Scouts or coaches at your sons game?

Depends on what level is scouting. I was told that if it is a college scout, keep your distance, if they talk to you it's an official visit even if they aren’t there to see your son.

Just act as if they are not there---if they want to talk to you or your son they will seek you out--trust me

They are just people there doing a job. If you are curious about what they do & how they do it simply engage them in a conversation. I learned quite a bit from conversations with scouts representing both college and professional organizations.

Be careful of the NCAA rules and contacts and how the coach interprets them


Like I say--if they want to talk to you or your son they will seek you out

I too say, " let them be ". Its just another game, on a different day. If they want to find you to " talk ", they will.

I often will say hello and introduce myself. Then I go watch the game as always. They may not know who you are. By the way, please understand they may not be there to see your kid.

I agree that they will come to talk to you if they want to - and sometimes those conversations can be invitations to come to the campus, or business cards and info cards from MLB bird dogs, interesting info about your kids MPH, etc. I stay away from asking their opinion unless they offer it first. You have to let them do their job.

I don't understand everyone's wariness. It's not like any of these guys (baseball scouts) are captains of industry or Fortune 500 CEOs whose time is so short that they are unapproachable. Just talk with them. Who here wouldn't talk with Jerry Ford from PG if they bumped into him at a game? He seems like a nice guy who is generous with his knowledge of the game; and he's a baseball scout! Most scouts (coaches, whatever) I've spoken with enjoy talking about the game and how they evaluate the players they watch.

Here's an example. I met Doug Melvin several years ago when he was still the TX Rangers GM. His kid's team was playing against my kid's team & he sat near me. We had a very pleasant conversation about MLB topics & goings on. I follow the Red Sox - so we talked about Dan Duquette's phone courtesy (pretty well known that Duke didn't return phone calls). We talked about some Ranger players too.

One thing I do agree with - don't ask them about your player.

For me, it is not wariness. Its simply letting them do their job in peace. I don't talk to the umpires and I dont talk to the game announcers. If every parent went up and casually introduced themselves to these guys, they would never get their job done. Just a personal preference I suppose.

I've talked to the pro scouts who were there long before the game time, but not during. But the college guys is a different story. The NCAA rule can be a bugger to deal with.

quote:

Originally posted by RobV:
As a parent, what should you do if scouts or college coaches show up at your sons’ game to watch him play?

JMO, but if a scout really wants to talk to you, they will seek you out or come for a home visit.

NCAA rules do prevent you from contact with a college coach, know the rules.

I think I'll just leave them alone and let them come up to me if they want to talk.

Thanks for the replys.

Having dealt with professional scouts and college coaches many times I can tell you how they feel. A college coach is there to evaluate a certain player and wants to see if anyone else catches their eye. They do not want to talk to you. In many cases they are not allowed to have any contact with you by NCAA rules. They can talk to the coach after the game or before but many choose to watch the game and leave. The last thing they want is to be distracted why they are trying to see what they came to see. Leave them alone and let them do their job. If they can and if they want to they will seek you out and will not have any trouble finding you. As far as professional scouts they usually seek out the parent or parents of the kid they are there to watch if they like what they see. I would still stay away and let them do their job. The last thing anyone wants is to be distracted while they are trying to evaluate and player or players. I know scouts that will not break out a radar gun because once they do they are bombarded with questions about velocity , who are you here to see , etc etc. If they want to talk to you and they are allowed during that particular time of the year to talk to you , they will find you. Otherwise please leave them alone and let them do their job.

quote:

Originally posted by dbg_fan:
I don't understand everyone's wariness. It's not like any of these guys (baseball scouts) are captains of industry or Fortune 500 CEOs whose time is so short that they are unapproachable. Just talk with them. Who here wouldn't talk with Jerry Ford from PG if they bumped into him at a game?

Well, you went from saying "scouts or college coaches" to JUST "scouts". Most of the "wariness" expressed had to do with NCAA rules. Either way, I'd just let them do their job like TR says. If your kid jacks four HR's in the game (which happened in Central Mass. yesterday!) the scout, if interested, will approach the kid, gasp, probably before he wants to talk to you.

dbg


Jerry Ford is not a college or pro scout in attendance to see a player---there is a big difference here

Let me add this --there have been times when I went to see a player and a parent(s) would come up and ask "arent you so and so?"--personally I found it quite distracting


Coach May is right on regarding the radar guns---they are a magnet for the curious

quote:

Originally posted by RobV:
As a parent, what should you do if scouts or college coaches show up at your sons’ game to watch him play?

How do you know they're at the game to watch your son?

They do call the HS Coach to check in to see when the player or players they are interested in will be playing, so the trip is not wasted, to get there and find out that the player is injured, pitched yesterday, etc.

CV

This is pertinent to this discussion. I think. Son's future college coach was at his game yesterday. He had decided to give his team a day off and drive 3 hours to come watch him play. After some pleasantries I said "Well, I guess I'm going to go sit over there out of your way". He said "Why?" So we got into this discussion about parents bugging coaches and he told me that that would definately apply if he were there on a general scouting trip, looking at players he's heard about or were curious about, but in this case he was just there to watch my son who's already signed, see how his game and his body was developing (he hasn't seen him play since last fall) and enjoy some baseball. And if he spotted another kid who interested him in the process well, all the better. So we sat together watching the game and talking baseball and had a great time. Just another scenario for you all.

Nice post. Thats a totally different scenario. Many times college coaches will "check in". If they have already inked a kid there is a relationship there and they probaly want to talk to you just to see how things are going. At one of our recent games there were two college coaches there looking at two of our players. Our parents did a great job and just watched the game and no one ever approached them. The next day both coaches called and said "We really liked what we saw and enjoyed the game". I can tell you the last thing they want when they are scouting players is distractions from anyone. If they are there just to check in that is a whole different story. Good luck to your son and im sure it was nice to see his future college coach come by and see him play.

Coach May


POPTIME has a son who will be playing for a coach who is one class act---in fact Coach will be one of the speakers at our Norwich Showcase seminar

quote:

im sure it was nice to see his future college coach come by and see him play.

Thanks Coach, yes, we were all thrilled to see Coach there. Helluva thing, I figured he was just there because of other business in the area (he's a native New Englander) or something like that, but he'd just driven from Upstate NY to see the game and was heading back to campus right after. We really appreciated that sort of effort.
Mr. Rizzi, awesome choice of speakers for the Norwich Showcase. As you know he's a very smart baseball guy and very articulate. I'm sure Coach Plourde won't disappoint!

I don't know Jerry Ford of Perfect Game from Gerry Ford our former president. But I have read several posts from Jerry about reports his organization has written about various players. I looked up the definition of scout on dictionary.com:

quote:

3. Sports.
a. a person who observes and reports on the techniques, players, etc., of opposing teams.
b. a person sent out by a team to observe and recommend new talent for recruitment.

I'm thinking that this is a pretty accurate representation of the service provided by Jerry & Perfect Game.

OTOH, if y'all want to treat all these baseball people like the pope - all holy and unapproachable - then that is your prerogative.

dbg

What Pope ?---The only POPE I know owns the ENQUIRER which you can buy in your supermarket---I think you have a major problem---respect what people do for living and let it go--as I said before if a college coach/pro-scout wants to talk to the player/parent he will make it happen---in the meantime sit back and enjoy the game

If you do not know one Jerry from another Gerry why even mention it to begin with---as per a new thread regarding the internet--you---fit it pal---afraid to tell us who you are ?

Reading comprehension has never been your strong suit here, Tom. After a quick browse through my previous posts I fail to find any reference I made about being disrespectful to scouts or coaches. Can you point that out for me? Feel free to quote me directly using the UBB features so I can't refute you.

Here's the deal y'all. Who doesn't like talking about what they do? I meet equestrian professionals and horse breeders and ask them about their jobs. I meet swimming pool contractors and ask them about how they do their their jobs. I meet photographers, architects, newspaper reporters, et al and we talk about their jobs. And yes! I sometimes meet baseball scouts, college & pro, and I ask them about their jobs. It is just conversation, and I get to learn a lot from other people.

quote:

Originally posted by dbg_fan:
I meet equestrian professionals and horse breeders and ask them about their jobs. I meet swimming pool contractors and ask them about how they do their their jobs. I meet photographers, architects, newspaper reporters, et al and we talk about their jobs.

Do you talk to them and distract them WHILE they're doing their jobs? That's just rude. I think in scouting, there's a certain zone, or certain level of concentration needed to do the job properly, and I don't think a scout can do their job properly if they're being pestered by someone who "wants to know about their job". And who loses? The organization the scout works for for one, and also possibly a player or two. Think about it. Maybe I'll come to your job and ask you a bunch of questions while you're performing brain surgery or rocket science sometime. See how YOU like it.

Back in October I went to Jupiter Wood bat to meet up with sons coach and some websters, thought it was time to meet Jerry Ford.
They directed me to where he was and I saw that he was sitting up front with some coaches. I didn't want to bother him, but the person insisted that he go tell him that someone was in the back waiting for him and he really "wasn't busy". I did feel that I was imposing but after all of these years I wanted to meet the charming Mr. Ford.

I can tell you that there are some scouts that are very chatty and others who are not. Most will be very polite if you seek them out, although they prefer to be left to do their job. I have found that those who are not directly employed by the team are more willing to speak about professional scouting.

Most scouts will try to seek out the HS players parents as they know that they are a large part of the decision process.

It is an exciting time for many players and their families, but the less you say the better off you are in the end. JMO.

TPM..I see DK is having a great season! Good for him, can't wait to see who calls his number in June!

I tend to go with dbg on this one. What’s the big deal? I never forced myself on them but at the same time I made no effort to ignore or avoid them. In the case of the high school student athlete, the parent is a very important part of the recruiting process whether the player is going pro or going to college. “Scouting” is a two way street, while the professional scout is scouting my son, I am also gathering information about the professional route. While the college coach is searching for a player to fit his needs --- the player (and his parents) are also searching for a college program that fits his (and their) needs. Common sense should also dictate how we interact with scouts and coaches. We can be there without “pestering” and without being “rude”. When it became obvious the scout or coach was interested in my son (multiple visits) they would either approach me or sometimes I would introduce myself and ask what organization or school they were with. I still see scouts from the high school days and they all come up and say hi and ask about my son. Scouts are hard working good guys ---- treat them as such.
Fungo

quote:

if y'all want to treat all these baseball people like the pope - all holy and unapproachable - then that is your prerogative.

Yes,..dbg_fan, a prerogative gives us the choice.
Choice to choose.
We can choose to abide by someone's opinion, or we can choose to ignore it.

Seems like a majority of posters here have chosen to suggest the " leave the scouts alone and let them do their job " approach, but others have said differently. Others have suggested to engage in conversation or exchange a hello and greetings.
It doesnt mean that one way is the right way or that one way has been written into law or poured into cement. Just opinions being thrown out there for everyone to consider. What you decide to do with them is most definitely your prerogative.

But to suggest that some of us are treating scouts as holy and unapproachable, ie: as the Pope, seems a bit extreme to me. While I would like to think you are just blowing off some steam, or using provocative words to make your point, I take offense at the choice of words you used.
While I think, I understand the point you are trying to make, those of us on the HSBBW usually refrain from posting about politics and religion for a simple reason,....they are extremely sensitive subjects and ones that can cause turmoil amongst our civil baseball community.

I for one will exercise my perogative to move onto another subject,... and you certainly have the perogative to ignore my opinions completely,
but for the record: I have never treated or considered a baseball scout to be holy.

Cool, yes,...but holy, never.

I can't answer your question but I can give you a recent example. You folks can decide for yourself....

I was in Atlanta last week and took in the Ga Tech / UGA game and a friend's son (former player) met me at the game. While we were walking to our seat, somebody yelled "Beezer....Beezer...BEEZER!!!" (They yelled my real name) I doubted anybody would know ME in Atlanta but out of habit I looked up and sure enough, sitting about 3 rows up, there's a pro scout who works out with my son over the winter. So I walk over to say hi and introduce friend's son (who I'd mentioned to the scout previously) and as we're talking, the usher says we can't stand there so we walk away from the area to chat. As we're chatting, the scout is checking notes, stop watch, etc. so I was clearly keeping him from his job. Even though he initiated the conversation, I felt bad for "interfering".

quote:

by Beezer: I doubted anybody would know ME in Atlanta but out of habit I looked up and sure enough, sitting about 3 rows up, there's a pro scout who works out with my son over the winter.

How modest ... tho I DID hear a guy shouting "Beezer - Beezer" on the internet radio feed

however ... I'm pretty confident you get a similar reception everywhere your travels take you

Well I did spend quite a few years as a scout and a lot of time as a college coach and recruiter, before doing what we do now. And I’ve also been a parent of players who were considered good prospects. It’s nice to see and experience all sides of this stuff. There is a big advantage in talking to and getting to know a player’s parents. It’s actually very important in scouting and recruiting.

Anyway, I don’t mind talking to people at all about baseball, unless they want to complain about something. I think most everyone is smart enough to know when to talk and when not to talk to someone who is working. Most everyone knows how to pick the right time to talk and how to handle this situation.

The best baseball scouts and college coaches always find time to talk to people about baseball. It’s all part of promoting the game and most scouts are very involved with promoting the game. It’s just that some people are not fun to talk to while meeting others can be very enjoyable.

TPM,

You are the first person to ever describe me as “charming”. I am going to show your post to my wife, I’m pretty sure she does not think of me as charming. Thank you very much. I appreciate it even if you’re joking.

Feel free to talk to scouts, you will figure out quickly whether they want to talk or not. They are just like anyone else except most of you make a lot more money than most scouts do. Most scouts do what they do because they really love the game. IMO, If they are too good to talk, they should be doing something else.

quote:

Originally posted by Bee>:
however ... I'm pretty confident you get a similar reception everywhere your travels take you

You crack me up!!!