VITAL ITEMS

TR - This is such a tough question or it has been for us. My '05 has looked for a baseball fit first (I can just hear the moans!). If the baseball didn't fit, we didn't go on to explore academics, etc. The coach and the team are the most important part of a baseball fit for him. Those are the people that you will be spending much of your time with (it will be your job). I have just seen too many kids end up transferring because of ball. IMO - many more for that reason (baseball not a fit) than for academics, location, etc.

Academics is obviously the reason he's going to college. You never know if an injury will occur, etc and baseball will be over. But our baseline is built on ball and then we've went from there. 1. Ball fits, 2.academics fits, 3. location fits, 4. money fits - he's there! Facilities, etc. not important to us. His story isn't over yet - so we'll all see one day if it worked or not. I pray everyday he and I are making the correct choices.

lafmom - I can see your point. Opinions will vary but you have to do things that work for you. IMO there are a lot of colleges that are fine academically for one person...but it may be hard to find the best athletic fit. Good luck to you.

The more I speak with people, the more I refer to "go where you feel wanted and comfortable" as a way to make a choice. How you define that is personal.

bump

Lafmom,
I understand what you are going through, to my son baseball was the most important thing to him
in his choice. Facilities was second, females third and curriculum forth or fifth, can't remember.
One does spend a lot of time with the team, but one spends lots of time in class and studying, being involved with other activities (mine likes to hit every s****r, football and basketball game). My son thought about it the same way, like it was a job, but we told him if he wanted a job, he could play pro ball. This was college, we wanted him to experience all that it had to offer, not just baseball. Funny, his major was undeclared but the other day he told me that he is pretty sure he is going to go into business and management as there might have to be life after college baseball! Even though he wishes to someday get paid to play the game, he is also becoming realistic as he matures.
So, from what I am learning, it has to be a blend of the things that TR has suggested and possibly other things as well that helps in finding the right fit. Baseball should just be one part of his whole college experience.
JMO.

Now that's about a near southern Attorney's inquiry as I would expect from a Northerner.

As in ...asking a loaded question.....
(that being having something of a response before hand.)

Some would be interested in your approach
to above mentioned subject area, (as I have published, bartered, and preached my own for twenty years and might learn something!)

Regards
Bear

quote:

As we sit roughly two months from the late signing period what are the keys for your son

He should b be getting notified already if he has not as to acceptance at the schools of his choice

What will help him make the choice ?

baseball
academics
support staff available to him ( tutors etc)
campus
the team
the coaching staff
the baseball facilities

TRhit

TPM - I understand and agree totally with what you're saying.

Maybe I didn't express myself correctly. Baseball is where we started with each school. First of all, if there's no baseball money, he's not going there. That's what I meant by "a job". It will be paying a chunk of school. IF the baseball fits, then we go on to look at the other things. It certainly doesn't mean academics isn't important. His number one goal of college is of course an education.

We have taken each school that has called and looked at the baseball fit first. Then we've gone from there. This has worked for us. Michael actually committed today to a JUCO that we have been sitting on the offer for over a month. His number two choice which had a lot to offer (much nicer field/facility, closer to home...)- we decided wasn't an academic fit. Baseball wise - they both were. Academics was one of the major factors in making a decision. I will also say he has amazing chemistry with the JUCO coach.

My son made his choice based on:
Baseball fit (meaning coach, team, style, and needs), then if that worked we looked at academics, then if both of those fit we've gone on to look at finances. In the end all of the pieces had to be there. We just had a system to get through what we felt priorities were for him.

Hopefull, a year from now I can post "completely" on the satisfield thread. Only time tells.

Lafmom,
Congratulations to your son!
I am sorry if I misunderstood you. I was just pointing out that the "whole" package at one school should be considered.
Your approach definetly was the right one. Yes, teh bb program is important to us, but from my sons short time at school, baseball is not the only reaon why he loves it!
TPM

Lafmom: Congratulations to your son! Wonderful news.....I agree with TPM....your approach to the selection process was a good one......we are very happy for you and your family......Best Wishes!

Thanks guys! We're having his signing this week or the following week - just as soon as we can get it worked into the schedule for everyone. It feels GREAT to have a decision that he's happy with and I am happy with.

In response to TR's question, I've probably left off one piece of important or vital info. That is the support, advice, and encouragement of HSBBW posters! Thanks to the many, many of you who helped on one way or another with his decision.

lafmom -
Congratulation to your son and the whole family! Enjoy his senior season!

lafmom---

Glad to hear the recruiting "stress" is over! Congrats to your son!

His list:
-the baseball program....where do I fit in?
-the coaches, the team
-the campus

My list:
-academic support
-location (5 hrs from home VS 25 hours from home)
-coaches (after all these are the adults who will have the most influence on my son while at college)

My son also will also sign with a JUCO this week. We had much better scholarship offers and looked at colleges with awesome facilities....but in the end the school that was the best fit was the school that matched our priority lists.

Its been fun but I too am very relieved that the recruiting stress is over. Here's to a relaxing senior season!

Croll - Congratulations. May you now sit back and relax and enjoy your son's senior year!

lafmom-
right back at ya!

I agree with lafmom. There had to be baseball money, and we also felt it wouldn't do him much good to go to a program where he wouldn't have much chance to play his freshman year. My son also named Michael, everyone calls him Mike, signed a couple of weeks ago with a Juco here in Texas. The boy seems so relieved and confident now that it is over.

I am really thankful I found this website a couple of years ago. We have followed the time line fairly closely. We did a PG showcase, and he played on a very good summer and fall team. He bats third on the team that finished fifth last summer at the WWBA at East Cobb. After the early signing period came and went, I could tell the pressure was starting to bother him. Three players from his summer team signed and a couple of his other friends signed early too. I told him he was a good player and he would find a place to play, but I don't know if that helped him feel any better when he saw his friends names in the newspaper and his was not. He had some interest from D1's mainly from the East coast. He recieved several letters from a Service Academy which had me, my wife, and Grand Ma very excited. But he said that wasn't for him and he wanted to stay in Texas. It was his decission.

He got a phone call in December from the coach he signed with. He and a couple of his teammates from his summer team were invited to come work out with the team. One of the coaches had seen them play at Ft. Myers last fall. They got to tour the campus and meet the coaches. All the coaches were young, positive and enthusiastic. After lunch, they got to work out with the team and had a scrimmage. Coach told Mike he really liked his approach at the plate and would have a very good opportunity to play corner in or corner out and made a very good offer. Good academics. Low student to teacher ratio. New four bedroom apartments on campus where the atheletes stay. Baseball field isn't nearly as nice as TCU's or Baylor's, but that wasn't that important. What is important is that nine of the sophmores there already signed with strong four year programs for the following year.

I want to thank Bob, the head cook and bottle washer, and all the Old Timers on this site. I don't post much, but I come here to lurk and learn almost everyday.

TX05DAD

Your post is what this site is all about, even for the "oldtimers"

Great to see the success stories

lafmom and TX05Dad,

Kudo's to your son's on getting to the next level. Enjoy the ride!

TX05 - Congratulations to your son! I hope you both enjoy the senior season of HS!

TX05Dad, Congratulations to Michael and his family. Sounds as if he has all the support he needs to do well, Best Wishes!

Thanks everyone.