Recruitment Question

For all you members that have already been through this process, what can/should be expected on and after July 1st from the college recruiters?

What should be the proper responses during the 1st contact?
What if you are wanting to explore all the opportunities, yet not wanting a school to wane interest during the time that you are exploring?

Can you also post your personal experiences during your son's recruiting?

 

NCAA Div 1, Baseball Links

Tom, You or some other readers may find this link useful,

http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/membership_svcs/recruiting_calendars/2004-05/D1baseball.html

 

Thanks Marty...good site :xyzthumbs

 

To put July 1st in its proper perspective, it’s helpful to understand how college coaching staffs go about organizing their approach to player selection. Most create 2 or 3 categories divided by recruitment priority; their “A List,” “B List,” and “C List.” As you would expect, it is the “A List” that receives their primary attention on July 1st, the first day they can call rising seniors.

It is invariably the case that the names on “State University’s” “A List” also appear on a number of programs’ “A Lists.” As a result, calls go out to a relatively select few compared with the overall pool of recruited players; and the competition among schools for that relative handful of players is rather intense.

Within the first couple of weeks of July, coaches will learn a good bit about which of their “A List” players are inclined to come their way; and, as they learn that only a few off the top list are attainable, they’ll begin to re-direct their attention to the “B List.”

In the meantime, coaches are still very actively involved in evaluating players at games and showcases. Throughout the summer, player assessments and recruiting priorities are constantly changing for individual programs. As this occurs, names come and go onto and off of their recruiting lists. As a result, players who didn’t make a team’s list on July 1st can suddenly become a high priority.

As a player, you should keep in mind that player evaluation is an imprecise exercise. Also, once on campus, you can count on many things happening that will change the picture. Injuries occur, players lose interest, etc. As a result, a number of less highly recruited players end up making greater contributions than players who were more highly recruited.

So, what advice would I give with respect to July 1st? In a nutshell, I’d say, “Be careful not to put too much emphasis on what happens the first week of July.”

Yes, you’ll find out which schools have you sufficiently high enough on their recruiting lists to contact you among their first; but, any college recruiter will tell you that it’s in the months following July 1st that the bulk of recruiting is done. If you don’t get the calls you’d like to receive, recognize that’s there’s a LOT of ground to be covered between July 1st and the signing periods.

Additionally, don’t get bent out of shape if your top couple of choices don’t contact you right away. They can think very well of you as a player, but might need to know more about their own needs before they’re prepared to talk with you in earnest.

If you do receive phone calls, I’d recommend that, unless you’re absolutely positive that the offer’s coming from the right situation, you take your time. Give yourself until at least late August to measure the interest of a number of programs.

Best wishes to all of you who have put yourselves in position to be recruited!

 

I compared my son's recruiting to dating-haha! I like you-do you like me? I will call you again-they don't call? I heard you like me is that true? Sorry I really don't like you-oh I found someone else. It is very similar to dating unfortunately. Keep a light heart and enjoy the process. The right school may not even be the one you are considering now!

 

....that sums it up pretty well

 

On the practical side...keep a notebook by the phone. As schools begin to call list each school, the coach who called, baseball office phone number, coach's cell number, etc. Keep a separate page or two for each school because they will probably call more than once and be sure and keep notes of each conversation. Have a list of questions you'd like answered and don't be afraid to ask! Never tell a coach that you're "not interested" unless you are totally convinced that you would not attend that school.

Keep the phone numbers for your high school and summer coaches handy and be ready to send a summer baseball schedule if you haven't done so already. And, if they want you fill out a questionnaire, do so immediately!!

Have a realistic idea of your baseball abilities, educational abilities and finances. If you get a call from Duke and you're carrrying a "C" avg and scored 1,000 on your SAT, you probably can't get in, even if you would play there. Secondly, if "out of state" or "private colleges" call, have a reasonable idea how much your parents can afford to pay to send you to that school. Remember, "there are no full athletic scholarships" available for baseball. Example: If an "out of state" school offers 50% scholarship and the cost for "out of state" tuition is $20,000, your parents will have to fund $10,000. Conversely, if an "in state" school offers 50% scholarship and "in state" tuition is $10,000, your parents will need to come up with $5,000. The same goes for "private schools" in state and out of state.

If you are a two way player, is the school wanting you to focus on only one part of your game? Are they looking for a two way player. How many guys are they recuiting at your position?

As was mentioned before, don't expect a phone call at 8:00am on July 1st, but don't be surprised to get one at 10:00pm! Coaches will be making initial calls for two or three weeks. Have fun with the process!! It only happens once!!

 

That is great advice from Southpaw Dad. Make lots of notes, and listen carefully to what each has to say, and don't be afraid to ask questions. One more thing, when you get your choices narrowed, take the visits. And take all that you can. What you think might be your 5th choice right now, may turn out to be a very good fit for you once you get exposed to the coaches and school on a personal basis.

 

And don't hesitate to make "unofficial visits" to schools. "Unofficial" simply means you pay for the trip (gas, meals). Go to a number of "local campuses". UNCC, UNC-A, Belmont-Abbey, etc., can be day trips where you can drive around the campus, make an appointment to meet the coaches. You can begin to determine what colleges you would want to attend. Too large, too small, in a large city or in a small town. In the fall, make unofficial weekday visits after school to see what the campus looks like with students there during classes and ask to watch the baseball team's workouts on the field and in the weightroom.

 

I agree with SouthPaw take lots of notes. Make sure all your questions are answered!

July 1st is just the beginning. Like Prepster said-schools are attending showcases so their A and B list will change several times. Alot of schools have heard of certain players but will not get to see them until a showcase!
I don't think anyone considering college ball can afford to miss showcases before his senior season.

Never let any school think you are not interested in their program. Anything can happen before you actually sign! We had several schools call and then not hear anything for a few weeks and then they would call and offer official visits! Do not decide on any school until you have visited whether official or unofficial.

July 1st will give you an idea of the interest in your kid. You will see the difference from calls to the letters you have received! The calls are the Real Interest!