What level am I?

Probably will boil down to your hitting skills.  D1 catching really requires a catcher that will not hurt the team.  Assuming that you are solid meaning you frame well,  can block average and can throw runners out then you will need to show some plus hitting skills to get the eye of a college coach.  I've seen many teams with catchers that provide little at the plate but they never hurt the team defensively.   

Assuming you can hit then a D3 is an easier fit. 

As a Sophomore I would recommend going to some D3 and D1 mid major camps and see where you fit among the other catchers.  Don't waste your time or money going to a lot of camps.  Try to select schools you have an interest in attending.  The coaches that run the camps will often give you feedback if requested.  Do not assume that you will get "discovered" at a camp.  Many camps are a way for staff to make a little money.  In many camps there are a handful of players coaches have invited to get a look at in a controlled environment.  In some ways most of the participants are just part of facilitating an environment for the coaches to see these players. 

If you have a great camp and like the school you may want to be bold and talk to the recruiting coordinator at the camp.  You will be on his mind and it may open some doors. 

Coaches contacts are often your best inroad to a school.  I saw many camps and the top 25% was easy to spot.  The top 5% was easy to sort from the 25.  What was hard was the players in between those in the top groups.   Many of those in the top 25% probably blossomed into very good players.  It is a short window to evaluate a players true abilities.

My son is a pitcher, but I pay attention to catchers as a result.  Just some things to consider:

Being recruited as a C is rather tough.  Most schools usually only have 1 C per draft class, so you need all the tools. The more athletic with position flexibility, the better.

Lot of heated debates about 1 knee catching. I think blocking from that position is the center of the debate.  I have no take on the subject, just know it’s out there.

Blocking, you seemed off balance once you blocked.  Remain in an athletic position throughout, as you may need to pop up to throw a guy out.

Also a lot of debates about pop times, especially starting the clock with no batter.

Good luck to you.

If you haven’t been approached by travel teams that place players in D1 chances are you’re not a D1 prospect. It doesn’t mean you can’t become a D1 prospect. Go to some inexpensive local college camps and see how you stack up against the competition. If you get the opportunity to chat with a college coach, ask him where he thinks you fit in.

In most cases it’s ultimately about whether or not you hit. Colleges will find catchers they believe can hit.

Add: Get rid of the music on your video. Coaches don’t want to hear it. All your video proves is you can catch a strike. Why didn’t you have a pitching machine bounce some in to show you blocking? Why didn’t you throw so you could show your release?

Got it. I’ve been working on my blocking for a while now. The blocks you saw are kinda old and it’s all I have of blocking. I’m planning on attending camps at Stony Brook University in NY, and Dallas Baptist university in Dallas TX. I also plan to explore some d2 and d3 schools in my area.

My son is a catcher and here're are some of the things I've learned.

• Get video clips from real game action.  It gives a much better feel for how you are receiving & blocking (esp if the pitcher does not have good control).  It will give a real world perspective of your pop time if you have a clip of a live at bat where you try to throw out a runner.  I've learned to ignore the showcase pop times after seeing how most of the catchers "cheat" to improve their pop times (i.e. be in a receiving position that they will never be in a real game).  A gopro behind the backstop that records the full game is the best way to do this.
• Are you in a team (varsity or travel) where you have pitchers with high velo and really good breaking ball?  Receiving 75 to 80 mph fastballs is different from 90+ mph fastballs.  Dealing with balls that breaks really sharply is even harder.
• How good are you in controlling the game and guiding the pitcher?  Do the pitchers in your team ask for you to catch them (or is more confident/relaxed when you are catching them)?  This is something that metrics and numbers cannot measure.

My son is an excellent catcher.  However, he still had a hard time getting the attention of college coaches as he doesn't hit with power and he is small.  The only reason why is considered a D1 mid major level player is that he can hit for high average, he has really good speed for a catcher and he can play multiple positions (OF, MIF and 3b).  If not for these, he is a D2/D3 player even with excellent catching skills.

Oh, yes.  Get rid of the music.  I hit my mute button hard when I pulled up your video.

Welcome to the site.  I think you will find it to be a great resource.  If you are able to play with a good travel team that plays top competition, you'll quickly come to know where you stand.  It looks like you are working hard on your catching skills.  You will need to be working even harder on your hitting skills AND conditioning.  Competitive college programs at every level will look for catchers who can hit and that are already committed gym rats with strength, agility and decent speed. 

This site will also help you with how to approach camps, what to look for and what to expect.

Continue to post any questions but know that you can also search any topic and find a wealth of info that way.

You have gotten good advice from previous posters. In future videos you should include hitting. There is no way to evaluate you without it. Based on the video that you included I would steer you towards D3. I would also suggest that you skip the camp at DBU unless there will be other schools there than you are having discussions with. I will offer more details if you contact me via DM.

My son is a catcher.  He was always strong defensively from the earliest ages.  Strong defense is a necessity for a catcher, but at the same time it is expected to be there... by itself it will not separate him from the pack.  My son started to get attention from college coaches after he spent a year in the weight room around your age.  It's not an understatement to say it completely changed his recruiting journey.  He looked like he belonged on a college field, the ball exploded off his bat, and his throwing became a lot more effortless.  I would suggest you put as much focus as you can on developing your body and your hitting.  Coaches would rather have a hitter who can catch than a catcher who can it.  JMO.

I'm going to take an entirely different approach. Forget the D1, D2, D3...what level am I question.

Some D2s are better than some D1s. Some D3s are better than D1s. Forget the level label and focus on the school and the program.

Also, do your homework. You can eliminate 80% of the schools out there regardless of the level because they don't take many (if any) out of state kids. (And, the schools that do recruit mostly out of state kids will find you...you don't find them.)

Look at the schools in your state that offer favorable in-state rates because you will end up paying most of the tuition. If your state doesn't have many baseball schools, see where kids in your state mostly play and target those schools.

Visit the schools and find a school that you love. Ask yourself the question "Would I go here even if there was no baseball?" and answer it HONESTLY.  If it's a yes and you can get a break on rates because of it being in-state or the offer a deal for out of state kids, those are the schools that you target.

I have officially lost count on kids that worked their asses off for 7 years or more to get that college offer and then found out, when they get there, that college baseball is not what they expected or wanted. Don't make a decision just baseball on baseball. Find that college that you love and won't put you in debt for six figures. I'm sure the have a baseball team too.

Good luck and don't stress it. There's a ton of kids who put too much pressure on themselves to get that college baseball offer. It starts to feel like a race and musical chairs. Don't let it consume you.

Don't rush into anything "just to get it over with." And don't settle and accept something "because it's getting late and it's better than nothing."

Find a school because you love the school. Then think about the baseball stuff.

You should visit the local colleges to see if the campus is a fit for you and to assess the players. That would be a better indicator to see what level you should be targeting.

@Francis7 posted:

I'm going to take an entirely different approach. Forget the D1, D2, D3...what level am I question

....

Find a school because you love the school. Then think about the baseball stuff.

Good post, Francis.  It seems you may have made the transition from young grasshopper and are on the journey toward Shaolin master.

So how goes your kid's journey?

@T_Thomas posted:

So how goes your kid's journey?

We're at the point now where it's totally "his."

I'm interested and will attend. But, what he does, etc., is his deal.

He's at a Juco now. What happens there and after is up to him and what he wants. I'm fine with whatever it is. In my mind, it's all gravy.

Nice. You do sound like a man transformed.  Best of luck!

@Francis7 posted:

I'm going to take an entirely different approach. Forget the D1, D2, D3...what level am I question.

Some D2s are better than some D1s. Some D3s are better than D1s. Forget the level label and focus on the school and the program.

Also, do your homework. You can eliminate 80% of the schools out there regardless of the level because they don't take many (if any) out of state kids. (And, the schools that do recruit mostly out of state kids will find you...you don't find them.)

Look at the schools in your state that offer favorable in-state rates because you will end up paying most of the tuition. If your state doesn't have many baseball schools, see where kids in your state mostly play and target those schools.

Visit the schools and find a school that you love. Ask yourself the question "Would I go here even if there was no baseball?" and answer it HONESTLY.  If it's a yes and you can get a break on rates because of it being in-state or the offer a deal for out of state kids, those are the schools that you target.

I have officially lost count on kids that worked their asses off for 7 years or more to get that college offer and then found out, when they get there, that college baseball is not what they expected or wanted. Don't make a decision just baseball on baseball. Find that college that you love and won't put you in debt for six figures. I'm sure the have a baseball team too.

Good luck and don't stress it. There's a ton of kids who put too much pressure on themselves to get that college baseball offer. It starts to feel like a race and musical chairs. Don't let it consume you.

Don't rush into anything "just to get it over with." And don't settle and accept something "because it's getting late and it's better than nothing."

Find a school because you love the school. Then think about the baseball stuff.

Wow! I remember when you were a 9u dad on another board.

Francis

Congratulations, it is now “fast forward” keep us informed. How far is the school from your home? Does the Coach have Summer League contacts.
Bob

Hi Bob. It's 8 miles away. (Big trade up from the D2 that was 160 miles away.) Coach is well connected. They do an excellent job getting kids into 4 years programs. But, one thing at a time and not looking past the present or worrying about things that may or may not be relevant in the future.

It's truly humbling how "the process" changes perspectives... Kudos to Francis for giving back and sharing - it's not always easy...

One of the best pieces of advice I got/gave during recruiting is - make sure wherever you go passes the broken leg/arm/whatever test. IOW, if you're injured do you love the school, program, other activities, etc. in order to stay there. Starting over somewhere else is costly as not every course/credit transfers. They don't give a participation trophy for just showing up - you have to want to be there and accomplish something, then you earn one.  That should be enough to get you in the front door of your next challenge/step in life.

I think that Baseballfan1965 gave you some really good advice in this thread Aiden.   I would suggest that you not take the trip to Dallas Baptist.  I have developed the opinion over this past year with my son's recruitment that prospect camps on college campuses are of little benefit unless you have had direct communication with the staff of that program and they are specifically inviting you to come to their camp for a work out.   

My son had to decide in a doctor’s office in February not to play his redshirt senior year. He still went to home games. He hung out at a few practices. At graduation he commented being a regular student wasn’t so bad. He joked he “wasted” four years of his time with baseball.

Actually, it was a crushing decision. He had to decide to play and risk not walking properly the rest of his life. He chose a second surgery. But, he did enjoy his day not being rushed.

He decided not to apply for a medical redshirt. After five years of college and two degrees it was time to hit the real world. He had used up his five to play four entering college coming off an injury.