Updates to College Coaches

Great question .....I tell all my kids to update targeted coaches every couple of weeks. Not just starts or stats, but workouts and progress towards your goals. Like i always say...They won't think you are a pain in the butt, they will think you are concerned about your future.

The more you initiate communication, the more they beleive you are really interested in their program. They don't want to waste their time on someone they have no chance of landing. Take advantage of the opportunity to communicate.

Recruiting and being recruited is just like sales....always have a reason to contact them. If I were you, I would contact them after every start. Not only to tell them the stats but show them you understand the game. (i.e. I used my fastball more this game because my team exploded for 6 runs in the first. I was able to get ahead of ever hitter but 1 with a first pitch strike.)

Stats are relative to the level of competition but give them an insight to YOU.

How do you handle an injury?

You handle an injury honestly. Worst thing you can do is destroy your credibility with a coach.

not only be honest, ask for advice and let him know how hard you will work to get back and even get better ....

Not to run the orginal questions into the ground, but have same ? also. Son says he feels "Funny" about updating coaches. IE: Keep us updated on your season or Keep me updated on your progress. Son happens to be having a good year so far, but feels "Weird" about telling the coaches about his sesaon at the plate so far or direct links to newpaper articles about his accomplishments.(Even though things could turn around at any time with his game.) Do you think these are things they are wanting to know? These would be schools he is interested in for sure. He doesn't want to come off sounding a certain way. Any help would be appreciated on this.

Whats it going to hurt? Your letting them know you are interested in them hearing about what you are doing and how it is going. You are keeping yourself fresh in their memory. If your interesed in possibly attending their school and playing for them it would seem to reason you would want them to know that they are also on your mind. Your son needs to realize that doing these sort of things is all part of building a relationship with the coaching staff. If I asked a player to "keep in touch and let us know how your doing" then I never heard from him I would have to assume the kid was not interested in us. If thats the case then fine. But sometimes that school thats not really high on your list may end up being at the top of the list or the only one left on the list. Good luck

Thanks Coach May, I always look forward to your responses on here re various topics. I will show my son what you had to say.

Anyone else want to weigh in?

Unfortunately marketing yourself is part of the process. When updating the coach every few weeks it's always good to know how his program is progressing. And don't just toot your horn,make sure you let the coach know the things you are working on. And toss in a few non baseball related items ...like community service or academic accomplishments. You can do it all in just a few lines.

Just curious...would you guys recommend including a quick line about how the team did in the game as well? Something like Redbird mentioned about my team was up big so I used my fastball more to work ahead. I'm not talking about a total recap of the game, but just a quick "we lost a tough one" or "we scratched out a W" or something like that. Just a little something to show the coach that he may only care about you, but you also care about the team.

What do you guys think? Is this a good insight into the player's mindsight, or just extra stuff for the coach to read?

As long as it's brief and can be tied in to your performance.

Hey Coach. I just wanted to check back in with you. WE have been playing pretty well. We won / lost our last game. We have been hitting pretty well and playing great defense. We just need to throw a few more strikes. I saw where you guys took 2 of 3 last weekend thats great.

Then wait for the coach to respond. He will ask you a question like.

"How have you been doing?"

Or he may say "I have seen in the box scores you have been doing well."

Or he might say "How is school going? How is your mom and dad doing? Let him lead the conversation.

To me I would talk about my team. I would let him talk about me and ask me quetions about me.

"I am having a good year coach. I have been working on ____ and working on ________. And the team is doing _______!

The last thing I would do is get on the phone or send emails that screamed ME ME ME. I would be all about WE WE WE.

If he wants you to talk about yourself let him lead the coversation in that direction and then be humble , respectull and talk like a man not a boy.

These guys are coaches. They will determine if you are a good enough player to play for them by SEEING it. They will also determine what type of person you are by other means. This is one of them.

I coach one of the top summer fall programs in the nation. I already have several 2010 and 11's that have verballed to major college programs. I talk to these college coaches all the time , at least one or two every day. They are regular baseball folks. They dont care for bragging and ME people. They want humble , respectfull young men that can also play at a high level.

Focus your conversation on team and talk about yourself when you are asked a question about yourself. They are not going to recruit you or sign you based on how you critique your peformance. But they will write you off based on you being a young man that they believe would be a cancer in their program. If you spend the entire time talking yourself up , your sending up a red flag to them. Think about it. When someone talks to you and the entire conversation is "ME ME ME" what kind of red flag does that send to you? They are no different than you.

Coach May - Is your advice valid for a 2011 - 2nd year starter on Varsity in DC/Nova area - or should he wait until Jr Year?

My son verballed to his current college program when he was 9 years old. They just didnt know it yet!

Camps are a great way for the coaching staff to get to know a young player and start building a relationship with them. Sending them an email and telling them about the team , letting them know who you are etc never hurts. Everyone wants to be wanted. Even college baseball coaches like to know that players want to be a part of their program.

Thank you for all the responses, they help alot!