What would you like to ask a college coach about recruiting?

Xan,

Interesting thread and good luck with the video or book.

 

For me and my son, the baseball recruiting part was pretty straight forward.  Over time, I think recruits learn where their skills are valued and not valued.  We didn't have a problem with that.  It was more about the athletic and academic fit

 

I have many thoughts on the "get real answers to", but I just start you off with one that is near and dear to my heart, because I thought many coaches weren't exactly realistic  about the true time commitment (including travel) during the off-season and in-season.  Recruits and some parents have little knowledge or experience about the real time commitment involved especially with some demanding majors.  This would be my first question.....realistically, how much class time am I going to miss?  Has this been a problem in the recent past for my major?  Do you expect me to play summer college baseball and take a class online to catch up? 

 

 

...and as a follow up to fenwaysouth's question.

 

What do you do when you have a player who is taking science or engineering courses and he can only schedule labs in the afternoon when they typically conflict with baseball practices. How do you handle this within your program.

 

Thanks!

Xan....very cool idea and something that I'm sure will go over well.  Fortunately for us, I had a close friend who has a son (now college junior) who went thru this process with big D1's a few year's before my son's recruiting started so I was able to watch & learn from him.  It was a tremendous help.  Without the things he told/taught us, I'm not sure my son would be getting the D1 looks that he's getting now.  My son is on a good travel team now with a bunch of kids who are getting recruited by some D1's.  It's amazing to hear the questions the other parents are asking (kids are seniors to be)....and sit back and think "wow, they really don't know that...that's something they should have done 2 years ago"....but then I realize that if it hadn't been for my friend, I'd likely be in that same spot. 

Hi Coach. Very interesting thread. Heres my question. Do parents send you and other coaches video of their son's. If so is that something you actually look at? How about youtube profiles? How about emails from parents?

Here are a few questions I think you should consider addressing:

1-What should I do the summer before I arrive on campus? Rest? Summer School? Is it different for position players compared to pitchers?

2-How and when do coaches cut players (i.e. straight cut, "counsel out", fall, early spring etc..)

3-How are the recruiting rules different for JC players?  Can a JC player attend a specific college  prospect camp?

4-How is performance discussed at the end of the season and what kind of comments should concern a player?

 

If you're interested in an out of shape 24 year old ex-decent LHP with a scar on his elbow and a bum shoulder, let me know. I know the perfect guy.

I hear he throws a wicked Eephus!  

       
       


He can throw an inning a month. He'll need two weeks in the hospital after each outing, followed by a week of rest and a week of preparation. Then, repeat. It'll be a good inning though!

Based on recent horror stories I have heard:

 

- who pays the medical/PT bills when I get injured?

 

- what happens to my scholarship if I get injured?

 

- is this a one year, or a 4 year deal?

 

- what pitch limit guidelines do you follow in a tournament?

 

- have you ever cut a scholarship player from your active roster?

 

Question from California:  looking at your roster, I see a lot of TN kids and most of the rest from nearby states.  But you've got a kid from NH, another from Michigan, and one from CA.  How did you find those players?  Or maybe the question is, how did they find you?

Will you give a four-year guarantee on my scholarship?

I would ditto exactly the same questions Fenway south asked?

Of the kids who made it to your program, how were they initially put on your "watch" list?  ie, tip from someone you knew/trusted; contact from player directly; call from coach; player came to a camp you were at; accidentally saw them while watching a game etc? 

 

Approximate % break-down would be helpful.

 

adding to nsa9005's.....Do you actively and "actually" recruit from camps that you host and camps that others schools host where you or your staff participate?

Xan,

 

Best of luck with your project.

I love the fact that a college coach is willing to publicly provide frank answers to parent's/player's questions.  Since my kid is a JUCO pitcher, I'd be interested in knowing how 4 year colleges identify a JUCO player? I have heard directly from a former D1 coach that "who you know" is more important in getting the attention of 4-yr college coaches. This former coach has assisted several HS and JUCO players get placed at various colleges. Is that your experience when it comes to JUCO players? 

Follow up question in regards to the JUCO guys.......Do you wait until they finish their soph yr or do you pursue them their Freshman yr if you like what you see?

Coach,

I would like to see more players and their families understand the difference between an A, B and C recruit. This would kind of let them know where they stand in the process with different coaches.  The A recruit being the coaches priority, the B being second if the player commits elsewhere and that the C is the last resort if A and B don't come through.

Also would like to see a better explanation given to players regarding walk on status (no money), what it REALLY means to an individual player.

Thanks

Coach - I would ask, as I did to a D1 head coach recently at a camp.

How much value do you put on the independent scouting network companies like PG and PBR?

Reply I got, after a chuckle, that they do consider, yet still consult more in their circle of trustworthy contact's recommendations.

Thanks

Coach, I hope since you asked us to ask questions and several have replied, you come back here and answer at least some of them.

 

My question is about summer ball, how does that work as far as where a player goes? who decides, College coach, player, parent (since I am assuming they are footing the bill)? and who is expected to do the research on that summer team?

BOF,

 

In general (may be slightly different from school to school), players shouldn't have a class conflict until they're upperclassmen.  When you're a freshman or sophomore, you are usually taking standard classes that are offered multiple times throughout the day.  (We try to have all of our guys finish class before 12:00)  However, upperclassmen may have class conflicts and in that case they just have to miss practice.  If it is a position player they may condition or hit with a coach individually when they have free time.  If it is a pitcher, they may schedule a bullpen with the pitching coach when they're free.  You just have to accomodate their schedule the best we can.  As a general rule though, players DO NOT miss class to go to practice.

 

rroque,

 

Most definitely!  College coaches get COUNTLESS email about players on a daily basis.  A few years ago DVDs were huge and players sent them all the time.  Now it's much more common to receive a link to a YouTube video which is much more convenient for coaches to watch.  Coaches definitely have interactions with parents, especially if there is going to be a scholarship offered.  However, I think in the beginning, when the family and the coaching staff are getting to know each other, the coaches would rather speak to the player.  It's one thing for a parent to say "My son is really interested in coming to your school", and a player saying "Coach, I really want to play for you."

 

Jerry,

 

Thanks!  I just visited Lake Point this past week for WWBA 17U and it's awesome!  Really cool facility!

Just thought I would clarify Xan's statement "As a general rule though, players DO NOT miss class to go to practice."  Actually, it's an NCAA violation to miss class to attend practice, unless the practice is in conjunction with a game (hitting on the home field prior to a game against the team across town), or for players of the home team hosting a conference or NCAA championship contest.

Okay I was wondering. I'm a soon to be sophmore. 1.9 pop time as a catcher. Is my pop time normal?