What if player's not interested in the school?

There's nothing to say no to, until you get an offer.

I don't see any pitfalls to declining.

If your son is 100% sure that he wouldn't be interested in attending this school in the future, then I would decline the invitation by son telling the coach that he isn't interested in the school.

If the school has a remote chance in the future, then I would have son tell the coach that it isn't going to work out that weekend. Are there other weekends that you will be looking at recruits? I would handle it this way because I've seen crazy things happen with schools and recruits. Recruits change their minds all the time. Sometimes recruits change their minds when they really research a baseball/academic program, situation, or decide that living 2 hours from home is not that different from 6 hours. All kinds of things come into play in the mind of a 17/18 year old boy. For this reason, I'd leave options open. In my son's case he was adamant about going to school in Virginia only. He was sure of it, and he didn't want to consider anything else. Time passed, things changed, and he was presented with unique opportunities academically and athletically. All of the sudden, no Virginia schools were in play. It happens, and I know my son is not alone.

Best of luck.

I think you hit the nail on the head in your post:
You'd want them to be honest with you if they were no longer interested in your son and stringing things out (either side) is a waste of both of your time...trust me you won't be even the 1,000th kid to tell that (or any) school no...they'll move on (just like you would) by the time the phone is "on the hook"

So if I read this right they will be in your neck of the woods? How much is the camp? If its $75 or less I would recommend attending, especially if you have no travel costs.

At worst its a camp experience with someone who may be interested in him. At best, he may change his focus on where he wants to attend and these guys may be interested.

Bottom line: Don't refuse an offer that hasn't been made.

You're not stringing them along; you are keeping your options open.

And for all you know they called only because you are in the area and they are looking to maximize attendance fees.

If its more than $75 or you have a real conflict, then I would agree with the other poster, defer the invite to another time.

If the camp isn't expensive to attend go anyway. You never know. Otherwise ...

1) Coach, thank you for the opportunity. While I'm honored you consider me a potential player for your program, right now, in my mind it doesn't fit the geographic parameters I'm looking at.

2) Blow it off if you're not interested.

quote:

It doesn't pass the test of "would you attend this school if you weren't playing baseball." It's farther from home than he is comfortable and in a part of the country he's not interested in.

Never say 100% no, you can tell them he's not really sure about the location right now as I have found the answer to "the" question can change. i.e. my son started off with California coastal schools and ended up in the mountains of Virginia when it was all said and done. At the same time if attending the camp is a problem tell them no. If they are really interested they will continue to call anyway.

IMHO the process is about finding the right coach and if you cut off a coach early in the process you may never really know.

quote:

Originally posted by 2013 Parent:

It seems like it could be a straightforward question/answer, but are there pitfalls in passing?

A very tremndous pitfall...the coaches income will suffer. All an invitation to a camp is, is an opportunity to write a check. Trying to extrapolate that into "true recruit interest" in your son is folly. I'm not saying that they aren't truly interested in your son, they could be, but coaches make hundreds of calls to players to do nothing more than fill their camps and coffers.

When trying to asses true interest, ask yourself this...if you knew your son was one of 300 phone calls and letters trying to get him to come to the camp, would you assess that as "serious or genuine" interest?

If a camp invitation were the first correspondence I received from a coach, I wouldn't take it as serious interest.

quote:

Originally posted by CPLZ:
If a camp invitation were the first correspondence I received from a coach, I wouldn't take it as serious interest.

I am going to file this little tidbit away for future reference. Seems pretty sound advice to me.

quote:

Originally posted by BackstopDad32:

quote:

Originally posted by CPLZ:
If a camp invitation were the first correspondence I received from a coach, I wouldn't take it as serious interest.

I am going to file this little tidbit away for future reference. Seems pretty sound advice to me.

What if the first correspondence is to the Stanford All Star Camp or any other major college baseball All Star or recruit camp, or whatever it might be called?
Perhaps it is different elsewhere but some major programs in CA make clear on their website and elsewhere and differentiate between camps which are solely for instruction as contrasted with those which involve instruction, but are also for evaluation, scouting and potential recruiting.
Two things can be equally true: camps can be a source of income for college coaches, especially the volunteer assistant and they can be used by college coaches to evaluate and find every and any player who can make their team and program better.
The external(AD/alums/fans/parents) and internal(competitive) pressure on college coaches to win cannot be underestimated. They kick themselves if they miss recruits, especially one playing right in front of them.

quote:

Originally posted by BackstopDad32:

quote:

Originally posted by CPLZ:
If a camp invitation were the first correspondence I received from a coach, I wouldn't take it as serious interest.

I am going to file this little tidbit away for future reference. Seems pretty sound advice to me.

Not applicable to the OP but I think if it's before 9/1 of the player's jr year, that's all they CAN send directly to the player?

We had a similar situation:

Refusing an unofficial visit

I corrected above link