I would suggest finding a team that plays 14U and 16U showcases. Coaches watching 18U showcases are watching players they have already signed or looking to fill an immediate need, neither of which helps your DD...
Exactly this.I would suggest finding a team that plays 14U and 16U showcases. Coaches watching 18U showcases are watching players they have already signed or looking to fill an immediate need, neither of which helps your DD...
And I have to add, I made that process sound much less painful than the reality we experienced. For example I said she sent lots of emails and she did. But in the early days getting her to send even one email was like getting her to climb Mt. Everest with no oxygen. With each one sent and getting responses made it easier over time...but it took TIME. More than one bucket conversation would go something like:
Me: "Did you email so and so your schedule yet?"
DD: "No Dad I will!!!"
Me: "Ok well the tournament is coming up and they are going to be there."
DD: "I know Dad!" And then grumble grumble something that I cannot hear 43 feet away and then the ball comes whizzing in with extra spin and velocity
So bottom line is it was not easy and they have to think about things at a very young age and "owning" the process is a process in and of itself and took us a while. I did not want to make it sound like it was all sunshine and lollipops!!
And I have to add, I made that process sound much less painful than the reality we experienced. For example I said she sent lots of emails and she did. But in the early days getting her to send even one email was like getting her to climb Mt. Everest with no oxygen. With each one sent and getting responses made it easier over time...but it took TIME. More than one bucket conversation would go something like:
Me: "Did you email so and so your schedule yet?"
DD: "No Dad I will!!!"
Me: "Ok well the tournament is coming up and they are going to be there."
DD: "I know Dad!" And then grumble grumble something that I cannot hear 43 feet away and then the ball comes whizzing in with extra spin and velocity
So bottom line is it was not easy and they have to think about things at a very young age and "owning" the process is a process in and of itself and took us a while. I did not want to make it sound like it was all sunshine and lollipops!!
It's fairly common for the well-connected coaches of perpetual 18U teams to help younger players in the org get recruited since most/all of their players are already committed, although your odds of getting that help in a mega-org with lots of teams are greatly reduced. 18U coaches like those are aware of what schools are seeking, make suggestions and, if interested, provide the player's team schedule and/or bring the player up to be seen - whatever works for the school to see them.You will hear the commentators discussing how they play 12u and 18u together, and then 14u and 16u because those are the games most of the D1 coaches are scouting. ...
Our travel club offers pay to play opportunities, as the older girls sign and get committed, for younger girls to pick up and go be seen - but they advise us not to do that unless we are relatively certain that a specific coach is coming to watch.
Are they allowed to speak with her, other than the general coaching at camp?Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk