Parents of Committed Players?

Lessons Learned

Since my son just committed today, this is all very fresh. It might be better to wait 6 months before commenting, but in my aging condition I'll have forgotten everything by then.

1. If Kenny May has a boot camp three days before Christmas get your son there. Not only did my son learn a ton and have a blast, but Coach May was directly responsible for helping him get on two showcase teams during his high school years.

2. Entering your senior season without having committed does not mean it won't happen. Some kids need that last season to show how their bodies have matured and skills have developed. Remember that early commitments get all the publicity, but it doesn't make them the norm.

3. Sending video to coaches can work. My son got significant interest from a good program just because they liked what they saw from a 2 minute video we sent of his swing. That led to an invitation to visit and try out.

4. Let go of any illusion that you have any control over this process. We went to college camps where my son played great and it led to nothing. On the other hand, a recruiter showed up at a legion scrimmage and fell in love with my son. You just never know. You have to play hard and work on improvement and let the process unfold.

5. We chased the dream hard for the last year. Did we do more than we needed to? I don't know. But sharing the trips/experiences with my son over these months has been one of the most fantastic experiences of my life. Worth every penny.

6. The North Carolina baseball scene is filled with terrific people. Twice this spring during games opposing coaches have told my son they made calls to colleges for him. My son doesn't even know these men, but they were impressed with his play against their teams and knew he was uncommitted. Can't tell you how much that means to me as a parent.

7. Thanks to Jere Morton, one of my son's high school coaches, who worked tirelessly on his behalf. J4 gets married next weekend and it will be my honor to perform the ceremony. I'm also grateful to Freddy Suggs and Dave Brown who coached his showcase teams, and Ronnie Powell who was his legion head coach. My son was fortunate to have encountered so many people who gave their time and knowledge to help send him to the next level.

8. Don't start your kid in kindergarten when he is 4. Sigh.

Sorry to ramble on. Hope someone benefits from something I've said.

 

Congrats

People want to help good kids. You know the ones that look you in the eye and say "yes sir." The ones that when your talking look you in the eye and pay attention. The ones that show respect to those that are trying to help them. The ones that show respect for the game and those that coach it and play it. The ones that have that gleam in their eye's when they step on a baseball field. The ones that truly love the game of baseball. The ones that dont act like or think that for some reason the game owes them something. The ones that come up to you and thank you for allowing you to work their butt off three days before Christmas.

Yes people want to help those kids. Kids like your son. Congrats to your boy I look forward to keeping up with him throughout his college days. He is going to be a great college player. He is already a great young man.

 

tons of great advice here given by some of our best minds!

my small addition and it goes with what Coach was talking about...

Never say NO until you have a YES in your pocket!

 

Grades Grades Grades

By the way, did I mention grades?

My son had some great opportunities because of his grades. (Thankfully he got his mothers ability to do well in school.)

-The high academic schools can't even look at you without good grades.

-All of the other schools were looking at grades to help raise the team GPA and show their administrations they cared about academics (including the ACC
schools).

- Two players with about the same skill set, the one with better grades has another positive differentiator.

-Statistically, you have a better chance of getting hit by lightning than making it big in the major leagues. Get a good degree from a school you love as a "back up" plan just in case you don't make millions in the bigs...

Did I mention good grades help you do this?

 

Recruiting Advice

I had never noticed this post before but after reading it, all of the advice is right on. My son who is finishing up his junior season, made his decision on opening day of this season. We made the list of his top 10 colleges the summer after his sophomore season. He was very fortunate to make the State Games team as a sophomore and that opened up a lot of opportunities. So tip #1 - work hard and if the State Games is an opportunity for your son, jump on it. There are a hundred or more scouts and college coaches there - a great opportunity to be seen by a lot of people in one venue.

#2 Have your son contact the colleges he is interested in. Our son wrote a letter at the beginning of the summer, expressing his interest in their baseball program and also forwarded a schedule of his team and where they would be playing, just in case they were there. You may not receive a reply from all of them, but you might be surprised how many coaches will remember their name when they see them at a big event and take notice.

#3 Respond to all letters/e-mails, no matter how big or small the school. Let them know you respect their program and the time they took to contact you. It is just common courtesy.

#4 Compete with and against the best. This will show you where you really stack up. Then sit down and be realistic. Do you just want to go to school or do you want to PLAY!!! And first and foremost - you must have the grades. Without them - some schools won't even look.

#5. Study the school's rosters and see what positions they may be looking for. Versatility is a great thing. If you can play more than one position, you only increase your chances of earning a spot. Let them know what skills you possess. You may not get the chance to show them all in a game.

#6. Camps - I heard many different opinions on camps and while they benefit many - we did not attend any. We chose to invest in the showcase team route - but I would recommend if it is a school that your son is REALLY interested in, it would be worth the time and money to go, merely to see how the coaching staff runs the program. Then there would be no surprises down the road.

#7 Get on campus - make as many visits as needed, but I do believe that many times the kids know when they have found a school that "fits". It feels right and they need to feel good about the school- just in case there is an injury or other instance that leads to Plan B. Go watch the team practice and play. Make note of the coaches and how they are on game day. When they have you on campus for a visit - they are salesmen. Game time is real life. Talk to current players about the program.

#8 Best advice from two friends (who happened to get drafted in 2009) - "Go to a program that wins, it's no fun to lose". That may sound simple and even though no one knows what a team will be doing two years down the road - their track record to success isn't usually a fluke.

#9 Don't go to a school, just for the coach. He may not be there in 2 - 3 years. Go because you want to be a part of the program - and want to further your education.

#10 Enjoy the process. It seems like a long time, but it happens really fast. Talk to those who have been there, learn from their mistakes. Listen, ask questions and use what applies to your situation. Enjoy the ride and remember, it is your son's experience - not yours. Use your knowledge and expertise to help inform them, but let the ultimate decision be his.

Good Luck to all!!!

 

Outstanding post! You may be surprised how many people it will help

 

Bump for PMD

here is the whole thread

 

The more I studied college baseball the more I like Community College. There are many reasons.

1. Cost
2. Small classes
3. Many, many, many players find they are in a situation they do not like. Many find baseball is not what they thought, they cannot keep up with their studies, or they are down on the depth chart, or just do not like the school or the coach. At a CC you can transfer after 1 or 2 years with no repercussions. If they do transfer they didn't spend an arm and a leg at a private school first.
4. There are alot of good baseball played in CC.
5. Player knows where his talent can take him after his time at CC and can make a much more informed, mature decision on where he wants to complete his studies and baseball. There is great exposure from 4 year institution.