges requesting the visits have just come on scene in the past few weeks. There was no opportunity to make a visit before we knew there was an interest.

Tr- over the years you have said many sign in the spring. How do you sign if you don't visit and you don't meet the coaches ?

Son has no problem with responsibility to his team. He would only go when he is not schedule to pitch. H ewould not go when he is playing for his team.

Very Simple --you make the time--you do on it two days back to back that you are not playing even if in the middle of the week---

Bottom Line:--you make it work for all parties concerned!

Seen,

Another example of high school coaching mopery.

Just as your son has one senior season, so, too, he has one opportunity to see and be on a college campus (or more than one).

I would go to the principal and the AD (at a simultaneous meeting with the two of them so they wouldn't "forget what they said", if you were to meet with them independently), after I had exhausted all attempts to reach some compromise with the coach.

Can't imagine a single program in Chicagoland that would require game "attendance" to a pitcher (who, if he receives some baseball scholarship assistance) who can only bring honors to the high school program.

Last fall a school came in late with interest in my son. We couldn't do an official visit at the time because he was traveling to other places on all of their big (football) recruiting weekends. Coaches were very understanding and arranged an unofficial visit for my son. Talk about personal attention. There was nothing else going on, no other recruits, and lots of personal touches. This was unofficial, so the expenses were on us.
To make a long story short, my son chose this school. Just because you can't work in the official visit doesn't mean you can't visit at all. Since its spring, I would pick a date when the college team is playing and your high school team is not. Just showing your level of interest by making the trip will serve the same purpose and you still can spend time with the coaches, especially if its midweek and not a conference game. They can still meet with you, go out for meals (but not pay) and be sure you get tours, etc. Coach can assign players who aren't playing (like an injured kid) to give you the tour of the stadium and campus.
BTW After son signed, he took an official visit at a later date. Still got the experience, just not with the rest of the recruits.
As far as your HS coach goes, I would try to keep everyone happy and not miss any more baseball (practices) than necessary, if at all. His team comes first, but I think you can get the visits in if you get creative.

KC,

You have a great deal of NCAA knowledge and we certainly appreciate your posts. Sorry about the earlier mix-up. peace, Shep

Our son did his spring official visits on Sundays. We would go to their weekend series game and then meet with the coaches, tour the campus, housing, etc. afterwards.

I'm sure the college coach will understand your son's dilema and work around his schedule. Coaches usually admire a team player and will respect his desire to be there for his team.

My son recieved an invite today. His team has a tournament on the same day. We'll ask if he can come in on a later date. I'm guessing that they will reschedule. At least, we hope so.

Think it's common to have to work around high school schedule...we had to....sure once you explain situation to college coaches....they'll understand and work with you.....just need to let them know what's going on.....and come up with dates your son does not have games.....good luck....

Seen,

You have received some good (and helpful) advice here. I would offer a slightly different take on the subject.

The coach obviously expects the player to be commited to the team. But where is the coach's commitment to the player. If a player is getting recent, late, serious interest from a college, the HS coach has got to know that this situation is time sensitive. If the college is wanting to fill out their recruiting goals, to wait until after the HS season may be too late.

If it were my son I would give him this advice. Do your best to make it so that it does not negatively impact your team. But if that is not possible, or the coach is unreasonable, then take the visit and be prepared to receive the "punishment" without complaining and without regret, and I'll be behind you 100%. (BTW this in fact is the advice I gave my son who is facing a similar scenario with his summer team and the Stanford Camp.)

What I find most interesting is that the HS coach wasn't even involved in the recruiting process.

This young man was probably seen at a showcase, summer tournament or referred to the college by a pro scout.

Do you think if the HS coach was involved he would let him go?

I think the HS coach feels spurned.

Regression to the mean.

Seenbothsides,
Down here you are excused for anything that pertains to school, junior days, official visits, college visits, regardless of whether you play a sport or not.

Call whoever you need to, your son is a pitcher, he is not in every game and coach could work around him. As long as he doesn't miss in his rotation, there should be no issue.

JMO.


College coaches are pretty understanding, problem is, if you turn down a visit, there is someone else to ask who just might say yes before your son.

I know some kids that are going on college visits and are coach understands that the signing period is starting up soon. Most people would want to do their visit before they make a decision on what school they are going to, especially if they may have the option of having multiple offers and signing soon after the signing period begins. It’s almost a must to have those visits if your serious about playing at the next level. The coach should allow this player to go if there is serious interest with multiple schools. Kids play high school baseball to go to the next level.

Play Dog,

I agree with you. It seems that this coach is not cooperating because he wasn't in the loop or in other words didn't control the process.

I am going through this same scenario at my school. It is extremely unpleasant. Because my coach is not controlling my recruitment, things just happen. My stats don't make the paper, he moves the lineup around so that I have a novice catcher, forgets to tell my family when college coaches contact him, can't seem to let us know in advance when I'll start (need this info so that we can forward it to coaches that may want to come), to name a few.

I believe that there comes a time when a player has to put himself first. One of the reasons we play baseball is because we believe in the team concept. However, the small window of opportunity in this case has to be seized. If this college is of interest to your son, I say go for it. The chance to play in college outweighs a punishment for missing a game or practice. If I were you, I'd do everything I could to make this happen around his starts, if possible. If not, I'd do it anyway.

I also think that going to the head master or principal and AD with this is important as well. If this coach is doing this to you, chances are he is or has done this to others. If you don't make some sort of issue about it, it will continue to happen and opportunities will be missed by others as well.

I know we tend to live in fear regarding our playing time etc. I'd give up the rest of my season for a real shot at a college team. Just my opinion.

This coach should be excited that one of his own is getting some attention. I will never understand this.

Do the right thing for the players life after high school. If that means going around the coach or ignoring him, so be it. He'll get over it soon enough. You'll end up with a couple more haters than you already have, but who gives a rat's behind.

My son's best interests conflicted with the coach's goals his senior year. My son did what was best for him, not the coach, without regret.

If there is a time to be selfish, spring of senior year is it.

Dad04,

Nicely put.

dad and Tampa lefty.

Like your posts. I just don't understand it either.

"Continuing coaching mopery", I call it. Then again, if you don't know, you don't know.

High school graduation is the first major cross road in a persons life. Actions taken before graduation directly effect the persons next phase of their life. It makes no sense to be a cork bobbing in a lake blowing around where the winds take you.

Set your sail and your rudder and move forward full speed. If the coach is in the way run his a s s over. I did and it felt good.

It's not my job to educate the coach. If he doesn't know any better, he may need to learn the hard way.

have the coach define what the punishment is and then make the decision.

Mine did and sat out one game and he only missed a practice. but he did sign with a PAC10 team.

baseballtoday,

I'm surprised the coach had a response. In my limited experience, it's more about the intimidation that the coach can throw around. When I challenge my coach (ask a simple question) if I'm not being disrespectful (for asking a question) then I simply don't deserve or get an answer. Possibly a "do it and see what happens"-type of answer. He was brought up with this type of coaching and it's all he knows.

Congrats on your son making the right decision. Imagine if he bought into the coach's threats...

quote:

High school graduation is the first major cross road in a persons life. Actions taken before graduation directly effect the persons next phase of their life. It makes no sense to be a cork bobbing in a lake blowing around where the winds take you.

Set your sail and your rudder and move forward full speed. If the coach is in the way run his a s s over. I did and it felt good.

It's not my job to educate the coach. If he doesn't know any better, he may need to learn the hard way.

GREAT POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't fall for all the "CUZ I'M THE COACH!!" gibberish. He's the coach until the school principal and AD say he's not anymore, so get them on speed dial and go right over his head.

I learned quickly that when you ask a principal or AD to jump they usually ask how high they need to jump, because they have bosses too.

Squeaky wheel get's a greasin'.

Our baseball son made his last official visit on a weekend when he had a Saturday game. He left right after the game, spent Saturday night with "the guys", had breakfast with the coaches, etc. He had made an unofficial visit earlier to tour the campus, etc. He made it work. Another trip he "flew the red-eye" in order to not miss any finals.

Older son traveled during basketball season for football visits. 1st visit he left after practice. Others he missed a Friday game (traveling across the country) and had to sit out the next game. A lot of players and parents, and administrators were pissed. How can you keep their "student-athlete of the year" from pursuing the dream of a top education!!! He ended up being the ONLY student from his class of 700 admitted to an Ivy League.