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VA Commonwealth Games

B 2016baseballdad500+ posts
2017 and younger parents. If you child is uncommitted after their junior season (as most will be) and they have the opportunity  to go to this event do yourself a favor and make it happen. There are 4 regions with 16 player rosters. There were at least 40 college scouts/recruiters and a few MLB  guys as well. Slow moving event but we'll ran and very well attended. I have been coaching travel type squads for 9 years and showcase ages for 3. Aside from East Cobb this was the most attended. But there are more than 300 players in East Cobb.
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keewartkeewart10,000+ posts
Originally Posted by 2016baseballdad:
2017 and younger parents. If you child is uncommitted after their junior season (as most will be) and they have the opportunity  to go to this event do yourself a favor and make it happen. There are 4 regions with 16 player rosters. There were at least 40 college scouts/recruiters and a few MLB  guys as well. Slow moving event but we'll ran and very well attended. I have been coaching travel type squads for 9 years and showcase ages for 3. Aside from East Cobb this was the most attended. But there are more than 300 players in East Cobb.

My guess is there are 300 TEAMS at the 17U WWBA and about 6000+ players.  (Keewartson was invited to the Commonwealth Games but it conflicted directly with the 17U WWBA at East Cobb, so he didn't go.  I understand there are new folks running the CGs now).

 

WLT1717WLT1717100+ posts
Originally Posted by WLT1717:

My 2017 played on the North squad this weekend.  Very fun experience, and neat for the boys to be able to play with/against some guys they don't play with on school or travel teams.  All the coaches are competitive but in a friendly way.  Folks that run the event do it for love of the game.  Each of the four regions fields a squad of around 16.  Hitters and fielders do a light showcase-style workout the first day.  Every noteworthy program in VA was there, along with several MLB scouts.

 

current link is at http://www.commonwealthgames.o...ing/baseball-allstar

 

if you would like, I can upload the rosters so you can get an idea of the player pool. 

 

Midlo DadMidlo Dad10,000+ posts

A few years ago, I would've told you -- and did actually say on these boards -- that any player pursuing a collegiate opportunity should pass on the CG's and head to GA. 

 

Now, you don't have to choose, you can do both.

 

Truth be told, I'm increasingly concerned with the GA event.  The sheer number of teams now involved (336 this year, double the number from just a few years ago) means that you simply cannot expect to see more than a handful of scouts at any one game.  Some venues are over an hour's drive from LakePoint -- and that's if you don't run into the infamous Atlanta traffic problems.  Don't expect any scouts to come see you at those venues.  Add to this the skyrocketing costs, especially when you factor in the exhorbitant markups being imposed by the LakePoint housing service, and it's enough to make you wonder if you're getting enough bang for all the bucks.

 

At this point, it seems to me that the point of the GA tourney is to validate the caliber of your team and your players against the best competition you can find.  You then have to parlay that into recruiting attention.  But the old days when you could get 4 games at the chief venues and have 30-50 scouts just gravitate to your game are gone.

WLT1717WLT1717100+ posts
I think the value proposition for VA recruits is unique, in that the best VA programs are going to be present at both of these events.  I think if the VA athlete wants exposure vis-à-vis non-VA programs, especially further south, then PG offers upside provided the athlete does the spade-work ahead of time to let coaches of interest know where/when he is playing so that the coach can come if interested.  

A few years ago, I would've told you -- and did actually say on these boards -- that any player pursuing a collegiate opportunity should pass on the CG's and head to GA. 

 

Now, you don't have to choose, you can do both.

 

Truth be told, I'm increasingly concerned with the GA event.  The sheer number of teams now involved (336 this year, double the number from just a few years ago) means that you simply cannot expect to see more than a handful of scouts at any one game.  Some venues are over an hour's drive from LakePoint -- and that's if you don't run into the infamous Atlanta traffic problems.  Don't expect any scouts to come see you at those venues.  Add to this the skyrocketing costs, especially when you factor in the exhorbitant markups being imposed by the LakePoint housing service, and it's enough to make you wonder if you're getting enough bang for all the bucks.

 

At this point, it seems to me that the point of the GA tourney is to validate the caliber of your team and your players against the best competition you can find.  You then have to parlay that into recruiting attention.  But the old days when you could get 4 games at the chief venues and have 30-50 scouts just gravitate to your game are gone.

 

WLT1717WLT1717100+ posts
When I referred to the program, I meant the colleges, not a travel program.  If a player is part of an organization, e.g., VA Cardinals, then he would do PG with his team and CG if invited on his own merits.  VA coaches/programs would see him at both events.  Other coaches might, however, see him at PG, but would not likely be present at CG.  

Except that a "program" cannot go to the Commonwealth Games.  Those are player-by-player invitations.

 

B 2016baseballdad500+ posts

One thing I have seen with the WWBA is that the "high academic" schools often from the northeast and often with limited recruiting budgets will be in Atlanta if nowhere else. For some this is a real draw. I know last summer we had a crew that was good on the ball field and stellar in the classroom. It was neat talking to the Ivy types. My son who is interested  in and has interest from these schools had to tell them we would not be at the WWBA this summer and they said that would be their only opportunity  to see him.

redbird5redbird510,000+ posts

I have a different take on 17U WWBA than others- I still believe it is a must attend event.  We (EvoCanes) have not noticed a drop off in college coach presence at our games at all, regardless of field.  Our kids received a ton of attention, with several receiving offers in GA.  Our regional type teams averaged 15-20 college coaches per game, even at remote locations.  We regularly speak to coaches and inform them of our games, etc. The National level teams were getting 20-30 coaches per game.

 

IMO, the coaches still go where the players are.  I know our 16's were drawing 10-15 coaches at Woodland HS.

 

I think the Commonwealth Games are important but pale in comparison to a WWBA event.

redbird5redbird510,000+ posts
Originally Posted by 2016baseballdad:

One thing I have seen with the WWBA is that the "high academic" schools often from the northeast and often with limited recruiting budgets will be in Atlanta if nowhere else. For some this is a real draw. I know last summer we had a crew that was good on the ball field and stellar in the classroom. It was neat talking to the Ivy types. My son who is interested  in and has interest from these schools had to tell them we would not be at the WWBA this summer and they said that would be their only opportunity  to see him.

Correct. It gives the high academic coaches a chance to see the kids perform against high level players, i.e. more bang for their recruiting buck.  I know that we reach out to coaches for our high academic guys before and during events. 

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