In this 2 part series we are discussing the landscape of a failing baseball system and how you can develop your year round schedule at any level to assure you stay focused on what matters most. 

Part 1.

In the early 2000’s tv series “Whos Line Is It Anyway” Drew Carey used to open every show by saying, “a show where everything is made up and the points don’t matter.” Drew Carey’s repetitive opening line could be applied to much of baseballs landscape today as majority of it simply doesn’t matter. Today the structure of the seasonal baseball schedule from youth to college is broken. Money has been a driving factor in year round play and “elite” travel teams where winning is placed at the highest importance. Many teams are marketing “developmental programs” where they play 5 plus showcase events through the course of a season. Though these programs are marketed as developmental it is the last point of focus for the coach or organization.  Showcases, invite only tryouts, all stars, All American games and rankings are all designed as incentive based reasons to pay more money for a better chance at getting recognized as elite. In some cases these opportunities can be useful but majority of the time just as Drew Carey used to state, “everything is made up and the points don’t matter.” 

In this series we are going to break down some of these landscapes and provide you with what we call our recommended schedule for each level.

It starts at the youth level.

Athletes at the youth level today are simply playing too much. It happens from a combination of parents desiring players to be on elite teams and teams desiring to grow profits or build into organizations with year round tournament play. Individuals, leagues, organizations and cities are profiting off of the high volume of teams playing in these events, so more are hosted. Special events are designed to sound like they are more elite such as “All American games, invitationals, select tournaments or teams.. etc.” These are simply another opportunity to continue to generate revenue for the event hosts and allow the parent or player to feel as if they are continuing in the right direction for future success of the athlete. Future success of the athlete at the youth level though is built around the development of skill and overall athleticism not the amount of trophies held on a mantle. As the athlete matures and the lack of focus on skill development continues many athletes find themselves injured or behind the curve in the recruiting process to reach the next level. Natural maturity with proper focus of skill development can catapult an athletes career once both have been given time to work together. Often times these will be most noticeable within the early years of high school.  

Seeing through the showcase/ tournament marketing.

With a continually growing competitive recruiting circuit college coaches are competing for younger and younger talent. Freshman in high school for most college coaches are the youngest to receive notice.  Showcases are a place in which an athlete with adequate talent can “show off”. Tournament and showcase organizations claiming you can be seen at events are not lying. College coaches do attend events nation wide to find unknown players. However what these events are not advertising is what it actually takes to receive the interest of a college coach. For pitchers it is clear that you must first pass the radar gun test. When a college coach sees a player who may be a “prospect” the first thing they will do is pull out a radar gun to determine if they fit the velocity they look for at the level of their college. Generally speaking D1 schools look for 90+ mph, D2 schools look for 85+ mph and D3, NAIA will look for 80+ mph. Junior colleges will differ by region. For example Florida junior colleges will look for guys who can compete at the D1 level as most of the major D1 transfers will end up at Florida JUCO’s. This is different in northern JUCO’s though where 80 to 85mph may allow you to receive a scholarship. 

The first step for all players in recruiting.

The first step in setting a plan to get recruited as a player is determining where you are currently as a pitcher and deciding if your talent level lines up with the caliber school you are looking to be recruited by. If you are shooting for an SEC or ACC school at the D1 level then you are going to need to be very refined as a pitcher to catch the interest of one of those coaches. Before wasting your money to attend events in which you hope those schools will be at it is best to decide if you are currently someone that coach may be interested in. First impressions can be everything to many recruiters. Just like a job interview when you first present your skills you want to provide a “wow” factor. If you are hoping to attend a high level D1 school and you showcase yourself for that coach at 75mph you are likely going to be passed over or crossed off their list. It is better to skip these events and spend this time developing your skills and developing yourself physically. Once you have developed the skills needed to provide the “wow” factor for a coach at the level you desire you can take these skills and then begin to showcase them effectively.  

Showcases are not the only way to be recruited. 

Showcases today often times look like a herd of livestock. Roaming around a field in the masses, numbered and asked to preform specific tasks in which they are rated for their performance. Showcases can be an opportunity but in todays world there are an abundance of opportunities in which a player can drive his name to the top of a coaches recruiting board. From attending specific school camps (see notes above on skill level fitting level of college before attending), to sending schools video of player skills there are ways aside from showcases in which a player can be recruited. We have even had a player who added a coach on twitter, messaged him, got a call and received a scholarship offer. You do not have to pay thousands of dollars for an opportunity to receive a scholarship. You simply have to understand the level at which your talent aligns and be consistent in your approach to show a school you fit their needs. 

To conclude,

1. Make your time as a youth purposeful in skill and physical development.

2. Understand what coaches look for at each level and do not buy into the event marketing.

3. Make your first step as a player to reach the needed skill level of your desired school.

4. Avoid getting lost in the shuffle of showcases by being practical in your approach with recruitment. 

In part 2 of this series we will talk about how to schedule your year from the youth to professional level to assure you place skill development first at the forefront of importance. It may be simple but it is important to remember that opportunity is significantly increased in the game as skill level is increased. 

#ClimbTheMountain

 

 

For questions on this post or how you can get started with KineticPro contact us at CustomerService@KineticProBaseball.com