Shepster,
I never stopped! I only gave up working as a full time minister to devote time with kids in baseball. I still preach often. This business has given me plenty of sermon material the last four years...

I see this as more of a clarification than a change in the rules---

Also what is the difference between a showcase operation and a recruiting service in their eyes? I think their is a huge difference

As I see it Perfect Game is a "scouting/showcase" operation that runs some great tournaments and we are a showcase operation that has a travel team in the Fall.

In effect this helps people like SKILLSHOW because the coaches are not subscribers--they just need a player to give them the "password" to their page.

They do not also talk about emails etal

Loads of grey areas in this thing

We learned a long time ago that it is easier to work with the NCAA than against them. Like it or not, they are one great big powerful organization.

We have found that the best and easiest way (and only realistic way) of dealing with issues regarding the NCAA regulations is to go through college compliance officers. The NCAA does not like to discuss things with non NCAA groups, but compliance officers can get all the answers and interpretations. Obviously, college coaches are the closest people to their compliance departments, but we have a few friends who are compliance officers at major universities, as well.

It’s my opinion that most rules are set in place to “even the playing field”. I can say there are some interpretation issues with some of the rules. It is amazing how many college coaches are not even clear regarding how some of these rules are interpreted.

Anyway, our #1 concern is the players, so we need to make the necessary adjustments that are required. This is not always easy when schedules are made out a year in advance and then new rules go into affect and it requires scheduling changes.

I’m totally confused about the reason for the new rule regarding holding events at a college field. The interpretation we got was it is permissible to play the showcase games at the NCAA field, but you can’t do things like run the 60 (testing). In other words, it is legal to run the 60 across the street at a high school field and then cross the street and play the game at the college field. Does this really make any sense?

Baseball Web TV was aware of the NCAA rules long before it was launched. There was a lot of research done before we went with that project. BBWTV was launched much earlier than planned because of the WWBA Championship (hurricane) last year. The amount of effort that several compliance officers went through trying to get the NCAA to make an exception to the quiet recruiting period, led to much discussion regarding BBWTV. In a way it was a blessing in disguise because the whole situation opened up two different discussions. We were disappointed that the NCAA did not rule in our favor regarding the exemption to the quiet recruiting period, but at the same time we learned a lot about how BBWTV needed to operate in order to comply with the rules.

Another thing that confuses me… We see many of the promotional letters that Showcase Promoters send to players. I know that many (even most) who attend our events get on these mailing lists. Some promoters even claim that they saw the player at one of our events and were very impressed. Problem is… all the players seem to get the same letter. Guess they were impressed by all of the players. Truth is… They got a hold of a copy of our scout information.

But that’s not the biggest problem… It’s when we see testimonials from college (NCAA) coaches, included in these letters to players. Sometimes they are called camps rather than showcases. (Interpretation again) To make adjustments to comply I think Showcases will soon all turn into camps. Just add a little instructional stuff, hire some college coaches (they’ll love it) and give those coaches an even bigger advantage over others in recruiting. The best showcase events with the best players will then become the biggest CAMPS! Don’t be surprised if you see much more of this along with many other services becoming more instructional based. That is… Until the NCAA makes another rule change.

Oh my goodness Jerry,

As in the past, NCAA = No Clue At All!

Today, a few more are saying:
- RTFM
- N F C


"Most rules are set in place to “even the playing field”. ....
.....could not be farther from reality!

Testimonials from college (NCAA) coaches either Showcases (or camps) are taboo.

Hiring NCAA college coaches (for a buck) for showcases/camps is also taboo, yet one can hiring them to officiate!
Imagine how clear that is!....as mud!

Regards
Bear

quote:

Another thing that confuses me… We see many of the promotional letters that Showcase Promoters send to players. I know that many (even most) who attend our events get on these mailing lists. Some promoters even claim that they saw the player at one of our events and were very impressed. Problem is… all the players seem to get the same letter. Guess they were impressed by all of the players. Truth is… They got a hold of a copy of our scout information.

This is a common practice not only aongst showcase promoters but even schools themsleves. Whether it is one of your PG events, the Junior Olympics or any semi-significant tournament, roster lists are sold. It certainly is misleading to say "we saw you at abc event" and it happens all the time.
A Div 1 AD told me last year he spent $25,000 on "lists"...lists of names to form the original mailer of perhaps 1000 athletes in some sports.
I also have noticed that a certain national publication has now listed its '09 and '10 players to watch....at least around here the list is, as far as I can tell, comprised of the Junior Olympic West roster names only. Not much scouting going on there believe me.
People need to take all this stuff with a grain of salt.

quote:

I’m totally confused about the reason for the new rule regarding holding events at a college field. The interpretation we got was it is permissible to play the showcase games at the NCAA field, but you can’t do things like run the 60 (testing). In other words, it is legal to run the 60 across the street at a high school field and then cross the street and play the game at the college field. Does this really make any sense?

Again, the ruling is primarily designed to affect football and the SPARQ testing phenomena being touted by Nike. I spoke to a D1 Administrator yesterday (a guy who I consider to be a guru in recruiting rules and regs) and his impression was that this would not impact baseball events unless you are running the SPARQ type testing. In this case, as PG says, the testing has to be off site of a college campus.
Before long we will be having a similar discussion as the NCAA addresses the issue of text messaging.....

quote:

"Most rules are set in place to “even the playing field”. ....
.....could not be farther from reality!

Bear,

Maybe I should have said, that is most often "the reason" given. I do agree that in reality many of the rulings actually result in the complete opposite.

The other ruling regarding holding an event with testing on a NCAA campus, just makes no sense what-so-ever. You'll just see more of these events held in professional parks or colleges that are not affected by the rule. If either of these things help players or help NCAA schools, I fail to understand how.

But, IMO the problem won't be solved by fighting over these issues. We know we can't, and don't want to, beat the NCAA. However, there are people who work for the NCAA that are very reasonable and understanding. Listening, adjusting, and doing what's necessary to conform to the rules is what is most productive.

As PG Staff stated clearly..."our #1 concern is the players, so we need to make the necessary adjustments that are required."

We all understand that different colleges have different budgets and the NCAA will continue to try to make recruiting as fair as possible for all its member schools.

In the big picture, coaches need 'information' in order to recruit a player. Scouting reports, video, statistics, references, academic information, etc. are all part of that 'information gathering' process.

If an athlete is serious about playing at the next level....it really makes sense that he is fully prepared and obtains as much 'information' about himself to share with potential recruiters.

That said, for an athlete to have a highly respected scouting report from PG or video from Skillshow online, it does help a college coach to know that kid is serious about wanting to play on. And it does help the coaches when they see a name they can trust that is supplying that information.

We will all continue to do our best to help the players, & ultimately coaches at the same time, under whatever rules we need to abide by.

Skillshow - I am on the verge of paying for a year of your ACT service, which would include video taken at a recent PG Showcase (and held at an NCAA compliant DI university.)

I'm a little slow on the uptake sometimes, so could you please let me know, before I spend the dough, if college coaches can legally view my Skillshow ACT info-video if I am the one to send them the link and password?

Thanks in advance.

Of course they can view the video. You can send them the online version or the DVD or VHS version that comes with our package. The important thing is that the coaches don't pay to recieve it and we have never made the coaches pay to recieve our clients videos.

We want your son to be proactive in identifying schools that fit him academically, athletically, socially, geographically, etc., and then HE should be getting his info to the coaches of those schools so they KNOW he is interested in their programs. Remember, its a lot easier to recruit a player that wants to come to your school than to find players that need some convincing.

SS, he's already constructed his contact letter and sent it, including link to his video/ACT, to about 8 schools he's interested in. Thanks for the clarification on the regs.