I think one thing you need to understand is that even the BIGGEST tourneys you'll have VERY FEW coaches who just show up....pick a random field and go watch a game. They are at the tourney for a reason(s)....and in most cases it's to see a particular player...or if he's with a good program...to see a particular team. It only makes sense that if a team has 6 kids who have contacted the coach in ADVANCE and given him a reason to want to see them that that coach would go watch a game where he could see 6 kids....instead of going to a random game where he may watch 6 innings and not see one kid who has a chance to help him. If you think your son is going to go to even the biggest tourney...and show so well that guys will notice him, you're mistake...UNLESS he has 2 doubles and a triple....or strikes out 12 and hits 90+. Unfortunately that's just not how it works. Not trying to sound harsh...but fortunately for us, we had a kid from our HS who went thru the "process" 3 years before my son. We learned ALOT from them...and if it hadn't been for that, I really, really don't think my son would be attending a D1. I guess my point is....don't try to do it on your own....ask a lot of questions from people who've been thru it...and trust what they say. There are no tricks!!! NONE!!
Originally Posted by Buckeye 2015:
I think one thing you need to understand is that even the BIGGEST tourneys you'll have VERY FEW coaches who just show up....pick a random field and go watch a game. They are at the tourney for a reason(s)....and in most cases it's to see a particular player...or if he's with a good program...to see a particular team. It only makes sense that if a team has 6 kids who have contacted the coach in ADVANCE and given him a reason to want to see them that that coach would go watch a game where he could see 6 kids....instead of going to a random game where he may watch 6 innings and not see one kid who has a chance to help him. If you think your son is going to go to even the biggest tourney...and show so well that guys will notice him, you're mistake...UNLESS he has 2 doubles and a triple....or strikes out 12 and hits 90+. Unfortunately that's just not how it works. Not trying to sound harsh...but fortunately for us, we had a kid from our HS who went thru the "process" 3 years before my son. We learned ALOT from them...and if it hadn't been for that, I really, really don't think my son would be attending a D1. I guess my point is....don't try to do it on your own....ask a lot of questions from people who've been thru it...and trust what they say. There are no tricks!!! NONE!!
I think this sums up nicely what I was trying to get at in my original post. Many folks think that just showing up at a recognized large tourney with a good team will get the kids noticed. I guess I have learned that this is not the case. Unless your the lefty stud throwing 95+ as a sophomore you need to be in an organization that knows how to get the kids in front of the colleges.
It helps is the coaches are credible with college coaches. On my son's team they turned in their "desired" list to the coaching staff. If a college was a reasonable choice coaches contacted college college coaches and told them to take a look at (player) when we're in (place) for XYZ Tournament. Players were also instructed to email college coaches to express interest in the school and provide a schedule. If a kid plays for the right team the team itself is an endorsement of his skills.
Signing up for any travel team and throwing spaghetti off the wall to see what sticks is not a viable option for most players. The top shelf studs have immediate credibility based on what team they play for. They can show up with a "Who wants me attitude?"
Just to be clear, a top shelf stud isn't a kid who was all conference, all county and all metro. In college ball the rosters are loaded with those players. Even on the bench. Top shelf players are potential high draft picks every college wants.