Top 10 Tips for those new to Travel Ball

[0203bbmom]

Each player's path is different and I think we fail at times to respect that. If I could give one single piece of advice to new travel ball players and parents, it would be to respect the path your child is taking and let them make their own decisions. I have seen coaches, parents push D1, but the player wasn't prepared for the D1 schedule, or maybe the talent level was more suited for D2, or they sacrifice their education goals and the player fails miserably because all they heard was D1. We need to be more respectful of what the player wants yet be realistic with them at the same time. Yes, I speak from experience with my DD. DD had interest in and from D2, NAIA, and D3. As parents, we were hoping (and maybe trying to pursuade her to D2/NAIA too hard) she would consider schools with athletic scholarships as well. To avoid WWIII in our house, we as the parents, had to step back and let her make her own decision. She ended up committing to an excellent D3 college with one of the best programs for her education goals. Seeing the joy she has now about her decision and how excited she is lets me know SHE made the right decision, not us as parents. Yes, more scholarship money is a perk, but I also feel your DDs happiness and pride in owning HER decision will be worth every penny spent on a D3 EDUCATION.

And to add to the subject of "does the name on the front of the jersey make a difference", in our experience absolutely yes it did. The first camp DD went to with a certain well known org's name on the front of her jersery, things changed and changed quickly. DD is not a 6 ft tall standout throwing 65 mph, so that name on the jersey allowed her to gain more attention at camps, etc. It all depends on several factors but for my DD, the name on the jersey was a game changer (pun intended...).

 

[wow]

These “big” organizations try and sell the dream. The fact is kids end up where they should. There is way to much reading tea leaves and politics. Enjoy the experience and play the best talent you can. The fact is many of the best teams end up at the same events throughout the year. The college recruiting landscape is changing. Emails and marketing through social media is not enough. Being at camps is not enough. Relationships matter and getting to be comfortable is critical. What is the point of a full ride, cause thats all that anyone gets, if kid is miserable for 4 years. There are many factors to consider!

 

[LineDrive1434]

Not really. The girls need to market themselves. They need to put their face, stats, videos in the coaches lap. If they like what they see they will make it a point to either get you to a camp of theirs or come see a game.

When a coach shows up at a tournament they have a list of players they are there to see. Not because you play for Lasers. Yes the lasers have coaches at their games because coaches are there to see a girl they are interested in. My DD is on a B level team. She had multiple coaches at every tournament. She has been invited to several tryouts/official visits. I know several girls that worked hard to get DI scholarships. It all starts their 7-8 grade year. Start sending emails and videos. Even though they can't talk to you they will know your name see your videos and progression through the years. They will know your work ethic and persistence. By the time you reach your junior year they will take the time to see you play. It is that simple.

I am sorry but this is misleading information and I can't let it slip by. I have worked with and coached baseball and softball players at the highest level for over 20 years. My own son plays professional baseball and his teammates from summer travel all had D1 scholarships (which we found amazing....ha ha) offers. Most not Power 5 but still D1. These coaches don't have time to worry about a 7th or 8th graders. The first thing they look for is the graduating year. They get tons and tons and tons of emails. If your son or daughter is not a sophomore or a phenom they will not take the time to read the email because they just can't keep up. And guess what it doesn't matter if it's JUCO or major D1 its the same.

Be very careful how you spend your time and money on your daughter or son. I have a daughter right now show has a legit 4 pitch repertoire she can throw for strikes and tops out at 60 as an incoming sophomore and we are just now getting her into camps. It is a complete waste of time more than a year out. She can talk to anyone for a year. Starting in the 7th or 8th grade is a completer waste of time and money.

Sorry but that's the truth.

 

[Xrayaries]

I am sorry but this is misleading information and I can't let it slip by. I have worked with and coached baseball and softball players at the highest level for over 20 years. My own son plays professional baseball and his teammates from summer travel all had D1 scholarships (which we found amazing....ha ha) offers. Most not Power 5 but still D1. These coaches don't have time to worry about a 7th or 8th graders. The first thing they look for is the graduating year. They get tons and tons and tons of emails. If your son or daughter is not a sophomore or a phenom they will not take the time to read the email because they just can't keep up. And guess what it doesn't matter if it's JUCO or major D1 its the same.

Be very careful how you spend your time and money on your daughter or son. I have a daughter right now show has a legit 4 pitch repertoire she can throw for strikes and tops out at 60 as an incoming sophomore and we are just now getting her into camps. It is a complete waste of time more than a year out. She can talk to anyone for a year. Starting in the 7th or 8th grade is a completer waste of time and money.

Sorry but that's the truth.

LOL!!!

 

[tjsmize3]

I am sorry but this is misleading information and I can't let it slip by. I have worked with and coached baseball and softball players at the highest level for over 20 years. My own son plays professional baseball and his teammates from summer travel all had D1 scholarships (which we found amazing....ha ha) offers. Most not Power 5 but still D1. These coaches don't have time to worry about a 7th or 8th graders. The first thing they look for is the graduating year. They get tons and tons and tons of emails. If your son or daughter is not a sophomore or a phenom they will not take the time to read the email because they just can't keep up. And guess what it doesn't matter if it's JUCO or major D1 its the same.

Be very careful how you spend your time and money on your daughter or son. I have a daughter right now show has a legit 4 pitch repertoire she can throw for strikes and tops out at 60 as an incoming sophomore and we are just now getting her into camps. It is a complete waste of time more than a year out. She can talk to anyone for a year. Starting in the 7th or 8th grade is a completer waste of time and money.

Sorry but that's the truth.

LineDrive I have not been involved with softball recruiting for 20 yrs, but I have been for over 10. I have a pitcher who committed to Penn State as an 8th grader and had another pitcher (no longer with us) commit to University of Washington in her 9th grade year. That year, we had 2 more girls commit to BGSU and NC State, and 2 more receive offers from Western Carolina. Taking the whole group of kids receiving offers, some of the schools had done their homework on them in a few months... some started way back in the 7th and 8th grade. All of the group had initiated contact through emails and going to camps. I can see from what you wrote about your son's team that his group was extremely successful in getting high-level offers to play in college as well, but I do not think your experience discounts the experience of those who found success at an earlier age. I agree that with the NCAA rule change it NOW makes little sense to send your kid to a camp in 7th grade for the purpose of getting recruited, however, lots of people would agree that sending them to 2-3 that year gets them used to what they will be doing at a bigger stage in 9th and 10th grade. I talk with a lot of college coaches and most will tell you (if you ask) how they handle the ridiculous amount of emails they receive... many pay grad students to filter for grad year, org name, position, tournaments attending, etc... Ehren Earlywine (when he was at Mizzou) used to tell people that he would not even look at your email if you did not list your org, and he would freely admit that he recruited from a list of about only 30-40 orgs nationwide.... that's it! He also committed a NE Ohio player in her 8th grade year btw...
While the days of 7th and 8th grade COMMITS are over, many D1 universities have started building a fairly extensive "interest list" by the fall of a players 9th grade year. I think if I were coaching 8th graders, I would encourage them to start identifying schools of interest and start an email campaign that summer. Schools WILL read them IF you fit what they are looking for. I would also produce a decently edited skills video that summer to start sending with my emails in fall of the 9th grade year. I would absolutely start attending multiple camps on my interest list that fall as well. While you can start in 10th grade, many schools will want to see your daughter at a few camps. If you are trying to work a list of 8-10 schools it may be very difficult to fit it all into 1 year prior to the Sept 1 junior year mark. I'm sure your daughter as a pitcher throwing 4 60 mph pitches for strikes is going to do VERY WELL, however, if my daughter was a power hitting right fielder, I think I would want more than a year to get identified and through the process. Lots to consider. I would not at all think getting started on the process in 7th - 8th grade is a complete waste of time.

 

[okiedad1961]

Here's my tips
1.Remind them, this is there future in the sport (they must want to do it).
2.If there in to it,get the most instruction you can afford in there primary secondary defensive positions.
3.Hitting instruction with a emphasis of what kind a hitter she can be.
4.Make sure there doing it in the offseason at least once a week or more .
5 . Make sure academics don't sacrifice because of practice.
6.Have her play as a pickup player to learn to play and communicate with new teammates.
7 .Try to have a major by beginning of Jr year.
8 .Find schools that have those majors .
9.If you don't have the Majors doing your exposure, playing and at premier events you need to get her to prospect camps of schools that fit.
10 .If she's got it thell see it ,if not send her to college anyway if she wants.
11.D1 isn't all ways the way to go .Some players will never see the Feild.And some girls don't want to commit to D1 travel.
12 .D2 and D3 have less or no money but if your academics are good they'll find a way to help you.
I'm not looking for critique or a argument .so don't bother.

 

[dannyboy]

Bring the following items:
1. Cash
2. Umbrella
3. Hat
4. Cell Phone
5. Extra Car Keys

Do Not Bring the following items:
1. A tired player
2. Your own score book
3. Fireworks (don't ask)
4. Alcohol
5. Subs[/QUOTE

No Alcohol? I'm out!!!