September Letters

TXDad - I personally don't put a lot of stock into letters. My own son received a ton of letters beginning his sophomore year. Most of those schools never called him. I would suggest returning the questionnaires that often accompany them because you never know! I think schools get these kids names in many different ways - the challenge is you as a parent never know which one might have very serious interest.

All letters are important because from the early stages there can grow a great situation

The early letters for the '07 grad are like casting bread upon the water to see who picks it up---you initial response and interest can kindle an interest that may well get stronger as the process proceeds

Keep files for each school that writes you even if you think it is a meaningless letter--in my book no letter is meaningless--at least you were contacted which means they know who you are

Letters are a marketing tool for the school and your son.
Answer them all, and don't be surprised if you get the same letter further down the road.

Lots of letters are taken from rosters from tournaments, to generate a recruiting list. He may not have gotten one simply because he is already on the list.

TPM - There lies the problem as it's hard to know who's serious or not until the end of the process. Takes investigation and research to find out. My son received a very similar letter with a questionnaire FOUR times from one school. It was a school he would have had a lot of interest in, but threw the last two in the garbage! That was obvious to him that he wasn't a true prospect to them.

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That's funny we answered all four. Figured there were four coaches. Figured they all needed a copy...


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texdad10 -
From son's experience we have found that every college does their recruiting differently. Some appear to have big budgets and can be recruiting machines! They will churn out letters to a wide audience on a weekly basis. Other schools are the opposite and only send out material to a limited group that they are truly interested in. The rest fall somewhere in between. It is just impossible to gauge true recruiting interest by only looking at your mail box.

My recommendation is to answer all questionnaires. If you keep copies of what you've already sent it takes little time. And Yes, some times there are multiples from the same school and you wonder what they are thinking. We've called on these to discover that the early ones never made it to a file and the later ones were sent specifically by the head coach. So, assuming they already have your info can be a gamble. I also recommend contact. For those schools on your son's top 10 list I suggest he pick up the phone and talk with them. Direct, 1-on-1 interaction is the only way to truly judge a coaches interest. Even then it is no guarantee of an offer come July 1st, but then you're not just looking at a pile of mail and wondering.

Lafmom,
There's nothing more exciting than the first letter from a school. On the second you think they made a mistake, by the third and fourth you just wonder what is really going on. Regardless, the questionaires should be answered.
During the spring of son's junior year, a weekly letter came from some schools, highlighting the games of the weeks before of their games. For him this was a signal he was actually being seriously recruited. I don't know if that was true, but he thought so.

The most meaningful recruiting letter he ever got was from Brown University. The coach was on the road and had seen him play, went back to his room and wrote a handwritten note to him about the game he had just watched him pitch. No questionaires, no camp info, just a letter telling him that he would certainly be welcome to play for him after he graduates. It was the best!

I think RHP has got it right.

TPM,
Son just loved getting those personal mailings of articles on their position players and their stats! Duh???

But seriously folks, any mail received is great. Enjoy the attention and follow up on the contact. You just never know. I suggest being very cautious on the camp solicitations though! They may hint that they only recruit players from their camp. Not true. Only go if your interest is high & $'s aren't a concern, but don't go thinking you have to attend these to be considered a prospect!

TPM, IMO letters give you an opportunity. This is something my son didn't do - pick up the phone and call the coach right then. He had a school in the NE send him 2-3 letters week for months. They never called though? If he would have picked up the phone and called them, would they have known who he was? Maybe and maybe not. You'll never know though unless you respond. And I absolutely tell folks to return all questionnaires. Again, if a letter comes that your son would have interest in - I say pick up the phone!

Finally! '07 catcher received a September letter from DI. Much to his delight as St. John's is high on his wish list. We are still in the process of sending out his contact letters and he has received a few DII and DIII's. Does this mean that he is being recruited now? We had been told that he has DI potential but were getting a little nervouse not hearing from any DI's. He is following up with phone call to coach Blankmeyer and will attend their camp at the end of the month. Any info from you all would be appreciated.

Neb - If I remember correctly, the actual NCAA definition of being "recruited" is having the school call the player two times. Of course, your son is too young still to be called. You will hear folks say their son was recruited though when the contact was in a variety of ways. Like beauty, I guess it's in the mind of the beholder. The letters are fun for kids to get and IMO give him an "opening" to contact or call the coach. Different schools send letters to kids for different reasons - so having him follow up will keep his name there, give him experience in communicating with college coaches, and may give him some insight into where he truly stands on their "list".

lafmom,
Thanks for the reply.

By definition of the NCAA you beccome a "prospective student athlete" when

* you start 9th grade classes

"Sometimes called a prospect. this is a person who would like to participate in college sports. lso known as a "recruit" "

Receiving written materials can also make you a recruit.

Good advice all over this one, BUT, my 06 received a very strong letter from an ACC school ("one of our coaches recently saw you play and believe you can help us in attaining our goals of ACC and NCAA titles, yada yada yada...) We kind of doubted how serious they were as we knew from the fathers' grapevine they had about 9 **** commitments already, at least 1 at my son's position, but hope springing eternal, son filled out the forms, sent them back with a profile, letter, etc. Since then, zero contact, zero followup. He also received a handwritten note from another head coach which was impressive until we noticed it was exactly the same text as a handwritten note the same coach sent to his older brother 3 years earlier.

Bottom line: enjoy the letters, they are fun (great for your scrapbook to prove to your kids in 30 years that you were a real hotshot!), but keep it all in perspective. My own personal definition of being recruited is when they call more than once. Then and only then do I believe they're serious...but I've heard of offers made in the first phone call, so keep an open mind.

Editing p.s. the school mentioned had 9 "O*R*A*L" commitments. Why in the world does the censor chip kick out that word?!

Hokie, I agree completely. A kid will get letters from many many schools, but then will never get a call. I really wish I had had my son call the one school that mailed him 2-3 letters a week. I can almost bet you money that they wouldn't have known his name had he called them. The mailroom clerk might have!

You want the coach calling your kid, bringing your kid onto campus and making an offer.

Hokieone,
Son got similar ACC letter (probably the same school). Sent in requested info and then began a productive email thread (what IS it about the phone that these boys hate???). Got the recruiting coach to come out to a couple more games and get face time. Son loved the attention and performed well. The telling thing for me tho was the fact that it wasn't getting bumped up to the head coach. In all the serious offers my son got, the head coach was calling as soon as allowable. I sat back and let the process play itself out because I needed for my son to learn to read the signs. Oldslugger8, it's early in the game for you. Enjoy it, but you know already that talk is cheap. You'll know when they REALLY want you. Next summer will tell...

Lots of good info....think Hokieone nailed it best....

Want to add a warning, based on our experiences:

We would talk to players in our baseball community (and/or their parents) who were receiving letters...... and they were interpreting these letters as a solid indication that they would play college ball....they didn't feel they had to do anything else.....just wait.....after all.....as they would continually point out....."Look at all the letters I got.....". MISTAKE!!! The majority of these kids are not now playing at the college level.

Can't add to what has been said about the letters on this thread....they are fun to receive.....encouraging....but....go on the offensive with the schools you want to play for.....send them letters, call, email......take nothing for granted.....too many kids want to play at the college level.....where there are too few openings....

Our favorite letter story came from a top 10 school in a southern state. When they heard our son was visiting another top 25 team in their very own state, we received EIGHT letters just on the Friday and Saturday he was gone. In the last 4 weeks we have now received a total of over 30 letters from this school and numerous phone calls, but they really weren't serious until we visited the competition. Their "inside sources" worked very quickly!

Here's another take on the letters.

A school sends out a 1000 letters (maybe more). You get on their list thats great. Now you have 2 choices sit back for the next 10 months and wait for the offer that will never come or initiate contact with the school that sent the letter.

You can send the questionaire back (which you definitely should). But be realistic the forms get filed. You need to let the coaches know of your true interest in the school and program. Keep in e-mail touch with the school with upcoming schedules/showcases/tournamnets. Do something to separate yourself from the other prospects. Find out what showcases the recruiting coach will be attending.

In regards to multiple letters I just think that is an administrative issue with kids on work study send out the letters for the staff. My son rec'd duplicate letters from schools that had shown very strong interest as well as form letters from other schools "Dear Recruit" you should attend our camp.

My son got on 1 schools radar by letting the coach know that he would be playing in a tournment he knew the coach would be attending. He had previously filled out 2 questionaires for the school. I think a third one came to the house after an unofficial visit as well.

quote:

from OLDSLUGGER8 ..... My 07 got his 4th letter in as many weeks from an SEC power. The first letter was based on them seeing him play. The second was a nice handwritten card from the coach with a glossy pic of the stadium and a video request, the third was additional information, and the 4th was a "memo" confirming they received his questionnaire??

Can some of you good folks who have boys playing college ball tell me about that one. Maybe it is SOP, but I heard differently.

No, this is not SOP. The college coach has put your son on his short list for now. Between now and next July 1st the coach will watch your son's progress as well as other players in that position. Their "short list" will change and their need for that position may also change. There is also a possibility that the coaching staff will change during this period of time! From our experience, take this as a good sign. If this is a program your son is interested in, keep in frequent contact with the coach, provide them with your spring schedule and make sure they are aware of your summer baseball plans. However, don't just focus on this program, but continue to make contacts with the colleges that fit his interests. Good luck and congratulations on your recruiting interest so far!