Building Your Own Personal Brand - Affecting College Recruiting

amandascarborough · Jan 27, 2014

Scorekeeper said:
I hope you stick around as well.

I say this with all due respect and hope you won’t find it insulting, but unless and until you’re a parent with a child in a sport, you’re going to find it difficult at times understanding where people who question you are coming from.

Once again, I sincerely hope you manage to come to grips with some of us who you may find insulting or otherwise challenging, and stick around. You just have to be patient and learn the “language”.

I understand on the child/parent thing! I get it…..no doubt. That's a whole different ballgame. - no pun intended.

I'm a good learner….patient on the other hand - not one of my best traits.

But I'm getting better. I have that "I want it now" mentality - which is a good…and a bad thing at times.

Thanks everyone for your comments! I'm here I'm here! I hear all of you loud and clear - promise.

PEPPERS · Jan 27, 2014

I made the same point a few years ago and received much the same reaction as you have Amanda. The Alabama coaching staff told us when at a camp they walked away from one player because she was rude to her mother when asking for a drink. Their thinking is if a kid was rude and disrespectful to her parents, she would not respect them as coaches.

Another coach advised when they got to look at a kid they look for them in the parking lot, they want to see the player well organized and getting out of the car dressed and ready to play, all but the shoes. Bat bag and equipment is organized and ready to grab and take to the field.

What they do not want to see is player half dressed, hunting equipment or the parent(s) getting the equipment.

Amanda In our area it is becoming popular for the girls to have tattoos and multiple piercings. Being from the old school they tell me I am just out of touch.

What do you think of girls getting tattoos and piercing who are looking for SB scholarships?

slingnit · Jan 27, 2014

SCDad said:
This board is theriputic (sp). I spend the vast majority of my adult life saying the politically correct things. Have a personality in my DD's world structured to specifically benefit my DD. Nothing big in the national scene, but helpful to many in my little world, a following.

This board gives me practice, and freedom. What is said is what is believed to be true. Hopefully helpful to some young folks in the trenches.

Possibly someone local will figure it out. If that is where their energies lie. Does not really matter, because once you pass 50 years old, you realize what you say has value. The most important aspect is to air these opinions in the proper forum. Always know the forum.

Sure, here I am cocky and brash. Maybe that is who I am. In real life I am humble and thankful. The internet is a wonderful thing if used to your benefit.

So you purposely misrepresented yourself in life in order acquire a better job, to benefit your dd, make yourself look in a different way than you actually are? So you "branded" yourself in order to get the things you want out of life. Yep, ironic!

Eric F · Jan 27, 2014

PEPPERS said:
I made the same point a few years ago and received much the same reaction as you have Amanda. The Alabama coaching staff told us when at a camp they walked away from one player because she was rude to her mother when asking for a drink. Their thinking is if a kid was rude and disrespectful to her parents, she would not respect them as coaches.

Another coach advised when they got to look at a kid they look for them in the parking lot, they want to see the player well organized and getting out of the car dressed and ready to play, all but the shoes. Bat bag and equipment is organized and ready to grab and take to the field.

What they do not want to see is player half dressed, hunting equipment or the parent(s) getting the equipment.

Yep. This is what I was getting at earlier. The coaches are looking at EVERYTHING the player is doing - on and off the field. Its not just about having a big bat or 13 pitches. If you aren't going to be a good representative for the school, the team, and the sport, they will find someone who will be.

KCPRK · Jan 27, 2014

Ill say what everyone here is thinking.

Amanda your a cutie. I appreciate your input and I love the Powerdrive product.

I miss watching you pitch at A&M and enjoyed the the power the team had last season with all the homeruns. It was fun to watch. Go Aggies!

And yes being able to market yourself is crucial in this world. Your always competing for what you want against someone that is equally skilled and educated if not more. The one that can market themselves will get the shot the majority of the time.

My sister is in a top pharmacist school on a full ride-her grades and test scores were on par with everyone else in the country so we spent most of the prep time forcusing on the interviews. After she was awarded the position she asked the board what was their deciding factor-they said you can have all the knowledge and skill in the world but if you cant put it to use then what good are you. The interviews are where they determined who truly knew themselves as a person (strengths and weaknesses). Plus who wants to work with a know it all with no social skills when theres someone equally as intelligent and more marketable available.

It was an eye opener.

KCPRK · Jan 27, 2014

amandascarborough said:
I REALLY appreciate this comment because from the small number of posts I have put on here (in my 24+ hours of joining in on the conversation) I feel like this forum is going to be a no-win situation for me to talk about anything on here! I come from a different place, I'm not coming from ego, I'm coming from wanting to help softball athletes grow to their highest potential -- not just on the softball field, but OFF of the softball held, because THAT is what will help them succeed when softball is all said and done (because I hate to disappoint, but at some point it will be over

I've already posted several times I want to SHARE information and talk softball from my travels around the country (literally) of working with players of all ages and even around the college networks. I post things from my own experience as a former player or as a current coach as literally I am talking to girls of all ages, and not to mention I was one.

EVERY situation is contextual and has situations that "depend" on other situation. There is NO one size fits all in sports and in softball.Nothing is every absolute, except for the fact that if the bases are loaded and it's a 3-2 count and the next pitch you throw is a ball that a hitter does not swing at that is outside the strike zone, a ball will be called and a run will come across the plate. (I know from experience)

My main goal when have posted has not been to brag about what I know, but to help others find out information that they might not have known in the first place to help their daughters in any way possible earn a college scholarship and/or be able to compete at the next level. I want to be able to share this information to help shed light, but I am not really wanting to do it at the expense that everyone on here is going to disagree with me and talk about what I am saying is completely wrong. So maybe I am in the wrong place And that is fine! Thoughts?

Theres this button to block a poster from being viewed by you. Many of us use it on the same people so we can ignore them and their negativity. I recommend you seek it out for sanity purposes

Some people dont hear us when we say we dont want their negative opinions so we just ignore them. Same effect.

SCDad · Jan 27, 2014

slingnit said:
So you purposely misrepresented yourself in life in order acquire a better job, to benefit your dd, make yourself look in a different way than you actually are? So you "branded" yourself in order to get the things you want out of life. Yep, ironic!

Probably, but I don't need to buy a book and read about it.

I don't misrepresent in my opinion. Just vary the strength of language to best suit the intended audience.

In the very beginning it was my position the human race does this continuous, and ongoing in their life. Only the word "brand" is new like it was some newfangled concept everyone should buy to get recruited.

And I still hold on the position that the biggest bats don't need to say or do much else to further their potential. The best attempts at this new word branding is no substitute for flat out performance. It should not be advertised as such.

Cannonball · Jan 27, 2014

SCDad, who is selling a book on this? Amanda has offered her opinion on this topic which, while the title may come from the business world, certainly applies to our dds. I have read her initial post again and can't understand your objection. In fact, her position on social media is spot on for potential recruits and those in college. I know of girls who have lost their scholarships because of what they posted on social media and they were supposed to be "big bats" as you phrased it. I also know of programs where teams are punished because teammates can't seem to control themselves on social media. Those girls become outcasts because they abuse the sanctity of knowledge of team activities/coaches/teammates by posting criticism on twitter, face-book, ... Recruits need to know that.

I am amazed at the people who would be critical of someone who has been through the journey and who wants to share with all of us that journey and what they have learned. Amanda has not come on her portraying herself as some type of guru. Rather, she has come on here to share. She has a blog. She loves the game. She wants to offer a different perspective than most of us have had. Good for her. Her parents must be proud. We all should appreciate the effort.

Eric F · Jan 27, 2014

SCDad said:
...I still hold on the position that the biggest bats don't need to say or do much else to further their potential. The best attempts at this new word branding is no substitute for flat out performance. It should not be advertised as such.

As has been said - a few times now - Ms. Big Bat can ruin her ride in a hurry with the wrong attitude.

SCDad · Jan 27, 2014

Eric F said:
As has been said - a few times now - Ms. Big Bat can ruin her ride in a hurry with the wrong attitude.

Dress yours up in a fluffy brand, and not in a cage for all I care.

I am afraid you are wrong. You don't "ruin your ride", by just living your life. Not caring about your brand. My D cares about how she presents herself, because it is natural for her to do so. She does not know the meaning of personal brand, and when I ask her she talks about shopping. So what.

In fact the best "brand" to have is being great, playing great, and having fun. And not knowing what a "brand" is. This player will get recruited every time. Not the other fluffy brands who don't play as well. I have seen and played against players like this, and watched with sadness as they get bypassed by the studs, while trying to do everything right (except more time in the cage).

College coaches want to see the "real" player. Her personality and performance. They don't WANT to see a brand.

Go to dance class for that.

Building Your Own Personal Brand - Affecting College Recruiting

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