Floridafan-
I say follow your instincts on this one. If your son wants to try it this way and feels good about it, I say go for it. On my sons team last year the last guy to get cut (recruited walk-on) talked with the coaches about remaining on the practice team, by the end of the second half of the season, he was starting. The conversation he had with the coaches was all heart and they gave him another chance, with no promises - but he set his mind to it and did it. It was a beautiful thing.
floridafan,
You've probably heard the right words. We've only read them, so there is no way to really guage their sincerity. That he said to you "if another better money offer comes along to consider it", gives him some credibility to me.
Three years ago a coach told me that "he's giving my son an opportunity. What he does with it is up to him."
I knew the words were sincere and my son took the opportunity.
The coach can't predict the players that will actually show up, the one's that will flunk out, get hurt, or not recover in time.
They really don't know what the starting nine will be until they make the lineup out on the first day.
In most programs, if he's solid defensively and can HIT in the top nine, he'll play on game day.
Look for small opporunities to participate as a freshman, a pinch hit here and there, pinch run, defensive substitution late in the game. If you son does well with those opprotunities, others will come his way.
The level of play steps up a notch. Most coaches find a way to work a player into the lineup when they won't be overwhelmed and have an opporunity to succeed.
And when it happens, as ihearbb says, "it is a beautiful thing."
You've probably heard the right words. We've only read them, so there is no way to really guage their sincerity. That he said to you "if another better money offer comes along to consider it", gives him some credibility to me.
Three years ago a coach told me that "he's giving my son an opportunity. What he does with it is up to him."
I knew the words were sincere and my son took the opportunity.
The coach can't predict the players that will actually show up, the one's that will flunk out, get hurt, or not recover in time.
They really don't know what the starting nine will be until they make the lineup out on the first day.
In most programs, if he's solid defensively and can HIT in the top nine, he'll play on game day.
Look for small opporunities to participate as a freshman, a pinch hit here and there, pinch run, defensive substitution late in the game. If you son does well with those opprotunities, others will come his way.
The level of play steps up a notch. Most coaches find a way to work a player into the lineup when they won't be overwhelmed and have an opporunity to succeed.
And when it happens, as ihearbb says, "it is a beautiful thing."
Bright futures and Hope programs are earned tuition dollars from the state, usually funded by the lottery.
In addition in FL, if you are with in the top 20 in your class, you are guaranteed admission to a state funded school, not necessarily the one you desire.
In addition in FL, if you are with in the top 20 in your class, you are guaranteed admission to a state funded school, not necessarily the one you desire.
quote:Floridafan posted: So long as they play the top 9 then my Son has an opportunity to earn one of those spots if he has the talent and work ethic.
That's the ideal situation. The cream rises 99.9% of the time. Alot of people forget that while the quality of baseball is heads and shoulders above high school, college baseball is not comparable to professional baseball in terms of team depth, and has alot of parity through the top 50 or 60 teams. There might be seperation in the top 5 or 10 teams mostly in terms of pitching, but the rest are very close in overall talent.
The top position players on most teams are easily and quickly identified and fit in a two-door compact car.
quote:Originally posted by jbbaseball:
Infield08 has some AWESOME info.
I am just wondering though, how much "past" info regarding recruited walk-ons is going to apply in today's new recruting environment of smaller roster and limited schollys. I think some teams are going to have to use recruited walkons that didn't have to in the past. This may mean you MAY have difficulty finding historical information from SOME programs in this area.
In any case, GOOD Luck!!!
A very good point. There will be lots of "offers" of non-funded roster spots. Nothing will be binding on the school or player. Both sides will have to take a leap of faith. The player must trust that the spot will be there. The school must trust that the kid will actually show up.
There is currently no track record to look to with regard to fully funded programs. Probably 99% of their kids were getting some amount of money in the past, and therefore signed NLI's. Some schools will be honor their verbal commitments to non-scholarship players. Others will not. Reputations will develop quickly.
I hear from many of you that things are picking up, official visits set, offers coming in!
Way to go folks!
Patience.
Way to go folks!
Patience.
TPM... you have such great posts. Look forward to reading them and have gotten some great advice. The roller coaster is just starting..thanks
I think things are about to heat up for the D-I programs as this weekend they can be back on the road---I do know my phone has been ringing regarding our playing in the PG Qualifier on Long Island this weekend.
Also we have had players on visits to Division II and III programs in recent weeks
get ready for the fun
Also we have had players on visits to Division II and III programs in recent weeks
get ready for the fun