A Couple of Thoughts

For those of you who don't know me, my son played his high school baseball just under 10 years ago, and he went through the recruiting process that many of you might be experiencing now. Because of the increasing passage of time, I don't comment on boards like this nearly as much as I once did. Many of you whose experience is more recent are in a much better position to help others with your insight than I. However, at times, a "nugget" or two will come to mind; ones that shake me from my message board "slumber."

In this instance, it came up because an old friend on the High School Baseball Web had encouraged the father of a West Coast player to write me to pose a question about the practicality of his son being recruited by an East Coast school. His son had recently received a questionnaire from the East Coast school.

Part of what I shared with him went something like this:

"... Unfortunately, I can't speak to that staff's plans for scouting West Coast camps and showcases this summer. However, I'd strongly recommend that your son write a personal note to the lead recruiter as he returns the questionnaire, expressing his appreciation and informing him of the specific venues that are planned where he can be seen. Even if their schedules don't correspond, all of these coaches are part of a nationwide network of friends (college recruiters and professional scouts); each glad to help evaluate a player for one another. That's the main reason that so many on this website say, "You never know who might be watching."

That paragraph carries a couple of messages:

(1) That a player should not be shy about expressing his interest in those schools/programs that are of genuine interest to him. That interest should always be communicated by the player, himself; and it's always preferable that he personalize the message as best he can. Nothing goes in a recruiter's trash can faster than some canned communication that, quite obviously, has been sent in exactly that form to a bunch of schools.

(2) The phrase "you never know who's watching" refers less to not knowing whether a particular recruiter or scout is going to be present than it does to who in a recruiter or scout's network is going to be there.

The lead recruiter for a Division I program in Florida once told me the following story: One afternoon during a legion or showcase game, a highly followed shortstop seemed to be only going through the motions. Afterwards, this recruiter asked him what had caused his lackadaisical play. The player replied, "Frankly, I had a hard time getting motivated because I'd expected Florida State's recruiter to be here, and he wasn't." The DI recruiter nodded and said his good byes. Little did the player know that this DI recruiter had been the college teammate and roommate of Florida State's lead recruiter; and, the Florida State recruiter, knowing that his friend's program wasn't actively recruiting a top shortstop that year, had made a point earlier in the week of asking his old roommate to evaluate the shortstop for him.

Of course, it works in the opposite direction, as well. A recruiter who has no immediate need for a particular type of player will often pick up the phone and call a friend at another school; having been impressed by a player's performance and knowing that the program he's calling is interested in players of that type.

 

Amazing story, Prep. You are the best and thank you for taking the time to inform us. Please don't be a stranger...I'm finally getting itsinthegame posting again.

For years your sage advice has helped many families.

 

I agree with Braves, Prepster. I always enjoy your insightful posts. Keep 'em coming.

 

great insight prepster! Networking takes place and often times many programs have "trusted people" that look for prospects and teh word gets out.