What College Coaches Say

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My DD was up at Akron this weekend. Great experience. I was back home with little statguy making sure he wasn't having ****** field tantrums or wanting to tag everyone on the bases regardless if he was holding the ball in t-ball. I digress as usual.

Statwife was sitting amongst the various college coaches there and another parent decided to chat one up. I thought what they had to say had some merit for those of us reaching that 16u age, and even the girls who are looking into making softball not just something you do during the summer for fun.

What do college coaches look for?
A: Athletecism and hustle. They want to see them hustle on and off the field, warm-ups. Basically, playing in these types of tourneys and playing for the right team help as well. If they didn't have talent they wouldn't be playing for a shbowcase team like many of them featured at Akron, so they are looking for intangibles, girls they can coach.

What about errors? Hitting?
A: Strikeouts arent necessarily a deal-breaker, and neither are errors (yes, having too many would be bad, but we're talking about here and there). They want to see how a player deals with adversity. How they "shake" plays off. Do they still hustle off the field? Do they throw their bat or argue with the ref? they do not look at "head-cases". an athlete you can teach, 18 years of head case you cannot.
i plan to add more from an email that was shared with me as well. good stuff. I'll edit that in when I get home.

I know I'm probably not saying anything new, but something like this needs to be refreshed every so often.

Ray

 

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Hey Ray,

I know THIS has occurred to YOU, but any time someone else communicates these points, it creates an opportunity for a Mom or Dad, or in my case a 54 year old grouch who never played fastpitch because she is so old that her nationally visible university rightly felt it was on the forefront of Title IX by having women's basketball and volleyball teams (and don't get me started on what passed itself off as club sports in high school) to say "SEE, I don't just tell you to hustle on and off the field and to flush those errors down the drain because I like to give you a bad time". (Sheesh, I think I just wrote the longest sentence in OFC history and broke about 10 rules of grammar in the process).

Please, please, please keep sharing so Moms and Dads and Coaches can have back-up for what must seem at times to the girls to be ad nauseum admonitions.

 

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I agree, Its how you react to the errors. They want good kids with good attitudes. They want kids that are focused. They want someone with good grades, Good test scores, They watch interaction with kids and parents, kids and coaches and kids with other kids on the team. I was told last year during recruiting that a girl we know was a good ball player but the coach would not recruit her because of her mom.

 

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One thing I will add is that they're looking for aggressive infielders that are willing to dive right or left to stop a ball, then quickly jump to a throwing position and pop an accurate throw to 1st. Too many kids in summer ball simply do what I call a "run by", where if they would dive it would be stopped in the infield. You have to step up your game - play aggressive, but also play smart. The errors are usually due to nerves, and the coaches know that. Not playing aggressive is either due to laziness, lack of athleticism, or improper training. The coaches also know that.

Also, is the player having fun? Does she look like she REALLY wants to be there? College coaches can easily pick up on those cues.

 

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good post
wish i would have some of this information when dd was younger
how many coaches were up in akron?

 

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Great info guys and gals---easy to understand and pass on to the dds ~ keep it coming.

 

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Gladimdone , I am not sure of the total number of coaches But I saw on Avg 3 coaches at each game I watched. I watched about 7 games total so that is around 21 different coaches. Those were just the ones that I knew were coaches. I had a coach sit down next to me, dressed like a parent no school stuff on then he pulled out the roster stuff they gave college coaches and he made notes on a pad during the game. Anyhow they were there, some make it obvious some do not. Most sat in stands, some were sitting in the outfield shade watching games. Most watched for about 3 or 4 innings then went to another game.

 

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Right on Kat. Very few things do I pass on to my 12U DD as to avoid the "whatever" come back or thought (I know she thinks it when she sometimes respectfully doesn't say it.) But I will have her read Statman's post. I think I will print it out and put it in her bat bag. And I'm going to tell her that's a current picture of him next to his name. Smart for his age.

 

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I was told last year during recruiting that a girl we know was a good ball player but the coach would not recruit her because of her mom.

Any college coach worth his/her salt would not have mentioned that to a parent. Maybe you got your info from another parent and in that case, well it depends on the source and THEIR agenda. Jealousy maybe?

 

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I agree with Orion. Moms don't play or go to college. Coaches also look for smart players. A smart player (talking about middle infielders going up the middle or into the hole) dives for a ball to keep it on the infield when there's a runner at second who might score if the ball goes through. A smart player does not dive for a ball to keep it on the infield when no one is on base. The smart player tries to keep her feet and make the play knowing that once she dives, she has no chance to throw out the runner and the result would be the same as if she let the ball go through to the outfield. She also is not risking injury when there's no reward possible.

 

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dolara7 - First, I totally disagree with your statement that a player can't dive, field a ball, and STILL make a throw to get an out. Smart play is obviously not diving for every smoking grounder in the gap, but college coaches expect (demand) that their players be aggressive. I stand by my statement of "Too many run by plays" in summer ball in Ohio - just not enough effort.

How does a college player get injured diving?? Most DI teams even dive during infield warm-ups! Would you also suggest not sliding to avoid injury? Please explain how and why a talented infielder, using proper technique, would get injured diving for a ball.

 

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I heard of a coach that went to a tourney to watch and recruit a kid, but when he went up to speak with the kid after his game, which he played spectacular in, he turned around and walked away. His assistant coach asked why he wasn't going to speak with the kid, the coaches response was..."I don't have a scholarship for his mom, if the kid can't even carry his own bag, he's not the type of player I'm looking for."

Everything is being evaluated by the coaches.....even the moms.

 

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Saw a kid arguing with an umpire this weekend and not the brightest bulb on the tree with all the college coaches in attendance..

 

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Sammy:

Any player can get hurt diving for a ball. She could jam a finger, s****e her arm; twist a knee; sprain an elbow, etc. Yes, sometimes you can dive, catch the ball and throw out a runner. I've done it many times myself. 99 percent of the time it has to be a very hard hit ball. What I was saying was that a smart player picks the right time to dive and the right time not to dive. A three hopper in the hole at short that is barely out of the reach of your backhand is NOT a ball you should dive for with no one on base. If you don't field that ball cleanly, plant and throw, you're not getting anyone out at first. The result of you knocking the ball down or the ball rolling to the left fielder will be identical--- hitter safe at first. There is no point in diving for that one. If it's the same ball with a runner at second, then you've got a different story. If the ball goes through, then the runner could score. Yes, dive and stop that ball. It could prevent a run from scoring.

As a coach, if I see a player diving for a ball when there's no point to it, I'm going to figure this player is not only careless with her body and could spend a lot of time hurt, but also that she's a fool.

Any player who dives for a ball and risks injury in warmups is a really foolish. Save it for the game.

 

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sammy taught his DD to dive by purposely dropping his bud lites and having her save them for allowance....geez, now people are against diving?

 

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Here's some more tips (I take no credit for it whatsoever) just good information edited somewhat for the masses

Be in top physical athletic shape. They want athletes that take care of themselves. Being overweight, or out of shape is a big turn off. Toned muscles, fit body, and pushing your self during warm-ups is what they want to see. Its a reflection of who you are and self esteem.

Make a list of 20 schools at all levels. Learn the coaches names, see what they look like, read about their programs and write them letters that say things like "I'd like to be a Falcon" or "I believe I could play well in black and gold" or "Nice win over Marietta last week" (don't mass email coaches, take the time to personalize each letter)

6. Read the player bios on a team and see what kind of background they have. And see how you compare to them.

5. Remember that you are "always on" during warm-ups, in the parking lot, at the hotel (coaches stay in hotels too). They watch you all the time and if you are fighting with a parent between games or entwined with a boyfriend or doing something stupid they'll see that. They will also see you in bleachers cheering for a friend on a different team, having fun with your parents and team mates. (pssst parents, I've had coaches tell me they were no longer interested in a player because their parents were jerks during a game) --(that one was for you, Orion)

4. Do your home work. You should be swinging a bat 3-4 times a week. If you pitch you should be throwing 2-3 times a week. You should spend 5 times as much time on your school work as you do on softball.

3. Write letters to coaches to have them come and watch you play. I have had coaches say "I had to stop and see her cause she has emailed me a dozen times" - Try hand writing a letter once in a while too. It will make more of an impact than 10 emails.

ACT and SAT. If you haven't taken them yet and you are a junior... take them as soon as possible. Nothing convinces a coach more to stop and watch then seeing ACT: 26.

GPA - This number is more important than AVE, OB%, ERA, MPH, Home to 1st, - work on your grades. Even if you choose not to play school ball in college, the tests scores, and GPA will save you some jack where ever you go to school.

 

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And STATMAN hit it out of the park.....

The last two being key! They don't want educational risks....

 

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Statman... thats a nice list. I couldn't have said it better myself.

btw... someone mentioned no coach worth his weight in salt would say they wouldn't take akid because of the parent. I have had two coaches say that to me in the last 12 months. Both very good D1 coaches and schools. Good D1 schools have so much talent that they can look at that parents CAN be the deciding factor.

 

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College coaches watch the interaction between parents and player VERY closely. Arguing with mom/dad/umpires is a HUGE red flag, which indicates coachability problems.

If you treat your kid like a Prima Donna, she will do her best to become one and grant your wish. Your DD should be carrying her own equipment. Pitchers carry THEIR bucket to practice. Catchers carry THEIR bag.

Sorry, but if you feel the sport is too tough on your DD, maybe she should be doing something else. That being said, I'm betting it's not that it's too hard on the DD, but rather the parents are too soft.

On Diving - Why would any player do ANY type of diving BEFORE a complete warm-up? That's just asking for a pulled muscle. For that matter, why would she even swing a bat or throw a ball before a COMPLETE warm up? ALL players should run, stretch, etc. BEFORE doing anything they would do in a game. Break a sweat. Get GAME ready. If a player can't dive during pre-game drills, she hasn't properly warmed up, and therefore isn't prepared to play in a game. I will say again - Any middle infielder that is not willing to lay-out for a ball, ESPECIALLY in pre-game drills, is either lazy, unathletic or both.

Remember - college coaches may be watching from the time you get out of the car in the parking lot. They watch you talk to mom/dad/teammates. They watch you warm up. They watch you do drills. They watch your throwing form, running form, and EFFORT. Many times, they have seen all they want to see BEFORE THE GAME STARTS! Give the coaches a reason to stick around and watch you play!

C'mon Statman! How dare you insult me by insinuating I would drink Bud Light? Regular Budweiser has been my choice for years!!

 

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Statman,

Great post, important message to athletes.

When my youngest son was being recruited 2 years ago we attended a recruit day at an ACC university with about 35 other baseball players this school was looking at in the class of 2008.

While tha parents were still in the meeting with the boys the head coach made an interesting comment. He told the guys an interesting fact for them to remember as they continued through the recruiting process and were playing during their Junior year.

He told them that they knew they would have their bad days, they would have days when they would be 0-5 at the plate, throw a ball over the first basemans head, dive for a ball in the outfield and miss it badly. He told them he knew those days would come, and he hoped that he would be there to see it. He then made a very profound statement to this room full of high school Juniors. He said, "The only reason you are here today is because we saw you on a good day, now we want to see how you conduct yourself on a bad day"

He shared with them that after a bad play their eyes are glued on the player to see how they handle the mistake. At the end of the inning they watch you as you get back to the dugout and watch to see if you start throwing things in anger.

The play on the field is certainly the thing that can get you a first look by a recruitor, but how a player handles adversity is of utmost importance as well.