Over Recruiting

You're right, of course. I'm a UNC fan, and I admit, Tar Heel fans routinely over-analyze every aspect of a team's recruiting habits. Go to any UNC message board and the discussion is about:whose coming, whose going?, whose transferring?, whose committed?, whose signed?, etc, etc. It's hard to ignore all the talk about it. You don't hear as much from other programs. South Carolina, East Carolina, Coastal, Clemson, probadly struggle with the numbers also. On the flip side, it's also really hard on the recruits with regards to the top programs. If I commit to this school, will I play? and how fast? and other factors.

 

All the teams you named, plus a number more once you leave our region, face the very same challenge; and, you're right, it's tough on coaches and players, alike.

However, there is one thing I'd say to any player who's thinking about playing at the highest collegiate level: it takes more than ability to succeed. One of the most important additional traits is a passion for competing against the best and a corresponding desire to be in the midst of players who share the same passion.

As has been discussed on this board in a number of threads, that translates into not only competition against the guys in the opposing dugout; but, day in and day out, against teammates for position and playing time.

When the roster is made up almost entirely of all-state players, no one who comes in is accustomed to doing anything other than starting up to the point that they arrive. However, once they join the roster of a team that's capable of competing for the national championship, some of the former all-staters are going to have to sit...until they can prove that they're good enough in that setting to demand playing time.

As a former college pitcher with whom I am quite close once described it to me: "You have to make the coach play you." In other words, you have to perform to a level that requires that the coach put you on the field.

Needless to say, it's not for the faint of heart or the prima donna.

 

change the decison deadline?

would it help to have MLB agree to move the decision date (to sign or go to college) from the current Aug 15th up to sometime in July? maybe give about a month or 6 weeks after the draft?

and isn't the slot money ballooning a bit from what was anticipated?

 

Wow, really enjoyed reading this post. Great info!!

 

Well said!

 

has been , is and will be part of the college game. Coaches simply have no choice. There is no way a college coach can know for sure how many players he will have the next season during that season. Who will be drafted you expect to be drafted? What type of year will they have? Who will have the type of year that will cause them to be drafted that summer? Who will sign? Where will they be drafted? Injuries. Academic issues with players. Players that decide they need to move on somewhere else. Players the coaching staff decides need to move on for many reasons. The list goes on and on. If you only recruit and sign based on how many sr's you have leaving you are going to be in serious trouble. You try and fill the needs you feel you will have for your program but there is no way to know exactly what you are going to be dealing with. So you have to recruit more players than you have space for at that time. And then you hope it all works out. Sometimes it does. And sometimes it does not. Thats just the way it is and the way its going to be.

Every player is not going to have a good experience. That is simply a fact of life. Some decide that it is better for them to move on to another school that is a better fit for them. It could be for academic reasons. It could be for baseball reasons. It could be a combo of both. It could be for any number of reasons. All you can do as a parent is help your kid make the best decision possible and then support them. If it works out great. If it does not work out then you start the process again and assist them to the best of your ability.

If you get stopped then you punt. You play great defense. You get the ball back and you score the next time you have the ball. It really is that simple imo. If your afraid to compete then college basebal is not for you. I dont care what school you go to. If your afraid to fail you will never succeed. There are many reasons kids transfer. There are many reasons a college coach will sign a big class. Base your decision on what you feel is the best fit for you. Both academically and for baseball as well. Give it your all and then see where it all plays out. There is no perfect answer in all of this because every kid is different , every situation is different.

I would never tell a kid not to take a shot at his dream school. If he gets the chance to play for his dream school and he wants to take on that challenge then fine. I have always said your dream school is the one that gives you the opportunity to continue to play this game at the same time giving you the opportunity to get a college degree.

Every player is different. Some the JUCO route is the best option for them. Some that D2 or D3 program is the best route for them. Some that D1 program is the best route for them. And some have to punt. But thats ok.

 

Good stuff here guys...great job.

To me this is what makes the board relevant. You have many people that have been through the process and they are willing to come back and provide advice to those going through the process for the first time.

Thanks to Prepster, Coach27, KarlRocket, pirate05 and to all the people that continue to contribute. I hope you realize how much you are helping others.

Coach Kenny May (Coach27) does not come though here as much as before, but when he does, I listen....and always enjoy his posts. Thanks buddy!

 

bottom line

Think about it. The coach's job is on the line each and every day. What have you done for us lately?

 

When your kid is in HS and you talk to parents whose kid is playing ball in college they would always say "the player needs to love the game". Being on the college side of it now and listening to my son talk about his typical day really drives home the point that if they dont love it...have that passion for it...they will never make it. Every minute of every day is planned out and I mean every day all school year long not just in season.

 

I agree with Dawgswood, you have to LOVE the game. It also helps if your coaches love it even more than you do. Ran across this video of a coach I don't know, but I'm sure many of you probably do. He has the big picture and sounds like he's instilling it in the younger guys too. Don't sweat the small stuff - enjoy the ride and look for that coach who loves it too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcgFZaoPgSs