Pick the schools you would be interested in playing for. You have to keep an open mind when thinking about this part of the process. Sometimes a school you never looked at or talked with comes out of the woodwork and makes you an offer. But in the beginning, look for schools you can see yourself attending. Honestly guys, it has to be about the fit. If you have a specific school in mind, and you are dead set on going there, by all means go if they offer. If the goal is to say you played at XYZ College, then that is fine. You can be 1 of 20 guys that a school is talking with, and come time for college you may see the field a few times over 4 years. Instead, you could be 1 of 8 guys that another school is talking with and play immediately. If the ultimate goal is to maximize playing time then be open to going where you fit in. A lot of this has to do with what type of player you are, and the kind of coaching you respond to. I know that in today's game the transfer portal makes it easy to move on, but from an old school guy loyalty pays dividends. Remember, only about 7% of high school players go on to play in college. Roughly 10% of college players will get drafted or play pro ball. Try not to "big time" anyone. Be open to play where the opportunity is. The goal is to get 2-4 more years out of this dream.
Contact the schools you choose. Communication is the key in any relationship. Coaches are interested in the guys that take an active role in their recruitment. In our journey, I had my son pick 10 each of D1, D2, D3 and JUCO schools he was interested in. At that point we emailed the coaches and/or the recruiting coordinator at each school. Most of their information is available on the school's baseball website. The email you send should include things such as GPA, season stats, your contact info, school you play for, travel ball team, current coaches and their contact info, links to schedules and links to video profile pages. Any videos should be short and to the point. Coaches want to see your skills, so weight lifting videos are not helpful. Coaches assume you are in the weight room already. Once in contact, continue to stay active in conversation. Coaches are busy people, so they may not reach out all the time. Be aware of dead periods and also when a coach can begin reaching out to you. All of this information can be found on the NCAA websites.
Camps and Showcases. Attending camps at schools and showcases is important. A family I spoke to last year said that the three camps they attended were the three schools that offered their son. Camps are a great way to get onto a school's radar. Even if you are on the younger end, and they are not ready to start looking at your class yet, attending the same school's camp multiple times can show them your interest and improvement over the course of 2-3 years. Camps will give you a little insight to the coaching style and direction of the team. Also you will be on campus and can get a feel for whether you can see yourself playing there. Some guys may get offered right at the camp.
Showcases are important as well. Going to showcases where the schools you are interested in are represented is always good. This gives you another chance to get in front of the coach and stay on the radar. Keep an open mind though. There will always be schools there that you never thought would be interested and this is a chance to expand your pool of schools. This includes smaller schools, D2, D3 or JUCO schools. Showcases can be expensive so getting the most bang for your buck should be the plan. There are many reputable showcase organizations out there. There are also JUCO showcases available. Make the most of every opportunity.
Academics. Find a school that offers a degree in something that you can see yourself doing in the future. I once heard someone say that choosing a school to play at is "a 40 year decision, not a 4 year one." Basically put, baseball will end for everyone, so find a school that will get you a degree that will help you make a living. A big part of this is also determining what you and your parents can afford. Some school's can offer a full-ride. Other schools will offer 25%. Many offers may be in between that. Remember that D1 schools have 11.7 scholarships for a 35 man roster so scholarships are almost always split. That means you will likely have to foot some of the bill for school. Playing baseball is great, but getting into a position where you are $60,000 or more in debt when you leave school is not ideal. I had to tell my son no to his first offer because we simply could not afford it. I was thinking about his future, and not spending my retirement funds on his bills. This is part of "the fit" as well.
The recruiting process is fun and frustrating all at once. If there is anything that you take away from this, please just take your time and let the process happen. For some it may happen early. For others it may happen after you graduate. My son got offered a roster spot 2 weeks before his Senior spring season. I know that it can be hard watching others around you commit, but everyone develops at a different pace. Play your game, do your best and enjoy the ride.
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