U. Mass Lowell Update?

I'm assuming that your son is a 2015. For me, at this stage of the game for seniors, "strong interest" involves some kind of offer. That doesn't mean they have no interest. He could be behind a few other guys that they've extended offers to, and they are waiting those responses.

 

The coaches that my son has talked to have answered most of his questions. I suggest your son call the PC and asks him if he is in their recruiting plans, and if so where? Do they need to see him at the camp in order to make a decision?

 

I find that the boys get a much better feel for where they stand from a phone conversation, rather than e-mail and text.

It could be either. It is perfectly permissible to ask the coach the purpose of the invitation.
Unless your son wants to attend the camp for its own sake or the pitching coach says he wants to recruit your son but the head coach needs to see him throw before making an offer, you can propose a visit that doesn't include attending camp. The response to that suggestion should tell you what you need to know.

Thanks MidAtlanticDad.  Yes son is a 2015.  PC has seen him a few times. Son also sent his video.  Got all postive comments from that.  It just seems like every school wants you to come to their camp.  Is that just to see how serious you are?  I think they should be able to tell if you are what they are looking for by video and seeing you pitch live.  That is the really test.  Do you know anything about Coaches?  Everyones Bio sound good on the teams web sites.  How are their facilities?  Being that far North, do they have good indoor facilities?  Thanks

Sorry, no first-hand information about the program.

 

Yes, everyone does want you to come to their camps. They also want to be able to advertise that a high percentage of rostered players attended their camp while in high school (good marketing), so they do want the real prospects there, too.

 

But unless the PC tells your son that he needs to be there to get the HC's blessing for an offer (or another reasonable explanation) then they are probably not that serious.

 

Don't assume the worst. Follow Swampboy's advise and have jr call them.

Different schools use camps for different purposes.

All schools consider them a money maker, often to pay the volunteer assistant and other underpaid employees in the program.

No school (or almost no school) seriously expects to discover previously unidentified prospects through their camp advertisements; if it happens, wonderful, but that's not what the camp is designed to do.

Many schools invite players they already know about or have seen to be seen by the other coaches for further evaluation.

Some schools, often including lower tier D1 schools, use camps to sort the group of players contending for their last few spots.  Often these camps are not well advertised or they are advertised officially only briefly but give word-of-mouth invitations to players they are considering.  

 

If this camp is in either of the last two categories, it could very well be worth attending. 

 

Ask the coach.

 

 

If they agree to visit another day, can the player do a workout for coach?  Not sure on the NCAA rules on that.  How about their facilities?  What kind of person is Head Coach?

My son met and had personal contact with the head coach during his recruiting. Everything I have heard about him since has been very positive.

Hi Rally Cap

Is your son going to UMass?  My son has been talking with Pitching Coach Monaghan.  He is the one who invited my son up. He has seen my son pitch a couple of times. Havent talked to HC yet.  What did your son think of their facilities?  How was the campus?  Did he get to meet any of the team?

Thanks.

Sorry, I don't have a lot of details regarding campus and facilities. It wasn't a good fit for my son academically so he did not pursue the interest. Word of mouth comments about the coach is all I can go by, and they have been positive.

Don't know much about the coaching staff as my son wasn't interested in staying so close to home; however, a couple of factors to consider - they recently moved up to D1, so it could take a couple of years to be more competitive.  They play their games in the same ballpark as the Lowell Spinners (a Red Sox NY Penn short season team) - so from that aspect, great place to play games. The campus is in the middle of city and from my understanding does have quite a few commuters. Nothing like a campus visit to see if there's any sort of fit. There's quite a few other colleges in the area - D1 -> D3 - so it should be easy to schedule in other campus visits for comparisons. Just have to do some homework to see what other schools could fit for your son.

Thanks JohnF for the info. Not sure how son will like a city school. I still would like to hear about facilities from someone.  Any alum out there  with some insite?