Do college exposure tournaments really work?
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A very, very small percentage of kids get "discovered" at showcases and usually by lower end schools that are resorting to window shopping for players. Showcases are an opportunity to get seen by coaches that you have already contacted and/or met at a camp. If your plan is play with the "right team" and go to all the "right showcases" and get discovered you are setting yourself up for failure.
Is a college exposure tournament the same as a college showcase? My DD has had a very good experience at Atlanta Legacy, IDT in CO, Champions in Atlanta, and Scenic City in Chattanooga.
Our DD's had similar experiences but pitchers that can cook in the mid-high 60's are different story.
Our team has been at a couple showcase type events this season and it is painfully obvious that many players/parents assume they do not need to do anything. That a college coach will simply "discover" their player at one of these events. The more I think about it, the more unrealistic that notion seems. The event we were in last weekend had over 150 teams (well over 1000 players) spread out on a complex with over 30 fields. I am not sure how anyone could get "discovered" in that type of environment. However, if there are 5 or 6 players in attendance at the tournament that are all on a certain coach's radar, it was very convenient for that coach to see these recruits in action.
The top pitcher on DD's team was 'discovered' by a Big Ten team that she later committed to. The coach was there to watch another team, and she shut that team down. One thing led to another. I've also seen college coaches ask TB coaches if they have certain types of players they might be looking for (ie, 'Who is your best student? Would she like to learn about the Ivy League?' Or 'I can give a full ride, would anybody be willing to go to North Dakota?)
So I think it happens, but Riseball is right that you should not view showcases as discovery opportunities. They are mainly opportunities for coaches you already know to watch you play.
So I think it happens, but Riseball is right that you should not view showcases as discovery opportunities. They are mainly opportunities for coaches you already know to watch you play.
She is not going to get recruited just by going to the tournaments. She needs to be emailing the coaches that are going to be there and giving them her schedule and asking them to come watch her play. Some will and some won't but your DD has to put herself out there. Sometimes a coach will come to watch her and like what she sees in another player on the field though.
We did have a coach last weekend end up at her game because he misread the schedule and went to the wrong field complex. He did end up asking about a few girls on our team but that's not the norm
We did have a coach last weekend end up at her game because he misread the schedule and went to the wrong field complex. He did end up asking about a few girls on our team but that's not the norm
My DD would be very willing to go to a North Dakota school to play ball....Quit knocking the ND schools man!
The weather's great up here! If you like plaques of mosquitoes, hurricane like thunderstorms every other day, and crisp, gentle winters...
She's been waiting for a green limo to show up at the front door....but no dice!!
Up here, girls seem to have fairly good results from the smaller Showcases that are held. A lot less girls, with a good number of coaches...
But compared to some of the Showcases that are held on a National scale that you guys are going to, I can imagine it's hard for a girl to stand out in the crowd with so much top notch talent.
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