Over Recruiting

I've been reading all the posts pertaining to over recruiting. It is a normal process at alot of the big schools. They bring as many studs in as they can and let it all work out in the wash. If you look at alot of small school rosters you see the transfers from the big name schools. Kids don't transfer because their happy.

What am I trying to say? Do your research -follow the schools you are interested in. Keep up with the number of kids coming in at whatever position. Ask questions! Don't assume because they are bringing you in that you are the only one at that position!

Pitchers are different. D1 schools have a 56 game schedule. They need alot of pitching. But research is required here also. How many freshman normally get to pitch. How many innings do they average? Don't go in blind for the "Name" of the school!

No-all big schools are not bad guys-but they all can draw in alot of talent at anytime!

 

Great points .....

Another question comes to mind while you are talking to "Good Ole State University".

"Coach, what position do you project me as playing at your school?"

You may see yourself as a two-way player ... and the coaches may differ with you. You may be the Shortstop on your HS team, but the coaches think you are better suited to the OF.... or second base.

Lots of good hitting HS Catchers get moved to 1st base in college and shortstops end up in center.

It MAY appear that they are "over-recruiting" at your position, but instead of that, are considering moving a recruit to another position. More likely, you may spend your freshman season behind the current Junior who may go in the draft (and the coach is preparing for the season after).

Other questions: "What percentage of incoming freshmen do you redshirt?" ... maybe some, maybe none....

The more information that you receive on the front end, the happier you will be with your decision so ASK THE QUESTIONS

 

Good points and suggestions from both NCBBall and NCDad. In alot of cases over recruiting is not as obvious as it percieved to be. Just because a school recruits "four high school SS's" for instance does not mean that the college coach is stockpiling SS's. As a mater of fact it would be foolish to have four position players in the same class on a 32 man roster that all played the same position. It would be a waste of the alloted 11.7 scholorships available. More than likely the coach has other positions in mind for those recruits and has communicated that to them.

If coaches are asked direct questions like:
"Where do you feel I fit into your program my freshman year?
Do you feel that I have the ability to contribute significantly my freshman year and in what way?
What does the coach consider significant?"
That could also be followed-up with questions about their soph, jr and sr years.

It was our experience that all coaches when asked direct questions were forthcoming as to their plans for the recruit. While no coach would honestly guarantee a recruit a starting position, he does have a specific plan in mind and will communitate that to the player, IF ASKED. The rest would be up to the player's performance, lack of injuries, etc., after becoming a part of the program..

A better predictor of "over recruiting" is taking a look at the individual program's transfer rate. (Again ask the coaches, who has transfered out of your program and why?) They will answer if asked.

I all boils down to deciding what is the best fit for the player and asking enough questions and doing enough research for the players heart and head to come to the same conclusion.

Thanks,
246

 

Yeppers!

Quality responses here! Nonetheless, UNLESS a player is a sure draft pick obviously staying healthy, their FIRST consideration is their education because this is what they will have to fall back on ultimately! 99% of the players at the collegiate level if after one or four years will be "retired" by graduation and they must come to terms with this realization. Therefore, I believe if you truly have a passion for the game "use" it to your advantage, enjoy it, and get that all important degree! Make sure it is a school they think they can handle academically as welll as a comfortable and secure distance from home for them! Yes consider ALL the previous facts from earlier posts and get a good feel and the "lowdown" on exactly WHO will be your last coach potentiallly! Their are many many great ones out there who are loyal and honest yet if you are in the proverbial loop you know the same holds true for the opposite! Go with your gut instinct/heart and remember if you are a quality person doing all the "right" things then this will come back to you in more ways than one! On the other hand if you are not happy YOU WILL NOT enjoy the collegiate baseball experience inevitably! My suggestion is to go to where you think you can play IMMEDIATELY! The college season is long, and hard when you are not playing period! This may even mean again the JUCO or DIII route. There is nothing wrong with this and still scholarships and the opportunity to transfer will still be an option if you are again DOING all the right things as a student athlete...
Hope this provides another positive perspective to the situation?!...

 

Re: Yeppers!

good answers going here

imo, consider several things:
*are you willing to play the postition they want?
*do you want to play now or wait your turn?
*would you consider/like that school if you were not an athlete?
*how much money are they giving you? (usually directly correlated to how bad they want you) and it matters to your wallet
*has the school produced anything from a winning standpoint?
*has anyone been a succesful pro from there?
*do you feel welcome there?
*how hot are the women on campus?

 

There's a LOT of terrific advice loaded into this relatively short thread.


High school and middle school players: Pay close attention to this one; and, if you have follow-on questions, ask them here.

 

Unfortunately there is such a thing as overrecruiting. There could be as many as twenty or more freshman coming into a school, and that school actually has their fall practice season as a try-out for those freshman. I won't name school names, but when considering schools for our son we marked several schools off his list of interest because we heard stories about local players that had gone there thinking they were recruited to play, but were actually recruited to try-out and didn't make the fall cuts. We heard that both the parents and the player were surprised by what they had gotten into, and they would not have chosen that school had they known exactly how the process at that school was going to work. I would say there are more schools that do not work their recruiting process that way than there are school that do.

 

I had this question brought to me and thought I would re-post this topic

 

Great idea to repost. As I read these posts, I thought they were from the current year. It is interesting how in about 7 years time - things really haven't changed that much. This is a huge resource for those going through the process and should be read by all. Thank you to all those who have been there, and continue to lend their advice and support.

 

These are all great post and answers. In the last ten years, the talent level of high school baseball players in North Carolina has exploded and that is another reason for over-recruitment or large rosters on college teams. That is another reason for the 35 player roster spots the the NCAA instituted. I believe that if you are considering a school strictly for baseball reasons first and academics second, then your decision will be affect accordingly. As parents lets not kid ourselves and think that it is a student first and sports second at the major schools. It is a business for the coaches and schools. If they don't win, but the team has a high graduation rate and GPA, see how long that coach stays employed. If i was a recruit, playing time would be my first question. I would look into how many players are going to be there when i get their. You only have five years to play four seasons and i wouldn't want to sit 3 of those years before i get the chance. With all the very good D1 schools in this area their is somewhere a talented player can play immediately. Again that is what i would do if baseball was my first priority. There is no wrong or right, but a choice that your family has to make.