For all you 05's out there, a big day is coming up in just 3 weeks. July 1 is the first day that college coaches can call YOU directly. There may be some real surprises (good and bad)...there certainly were for us last year. Hopefully most of them are good ones.

As you head out on your summer seasons and showcases, be on your best behavior and give your very best effort. The majority of college recruiters are on the road now and looking for players. They will be watching. And players definitely get noticed for the first time in these next few weeks and months.

Best of luck to all - it can be a fun summer!

But don't freak out if you don't get called July 1 It's a long summer (and fall for that matter).

Great point HeyBatter - boy I really blew that one!

This last year went by MUCH too fast! It is so hard to believe that it is now our turn to face the college decision and senior year! We became members of the HSBBW board back in 2001 (before the crash) when son was a Freshman and have enjoyed reading the stories of all of you who have "gone before". Well, I guess it's now our turn, and I can tell you I'm not ready. But, all I can say is "Let the roller coaster begin ... I'll try to hang on as best I can!"

RHP05

It isnt that hard a ride even with the bumps every now and then

Dont be afraid to call on us if needed

What actually happens on 7/1? Does a coach call to introduce himself to tell you he's interested and will be following your progress throughout the summer and fall? If I'm not mistaken they can't actually make offers until November, correct? What can/should you ask the coach on 7/1?

njbdad - They can make an offer at any time. Some kids may have already committed. Up until July 1, they cannot call you, from July 1 forward, any D1 school can call you once a week.

For a high profile kid like RHP05's son, they will find out on July 1 and shortly thereafter who is really interested. For other kids, it will take a little more time, but it can still happen any time after that.

"some kids are already committed" How does that happen? I have heard of an '05 kid that got a full ride to a school - if you aren't permitted to talk to coaches until July 1 - how can this be? Is it an NCAA violation?

You can call them at any time yourself. They have been allowed to email/mail you since September. And you could have visited their campus on your own dime already.

During any of these conversations, they could have offered and you could have accepted their scholarship...even before July 1.

Justbaseball,
As usual you make some very good points. Many parents and players are setting on the edge of their seats waiting for everything to happen on July, 1st. I would like to add a little to your post. I would like everyone to understand that the recruitment of your son is a process . . . not a one day event. I, like most parents, was anxiously waiting for July 1st. July, 1st is significant in the college recruitment calendar only because coaches ARE ALLOWED to call, but for most players the phone will not ring. Our phone did ring on July 1st but the college that ultimately signed my son did not call until mid August.
The recruiting process is appropriately dubbed the “ride”. I might add this “ride” is going somewhere but no one is sure where it’s headed or who is in control. We all start at the same point, go off in different directions, leave at different times, and accelerate at different speeds. The only thing we all have in common . . . . we all have our fingers crossed in hopes we like where we eventually stop.
Fungo

Fungo's post is very wise, and I would like to add something to what HeyBatter wrote above, for those whose kids are not the superstars on every college's radar--which number about what, 200 in the country? If you are in that select group, then you really don't even need to be reading this site. If you aren't, please know that in many instances serious interest may not start for months, but it can still start, and things can work out.

My son got his first call on July 3rd, from a school which shall remain unnamed, but which was an Ivy, which I believe was also calling a database they had of 1600--not kidding. By the end of the summer, maybe 10 schools had called expressing fairly serious interest. Most of his serious recruiting interest started in the fall of his senior year. He eventually had a good D1 scholarship offer, some absolutely top-notch D3 offers from the best academic schools in the country, and ended up as a recruited walkon (we'll see what happens in the fall!) at his first choice school after being admitted on academic and overall merit in their early action admissions, in December.

Taking another path, I know of players who absolutely have superb potential that really only showed itself in their senior season. They are going various alternate routes including JUCO or good D3. D3 may in fact be preferable for those athletes for whom academics may be more important than athletics but who still want to play ball because D1 athletics can be so demanding that it does force the athlete to take less demanding courses, etc. In our experience the D3 schools started serious recruiting in the September/October/November time frame, and in most cases required some initial direct contact from the player.

You don't have to be at the top of the heap at the beginning, to find a happy landing place.

I really shouldnt read these posts yet, I get all worked up and I have an '07

I've got Marty Feldman eyes - and an '08.

July 1st...

Hopefully for all of you as it was for my family and my son...A whole lot of fun getting to know many very nice, professional coaches (and one or two not so nice), which ultimately resulted in my son choosing a school and being rewarded with a "chance of a lifetime"!

Ryan Petrulis, Princeton Tigers, Class of 2008

My thoughts on the July 1st date:

http://www.hsbaseballweb.com/july_first.htm

Nicely put Bob! (As usual).
And anyone who calls on July 1, may or may not still be in the picture when your son finally makes the decision.

Agreed, that is a great article. And poor you to field all those emails.

There's an '04 in our town who is being recruited for the fall by many top D1's after not signing an NLI last fall because he ws told it would ruin his draft chances (he was not drafted), so therefore if the call or offer doesn't come when you think it should it is not the end of the world.
As a parent who can not believe a year has past since our first phone call came, I urge you all to enjoy the moment and do not panic. Do not let it be a stressful time, and if you need support, have questions just let us know.
Most of all, be realistic in your expectations. In general, scholarship money for baseball is hard to come by and that D1 scholarship comes with a variety of price tags including pressure to perform, signability and expenses. You may think your son deserves a D1 scholarship, realistically he may not be at that level. You have to be ready to contribute your first year, if you don't you sit and then misery comes. Go where you will play and make the most impact.
A strong suggestion, don't wait for the official visit, if you can visit before that, do it, it helps to illiminate wasted time, yours and theirs. After visiting the "mound" where my son always wished to play, he knew instantly it was not for him. If you are being pressured for a decision, well that's too bad, if they really want you, they will wait.
I find the relation to the draft and college recruiting similar. They begin with a list and it gets smaller and smaller as the summer goes by and yes your chances improve if you are out there playing where they can see you, this is the only time some of them have to actually watch new recruits. Chances are they have seen you before, or a scout has made a recommendation.
Most coaches will contact the parent after they have contacted the player. After all, you are going to be paying the bill, not your son. They need to feel you out just as they will your son. They only get to make one call a week, and they are calling hundreds at a time, so be patient.
The pieces of the puzzle will begin to fall into place by the fall, it is a long process but moves quickly. Don't fret if your son doesn't get 5 invitations, while the other kids you know go them.
Best of luck and remember...enjoy!

I am posting on this site to be a counterbalance to those whose sons had 5 official visits set up by the first week of July--and talked about it on this site.

Although that is wonderful and there is an audience for that information, there is also a sizable population of 05 parents and players who are in the second or third tier of players (or below, I don't know what tiers there are ) who will be made to feel AWFUL and left out by this group, and who will wrongly conclude that there is not a chance they will ever find a baseball home where they are wanted. I can tell you that this is not true, and that plenty of INITIAL contacts will come in the fall of senior year, and LATER.

This site seems often to be dominated by the select group, and yet I am sure that there are lots of 05 parents and players out there who will be walking in the shoes we were wearing last year--light interest, and not necessarily from the schools they are truly interested in attending. It was a long, and somewhat discouraging, summer. Things got much better in the fall.

All the advice that is given, about being in good shape, trying to get seen and participate on summer teams or showcases, getting and staying in touch with coaches, is all good. But if you are doing all that and not getting noticed, just don't lose heart or give up! Coaches will be looking for players for a long, long time. Just because you aren't the first on their list doesn't mean that they won't eventually look at you as one of their favorite players.

Also, sometimes people say disdainful things on this site about being "overlooked" and "unwanted" because you weren't on the top 10 list of a coach. That is absurd in my view. If they ultimately decide they want you, who cares whether or not they were smart enough to know that on July 1?

Cal2004,
I have to disagree with you. I have never felt the websters on this site were trying to make those players on a “tier” other than the top, (whatever that is) feel less than important. The game of “One Up-manship” only exist if you allow it to exist. The feeling of jealously is generated from within and not caused by an external influence.
We all know what is best for one webster’s son may not be the best for someone else’s. There are thousands of players and parents that frequent the HSBBW who are actively involved in their own recruiting process. Each have their own challenges but each can draw something helpful from this site. No two players get the same reward that comes with accomplishment or no two feel the same pain of rejection.
There are players that will get passed over by colleges and the pro draft and it hurts not just the immediate family but lots of other westers feel that pain too. No one gets pleasure from this. Players get cut from teams on a daily basis. This is a sad side of sports but it does happen and will continue to happen. What makes this site special is contrary to what you post.

quote:

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Also, sometimes people say disdainful things on this site about being "overlooked" and "unwanted" because you weren't on the top 10 list of a coach.

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Many times I have seen Websters, who have sons that just got passed over or cut, be the first to stand up and post a congratulatory post to the “other” player.

Fungo