When to begin to be concerned about college showcases

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Dec 2, 2013
3,410
113
Texas
DD and her travel teammates had multiple college coaches spot them at tournaments and reach out to their travel coaches. A kid should also be reaching out to coaches and attending camps, but they can absolutely get noticed at showcases or national tournaments too. Especially when facing teams colleges are already following other recruits from.
If your team has a solid reputation of taking kids to the next level and they are playing good teams a coach is more than likely to stick and shoot the breeze with the team's recruiter. We had a pitcher who was dealing vs a team from CA at the Boulder IDT but the infield was booting the ball. It was a very close, spirited and competitive game where DD almost got into a fight with the opposing catcher. We ended up losing by one run, but a D1 coach came looking for me after the game asking about that pitcher. Unfortunately, the pitcher would not have been a good fit for this school based on the reputation of that school. So yeah, it can happen, but not as often as one would think especially with teams that don't have a long standing reputation and goodwill in the sport.

In the meantime, send out emails using this acronym. BIF--Brief, Intense and Frequently. Be relentless and methodical. I was talking with a dad this week and he sent me a flyer for large showcase camp in the East which he intended to take his DD. I asked him which schools are highest on the target list. He did not know nor has his DD been emailing these schools. Nothing worse than showing up to a camp as an anonymous player hoping to generate random interest. Also, they don't even know which representative the school will be sending to the camp. Vol asst, grad rear, hitting coach, HC??? Those coaches are there to make money and can they make any recruiting decisions? What if you emailed the coach and they say, yeah I would rather see you at my on campus camp next month. Save your money! I could go on, but this should help some folks that are making camp decisions right now.
 
Jul 19, 2021
630
93
Many parents have the misconception that a college coach can spot a talented player during a showcase. The coach will then start communicating based on the performance at the showcase. It does not work that way. Coaches are looking at specific players based on prior communication from a variety of sources. Going to showcases with the hope your daughter will be given a scholarship based on her play that day is unrealistic.
You may be right as far as position players go, but pitchers are a different story. They can absolutely stand out to a college coach and can receive offers on the spot without having any prior communication. Have seen it with my own eyes. Full ride D1 offers.
 
Sep 3, 2015
372
63
DD and her travel teammates had multiple college coaches spot them at tournaments and reach out to their travel coaches. A kid should also be reaching out to coaches and attending camps, but they can absolutely get noticed at showcases or national tournaments too. Especially when facing teams colleges are already following other recruits from.

This is true for DD’s team as well, and DD (2022) ended up committing this way, even though she had plenty of communication the traditional way.

They were playing the best Socal teams at zoom (2021), and maybe 15-20 coaches were there to watch the games. DD was lights out (pitcher) and was noticed by big schools not on her list.


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marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
DD’s team (mostly freshmen) is playing their first college showcase next week. Our coach is encouraging every player to email every coach attending. Reading some of the responses here, I can’t help but think that these coaches can’t possibly find all this email helpful.

One of DD’s teammates shared her email so others could get an idea of what to write. It’s a 500-word treatise that, again, I can’t imagine a college coach would want to receive from every kid.

I told DD to write something short, along the lines of: “My name is XX, I’m playing with the Hittin’ Kittens at the All Universe Showcase next week. I look forward to meeting you and hearing about your program.”

Am I wrong? Is a first email the place to provide a full autobiography?

Both approaches are somewhat poor... first only email teams you have some genuine level of interest and basic knowledge and keep it short but explain WHY you might have interest.

A pretty good format:
  1. Subject: Your Name, Grad Year, Position(s) Played; Showcase/Camp Name;
  2. Email Body:
    1. Hello COACH(s) NAME SPELLED CORRECTLY
      Quick intro (Name, grad year, positions played), what travel team and HS you play for.
      Link to skills video if you have one
      About 2 lines on the #1 what you would bring to the team (leader, power hitter, great pitching... etc... )
  3. GPA (indicate weighted or unweighted) & SAT?ACT scores (or plans if you haven't taken them - yes they are still VERY important)
  4. Short 2-3 lines on why interested in SCHOOL NAME SPELLED CORRECTLY (Knowledge of school, Major available, been on a tour, know other students there, etc, etc)
  5. Schedule for the showcase
  6. Nice thank you & contact details (even if they can't use them directly)
That is about it.

Follow up at the showcase- and they can't approach players/talk to players so on them to approach them - and even they can't talk about you directly or their interest. That doesn't mean a player can't walk up and do a quick intro. Approach coach, say hello, say your name and say you are interested in their school and program and you have sent them an email. They will say nice to meet you, I can't talk softball with you because you are a freshman. Good practice for when they CAN talk to you ar camps or when they are old enough.
 
Jul 19, 2021
630
93
That doesn't mean a player can't walk up and do a quick intro. Approach coach, say hello, say your name and say you are interested in their school and program and you have sent them an email. They will say nice to meet you, I can't talk softball with you because you are a freshman. Good practice for when they CAN talk to you ar camps or when they are old enough.
I've been told that players should avoid approaching coaches and talking to them because that can count as a contact and there are only so many of them allowed and only at certain times and places. Is that not true? DD is a junior.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Many parents have the misconception that a college coach can spot a talented player during a showcase. The coach will then start communicating based on the performance at the showcase. It does not work that way. Coaches are looking at specific players based on prior communication from a variety of sources. Going to showcases with the hope your daughter will be given a scholarship based on her play that day is unrealistic.

Yes...mostly.

My DD and some of her teammates currently have active communication with coaches who stopped by our showcase games without being invited to be there by our players. That said, we also have a point person who gets a team flyer in the hands of every college coach who stops by a game, gets a conversation started about what the coach is looking for, and points out players that might fit their needs.

My point...You can get noticed at a showcase, but there still needs to be some pro-active effort to get the college coach's attention pointed the right way.
 
Dec 2, 2013
3,410
113
Texas
When I see the team's flyer hanging from the dugout with no point person for the college coach to chat with, it makes me sad for that team. If you team looks like this, you need to discuss this with your coaches and formulate a plan or process. I remembered seeing college coach lingering around the backstop and an random mom got up and gave a flyer to the coach and then scurried off. What a waste.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
When I see the team's flyer hanging from the dugout with no point person for the college coach to chat with, it makes me sad for that team. If you team looks like this, you need to discuss this with your coaches and formulate a plan or process. I remembered seeing college coach lingering around the backstop and an random mom got up and gave a flyer to the coach and then scurried off. What a waste.

Flyers, what flyers? Oh, there they are!
1635369898049.png
 

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