Building Your Own Personal Brand - Affecting College Recruiting

FP26 · Jan 27, 2014

I think many of you are bringing up good points, but I look at "branding" as more about "differentiation". The truly elite players will find a spot someplace as long as they don't do something to hurt their brand. The below average players will not advance no matter how good their "brand" is. Where this concept becomes important is for all the players in the middle. If there are two players with similar ability and similar grades, they will need something else to differentiate themselves from the others. I remember reading a post on another thread stating that a girl showed up at tryouts with a bright colored shirt with her name on it. She made an impression on the coaches with that shirt, and in some cases (no matter how silly it sounds), that may be enough to break a tie.

Eric F · Jan 27, 2014

SCDad said:
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.

I think you're missing my point. "Brand" (as we're discussing here) isn't necessarily about creating a false image or persona - that seems to be the sticking point with the term. I agree with you that the best "brand" is being great, playing great, having fun, and being your genuine self. This includes being a good team player on the field (supporting your teammates, keeping a positive attitude, etc.) and being a good person off the field. If you can hit bombs or throw bullets AND have the other positive qualities, your "brand" will attract attention. It's not performance OR good presentation/attitude - it's AND.

Sure, it's great to have exceptionally talented players on the field, but if that talent comes with the baggage of a bad attitude and/or bad behavior, it WILL get passed up. If you think performance on the field trumps everything else, I can't agree with that - at any level of the game. If "living your life" includes disrespecting coaches or parents, a self-centered attitude, and breaking team rules, you can bet it will ruin your ride. You may never even get on the bus to start with. This is just as true in life as it is on the softball field.

Cannonball · Jan 27, 2014

Wow, all I have to say is wow. Reading comprehension a must when participating! Brand has nothing to do with creating a fake person. NOTHING!

SCDad, you often tell us that we are wrong about our positions on what college coaches think/believe ... yet, you are not a college coach yourself. I posted that I directly know, as in girls that I have coached, who lost their scholarships because they refused to toe the line on social media which was one point in Amanda's OP. I personally know several others who lost their scholarships because they refused to do the same at another school. All of these girls were supposed to be studs. All were top tier recruits. While I don't communicate with college coaches all of the time, I do once in a while and a couple of them are at Top 25 if not Top 10 schools. Those qualities of "Branding" mentioned are exactly what they relate to me as important to their recruitment efforts.

My child is in the middle of her college experience. I will tell you that in the program she plays in, anyone who violates policy will be punished as will the team. That's a fact!

fastpitch · Jan 27, 2014

Cannonball said:
Wow, all I have to say is wow. Reading comprehension a must when participating! Brand has nothing to do with creating a fake person. NOTHING!

You've got to admit that it's been entertaining. I'm sure a number of members here are confused as to why it's not being understood.

Sparky Guy · Jan 28, 2014

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?

Amanda,

Thanks for coming to our little online community. You bring your invaluable first-hand knowledge of the entire college process from the time you first picked up a softball as a child to the tears you shed after you threw the final pitch in your college career. Those who've not traveled the path cannot fully understand it. As the father of a DD who shared the same journey on a parallel path I can understand EXACTLY what you're trying to communicate to the players following behind you. There are a few other people here whose DD's have been through the process as well.

What you call "Branding" has been around for a long time at the top programs in the country who understand the recruiting process. They know what it takes to put players in top DI programs, on the National team and Olympic team. It was never given a label before. To some it may seem like the latest "Buzz word" that has been churned out of a marketing department. So please understand there may be some apprehension voiced by a few people.

I am coaching a team who is just starting in the recruiting process. Pretty much everything you outlined we've started to drill into the players heads already. Especially about how they conduct themselves when they are off of the field. You NEVER know who is watching. I'm sure you found being on the field and playing the easy part of college ball. The hardest part is the off-field demands on your time from the team activities, school, travel and the dozen other things while trying to have a social life at school. Never mind trying to fit some family time in there too.

Stick around and share your insight into the world of high level softball. I think you'll also glean quite a bit of information about how parents and players from all levels of the game approach it. It can be a real eye-opener at times.

Indiana · Jan 28, 2014

For the sake of looking at all of the variables presented here, let's look at Alex Rodriguez. Alex is arguably one of, if not the, most talented baseball players ever to play the game. Truly. And I say this as a Red Sox fan. His swing is poetic. (putting the 'juice' aside for now - because you do have to have a beautiful swing to make the strength work at the highest level, don't you?). He IS the quintessential "big bat". However, this poor guy has branded himself as pretty much the worst, most toxic thing that can ever be inflicted upon a team. His career could have been great - one for the books, the best of the best. And he has done some great things, but few people remember what he has done on the field. Many would say that his massive talent has not elevated the teams that he has played for, rather his own destructive tendencies have undermined his teams' goals in post season play.

Anyone who takes their sport, or music, or really any special talent to the highest level that they can achieve is basically my hero.

Dancers are some of the must cutthroat, intense athletes I've ever seen.

FP26 · Jan 28, 2014

Indiana said:
For the sake of looking at all of the variables presented here, let's look at Alex Rodriguez. Alex is arguably one of, if not the, most talented baseball players ever to play the game. Truly. And I say this as a Red Sox fan. His swing is poetic. (putting the 'juice' aside for now - because you do have to have a beautiful swing to make the strength work at the highest level, don't you?). He IS the quintessential "big bat". However, this poor guy has branded himself as pretty much the worst, most toxic thing that can ever be inflicted upon a team. His career could have been great - one for the books, the best of the best. And he has done some great things, but few people remember what he has done on the field. Many would say that his massive talent has not elevated the teams that he has played for, rather his own destructive tendencies have undermined his teams' goals in post season play.

.

Excellent point!! You could throw Barry Bonds into this discussion as well. If one looks at his stats from the last year he played, one would wonder why he was not able to find a job the next season. It had nothing to do with his stats....

amandascarborough · Jan 28, 2014

KCPRK said:
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.

Thank you, I miss being there, but so happy I get to be around college softball from the view up in the booth getting to call the games as an analyst! There are some days I greatly miss playing, but more often than not, I am content with where I am at, and blessed I still get to be around this sport!

amandascarborough · Jan 28, 2014

Sparky Guy said:
Amanda,

Thanks for coming to our little online community. You bring your invaluable first-hand knowledge of the entire college process from the time you first picked up a softball as a child to the tears you shed after you threw the final pitch in your college career. Those who've not traveled the path cannot fully understand it. As the father of a DD who shared the same journey on a parallel path I can understand EXACTLY what you're trying to communicate to the players following behind you. There are a few other people here whose DD's have been through the process as well.

What you call "Branding" has been around for a long time at the top programs in the country who understand the recruiting process. They know what it takes to put players in top DI programs, on the National team and Olympic team. It was never given a label before. To some it may seem like the latest "Buzz word" that has been churned out of a marketing department. So please understand there may be some apprehension voiced by a few people.

I am coaching a team who is just starting in the recruiting process. Pretty much everything you outlined we've started to drill into the players heads already. Especially about how they conduct themselves when they are off of the field. You NEVER know who is watching. I'm sure you found being on the field and playing the easy part of college ball. The hardest part is the off-field demands on your time from the team activities, school, travel and the dozen other things while trying to have a social life at school. Never mind trying to fit some family time in there too.

Stick around and share your insight into the world of high level softball. I think you'll also glean quite a bit of information about how parents and players from all levels of the game approach it. It can be a real eye-opener at times.

I love your post, all of it. I can tell you get it!

You are dead on about the off-field demands…..and being on the field was the easy part - staying out of your own head, staying positive and confident to go pitch 7 innings against a top 10 team in the country is where it gets tricky! You may be able to hit the ball a mile at practice, but if you can't do it in a game, can't pull yourself out of slumps and make mid-game adjustments, then it really doesn't matter how strong you are as a hitter or how far you can hit it.

The biggest thing that I learned from playing at a young age and playing through college, is that it's the lessons you learn along the way from being on a TEAM and being around mentors (hopefully your coaches) who are teaching you not only about softball, but about how to be well-rounded individuals and use that in the real world once softball is done. I was around a great one, in Jo Evans, and the life lessons she taught me in those 4 years were way more memorable than any strike out I had or any home run I ever hit. Huge impact.

Building Your Own Personal Brand - Affecting College Recruiting

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FP26

Eric F

Cannonball

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Indiana

FP26

amandascarborough

where's the chocolate?

amandascarborough

where's the chocolate?

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