Recruiting services

I was at the showcase in Florence this weekend and watched some aggressive recruiters trying to get folks to sign with them, they were taking videos, still pictures and taking notes and using the old speed gun on many players that I guess they hope to sign. I have my own feelings on this and know what more then a few college softball coaches think about them But would like to see what the TBR family thinks.

 

dont care much for them...

...a recruiter sent a letter to one of my daughters telling her he had watched her play in a high school game and just wanted her to know that she would never be recruited to play DI ball because she wasn't fast enough. the letter was unsolicited, unasked for and just stupid. now, for the rest of the story. the little lady is playing DI ball and the letter still hangs from the side of the refrigerator. great motivational object. i do not care much for them but i do think there is a place for them. some kids do not have the economic wherewithall to travel all summer and fall. the fee at the time of the letter to use this service was between $2000 and $3000 dollars.

 

Why pay someone to do for you what you can do for yourself?

Fish

 

I stay away from them. I know several kids that have signed up with different services. I know of one kid that signed up as a 9th grader, and was told prior to her freshman season that she would never be able to play at a big D1 school that she had dreams of playing at. That may be the case, but why do you ruin someones dreams 3 years before that decision will be finalized? The reason, because you know you can get them in somewhere that you have a contact and that is willing to use the service you provide.

I also talked to a college coach about the services. That coach's response was, some coaches really use them, but I pretty much ignore their mass emails and mailings of player profiles. I want to hear from the kids. I want kids that are interested in my program and my school, not just playing in college.

 

Bingo!

Now if there is someone that has the credibility and the respect of the college scouts, then I can see some merit to this. However, there is nothing that can't be found with a little work and asking questions.

One thing that can cut through the recruiting jungle is to play for a coach that has those connections. But there are many ways to get to the next level without going through a recruiting service.

 

ncsa sports

Love them. We worked out a deal 700.00 for her sophmore year thru senior year. makes it easy to send transcript and report cards to them and they post them.COACHES huddle every 6months,all your questions answered,keeps all her softball information at one place,going to a showcase just mash print andtake her one page profiles to the showcase


worked great so far
c-rhae

 

Crystal ball?

How can anyone tell a 9th grader that she won't play at the D1 level? Girls change, their bodies change, they get faster, stronger and more determined as they grow. The changes in my daughter from 9th grade to now 11th grade are quite measurable. Spend the $2k-$3k on hotels, food, gas and a good travel team. A much better investment and she'll make memories and friends that will last a lifetime. No recruiter can give her those.

 

Everybody has a right to their own opinion, and I'm cool with that, .........so I want to ask the 5 folks who "voted" as loving the recruiting services to help those of us who are not fans of this type of service. With respect, thanks for your opinion.

Fishpappy

 

This is a subject I have struggled with of late....

I have a son who is a D1 pitcher, he is 6'4” and threw 87-88 mph in high school. He garnered a lot of interest through his size and velocity. His opportunities were obvious, he didn't need a recruiting service.

My 2013 daughter is very talented, she is a hard worker who loves to practice and is determined to play fast pitch beyond high school. However she is not a 6'1” lefty throwing 65. She does not, at this point, have the obvious attraction of schools like her “big” brother.... Hope that makes sense?

If she plays in college GREAT(!), if she doesn't that's okay too!.... My role is to help her achieve her goals and find a school that fits her desires and needs... That may mean a smaller school of which there are many.

I think most people would agree, the most basic component of recruiting is to generate interest.

Like Cheeze105 I too have heard D1 coaches say that they don't even open the recruiting envelopes which contain the packages (video, profiles, schedule etc) of 25 players all in ONE ENVELOPE addressed to the head coach – how personal is that?!!!. It's a mass mailing. These are the $3,500 plus services......

Definitely coaches want to hear of genuine interest in their school from the player. No doubt about it, some schools are turned off by recruiting services...

It's obvious that many of these recruiting services employee highly trained sales people that are quite apparently pitching a sale. To me, they can be quite annoying and you can see right through their bs...

A few years ago, I met a gentlemen who owns and operates a recruiting service. It's a small service, he is the only employee.... His cost was around half of the above referenced number and you make three installment type payments. The cost was the same if you signed up as a freshman or signed up as a senior. If you do not receive an offer you did not pay the last installment. Players must be evaluated before they are accepted into the program. There is no guarantee at what level an offer you will receive. He works exclusively with the player to determine what the player wants; to try and determine the best fit for the player. He has worked with way more baseball than softball players.....

Could someone like the gentlemen described help my daughter generate interest?

Sure, I can do much of this on my own. I did it with my son – video, questionnaires, letters all that stuff.... I'm not lazy, but can I do it as effectively as a recruiting service? Do I have the time and ability? Can I find ALL of the opportunities available to my daughter?

I LOVE showcase ball and in my opinion it's an important part of the process even with a recruiting service.

Part of me hates them, but I can see potential pluses and minuses with recruiting services and I think the benefit can vary from player to player and from service to service.

I apologize for the novel, good topic.....


~ Rest In Peace Coach Chandler ~