Recruiting question

My question involves communications between college coach, HS player and HS coach. Perhaps “prepster” (veteran), or HS or college coaches can help guide this discussion.

NCSAsports.org website says about the Junior’s spring season, “…DI, DII, DIII, and NAIA coaches will want to see you play live this spring to help them decide where you rank on their list of recruits. Make sure you are calling coaches and sending them your season schedule. Coaches who are interested in evaluating you will come out to your game….”

I’ve heard and read that college coaches want to deal with the players, not parents. Players should manage the contact with college coaches. If you are a starting position player, it should be easier.

But what if you are a HS junior pitcher? How do you manage that relationship triangle between you, your HS coach, and the college interested in you? It's a critical time for you. I’m assuming that you’re a starter, you’ve worked out your rotation schedule, or starting dates with your HS coach in advance. HS coach says you are starting. College coach confirms he’s coming. College coach maybe even calls HS coach that morning. HS Coach confirms player is starting. Player gets on the bump and shows off his stuff.

Is that the way it typically works? Who is responsible if the schedule or rotation changes? (I’m assuming it’s the HS coach, correct?)

Any limits, restrictions, warnings, or gotcha’s on communications? (before July 15th is it once per week for player, correct? what about coaches?)

Thanks in advance.

 

Great questions. I'll chime in this weekend

 

Correct. Although there will be a time when the parent will become involved, initial contact should be handled between coach and player---for many reasons. I've seen several times when an aggressive parent has completely "turned off" the interest level of a coach.

'Manage?"..there is really nothing to manage. The recruiter will stay in contact with your HS coach letting him know their interest level. Unless you attend a school's camp as an undergrad, it is difficult to know what is their interest level. It's also one that can change quickly depending on improved skills. The college coaches will determine what one's relationship will become. I can promise you that the higher the skill level, the recruiting landscape changes dramatically from one with lesser demonstrated skills. That's one of the reasons that each family faces different experiences. But back to your original question, the recruiters stay in contact with the player's HS coach and/or summer/fall coach depending on the relationship.

You are correct. This includes his summer/fall coach, as well. Most players are "scouted" during the summer/fall than the HS season. HS season is used more for "follow up" with already recruited players and next year's recruiting class. Schools do reserve scholarship money for players they may find that improved dramatically or 'flew under the radar." Of course, I'm referring more towards the D1 programs. D2 and D3 are much more aggressive during the HS season with their recruiting--especially with seniors.

July 1st, following their junior year, they may contact you in person and they may call once per week. Prior to July 1st they have unlimited email access.

I'll add more to my next post

 

One area I would like to mention is in regard to recruiting letters. If you receive one, congratulations. It means you are on that school's radar. But don't get too excited about it. There were many other players that received that same letter. In reality, the only thing that matters is an offer and the NLI. Until that happens, the letter let's you know thet you have just started the "recruiting process." Congratulations and I hope you enjoy the recruiting ride!

The two things to always keep in mind during this process:

1. It's a business and you should treat it as such. Relationships are important and the one you find is a good fit between the coach and your son is important, but that relationship can change quickly for many reasons. How one feels about a coach and where that enters the decision process is one area that enters the decision, but it is not at the top of the list.

2. The most important area to consider is the academics. Is that school the right fit? That should be the main priority of attending college and baseball helps to reduce the college tuition.

If one can keep academics as the no.1 priority, the easier it is to read between the lines of all letters, contacts and statements made during the recruiting to spot the BS and know the sincerity of a school's interest in your son. But the bottom line is college baseball is a business for the coaches. It's their livelihood. They want players they believe will make them winners. Is that your no.1 priority? Maybe, for some, it is: Everyone wants to play for a winner. But I hope your no. 1 priority in selecting a school is for academics. That will impact your son's future livelihood long after the cleats are hung up.

 

Braves given your answers would you then recommend taking an honest look at academics and baseball skills and then going to camps at those schools.

 

Not speaking for Braves here, but absolutely. Don't go to Stanford's camp if you can't get into the school. You need to look for a match between your ability to be successful in the class room and on the field and you need to be really honest in your own assessment of that process.

So the first question this raises "if that is true, how do these kids commit to colleges before that?" Here are the keys to that (outside talent and fit)

1. you (player) can call them as much as you want. If they answer the phone all is ok. They cannot call you back or email you back. They can only email you camp invites and/or recruiting questionnaires until that same date. They may begin sending you email recruiting contact after Sept 1st of your Junior year.
2. They may speak to you at will ON Their Campus. Schedule a visit, go see the school, call the coach and tell them you are coming. Go to their camp if the above stuff is true.
3. They can talk to your HS and travel coach. If either of your coaches have a great relationship with the coach at the school you want to attend have them reach out to that coach and gauge interest.
4. Don't go to camps just to go. If you honestly can't play or go to school at Stanford save your money.
5. If you have not read this and you are a parent of a kid interested in playing at the next level then spend time reading it. It is a great resource and is up to date with rule changes. See page 20-22 for recruiting calendar.
   1. 1. http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/CBSA.pdf
6. register at the eligibility center if you are a sophomore or older.

It has been talked about many times here on TBR.....if you pick the school because of baseball and for whatever reason you end up not playing there, will you be happy finishing school there and is it the degree and environment you would imagine if you were not an athlete. If no, then you better keep looking around.

 

great post baseball3x----very timely, too.

 

Phone calls

"The recruiter will stay in contact with your HS coach letting him know their interest level.... But back to your original question, the recruiters stay in contact with the player's HS coach and/or summer/fall coach depending on the relationship."

What if the player is told when he is pitching that week.....Player lets recruiter know Monday when he is pitching......Recruiter calls high school coach (the morning of the game)to confirm/discuss......High school coach doesn't return the telephone call....... Recruiter drives three hours to the high school game and the pitcher does not pitch?

 

I would suspect said recruiter would not be happy. If it were my son and his coach this would be my advise. Son, you called Recruiter X on Monday to say you are pitching Wednesday. Make sure that is still the case. If not, and something changes you better call him right away and tell him. You should also make sure HS Coach X knows he is coming and to please let you or Recruiter X know if anything changes.

All that being said, you can't control if a coach, HS or College is going to return calls. You can hope, but can't control anyone's actions but your own. So if you know far enough in advance call the coach.

 

Thanks for the input

Thanks for the input Braves and BX3.