Thoughts on recruiting schedule?

Grades and course rigor? Does he have any inkling of possible standardized scores?

That can really impact your targets and add or eliminate possible colleges.

Include in schedule take / prep for SAT/ACT.

For my 2018, we are considering this summer, as a rising junior, to be very important. He will play varsity for his HS in the Spring and then summer ball will be with his HS and his club 16u showcase team. Club coach is targeting tournaments where college coaches will be. I am very thankful for his knowledge and connections. He will also participate in a regional showcase and a Perfect Game showcase in the fall. The regional showcase can result in other playing opportunities if he does well. He has been working hard in the off season toward some very specific goals that he set for himself.

Before summer ball starts, he is going to email his schedule and recruiting video to schools he is interested in. My son also doesn't really have an idea of which schools he is interested in, so I am encouraging him to cast a wide net. He seems to be getting a little more focused as we talk more.

He has a 3.6 unweighted GPA and is taking advanced science and math classes. We plan to have him take his first SAT tests next fall. We're not sure how he will do (he was getting his braces off when they took the psats) so an early test will give him time to retake as necessary.

IowaMom: In looking at the schedule, I am assuming that your son is a one sport athlete in HS. MUCH baseball activity in your design. I would agree with others that SAT/ACT prep should be factored in (and common app essay prep as well). Definitely need SOME down time (especially if a pitcher), however, December -February junior year (along with June following jr year) were key times in son's recruitment. Some of the December showcases had events with many coaches that went as "instructors" during quiet period.

His HS season ended early June, though with club team season June and July. Good luck and nice that he has a plan--you are ahead of the game.

Iowa, when do players start playing high school ball in your state? Is their first season the summer before their freshman year or the summer after? Do seniors play the season after they have graduated? This is just for my curiosity and trying to reconcile the schedule with a recruiting timeline. 

Ripken Fan posted:

IowaMom: In looking at the schedule, I am assuming that your son is a one sport athlete in HS. MUCH baseball activity in your design. I would agree with others that SAT/ACT prep should be factored in (and common app essay prep as well). Definitely need SOME down time (especially if a pitcher), however, December -February junior year (along with June following jr year) were key times in son's recruitment. Some of the December showcases had events with many coaches that went as "instructors" during quiet period.

His HS season ended early June, though with club team season June and July. Good luck and nice that he has a plan--you are ahead of the game.

He actualy plays basketball from about October to late February, although he woud like to not do that next year. I'm not convinced. He also works a part time job. Can't believe I forgot ACT/SAT. Thanks for the feedback.

kandkfunk posted:

Iowa, when do players start playing high school ball in your state? Is their first season the summer before their freshman year or the summer after? Do seniors play the season after they have graduated? This is just for my curiosity and trying to reconcile the schedule with a recruiting timeline. 

Kids start playing HS ball after their freshman year. Their last season is the May-July after graduation, which I think is problematic. A lot of kids are done with high school by that time, I feel like.

Just in general on grades--son has taken PSAT and did well in the social studies/reading portions and really bad on math. My guess is he'll do ACT sometime early in junior year, probably after a test prep course. Although honestly, I think if he relies on instincts, he'll be fine. If he worries about what he "knows" he'll struggle. He has grades between 3.2 and 3.6 GPa with some AP courses. He's better at verbal discussion (or arguing) than written tests.

I guess I'm not too sure how to answer your question - seems like an awfully baseball-busy schedule, especially for a pitcher.  I'd reconsider some of that.

BTW, nearly every parent who has ever posted on this site (including me probably) would have said something close to this:

Intangibles (according to letters of recommendation from coaches/teachers): Passion for life and the game, tremendous work ethic, selfless attitude, high character. Doesn't tolerate injustice, charismatic.

That is certainly terrific!! - but let college coaches discover this on their own - it will have a much bigger impact that way. 

kandkfunk posted:

For my 2018, we are considering this summer, as a rising junior, to be very important. He will play varsity for his HS in the Spring and then summer ball will be with his HS and his club 16u showcase team. Club coach is targeting tournaments where college coaches will be. I am very thankful for his knowledge and connections. He will also participate in a regional showcase and a Perfect Game showcase in the fall. The regional showcase can result in other playing opportunities if he does well. He has been working hard in the off season toward some very specific goals that he set for himself.

Before summer ball starts, he is going to email his schedule and recruiting video to schools he is interested in. My son also doesn't really have an idea of which schools he is interested in, so I am encouraging him to cast a wide net. He seems to be getting a little more focused as we talk more.

He has a 3.6 unweighted GPA and is taking advanced science and math classes. We plan to have him take his first SAT tests next fall. We're not sure how he will do (he was getting his braces off when they took the psats) so an early test will give him time to retake as necessary.

Thanks. This has some great tweaks to what i was thinking.

Thanks to all for your comments. I guess this all seems very baseball-centric cause that's what I am worried about. We have a great D3 school blocks from our house if all he wanted was a good education. Baseball or the mechanics of baseball recruiting is the unknown for all of us.

I especially appreciate the comments on timing. That's what I really need to get my arms around, and making sure he's not pushing himself at times of the year when it won't help, and laying off when he needs to be out there.

Have you had discussions with your travel coach or someone you trust (who would know) about what level he could potentially play?  Is he primarily looking to pitch in college or would he want to be a position player?  Depending on the level you think he'd end up (D1 or D3) the importance of the summer between Soph and Jr year becomes a little less important (in my opinion) as the D3 schools really won't be recruiting seriously until the end of the summer between Jr and Sr year - with most of their camps coming in the Fall that year.  You can get on their radar the summer before but you very rarely see "commitments".  

Determining the appropriate fit level wish could also help with determining showcase schedule for end of this coming summer and then for 2017 (looking at Headfirst or other academic showcases as an example).  

IOWAMOM, one thing I would caution on are the " tournaments at several colleges around midwest".  Many, many of the tourneys played on college campuses are run by an outside organization who leases the fields from the school.  The reality of the situation is, no one from any college will be at the site watching the kids play.  I know of one particular D1 school here in IL where there is a tourney played every weekend.  It always billed along the lines of "<Major D1 school> summer showcase tourney".  The name is meant to sound like the school is running the tourney.  In fact a promoter has leased the fields and is running the tourney.  About the only one from any college there is a grad assistant who will drag and water the field between games.  During games he is either up in the press box sleeping or heads back to the offices inside their athletic facility.  About the only thing being showcased at these events are the kids tans.  As I said the same promoter has the fields locked up all summer long.

Hopefully you are in a good travel program and they know how to find the correct tourneys.

Iowamom23 posted:

Thanks to all for your comments. I guess this all seems very baseball-centric cause that's what I am worried about. We have a great D3 school blocks from our house if all he wanted was a good education. Baseball or the mechanics of baseball recruiting is the unknown for all of us.

I especially appreciate the comments on timing. That's what I really need to get my arms around, and making sure he's not pushing himself at times of the year when it won't help, and laying off when he needs to be out there.

Timing is honestly what we've struggled with too. We are focusing on this summer because he is targeting some D1 schools. If those don't pan out, then the summer between Jr and Sr year becomes even more important for D2 and D3 schools. I think your situation has some interesting twists as his junior year of HS ball may be his last, if he chooses not to play his senior season. Senior season around here is a big recruiting time for many of the D3 schools. 

joes87 posted:

IOWAMOM, one thing I would caution on are the " tournaments at several colleges around midwest".  Many, many of the tourneys played on college campuses are run by an outside organization who leases the fields from the school.  The reality of the situation is, no one from any college will be at the site watching the kids play.  I know of one particular D1 school here in IL where there is a tourney played every weekend.  It always billed along the lines of "<Major D1 school> summer showcase tourney".  The name is meant to sound like the school is running the tourney.  In fact a promoter has leased the fields and is running the tourney.  About the only one from any college there is a grad assistant who will drag and water the field between games.  During games he is either up in the press box sleeping or heads back to the offices inside their athletic facility.  About the only thing being showcased at these events are the kids tans.  As I said the same promoter has the fields locked up all summer long.

Hopefully you are in a good travel program and they know how to find the correct tourneys.

Thanks. Good point. As I read this, I know when he did some tournaments last year, there were a couple at D1 schools where he met the head coaches, and others where we didn't see anyone. The travel program is well respected, but I think that's a good point on what tournaments we decide to attend with them.

Are showcases a better option than tournaments in your opinion?

kandkfunk posted:

Iowamom23 posted:

Thanks to all for your comments. I guess this all seems very baseball-centric cause that's what I am worried about. We have a great D3 school blocks from our house if all he wanted was a good education. Baseball or the mechanics of baseball recruiting is the unknown for all of us.

I especially appreciate the comments on timing. That's what I really need to get my arms around, and making sure he's not pushing himself at times of the year when it won't help, and laying off when he needs to be out there.

Timing is honestly what we've struggled with too. We are focusing on this summer because he is targeting some D1 schools. If those don't pan out, then the summer between Jr and Sr year becomes even more important for D2 and D3 schools. I think your situation has some interesting twists as his junior year of HS ball may be his last, if he chooses not to play his senior season. Senior season around here is a big recruiting time for many of the D3 schools. 

I'm sure he'll play his senior year, just because he loves the game, but honestly, June and July of your senior year seems to me a little late for recruiting, even for D3s, since we would expect him to move onto campus in August.

For D1 prospects showcasing becomes important post soph year or any time sooner the player can show D1 potential. For D3 prospects post junior year is fine. I'm not real up on D2s. The D2s in our area weren't an academic fit. So I never learned much about D2s. I would imagine a lot of D2 prospects are marginal D1 prospects.

its very important to get feedback from people who know (coaches) as to what level of college ball to target. It can be real expensive and a waste of time to attend the wrong events.

Your son should work hard to get as much academic scholarships as possible so the pressure of keeping a baseball scholarship each year is not so demanding. 

I concur with Lion- My pitcher son is the 3rd child who went to college and I have a fourth that is a senior in HS and already knows where she is going in August. Our first run we were ignorant (our fault) of what is available in academics. My oldest son had something like a 3.5 GPA and a 26 ACT (off top of my head. don't quote me   ). He applied for nothing and got nothing. Whole first year was on my dime plus his college loan. By spring of his freshman year in college, we learned some and he got aid from then on (including some loans for him). 2nd son (2 years younger than oldest) applied for everything possible and got almost all of his college paid for. He went 5 years and left with 15K in loans  He left HS about same GPA and a 27 ACT (we started paying attention so I do know his). 3rd son, the ball player did very well in HS 3.7 GPA, and 28 ACT. With his academic and athletic aid he is going to school for free. BUT the bigger portion is academic. WE like it that way. What if he decides never to play again? Then the academic money will still be there as long as he holds up his end of the bargain academically. 4th child, same good grade and ACT 3.7 and 28 ACT. The academic grants etc are being applied for weekly. She know what she is getting from the college based of her academics but There is more to be had and applied for and she is doing that. Will she have a loan? Will we have to support her some? Not sure but because of all my kids academics, we owe a total of 9K (first child) and to date the first 2 boys owe a total of 30K. I think that is well worth 2 and probably 3 college educations.

That was way to long but the short version is stress academics, LOTS more money there. 

First, the baseball stuff.

The off time should be filled with a great and intensive exercise program. This is the time to add strength and develop discipline to exercise - which becomes a larger and larger factor as he moves through time. So, develop and pursue a comprehensive exercise program.

Lessons by a qualified expert who you and your son understand and accept should be a high priority. This is where individual skills are taught and reinforced. If these include pitching lessons, you need to coordinate that with his use by the team's he plays on. You want to beware of overuse; at some points you'll need to decide whether lessons or games are more important - I'd say you answer that on what you think he'd benefit from.

A bit of an overlay with the following subject, but tailor your showcases, travel team tournaments, and the like to the colleges you're interested in and who would have an interest in him skill wise and academically.

Second, the college prep stuff.

The dance between baseball and academics is an intricate one, while at the same time it's simple: better scores + great grades + baseball skill = lots of options come choosing time.

Your son will not have the time or background to begin the college selection process, so you will guide that part of the process. If you haven't done so, hop online and begin the process. The filters you apply (e.g., location, cost, size, etc.) will limit his pool of colleges. Then, use that list to decide which tournaments, showcases, etc. make sense.

Keep us posted from time to time.