Thread: college update

Originally Posted by aaronbritton

Bill you're getting a heck of a catcher in 2 years. A kid from our hometown just signed on with you guys! My kid is a 2024 pitcher and we'll definitely be sending you some videos when her time comes! Best of luck!

Get her to our clinic in January!!! is registration. Assuming I haven't replaced Mike White at Texas by then, I'll look forward to having her. ha ha ha ha.

Bill

ooops, registration is on: mashersinc and then you add the dot and the com.

Devo and others...

First of all, my position at Providence was initially a 10 month contract. So, by law I'm considered "part time". This means, I still do not have medical insurance and once in a while people add to my "Go Fund Me" account but I think it's been outta sight, outta mind. Truth be told, thats the one aspect of this job that has been harder on me physically and my health... throwing lots of BP. Obviously I don't try to blitz it past them but, sometimes they want more than just pumping pitches down the tube. So, I'll put a little more on it and add a wiggle with a rise or drop. Afterwards, i'm usually in a lot of pain and I've not had a shot in my back for pain control in over 4 months. But life goes on. My job is to become fulltime July 1, 2019. Until then, it's not easy. To make it even worse, EVERYTHING is more expensive in Rhode Island!!! A doc appointment back home was $125, here its $300... just to get a prescription! MRI's, Xrays, forgettaboutit! I can't afford those despite really needing to update them. And if I never did before, thanks to everyone here who did contribute to the Go Fund Me. It helped a lot, and continues when something arrives every so often.

I got a lot of follow up questions in my mailbox here about things. Let me start by offering this advice regarding recruiting. The FIRST thing your DD needs to do is figure out what she wants to do! Be an Engineer? Ok, lets go with that. Next thing to do is get a compass and put it on a map. Draw a circle around the radius of distance everyone is comfortable with from home. If you live in Ohio, for example, but don't want to be more than 4 hours from home, there is no point sending your video/info to Providence!!! So, figure out the distance you're comfortable with. If there are NO limits and she'd play at Hawaii, then great, you have a ton of options. But you'd be surprised how many girls choose the schools the they do so they are in proximity to home, proximity for parents to watch, proximity of their boyfriend (lets face it, kids at 18 almost always think they will be with that same guy not realizing the whole world is out there). I've seen Division 1 caliber pitchers choose D3 schools because her boyfriend played football there. Then, they broke up. . But those 2 things are the first you need to do: figure out the major, then figure out distance. After that, you target the schools in your comfort area that offer what you want to do. After those are narrowed down, you start figuring out the individual schools. Go on "unofficial" visits to see it, if possible. Do your homework if you think the coach(es) will be there for your time, or if they have a consistent losing record and could be fired at any time! Coaches change jobs all the time, and that can change your mind on a "verbal" commitment. That is a tough situation for kids, and the rules have been changing for athletes to transfer without penalty so at least you're not locked in like in year's past. Once you decided on the school(s) that you can realistically attend (athletic ability, money, grades, etc) then attend any camps/clinics you can get to there to be on the coach's radar. And I GUARANTEE if you attend a camp, and are at a tournament where we are recruiting, EVERY effort will be made to see your game(s). I did it myself in both Orlando and Las Vegas this year, I made specific points to go see pitchers who attended our October camp. I can't guarantee every school does that but, I certainly did. Of course, rule do not permit me to talk to the kid beyond a "Hello, nice to see you" comment but, I was there!

Devo, let me clarify... as the pitching coach I am given 1 scholarship that I am given to get a pitcher to work with. Providence softball has more than 1 scholarship!!! But, personally, I get 1 per year that I pick my pitching staff with. And yes, it's a challenge. Who do I offer and when? Great question, when I get the interest of a pitcher interested in Providence and letting ME be her pitching coach. So it has to be a mutual thing too.

Please feel free to email me with questions!
Bill