Just before Christmas I shared some information from the College Baseball Profiles College Coaches survey and the importance of high school baseball–at least in New England. Today I want to point out some of the other survey results about college coaches and the baseball recruiting process.
Contacting Coaches
I found one of the most surprising results under “What not to do when you contact a Coach.” Not that I thought that any of the actions were acceptable but rather I couldn’t believe that enough players still do them that coaches are still reporting them. Yeah, apparently mass, generic emails with the wrong name or school are still a thing.
No wonder players think they’re being recruited when they get an email from the coach with their actual name in it. If a person takes the time to use their actual name, they figure it must be a big deal because they certainly didn’t bother doing it. No, it’s a necessary step to get to the deal.
It also seems that players are either unable to speak for themselves and have their parents do all the talking or they do speak for themselves and speak about the wrong things. This includes bashing their coach, making excuses for performance, and hyping yourself. Maybe it’s time to set up an college recruiting etiquette class.
Why Coaches Lose Interest
The thing is that the survey found that coaches list poor performance as a reason for losing interest as number six out of eight possible reasons. It comes below poor grades, poor high school season, and low SAT scores. Yet, many of the wrong ways listed to contact coaches would seem to be closely related to the number one reason why coaches lose interest, poor attitude at game Coach was at. If you do things on the list, you’re showing poor attitude, just in email, or even worst, in person.
When and Where Coaches Connect
The survey also asked when coaches started following players. D1 coaches start following serious prospects their freshman year. The D2 coaches were split between the sophomore and junior year while most D3 coaches started their junior year. So if you’re targeting D1 schools, start the etiquette class before drivers ed.
Finally, showcases are a good way to get in front of coaches. Four out of five coaches said they or their staff will attend five or more showcases–all attend at least three. But before you go, make sure you contact the coaches to let them know you’re coming so they know to look for you. Better yet, download the Free College Baseball Recruiting Starters Kit which includes a list of questions to ask the coach when you do meet with him. And if you’re considering a New England college for baseball, take a look at the College Baseball Profiles.
