Feel free to the presentation for some great insight

Ray Stupienski
NBIAA
1 February 2012
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ACADEMICS is #1!!!!
No one way is the best/right way. Many different paths.
Must be objective about where the student-athlete can/will play
YOU must do the work; Unless the student-athlete is Top 20 in that state
—and maybe not then—what he/she gets depends on YOUR WORK
Start early – Freshman year in HS. Schools should be providing
information on NCAA minimum requirements before each season (sport).
So if the student athlete is playing 3 sports, he/she should be hearing the
information three times in a school year, each year.
NCAA Eligibility Center:
"! http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/ncaahome?
WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/ncaa/NCAA/Legislation+and
+Governance/Eligibility+and+Recruiting/
"! http://web1.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA_EMS.html#
NCAA sets MINIMUM requirements. Each school will have their own
requirements, depending on the institution.
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General
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Academics – Do the schools have the major(s) youre looking for?
Location, Geography, Close to home?
Cost – Can you afford the costs over four years and how?
Will you be happy there if you dont play?
Social, Extracurricular activities on weekends, etc.
Create a diverse portfolio of schools, DI, DII, DIII. Close/Far.
Highly competitive academically/athletically/and not as so.
Athletics
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Can you play at the school/level?
How soon might you play?
Have you talked to the coach? Can you see yourself playing for
him/her?
Talked to the players? Get their feel for the program.
DI, DII scholarship possibilities?
DIII, non-athletic scholarships?
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D1 schools limited to 11.7 scholarships for baseball, 12
for softball
NCAA requires 35 players to be rostered, 27 on
scholarship (Division 1 baseball)
On average, most players get between 25% and 50%
baseball money.
For those with good to excellent grades, there is more
opportunity for schools/programs to provide 'nonbaseball' money, which reduces the cost of a player
against their baseball scholarship budget.
Schools love good student-athletes, so…
WORK ON THE GRADES as hard as your hitting.
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Youth through Freshman in HS, focus on:
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How to play the game, several positions
Skill development, long toss for arm strength
Running speed, sprint work
Learn how to and what it takes to COMPETE
Do NOT have to focus on ONE SPORT – Cross-Training
9th grade:
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Try to attend a local college holiday camp (field/pitch/bat)
Summer after, attend at least one on-campus camp at a college
you may be interested in
Perhaps one local showcase style event to get a feel for what
its like; Get used to the process
Focus on improving your game in every way
Visit college websites, learn about the programs
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10th grade:
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Studies; Let your coach and guidance counselor know of your
interest/desire in playing at the next level; SATs in the Spring
Physical development, speed, strength, arm strength
Hopefully play Varsity level; If not, its okay.
Attend at least one Showcase camp (more later) and at least one other
on-campus collegiate camp
Summer ball: Highest level possible
Short, impactful videos of your skills, either professional or high
quality amateur; Send e-mails with video to coaches; keep e-mails
short, to the point, factual, stating interest in the school/program
Start filling out/sending in on-line questionnaires
11th grade – Most Critical Year
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Studies—stay on it. SATs in the Fall.
Fall ball or fall sport; Visit fall college practices/camps (unofficial)
Winter, on-campus pre-season clinics/camps/showcases
Student-Athlete must be productive and take the big step
E-mail/write coaches with your game schedule; Ask HS/summer
coach to make a call or send an e-mail
Summer ball, showcases, on-campus unofficial/official visits
College coaches can call recruits after July 1 AFTER Jr. season
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12th grade:
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Stay on the Studies
Start applying to schools you have interest in
Make sure all of your SAT/ACT/HS transcript info is going to
the NCAA Eligibility Center and specific colleges, if you wish
Fall On-Campus showcase camps still possible
Early Signing Period is the first week of November
!! Note: Most DI schools want to get their classes set by the
fall/November early signing period. So for the higher level
DIs, most scholarship money is gone and offered out by the
fall---which is TOO LATE for the spring seasons of HS
seniors.
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decisions later based on who is left after the bigger-time
schools have the recruiting classes set. It is the reality of the
pecking order.
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NCSA – National Collegiate Scouting Association,
http://recruit-match.ncsasports.org/fasttrack/client/
clientLogin.jsp
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Their network and database provides access to many schools,
nation-wide
Significant on-line support system, advice, audio recruiting
catalog, phone call-in seminars
However, NCSA decides what schools they send your
information to. Based on organizations you play with, video,
measurables, HS awards (all-state/county/league), THEY
determine what kind of player they think you are and what
schools would be a good fit.
We disagreed with their assessment--and we were right.
Helps keep you organized, but you can do that on your own, if
you know what to focus on
Fees high, in our opinion.
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On-Campus Showcases
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Get onto the campuses of schools AS EARLY IN THE PROCESS
as you can.
Even if you don't think your kid is ready to be seen by colleges,
get him on the campuses of schools he might have interest in.
Get him on their radar so they start tracking him early.
Might cost a couple of hundred bucks, but the players
persevering interest in a school goes a LONG way.
Showcase camps in the winter, summer and fall. Summer is
tough because they take the player away from summer team
games. Fall is better because usually fall games are not as
important. Winter good for pre-season prep, especially south.
If playing a fall HS sport, Sundays is the day for showcases
Go onto the school websites, go to the baseball page or
Athletics page and look for CAMPS
http://collegebaseballcamps.com/
http://collegesoftballcamps.com/
Schools will continue to market their camps to seniors, even if
their recruiting class is filled. Be careful not to waste $$$.
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Multi-School Showcases
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All Star Baseball Academy http://www.allstarbaseballacademy.com/showcases.cfm
DeMarini Top 96 - http://www.top96.com/home.htm
Headfirst http://www.headfirsthonorroll.com/?
gclid=CKjRka_m-60CFUoifAodESj7NQ
SelectFest - http://www.selectfestbaseball.org/; Must have
recommendation from coach
GoYardSports - http://goyardsports.com/;
http://collegebaseballcamps.com/calendar.cfm?ID=304
All promise being seen by many coaches, many schools.
Factors: Cost, schedule, location, schools that will be there
If you give a particular school/coach a heads up that you are going
because they are there, it will help.
NO SCHOOL is offering a player out of these showcases.
They ALL want you back on their campus, to pay their showcase fee,
to have YOU show interest in THEM, before they offer you
ANYTHING.
Will market showcases to incoming HS seniors, but for the most part,
larger DI schools are not looking at seniors in the fall for current
seniors. Larger schools finished by then. The schools are looking at
juniors and sophomores for the following recruiting classes.
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Perfect Game - http://www.perfectgame.org/
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Worthwhile, in our opinion, because of the HUGE player
database
Comparative analysis of who is out there, their measurables,
and also brief video clips that schools/coaches can see.
Bias towards players who play on travel teams that compete in
Perfect Game tournaments. They are rated in their 'national
rankings' higher than players that go to one or a couple of PG
showcases.
College coaches do attend the larger PG events as spectators,
evaluators, etc.
Received calls from multiple colleges after a PG event in
August
Will give you a sense of how you compete against some of the
better players around. The player will also get some
quantitative scores that scouts will take a look at 60 yard time,
infield, outfield or pitching throwing velocity. A small write-up
regarding how he looked hitting, a PG ranking/designation of
"follow", "high follow" or state or national ranking.
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General Observations on Showcases
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Two-day event, showcase measurables on Day 1, play Game 1
later and Game 2 the next day.
One-day event, measurables in the AM, game in the PM
Not much fun for the players. A lot of sitting/waiting
Perhaps because there are so many kids, they're looking for
some'thing' or some'body' in particular, unless the player is just
'lights-out' outstanding, often doesnt look to be much interest
shown by coaches.
Coaches/Schools are getting paid to be there. Most are
assistants. Some look like theyd rather be somewhere else
than being there.
Bottom line, showcases are a tool to use to get some showcase
practice in front of coaches, but ultimately, you have to get your
son/daughter ON CAMPUS.
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Travel vs. Babe Ruth/American Legion
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Bottom line, can get recruited and signed by doing either
Travel
No question that those playing in travel organizations that focus on
going to tournaments where college coaches are looking are at an
advantage.
"! Travel ball is more expensive (thousands compared to hundreds) and
more time in travel
"! Pre-investment in increased opportunities to be seen by more coaches
may be worth it.
"! Some coaches feel that the focus on SELF in travel ball rather than
TEAM is a negative
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Legion
YOU must do more work on your own.
"! One DI coach told us they don't have the time or money to pay
attention to Legion.
"! Other coaches told us they prefer Legion because they like to see kids
COMPETE for a championship
"! Must go to select on-campus showcases and focus on a few schools, it
is do-able.
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E-mails/Phone calls
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Colleges cannot begin calling a recruit until July 1 AFTER their
junior year in HS.
Colleges can start sending e-mails, letters at the start of your
Junior year in HS
However, you can e-mail them all you like and they can
respond to e-mail.
YOU can also call THEM--though you usually get an answering
machine.
Send links to a PG website, or video links, or an NCSA or
Skillshow page with your measurables, etc. Or create your own
to send.
Something that is a quick and easy read, video that is short but
impactful.
We learned A LOT about the character of coaches/staffs just
from their responses and approach on e-mail.
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E-mails/Phone calls/Conversations
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Colleges receiving hundreds, perhaps thousands of e-mails
from prospective players and parents; it takes time and effort to
answer all of these.
We found that some coaches/staffs were very responsive,
cordial and helpful.
Others did not even answer--no response whatsoever---not
even a form letter back.
Whose program would you likely want your kid playing for? If
you can't get an electronic response back, how are they going to
respond to your kid while he/she is there?
There is/could be plenty of smoke-blowing in the recruiting
process. Any coach who promises playing time/starting
positions must be viewed with extreme caution.
All you can really ask for is an opportunity to compete---and
hopefully a commitment from them in the form of an offer.
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There is A LOT that goes into all of this…
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Better grades, more opportunities you will have.
Get on campuses early (after your freshman year in HS--even if
you don't think you're ready).
Research college/baseball websites, look at rosters, who and
where coaches are recruiting from (Perfect Game helps here
too).
Your measurables MUST BE COMPETITIVE. For DI level:
Pitchers, 85+; 60, 7.2 secs or better; OF/INF, 84+; Catchers, 80+.
2.0 pop times (sub 1.9 far better); Hitting, short, quick,
explosive--not long and slow.
The measurables CAN be worked on, starting EARLY and
working OFTEN.
G-G (God-Genetics) It doesn't hurt to be a physical specimen,
(6'0" or better, muscular, strong, fast).
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There is A LOT that goes into all of this…
7. Scholarships are NOT 4-year scholarships. They are renewable
EVERY YEAR--based on the student-athlete's commitment to
what he/she is supposed to be doing in the classroom, on the
playing field--and also that he/she is NOT doing what theyre
NOT supposed to be OFF the playing field....
8.! Take the time to research schools and coaching staffs
9.! Methodically write e-mails, make calls, follow up
9.! Keep options open, establish a 'portfolio' of schools at the DI,
DII and DIII levels where you and your son/daughter could
see him/her going to school and competing on the field
10.!If they do have talent, there IS a place for many, many kids to
play. It may not be their ultimate dream place, but if they like
the game that much and want to play in college, there is a place
for most everyone.
11.! Dont get discouraged. The process takes time and you have to
have patience. Keep working—it WILL WORK OUT!!!
12.!Finally, be persistent, follow-up—but don't be a PITA—and
GOOD LUCK!!!
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http://www.hsbaseballweb.com/
http://ftp.nfca.org/forms/recruit.pdf
http://www.informedathlete.com/
http://www.berecruited.com/
http://www.usaelitetraining.com/
novembershowcase.html
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Summer 2010 – Jr. Legion, Sr. Legion
August 2010, Perfect Game Atlantic Coast Underclass, Norfolk, VA
Fall 2010, Hun Football. Dislocated L shoulder
L Shoulder Sx, November 2010
February 5, 12, 2011 - George Mason on-campus camp, William & Mary on field camp
March 2011 – Hun School in Florida
Spring 2011 – Hun School wins Prep A championship
"! Named 1st Team All Prep, Times, Trentonion; 2nd Team All-State Prep, Star Ledger
Injured R arm in last weeks
Sits first 3 weeks of Legion season
Cancel Perfect Game, June, Mercer County Park
July 20-21, 2011, ASBA Showcase, Campbells Field, Camden
Post 26 finishes 2nd in NJ, July 2011; Loses 2 straight in NE Regional, PA
August 8, 2011ASBA Showcase, East Brunswick
August 14-15, 2011Perfect Game Showcase, Bristol, CT (from Aug at Greensboro, NC)
August 16-18, 2011 DeMarini Top 96, Lafayette College, PA (from July at Davidson, NC)
August 20-21, 2011 Univ of Maryland Free State Showcase, College Park, MD
August 27-28- UNCW camp/showcase postponed due to hurricane
Labor Day weekend, University of Richmond camp/showcase, Richmond , VA
Sept 11, 2011 Georgetown University camp/showcase, Bethesda, MD
Oct 1, 2011 ASBA North Carolina Showcase (AppSt., UNCG, Elon, Coastal), Asheboro, NC
Oct 16, 2011 Bryant University camp/showcase, Smithfield, RI
Oct 23, 2011 University of North Carolina Wilmington camp/showcase, Wilmington, NC
November 9, 2011 Signs NLI, scholarship offer from UNCW