PLAYER ADVANCEMENT
This Page is underconstruction and will be updated soon with much more data and helpfull links to assist with player advancement, Recruitment Tips and more!!!
HIGH SCHOOL RESOURCES
Below are some links for College Baseball Programs
College Camps & Showcases
Below are some links for College Baseball Tips
Recruiting Timeline (By Bob Howdeshell) Great article on the timeline for 9th-12th graders
Recruiting Guidelines by position Great article on what is expected at each position at each level Div I-JUCO
Scholorship Limits ((By Bob Howdeshell)
Recruiting News and Tips
11/20/2014- Article written by
New NCAA Rules Affect Recruits
As of September 1st two new rules have been added that can affect your recruitment as a future student athlete at the college level. The NCAA has raised the minimum core Grade Point Average from 2.00 to 2.30 to be a qualifier out of high school.
Core classes are the following subjects in high school:
Math
English
Social Science
Natural or Physical Science
Foreign Language
Philosophy or Nondoctrinal Religion
The second rule change allows juniors to start receiving phone calls and/or text messages on September 1st from college coaches. This rule use to be July 1st entering a student’s senior of high school.
In conclusion, to attend an NCAA affiliated school out of high school you will need to apply to the NCAA Clearinghouse. This will determine academic status as a qualifier or non-qualifier. To view the website and sign-up:
http://web1.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA.jsp
Yours in baseball,
Here are several suggestions, by school year, that will insure your eligibility and enhance your ability to be recruited for collegiate baseball. Remember, the eligibility standards for recruitment are different between Divisions I, II, and III.
Freshmen Year
1. Begin now committing yourself to the best grades that you can achieve.
2. Remember! The NCAA does not recognize a (+) or (–) for your grades. Work for the next higher grade.
3. As an incoming freshman, make sure you have reviewed your schedule with your counselor.
4. Meet with your counselor to insure that you are enrolled in the proper classes for NCAA eligibility in your sophomore year.
5. Make sure that your counselor knows that you hope to pursue collegiate athletics.
6. Develop a sports resume of accomplishments.
7. Attend a variety of sport camps.
8. Participate in a variety of sports the year around.
1. Meet with your counselor to insure that you are enrolled in the proper classes for NCAA eligibility in your junior year.
2. Take the PSAT in the fall when it is first offered.
3. Make sure that your High School Coach is aware of your desire to participate in collegiate sports.
4. Continue to develop an athletic resume.
5. Continue to attend sport camps and participate in a variety of sports.
6. Begin a college and career search in the guidance office.
7. Begin to decide which part of the country you would realistically wish to attend school.
8. Determine what your financial needs will be and what will be best financially for your family.
9. Keep your focus on all appropriate schools on NCAA Division I, II and III levels as well as NAIA and Junior Colleges.
Junior year
1. You must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse at the completionof your junior year. These forms are available on line ( www.ncaaclearinghouse.net ) or from your counselor. The recruiting process will absolutely stop until this has been completed.
2. Continue to meet with your counselor to insure that you are enrolled in the proper courses for NCAA eligibility in your senior year.
3. Continue to update your athletic resume.
4. Continue sport camp participation.
5. Take the PSAT in the fall when it is first offered. Take the SAT and ACT in the spring when they are offered.
6. Contact schools that may interest you and return all cards back to these schools.
7. Respond back to any and all schools that contact you with their return post cards or letters.
8. Make unofficial visits to those schools that you may wish to attend.
Senior year
1. Review with your counselor that you have taken or will take all the classes that will be required for NCAA collegiate eligibility.
2. Retake the SAT/Act if necessary.
3. Continue to meet with your High School Coaches as to what schools and on what level you are most suited to play.
4. Begin to mail your college applications.
5. narrow your choice of schools and take your five official visits to the schools that you might like to attend. Remember, it is an education decision first, followed by athletics.
6. Begin to research a variety of resources for financial aid.
7. Any concerns can be directed to the NCAA at ( www.ncaa.org ).
RECRUITING INFORMATION AND TIPS
Recruiting Colleges:
· * Take a proactive approach and research the college programs that you want to attend.
· * Target the schools that are an athletic and academic match for you
· * Reduce the number of potential schools to 50 or so from the 1,400 colleges in the nation that offer a baseball program
· * Gather information on the internet regarding universities and their athletic programs. You can also speak with your guidance counselor, look through the Peterson’s 4 year college Guide or The Sports Official Baseball Guide for information.
Investigate the Team Roster
· * Recent Recruits– Who’s coming in with you. Is the coach stockpiling players at your position?
· * Past Roster Patterns– How many Junior College players are on the roster and what is the ratio of upperclassmen to lower classmen
· * How many players are at your position and what year are they
· * Where are the players from– this indicates how the coach focuses his recruiting efforts.
· * Playing Time– check underclassmen statistics to see how much playing time they had received
Criteria for Selecting a College:
· Location
· Size of School
· Cost to Attend
· Social Life
· Academic Reputation
· Areas of Study
Factors in Accepting an Offer:
· Distance from Home– do you want to watch your son play a lot and will your son become homesick
· Families financial situation
· Playing Time
· Is the school the right place without Baseball
· What size college do you want
· Do you like the Coaching Staff
· The off-season conditioning and training facilities
· What kind of community support do they have
Contacting College Coaches:
· Begin your initial contact letter with the coaches last name in the salutation. For example, Dear Coach Dover, since 95% of all letters that start, Dear Coach, are thrown into the trash can.
· Player should write the letter yourself. If your handwriting is bad then type the letter.
· Players should return all questionnaires to ALL schools that contact them even if they are not interested. Remember, Coaches talk to other coaches!
· Players should fill out their own questionnaire. Coaches can tell if your parents wrote it.
· Keep your contact letter brief– if you write too much, they will not look
· Do not contact college coaches at their home
· Do not lie about your athletic abilities, accomplishments or academic standing.
· Do not send your school application to the coach to be processed
2. What are the usual steps in the recruiting process? During the junior year, register with the NCAA Clearinghouse for initial-eligibility approval to play NCAA Division I and II sports. Colleges are permitted to write letters to prospects after September 1 during his junior year. Personal contact may take place after July 1 following his junior year, and once-per-week phone calls are also permitted then.
10. Will sending a DVD/videotape of me improve my chances of being recruited? It can definitely help, but keep the tape to about three minutes. Be certain to show you're throwing during infield/outfield practice before a game and several of your at bats during game competition, plus include some running from home to first on a hit. Pitchers should show about one inning or about 15 pitches.