To walk on, on not to walk on

Do I read correctly that we are talking about a non-recruited walk-on trying to make the team through the open tryout?

Unless a player has an obvious tool that commands immediate attention, there is almost no chance of a previously unknown player showing up and making a D1 roster at the open tryout.  The exceptions are the occasional bullpen catcher or a pitcher who can show college-level velocity within a few pitches.

Please understand that these tryouts usually take place around the first day of official fall practice--after the recruited players have already spent a month or more on campus doing team conditioning and individual skill work.  

I watched one take place in the course of about a half hour after the team's first fall scrimmage.  No one made it.

 We have some members here with Ivy League experience who might be able to tell you if this generalization applies at Brown.

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DOGK,

Swampboy is correct.  It is a stark reality for D1 walkons that most programs will look at them as a longshot at best.  The recruit has to deliver something they don't currently have to make the roster. 

However, the Ivy League is a just a little different and Brown's situation is also a little different.  Brown has traditionally kept their roster low relative to the other Ivys.  Their athletic budget is also the smallest in the Ivy League.  Their HC has been there a long time, and they've struggled in the last 10 years to get past Dartmouth who has owned the Rolfe division.  If your son has genuine skills that can compete with the current talent then I would encourage him to walk-on.  I've seen a couple walk-ons make my son's Ivy team over the last 4 years.  Two were football to baseball transfers, and another was a straight up pitching walk-on who has tossed some innings in relief.  So, it can happen.  But, the coach has to be willing to give him a shot and your son has to deliver if given the opportunity.  Good luck!

PS...Incidently, I'll be at Brown this weekend.   What position does your son play? 

These two guys pretty much nailed it and I agree with them.  But I also say what the heck and tell your son to go for it.  He may get lucky and get a spot on the team.  It's a much better situation being last man on the roster versus sitting in the stands wishing you would have tried.  By trying out he may finally see that it's time to hang up the cleats and glove which will give him some closure on playing that some never get.

Now if he's not going to handle sitting on the bench while working as hard as everyone else and be a cancer then do not try out.  If he truly doesn't have the skill set to be an average HS player then he doesn't need to try out because that could be very embarrassing to be seen by that many people with such low skills.  I don't know because I've never seen your son play.

But you can't make the half court shot if you don't throw it up there.

Ignore the negativity below and advise your son try out. Good Luck!

By trying out he may finally see that it's time to hang up the cleats and glove which will give him some closure on playing that some never get.

Now if he's not going to handle sitting on the bench while working as hard as everyone else and be a cancer then do not try out.  If he truly doesn't have the skill set to be an average HS player then he doesn't need to try out because that could be very embarrassing to be seen by that many people with such low skills.  I don't know because I've never seen your son play.

But you can't make the half court shot if you don't throw it up there

Are you seriously saying my advice is negative or am I misunderstanding you?  Please help me understand what you're saying.

I agree with everything above and would add that (since it is not clear if he is a recruited or non recruited) a non recruited walk on has a snow-ball's chance in hell at making the team. Even as a recruited walk on, unless there is some distinguishing reason ie: pitcher who is underdeveloped, LH pitcher, few returners at a spot, has not hit growth cycle, etc, that a recruited walk on also has limited opportunity.

The other issue is academics, it really depends on his major, forget science and engineering at a D1, other than Ivy's and a handful of other programs, 

Love that you are leaving it up to your son, but make sure you are very realistic with him on the prospects.

Good Luck! 

Yes, yes I am.  The clues were the following words..."cancer, doesn't have skill set to be an avg. high school player, embarrassing to try out."

Maybe a few clarifying questions to the OP would be in order before tossing those words out.

Go44Dad, You should either read the whole post, or quit picking and choosing which part of the post to quote.  The poster stated that he should go for it, and that being on the bench is better than being in the stands.  The statements that you quoted were made as hypotheticals not as fact.

I was a walk on at a D-II.  Great experience but the coach knew of me and that I was going to walk on.  I attended meetings etc. that were announced and open to the team.  I am sure that I did not attend certain meetings as well that might not have been "open."  LOL 

Brown University is an Ivy League Team and so, they don't have athletic scholarships.  That doesn't mean that players aren't recruited.  Your son will have to be in contact with the staff, provide some helpful information which might or might not include some video (YouTube the best) and then get a feel from them as to what they might think about the fit.  The odds aren't great.  However, there are countless stories in every college sport of walk-on players making teams and contributing.  He can elect to go to the tryout knowing what his chances are and then if he doesn't make it, he will still get a tremendous education. 

GoDad, you completely misquoted Coach 2709.  You took the "cancer" comment along with others totally out of context and created a quote that did not exist in the earlier statement. 

...my lawyer said to say I do not disagree. 

Thanks for the guidance on posting and helping me understand the community rules.  I'll go back and sit in my seat.

Brown admits less than 10% of its applicants so your son already has experience beating the odds.  I'm not an expert, just another dad, but considering the league and the school, if your kid has truly been an outstanding HS player in SoCal I would think that the coaches would be interested in knowing that he would be there in the fall.  Why not send them schedules, tapes, etc. just like your son was trying to get recruited, and see if they don't take an interest and invite him to show up for fall workouts etc.?  Maybe even attend a camp they'll be at?

Dad of great kid going to Brown - Congratulations on your son's fine academic accomplishment in heading to Brown.  As others have said, if he truly wants to play baseball... Then he should go for it.  Not trying out would leave a nagging question mark in his mind of "what if".  So long as he understands that the odds are basically slim to none, then nothing to lose and everything to gain.

If he decides to take a shot at it, I would suggest trying to establish meaningful contact with the coaches between now and then... in the hopes that they might buy in even minimally... or at least know his name.  Which sort of brings up the question of what he has done to this point to try to attract notice from the coaches?  It would seem a little strange to me if he's thinking of walking on, but hasn't been to the Brown camp or other showcases that Brown has/will attend.  If going out for the team is more of a lark than a real concrete goal, then what the heck... head out to the try outs and just enjoy that experience for what it is... but certainly don't expect much to come of it.  Or, he can work his tail off to prepare for the try outs... and also not expect much to come of it.  I think that's the basic reality... so as long as he has his mind right about that, I would think he could govern his preparation and expectations accordingly.  

Edit: I mostly just read JCG posts, wait 7 minutes, and then type basically the same things.

If he still simply wants to be apart of the college baseball experience, have him go to the coach and ask if he can be a volunteer assistant or team manager. He will be on the "helping" side of things, but he will still be apart of a D1 baseball program and still participating in/learning the game. IF he ever decided to go into coaching (I can't see that with him going to Brown) but it would be experience to put down on a resume. Should get his foot in the door of a lot of coaching jobs.

CoachB25 and Rynoattack - thank you for understanding what I put.

Go44dad outside of this post I'm not going to respond anymore to you.  Because based on this quote above you don't and probably won't get it.  You are way off with your understanding of my post.  Since there's probably no chance to get you to understand after two respected posters point it out I'm not wasting my time.

You missed the point.  Disagree all you would like.  Heck, I was wrong once, I thought I was wrong.  But you put statements in quotes that were out of context.  That was pointed out.  Coach2709 stated a couple of times that the young man should go for it and walk on.  Coach2709 concluded with, "But you can't make the half court shot if you don't throw it up there."  This supports his other remarks that the young man should walk on if he thinks he has a chance to make the team.  JMHO!

All- thank you.

To some questions that have been asked, my son is a RHP and 2bman.  He does bat 3rd for his HS team, but doesn't have much power.  As a pitcher, he is polished but his fastball is a little short. He still has a boy's body (6'-1", 160 - maybe- lbs)

The advice here is great and I appreciate hearing about the unliklihood of earning playing time or even making the team.

I do have a question about the uninvited vs invited walk-on.  My son was thinking of reaching out to the Brwon coach "now", and his HS coach said he would call as well.  If the coach says sure, come try-out...that's got to be only a tiny bit better than trying out cold.  Is that correct? 

Dad, if you can couple this with a video, some sense of the level of competition your son plays in the summer, a word or two from a couple of coaches and naturally, a conversation between your son via email or phone then it is a lot better. 

My son will be going to a welcome function at Brown this month (again, for all students, not a baseball thing).

Should he let the coach know his credentials and that he will be on campus.  Or with tons of prospective students there, and during BB season, is this the worst time to ask to come by and say hello.

My view is that the more contact with the coach the better. Don't be shy and have him sell himself. 

Absolutely contact the coach and see if he will meet with him.  Can't hurt to ask.  Hopefully, the baseball team will have a home game while he is there.  It would be a good idea for your son to go to the game if he has the time and see for himself the level that they play.  He may be encouraged or discouraged depending on how he feels he stacks up to the talent on the field.  But definitely go.  Definitely contact the coach to see if they can meet.  If you don't ask, you won't get.

Yes.  I'd catch a game and request time with the Head Coach while he is on campus for his welcome function.   Anything your son's high school coach, travel coach or Legion coach can say about him would also help "set the table".   Congrats on his acceptance to Brown.

I am not sure how it affect walkons but you may want to ask the coach a couple of things

-        NCAA clearinghouse,   do you have to register?

-        Insurance requirements

At least it gives you another reason to communicate with the coach.

Best of luck to your son!

Thanks all...great info.

We will see what the kid decides.  I think he plans on going for it.  His comment:  I can't have no baseball, and I like being part of a team.

I don't know if anyone else brought this up, but see if Brown has a club baseball team. If so, have son look into that option. I bet it would be a blast and some quality competition.

Edit to add:

Okay, so I checked and Brown does not have a club baseball team. With that, if son has not done so already, have him fill out baseball questionnaire form ASAP. At least when he goes and meets with the coaches, they will know a name. 

https://questionnaire.acsathle...MkvRlcJoGL4U3MwP%2bf

Coach3-

Thankyou for the link and for looking up the club team.  That (club team) would have been ideal!  Appreciate the research.

DoGK