I'm looking for the specifics of how and when players are placed in college summer leagues. Is there a certain time when the teams are selected, how exactly are the kids picked? I've heard you must be recommended...
Thanks!
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It is getting earlier and earlier. The top players know within a few weeks of entering fall ball at their respective schools. The "mid-range" players within a few months. Then there are the 10-day contract players who come and go and sign just before the season or even during the season.
But this means nothing. Any player who "can" will find a place.
But this means nothing. Any player who "can" will find a place.
Look at the "After High School" section-lots of posts related to this topic.
Summer of 2012 recruiting is already underway,but in some instances, coaches wait till the players get back to school in the next 2-3 weeks to talk with them about placement.
Summer of 2012 recruiting is already underway,but in some instances, coaches wait till the players get back to school in the next 2-3 weeks to talk with them about placement.
There are several different currents at work for summer ball. S is a rising soph and we believed that if you did not find a summer placement by the end of September, you would not be playing summer ball. Nothing could have been further from the truth!
There are several distinct "signing seasons." The first is the fall. If the player has a distinct idea on where he wants to play, then this is the time to work with your coach/contact in trying to get that desired team/league. Before committing understand whether the placement if for the entire summer or a "temporary" contract. Understand the difference!
After the fall period many summer teams will still have holes which need to be filled. Note that certain positions are always in demand -- pitching and catching are premium positions which come to mind.
As the collegitate spring season progresses, holes on summer rosters appear (players may be injured during spring) and disappear (a previously unsigned player has a great start and is signed) and rosters are really in flux at the margins. If you have a proactive coach with good summer contacts, he will be aware of these opportunities.
As the college season winds down, summer rosters remain in flux as college teams begin post-season play. Post-season play intrudes into the beginning of the summer season. This leaves holes in rosters which are available on a "temporary" basis. Players signed to these temporary contracts get playing time and can earn a permanent spot with their performance (although occasionally, even a great performance isn't enough because the roster is already permanently committed. In those cases the summer team will often help in placing the player with another team in the league.).
As the college post-season progresses, players get hurt, worn-out and have had enough of baseball. Then permanent spots become avilable on summer teams that had signed those players. Once more, pitchers and catchers seem to be in demand. So, now players on temporary contracts are offered permanent spots and even more spots open up.
As the summer grinds on (e.g., the NWL plays 70 games in 76 days) players drop like flies from injury, innings limits, exhaustion, etc., and teams really begin to scramble. On S's team we had players arriving after their existing summer leagues had finished!
So, the moral of this dissertation is that there are lots of spots in lots of leagues. These spots are not all filled by the end of fall. And many spots thought by the summer teams as having been filled open up unexpectedly. Your coach is the best contact for spots until the end of your spring season; late in the summer, your teammates playing on summer teams are even better as they can speak to their summer team manager about you.
There are several distinct "signing seasons." The first is the fall. If the player has a distinct idea on where he wants to play, then this is the time to work with your coach/contact in trying to get that desired team/league. Before committing understand whether the placement if for the entire summer or a "temporary" contract. Understand the difference!
After the fall period many summer teams will still have holes which need to be filled. Note that certain positions are always in demand -- pitching and catching are premium positions which come to mind.
As the collegitate spring season progresses, holes on summer rosters appear (players may be injured during spring) and disappear (a previously unsigned player has a great start and is signed) and rosters are really in flux at the margins. If you have a proactive coach with good summer contacts, he will be aware of these opportunities.
As the college season winds down, summer rosters remain in flux as college teams begin post-season play. Post-season play intrudes into the beginning of the summer season. This leaves holes in rosters which are available on a "temporary" basis. Players signed to these temporary contracts get playing time and can earn a permanent spot with their performance (although occasionally, even a great performance isn't enough because the roster is already permanently committed. In those cases the summer team will often help in placing the player with another team in the league.).
As the college post-season progresses, players get hurt, worn-out and have had enough of baseball. Then permanent spots become avilable on summer teams that had signed those players. Once more, pitchers and catchers seem to be in demand. So, now players on temporary contracts are offered permanent spots and even more spots open up.
As the summer grinds on (e.g., the NWL plays 70 games in 76 days) players drop like flies from injury, innings limits, exhaustion, etc., and teams really begin to scramble. On S's team we had players arriving after their existing summer leagues had finished!
So, the moral of this dissertation is that there are lots of spots in lots of leagues. These spots are not all filled by the end of fall. And many spots thought by the summer teams as having been filled open up unexpectedly. Your coach is the best contact for spots until the end of your spring season; late in the summer, your teammates playing on summer teams are even better as they can speak to their summer team manager about you.
As an add on, I'd like to congratulate BUM's son on another great summer! Being named a two-time all star in the NWL is a very very high honor and one which he richly deserved.
Thank you so much, Goose. I got to finally see him pitch for the first time in two years and I can only say this "sit-out" experience has proven beneficial.
BTW there is no greater summer placement than the Madison Mallards. Pitching in front of 6,750 folks is exhilirating and really hones a player for the next step.
If you get a chance, PM me and let me know who your son is. Thanks again.
BTW there is no greater summer placement than the Madison Mallards. Pitching in front of 6,750 folks is exhilirating and really hones a player for the next step.
If you get a chance, PM me and let me know who your son is. Thanks again.
my son was mid-way thru his freshman summer in the alaska league and was contacted to play in the Cape next summer so things can happen real fast.....
While we were visiting schools during the recruiting process, that was one question we asked..."Will you help place my son on a summer team?" Almost always, the answer was "absolutely!" Some encourage the player to go somewhere away from home, some are OK with the player going close to home...but they all said they had contacts all over the country and would do what they could to place him somewhere.
I guess I would make sure you are asking your coach lots of questions about next summer.
I guess I would make sure you are asking your coach lots of questions about next summer.
Keep in mind that even 10 day contract players can work into great situations. Derrick Chung, a rising senior for our local university, Sacramento State, went to play in Cape Cod as a 10 day player, and it turned into a very successful full summer for him on the Cape.
Guys do get signed late, but many of the best opportunities are set up by late September or early October. No matter what, find someplace to play as college summer ball is a fantastic experience.
Guys do get signed late, but many of the best opportunities are set up by late September or early October. No matter what, find someplace to play as college summer ball is a fantastic experience.