Metrics in the recruiting process

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Ken Krause

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May 7, 2008
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Mundelein, IL
Having a discussion with a friend about this and it got to me wondering. For those of you involved in the recruiting process, either trying to get recruited or as a college coach, how much important are metrics like grip strength, batspeed, ball exit speed and some of the other less obvious measures such as pitch speed and running speed?

Are college coaches asking for this information? Are there certain minimums you are expected to hit to even be considered? Or are some of those measures considered nice to have but not essential? In other words, if you can hit bombs is it assumed you have sufficient batspeed/ball exit speed? If you can throw 65 is it assumed your grip strength is sufficient, or do college coaches want to see the numbers?

Just curious as to what measures are being asked for these days.
 
Aug 24, 2011
161
0
Having a discussion with a friend about this and it got to me wondering. For those of you involved in the recruiting process, either trying to get recruited or as a college coach, how much important are metrics like grip strength, batspeed, ball exit speed and some of the other less obvious measures such as pitch speed and running speed?

Are college coaches asking for this information? Are there certain minimums you are expected to hit to even be considered? Or are some of those measures considered nice to have but not essential? In other words, if you can hit bombs is it assumed you have sufficient batspeed/ball exit speed? If you can throw 65 is it assumed your grip strength is sufficient, or do college coaches want to see the numbers?

Just curious as to what measures are being asked for these days.

Great question. I'd be curious to see some of these responses as well. I'm sure like many things it depends on the coach doing the recruiting. With so many camps doing at lest some type of metrics these days, I think it's becoming yet another tool, although it still seems that the name on the front of the travel jersey is still the most important.

I think it can serve as a disqualifier, or at least a pause button, if a coach is really interested in a young lady but the metrics are bad. It's enough for coaches to ask the question, "What are my eyes showing me that the numbers aren't?"
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
Bat speed doesn't always translate automatically into hitting bombs.
My oldest DD had the slowest bat speed. Almost looked like it was in slow motion. But somehow she could consistently hit 250' moon shots.
Granted she was 5'9, 170lbs
Point here is these metrics are sometimes just numbers. Coaches should evaluate the players and not just stats.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
Having a discussion with a friend about this and it got to me wondering. For those of you involved in the recruiting process, either trying to get recruited or as a college coach, how much important are metrics like grip strength, batspeed, ball exit speed and some of the other less obvious measures such as pitch speed and running speed?

Are college coaches asking for this information? Are there certain minimums you are expected to hit to even be considered? Or are some of those measures considered nice to have but not essential? In other words, if you can hit bombs is it assumed you have sufficient batspeed/ball exit speed? If you can throw 65 is it assumed your grip strength is sufficient, or do college coaches want to see the numbers?

Just curious as to what measures are being asked for these days.

Some metrics are obviously useful, but to be honest I think some of the skills clinic organizers came up with some of the other metrics to try to convince players to come to their clinics. When was the last time someone asked about your grip strength?
 
Dec 11, 2010
4,713
113
The only thing I am aware of out of the camps we attended is at dd #2’s dream school the hc came to a station where they were measuring throwing speed and asked “who had over 60mph” and a home to first station and asked “who was 3.0 or less”. Anybody who met that standard go a hearty handshake and a pat on the back.
 
Dec 11, 2010
4,713
113
Some metrics are obviously useful, but to be honest I think some of the skills clinic organizers came up with some of the other metrics to try to convince players to come to their clinics. When was the last time someone asked about your grip strength?

Exactly- and I think you hit the nail on the head.
 
Mar 27, 2013
6
1
Granted my DD is early in the recruiting process but she has not been asked any questions about her metrics. She has been asked about a skills video especially if a coach has not seen her play in person.
 
Jul 16, 2013
4,659
113
Pennsylvania
From our experience, the coaches that DD has met with have used metrics for various things. Some didn't use the metrics at all. But some used bat speed, ball exit speed, pitch speed, etc. DD was invited to some camps based on some of these numbers. Some she accepted. Some she refused. The coaches then relied on more information from either watching her play at tournaments or watching her at their clinic. She has received a couple of offers from some of the schools on her list, while one in particular told her "we like what we see, but we would like to see you increase your pitch speed by 2-3 mph". One coach actually made it a point to compliment her on a rev fire rating that was measured at a particular camp. So, I do think some of the coaches will look at the metrics. But I am not sure how many actually make their decisions based on that information. I think it is a "tool" just like any other tool...

Note: She has had metrics taken at camps at Kutztown University, the Pennsbury Academic Camp, and an event in Columbus, Ohio. While each location had some unique metrics they captured, each also measured most of the better known metrics.
 
Nov 27, 2012
197
18
Great question. I'd be curious to see some of these responses as well. I'm sure like many things it depends on the coach doing the recruiting. With so many camps doing at lest some type of metrics these days, I think it's becoming yet another tool, although it still seems that the name on the front of the travel jersey is still the most important.

I think it can serve as a disqualifier, or at least a pause button, if a coach is really interested in a young lady but the metrics are bad. It's enough for coaches to ask the question, "What are my eyes showing me that the numbers aren't?"

Yes, the name on the front of the Jersey can get you noticed in a big camp setting, but the player still need to perform and fit in with the program. If someone is playing for a no name travel team, like my daughter, they have to be really really good and be on their A game all the time to get noticed. Only one big name D1 took interest in my daughter and the metrics proved the coach right and she offered my daughter.

After she offered my daughter, the coach want her to pick up with big name travel team to play against some tough competition and get better.
 
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