when to start showcases/school camps

Spider59, when to start usually is dictated by talent level.

Showcasing is really only effective when there is potential for exceptional command of a good portion of the 5 tools.

So examine your sons ability to demonstrate the five tools.

When you feel he is showing good potential for excelling at the 5 tools then start showcasing.

If I had my son to do over again I would have started January of my sons sophomore year at a PG Underclass event and then gone from there.

I also think it is just as important to get on a good travel ball team that regularly sends teams to the important events like 16U USA Baseball Championships, WWBA GA, WWBA Jupiter...

I also think it is imperative that your son start getting comfortable swinging with wood in the summer leagues.

I like college camps after your son has made and participated in the varsity level.

Make sure the college camp has a variety of colleges attending and that the HC and RC are both going to be in attendance.

Good luck and welcome!

Patriot son is a 2013. We are headed to the 16u chamionships in AZ this June. Probably the best event for a player his age. We will also probably do the Jan 2011 PG in San Bernadino. I agree with Playfair. When there is something to show, then show it. Until then work at developing the tools that the recruiters/scouts want to see. Don't get caught up in all this early commit stuff. My opinion is that PG is expensive but they earn their money. They provide a valuable service to the college recruiters and pro scouts. PG ratings take a lot of the leg work off of those guys. Once you have narrowed your list of schools your son is intested in, go to their camp and get some face time. Personal relationships help. Good luck finding the right fit for your son.

"PG ratings take a lot of the leg work off of those guys."

Yep

Spider59, here is what I have found out this year.

Since we have huge high level baseball tournaments all over the country College scouts really don't have to come to high schools anymore. After speaking to a few college coaches, they spend 80% of their time at these summer events, like World Wood Bat Tourn., Best Events and so forth. That is where they get the biggest bang for their buck, they go to an event and get to see about 300 kids in one area for a weekend.

So to answer your question, get your son involved with a summer team that competes on a high level and attends these type of events. Also the National Showcase that PG puts on in December draws tons of attention also. Either way you go is good, why college coaches are off and they attend these events. Great way to get your son noticed.

Every college program has to watch what they spend as do the pro scouts. Basic econ says to spend first on what yields the highest return. HS games are the first to go unless you are a "Blue Chipper" that gets alot of attention. Confused learns fast.

Here is the magic formula - Readers Digest version. Relax you have lots of time. Look at the time line here at this site. Look through all of the stuff on this site.

1. First start a list of the schools he is interested in both academically and baseball. Start the discussions, look at them academically, talk about it. Internet, etc, etc. Stress grades as they are the magic formula, they will open more doors than he can possibly imagine.
2. Enjoy the season and have fun.
3. Find a good summer team to play on and hit the weight room.
4. Fallball find a team and play ball.
5. Soph. Try to make the Varsity squad.
6. 16U Championships in June.
7. Coninue with a competitive team the Soph/Jr. summer. Out in Calif it is Connie Mac not sure about NY.
8. Get on a Jupiter team. (16/17U)
9. Arizona Fall Jr Classic.
10. Get on a fall scout team.
11. Do a camp or two in the fall/Winter at schools he is interested.
12. HS ball.
13. Find a good summer team.
14. Jupiter again.
15. Scout team again.
16. Arizona Fall Sr Classic.
17. Sign his NLI in Nov.

Wow - extremely valuable thoughts from all these responses. We are in the Northeast and there has been huge growth in recent years in travel teams going to Jupiter, East Cobb etc and if my son stays on track will play on a team that goes there. He's a 2013 so all this feedback really helps chart a course over the next 3 years towards the appropriate college level. Thanks.

I left out the single most important event he can do and it is free. Get an invite to the Area Code tryout in his Jr year in your area. He probably won't make the team but being there on the list is incredible. If he does make the team as a Jr, watch out. Same as a Sr actually.

"magic formula" !!!---never knew that there was one

There is one now...providing you can play.

How does one get themselves invited to the Area code tryout? Especially if from a small state like NH...That is the question!

BOF,

Working on number 7 onwards on your magic formula. I believe there is only 1 team in AZ that goes to Jupiter so either RR23 son (2012) tries out for the team or find a team that goes there which is a little harder. Any thoughts (BOF/TRhit) on how to get to join a Jupiter team? Probably would have a local team in the 2010 PG National Championships in Tucson,AZ.

What is best way to get Area code invite?

Spider59,

Good Luck with your son. Sounds like he can be a good fit in RICHMOND!

I should have mentioned the "magic formula" I posted was for a NY player thinking he was more interested in a Eastern to Midwest school. If you are interested primarily in West Coast schools, and $$ are an issue, IMO I don't think you need to go to Jupiter. Personally I think the WWB National Championships in Tucson is a fine replacement. My son played there this year, and it was great even though it was it's first year. I see this becoming an West Coast equivalent to the Jupiter event over time. I have never been to the Jupiter tournament, but everybody here raves about it so it should be good. I would love to go but probably won't make it due to cost and time availability issues.

With all of the contacts here you should be able to find a Jupiter team. PG puts them together also, my son played for a PG team in Tucson (had a great time BTW) as his summer team was not going to this event.

You can go to the Area Code website and sign up for an invite, but you must be recommended by a professional scout. So sign up next year and find a scout to recommend your son. You can find out where they are having a tryout in your area from the website also.

Thank you Mr BOF , I agree that the PG Nationals in Tucson would be the West Coast Equivalent with more West Coast flavor. RR23 son was also invited by PG this past Summer to play for one of their Underclass Teams. He made some good friends with his Cali born teammates as he was the only Arizonan on the team.

Area Code is super, super important..... it does conflict with WWBA GA (for the tryouts on the West coast)


google Area Code Baseball camps

contact Andrew Drennon at Studentsports.com

Hi EV1 ! The Area Code Tryouts? How important are they? I paid for a few travel teams,I paid for a few showcases,my son played for scout teams and after all that not many serious offers came. I went to the web and asked for an invite for an AreaCode tryout in AZ for the Cincinatti Reds tryout. There were 60 to 80 scouts attending.My son hit a good BP and ran a 6.8 60yrd. After that tryout he never got a call to make the team but did get some serious looks from colleges. It was at the areacode tryout that Arizina Western saw my son. A year later and they invited him to campus to hit a couple and field a bit. They showed him the College and offered him a full scholarship, dorms,meals and everything that goes with it I guess. So just getting into the areacode tryouts is a huge deal!!! And they never had ask me for a scout referral. They accepted the invite anyway. So fill out the invite. Can't hurt! and that is a real good formula to follow! Just hustle and enjoy the competition. Also, attend the Sparqs testing events.(IMHO) Especially if your son has speed, strength and athletic ability. He will get some good press if he does well there also. Got to love this game!!! Merry Christmas!! Or Happy Hollidays if you prefer!!

Spider:

You have a PM.

I don't know what a PM is? New to the site. Personal message?

Yes AZALLAN> Private Messaging. I sent you one before. Go in to your Personal Zone or you can see it on top of you home page tabs. It will be labeled PM. I sent you one again

Just stepping in here to address a few items. I like your time line or "magic formula".

There were a few questions that were asked and hopefully I can give a little background since it's NH and NY.

Last year we had 3 or 4 MLB scouts attend our winter workouts, one of them being from the Yankees. The Yankees were the Area Code team from the NE so we had about 10-12 of our players invited to the Area Code Tryouts. Kids get invited by scouts recomendations to the team/scout that is hosting the team.

As far as Jupiter and WWBA goes. unlike TR who has a team in every year because he has been involved since the beginning (of time) I have coached a PG team down there the last 2 years and put a roster together of kids that 1- played for us, 2- are from the area, 3- are from other areas and are looking to go and we have a spot for them. In the past 2 years we have had players from Tenn, 2 from Oklahoma, GA, Missouri, FL, NY, NH, CT, NC, NJ all join us. Many of those I have met right here on the HSBBW.

We have also taken players with us for the 2 weeks in East Cobb to the PG-WWBA 18U and 17U events whom I have met here on the HSBBW and they have actually done very well.

If you are looking to make contact for your son, drop me a line.

www.clippersbaseball.org

Coach Merc,

My son is the one from NH but he is only an incoming freshman (LHP) at the moment. But as he gets older and hopefully continues to develop to the point of being ready to play in the WWBA's in East Cobb or Jupiter I'll be sure to add you to my "beg list"! That is the list of coaches who have teams going to these events that I will "beg" to take my son with them!! TRhit is already on my list!!

redsox

You want your son to develop so that he has the talent to be invited---thus you do not have to "beg"

I am still a year or maybe two from connecting with teams like the Clippers or College Select. Just trying to get information and plan timing so those would be viable conversations at that time. My son is on a good track now but needs to continue to work to get himself in position to make a team like one of those two.