Tell Me About College Club Baseball

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My son was just offered a wonderful academic ride with a university

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!



Wish I knew more about club ball to help, but I dont. Am looking forward to learning more.

If you go to the link and bring up some schools you might find some info like schedules, pratcie dates, etc.
They practice a few times a week, play in spring and belong to conferences and play non conference oponents as well and their own world series. It's like any club sport, the costs are yours, maybe the do some fundraisers?

There are no NCAA rules to follow.

I know at Clemson they do not play on the field or practice there, however I do know that two club players made the roster (as walk ons) one year son was there.

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A number of my sons former HS opponents/friends are playing club ball at well known schools in CA and Oregon. I have no definitive answers, just things overheard...but this will get you started...certainly someone more connected will follow this up..

1) Metal or wood bats?
I do not know for certain, but my best guess is that few have the funds to keep themselves in wood bats. It makes economic sense, and I am pretty certain that they have bats from HS.

2) How selective are the teams? How many kids try out? It is my understanding that the teams REALLY vary from school to school. Some are well organized, others a loose ragtag bunch. Some players are very comitted...some Players float in and out depending upon jobs, academics, girlfriends, graduation, etc. I believe that even in season they are willing to look at players, particularly skilled ones?

3) How do players travel to away games?
As far as I know they drive themselves and they pay the cost.

4) Is much time spent in weekday practice? Again varies, but I think it is pretty much game only...maybe a practice a week?

5) Do they play fall games? How many in spring? I believe it is spring only? Oregon played 35? spring games.

6) Cost? The players we know have little extra funds and I suspect in order to keep it accessable and keep teams available they have to keep the costs down.

7) Where do they play? (on school's main field?)
Again varies, but wherever they can. Seldom the regular teams field? Local HS. Local ballpark. Public parks. Alternative College fields...

8. They have pre set schedules, top 20 lists, all americans... leading to a world series. Last year it was held in Florida.

Here is the national website...try some of the sites...it will give you a feel...

http://www.clubbaseball.org/teams.asp


44
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Sorry about the duplicity TPM...posted at the same time...

44
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I think "rz1" had a son play club ball and he is from Wisconsin. Try sending him a PM and see if he has info to help.

bkekcs,

Just in the interest of accuracy

rz1’s son was drafted out of high school and went to Div I UIC on scholarship. He pitched successfully at the DI level and even pitched very well winning a game in an NCAA DI regional tournament game. He then was drafted again by the Yankees. Nothin at all against it, but to my knowledge (which is suspect at times) rz1's son was not involved in Club baseball.

PG Staff

You are right. I relied on my (lack of) memory instead of checking the facts thoroughly. It seems there was someone from the Wisconsin area who had an above average knowledge of club baseball and I jumped to conclusions. Oops!

RZ1 if you are out there sorry about my misinformation.

Still working on getting answers. Thanks especially to Observer44 for the info. There are many college club teams with websites, but they are mostly filled with spring schedules and rosters. The questions I have aren't answered.

No doubt the quality of club ball teams varies immensely. One club site said they had 100 players try out. Another said that only about 1/3 of the applicants would make the team. On the other hand, many team rosters are pretty small...16-20 players listed.

As far as wood/metal bats, I just don't know.

Illinois State's club website goes into far more detail than most. They play fall scrimmages and apparently function as a club to some extent all year. Officers are elected in late October. They mention a facility for indoor practice. All club teams focus on a frantic week of spring break games when opponents from far away meet in Florida or similar warm locales.

Club ball is expensive. I saw $1,600 mentioned. Some teams have very good coaches (paid?). Practices and game participation are mandatory to the extent academic schedules allow.

Aside from spring baseball, games (often double headers) are on Saturdays and some Sundays. I only spotted one scheduled weekday game which was against a nearby university.

Do Club players ever make it onto the college's varsity team? Yes, that happens.

Apparently clubs can include graduate students, part time students and perhaps even non-students such as faculty, employees and even people from the town. I don't know whether former pros can play.

Anyone have anything else to add? Still tons of stuff I don't know.

I know Colorado State has a club team (they have no varsity baseball). Check out the site for more info.
CSU club baseball

Oh, that is interesting, Spizzlepop!

Colorado State, the National Club Baseball Champion, is essentially a D1 team with a club format. (you pay to play, not the other way around )


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I'm almost certain this isn't close to being typical of baseball clubs:

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The team practices daily between 3:30 and 6:00pm throughout the academic year. Classes should be scheduled around this time. Double headers are played on the weekends. Occasionally games are scheduled on weekdays during practice time. Our season is split into a fall and spring season. We play an average of 25 games in the fall and 50-60 games in the spring. The teams we play include Junior Colleges in the western states, as well as Wyoming, University of Colorado, UNC.

That's more demanding than most D1 schedules, especially the autumn portion!

the essential difference (a big one) is that a club level team is not "officially" run by the school. It is self administered by the players.

They raise their own money for everything from uniforms to equipment, travel etc. They typically "elect" captains who serve as the coach/manager.

With no exceptions I'm aware of, they play baseball under same rules and conditions that any Div. 1, 2, 3 team would play and typically schedule other club schools, JC teams and Div. 3 teams that are as local as possible to cut down on travel expenses.

They use metal bats, like other colleges, etc.

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Originally posted by micdsguy:

The teams we play include Junior Colleges in the western states, as well as Wyoming, University of Colorado, UNC.

Surely that can't be University of North Carolina? I can't see them playing a Club ball team. Or did I miss something?

A couple of years ago I saw a showcase event where several showcase teams played in a tourney vs several college club baseball teams. It was a blast to see the hs jrs and srs compete against these college club teams. The college club teams were from Wake Forest, UNC, NC State, ECU and I believe Maryland. The games were outstanding and very competitive. The club team from UNC won the event over one of the showcase teams.

The club teams wore the same colors as the college teams and the uniforms were almost identical to the actual college programs uniforms. The level of the play was very very good. They take their baseball very seriously. It was fun to watch.

ECU has one of the best club teams in the nation.

ECU going to the 2011 World Series!

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Originally posted by YoungGunDad:

quote:

Originally posted by micdsguy:

The teams we play include Junior Colleges in the western states, as well as Wyoming, University of Colorado, UNC.

Surely that can't be University of North Carolina? I can't see them playing a Club ball team. Or did I miss something?

I'm sure that is Univ of Northern Colorado, which is D1 in baseball

quote:

Originally posted by bkekcs:
PG Staff

You are right. I relied on my (lack of) memory instead of checking the facts thoroughly. It seems there was someone from the Wisconsin area who had an above average knowledge of club baseball and I jumped to conclusions. Oops!

RZ1 if you are out there sorry about my misinformation.

No apology necessary. Many folks from the warmer areas of the country consider Northern baseball a club sport to begin with

The Univ of Wi has a nice club team that besides the league schedule, plays exhibitions against very good D3 and area Jucos. They are active in the community and wear their club hats with pride. Some of these players are very good and could have played at various college levels throughout the Country. However, they put a UW education first, and the passion for baseball after that.

These club kids do it with no fanfare, no limelight, and no ink. These are the kids that will be the great youth coaches 10 years down the road. I tip my hat to all club players in the Country.

Just thought that I would bump this. I tripped across the clubbaseball.org website while I was doing some searching. Didn't realize how big college club ball is and how this is a great option to keep on playing ball for those who aren't quite ready to hang up the cleats but chose to attend a college where they are unable to play for the school team.

Thanks for bumping this - I missed it the first time around. Good topic.

I was looking at a college site recently which mentioned that the club team plays a fall schedule.

I also noticed a school where a few years ago the club team transitioned to a DIII varsity team.