14 yo commits to Loyola

TB coaches talk to College coaches all the time. I'm sure HS coaches do too. When DD started sending out emails, D1s told her NCAA rules prohibited them from talking to her. She was instructed to go to their camp or clinic and register as a perspective athlete on their website. In that registration is your TB and HS coaches contact info.

nanotech14 said:

Out in Left Field said:

How does the coach make the offer when they can't talk to kid? I would be interested if the travel coach was the liaison or she called the college coach (which would be pretty good for a 14 year old).

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That's what I want to know? We just left a clinic at Youngstown U and the coach said they can't even talk 2017's. They can look at their skill videos, but can't do any more then that, NCCA rules. So I have a hard time with this story.

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I suspect the coach was simply putting you off because they're not interested in recruiting freshmen.

Recruiting rules only apply after they start 9th grade classes. Colleges can talk to them on the phone if the player calls them and face-to-face on their campus (e.g. unofficial visits) as long as it's not a dead period. They skirt the rules by passing their phone# and good times to call them via the travel coach. Terms of a verbal offer are often discussed on the phone, however it is very unusual for the verbal commitment to be made prior to making an unofficial visit.

Offers to 14yo's are still the exception. They're either truly exceptional athletes and/or cases where the player is set on going to that school.

My DD was recruited by several coaches through her travel coach. Once you are on their campus, the coaches make offers. There are a lot of colleges recruiting earlier and earlier. We went on a visit the summer before my DD junior year, and was given an offer but had to make a decision before Nationals that year. The funny thing is, as the coach was driving us around the campus, she made the comment that they have to offer sooner and sooner all the time. Then she laughed and said in reference to my DD, "and here we are recruiting a player that can't drive yet!" My DD had not turned 16 yet. Some coaches don't recruit exceptionally early either, and I think it's a personal preference.

JAD said:

If your DD attends their camp, they are allowed to talk with you while you are on campus.

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One thing to keep in mind is their camps are a huge fundraiser for the schools softball program and not necessarily set-up just to see prospective recruits or to provide excellent instruction. I would have a game plan and choose camps wisely.

Rocketech1 said:

One thing to keep in mind is their camps are a huge fundraiser for the schools softball program and not necessarily set-up just to see prospective recruits or to provide excellent instruction. I would have a game plan and choose camps wisely.

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Rocketech1 is correct, college camps are fundraisers. I would recommend only attending the camps of the schools your DD is TRULY interested in attending, or if the coaching staff has extended a "personal" invitation to your DD and is actively recruiting her.

nanotech14 said:

That's what I want to know? We just left a clinic at Youngstown U and the coach said they can't even talk 2017's. They can look at their skill videos, but can't do any more then that, NCCA rules. So I have a hard time with this story.

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nano they can talk to her if she is at a camp or clinic on campus. mine was verbaled at 16, College coach went thru the other travel ball coach on the team to set up an unofficial visit. It does happen. You just have to be what they are looking for.

Tim

*** this week we told you of one eighth grader who has committed to a pac-12 school in alyssa pinto, now with the texas bombers and in time with the washington huskies. We heard of another player from the same 2018 year who will be pac-12 bound: Terra mcgowan, a c/of who plays for her father, jay, on an oc batbusters 14u team. Terra is already 5-foot-7 and has a high ceiling and will be one to watch develop over the next several years. Note: We heard about this verbal and hope to confirm and get more info as the team is expected to play in the sun classic this weekend. - see more at: Daily Update 10.31.13 | Student Sports Softball

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redhotcoach said:

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great link and I wanted to get you off of 666 thanks.

Congratulations to the girl. It's not the approach most would take, but best of luck to her and her family.

College camps are the best place to be seen and talk to college coaches, but there are caveats. Colleges are in contact with travel coaches year round and they attend tournaments looking for girls to invite to their camps. (As many have posted, the contact is done through their travel coaches). When the camps roll around, they know who they're going to keep an eye on and unless you're an absolute stud you're not going to get noticed.

The camps are money makers, but I'd still say it's well worth it to attend at least one of these camps just for the experience. Kids receive great instruction and get to meet girls from across the country. If the parents are objective they can see where their daughters fit in with other "elite" level talent. I'm not sure if the top level is called elite, gold, premier, platinum or plutonium this week. I miss the good old days of A,B, C.

My DD is going to attend a couple of camps over the Christmas break. One of the college coaches has informed us, through her TB coach, that the camp will be broken into "groups". The "invited" players will all be placed in the same group.