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If your a real U16 player who moved up to U18 and now the coach is adding real college players are your chances at being seen by college coaches hurt?
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Very good question
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Depends on if your are still on the field or now sitting.
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Depends on what tournaments you play in...
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Why did the player move up? 16U is where the bulk of the recruiting attention occurs.
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That is a tough break.
On most teams a college coach will com to see a stud player and then someone else might catch their eye. When you are playing with a bunch of college players on a regular basis then that random coach is skipping your games. We would use a college player every once in a while to fill in but they were not regulars.
If the bulk of the recruiting takes place at u16 those teams are playing up at the u18 brackets (in this area) in order to get the competition that they need to make a run at some national tourney.
On most teams a college coach will com to see a stud player and then someone else might catch their eye. When you are playing with a bunch of college players on a regular basis then that random coach is skipping your games. We would use a college player every once in a while to fill in but they were not regulars.
If the bulk of the recruiting takes place at u16 those teams are playing up at the u18 brackets (in this area) in order to get the competition that they need to make a run at some national tourney.
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There's not a one-size-fits-all answer to the 16U vs 18U question. The correct answer depends on several factors. Moving up to 18U early can be appropriate for the following:
- Colleges are already recruiting the player.
- The 18U org is higher profile and/or the team has a better track record getting players that age recruited.
- The player is a rising senior and their target schools tend to recruit that age from 18U.
- Players in your region tend to move up early, so they're really not playing up.
- Colleges are already recruiting the player.
- The 18U org is higher profile and/or the team has a better track record getting players that age recruited.
- The player is a rising senior and their target schools tend to recruit that age from 18U.
- Players in your region tend to move up early, so they're really not playing up.
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No.
The way to be seen by college coaches is to contact them and get them interested in you and go to their camps. Many 16u eligible kids playing 18u and 18 Gold get looked at and get offers. The trick is in contacting and getting in front of the coaches, not being seen by pot luck at some tourney where there are hundreds of players in a 16u or 18u tournament.
Len
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not so fast there willis......
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You mean "What chu talkin' about, Willis?"
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Yabut it didn't fit into what my head was thinking!!
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Since the Poster asked this question 9 years ago, it would be great to hear how it played out for them but since they have not been on the site for over 5 1/2 years - looks like we will not find that out.......
Are the coaches wandering around taking in random games mostly - or are they going to see those players who have contacted them/ went to their camps/ emaied, etc. If laying the ground work for yourself - it shouldn't matter......
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I think Mark actually posted a 2-for-1 by combining 2 phrases. A popular version of the first one is the punch line to a joke - "Not so fast, Kowalski."
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Loaded question!... but I agree, it's a very good question.
1. In general if your team is playing at larger exposure tournaments where they have a 16u division (and also at nationals) you would expect to see more D1 coaches looking there as opposed to 18u. So I think moving to 18u could impact your daughter's looks more than the college player. D2 and NAIA schools, however, might be recruiting both equally.
2. The BEST way for your DD to be seen by a college coach is for her to have contacted the school and sent an email expressing her interest along with a game schedule. I can think of no reason why a coach would opt to not come look at your daughter (assuming she is at the right events) based on the fact that her team is picking up a few college players.
3. Having a college player on a team shouldn't affect your daughter's looks any more than that team having a committed (signed or verbaled) player which many 16u and 18u teams have. Obviously the more committed players you have on a team the less chance coaches are going to spend a lot of time passively watching that team, but again ... most coaches who are going to recruit your daughter are there because she wrote them, not because they randomly decided to watch her team play.
4. Most college players are there to stay sharp over the off-season. They are not interested in coming onto a team and taking all of the innings away from anyone. It was our experience last year (on an 18u team with college and committed players) that when a coach was present to watch an unrecruited player, the committed players were more than happy to step aside and let her shine. Clearly the coach and players should lay that expectation down from day 1, but on most teams I think it is understood.
Best of luck to your daughter this season!
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OLD THREAD, but should have been a great Topic for a great Discussions.
I wonder some time how a Thread like this never take off ?
I wonder some time how a Thread like this never take off ?
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For my DD, 16u was the sweet spot. By 18u, she was already committed. But there were many kids on her 18u team still very involved in the recruiting process. Not to discourage any kid from shooting for the stars, but we did not play in the Colorado or Cali showcases, mainly because recruiting prospects were much better in the East for our team. At the time my DD was "in the market" (6-7 years ago), 16u was the hotbed of recruiting, but 18u also drew many looks by select players.
IMO, if your DD gets a chance - NOT the parents! - she should talk to a coach at one of their camps and ask them their opinion. I will tell you that they want to see your DD challenged to her breaking point - especially in BAD games! How does she handle it? Does she "recover" quickly and keep her head? Or does she grumble and pout? IMO, those emotions are harder to keep in check at 16u - which is a great place for college coaches to find out how your DD handles those tough times.
In summary, it's a very individual choice - a lot depends on the team makeup and recruiting status of the players. 16u just worked best for us, but that also was 6 or 7 years ago - things do change over the years!
PS - Wanna give a shoutout to Bouldersdad - and congratulate Brit for that fantastic performance in yesterday's game ON TV!!!
IMO, if your DD gets a chance - NOT the parents! - she should talk to a coach at one of their camps and ask them their opinion. I will tell you that they want to see your DD challenged to her breaking point - especially in BAD games! How does she handle it? Does she "recover" quickly and keep her head? Or does she grumble and pout? IMO, those emotions are harder to keep in check at 16u - which is a great place for college coaches to find out how your DD handles those tough times.
In summary, it's a very individual choice - a lot depends on the team makeup and recruiting status of the players. 16u just worked best for us, but that also was 6 or 7 years ago - things do change over the years!
PS - Wanna give a shoutout to Bouldersdad - and congratulate Brit for that fantastic performance in yesterday's game ON TV!!!
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