Showcase and TB 18u players

Below is some FYI info that a coach shared with players at his camp about contacting college coaches and coaches that will attend showcase and TB outings...... Copied from coaches web site........ read below

[FONT=&quot]Coaches and players:[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Several coaches have asked that I provide info about contacting college coaches. The College Coaches have asked that we not provide a list of currently attending college coaches because they do not want players contacting them just because they are attending the tournament. They want players to contact them who are "truly" interesting in attending their college.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]There we have found it overall much more effective in the recruiting process if the player will follow the enclosed 18U Player Recruiting Tips. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]COACHES PLEASE PASS THIS INFORMATION ON TO YOUR PLAYERS[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot] 2009 18U RECRUITING TIPS FOR PLAYERS [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]AT LEAST THREE (3) WEEKS BEFORE A TOURNAMENT: IT IS IMPORTANT THAT EACH PLAYER MARKET THEMSELVES TO THE COLLEGES THAT THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT ATTENDING OR WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND. EACH PLAYER SHOULD BE SENDING INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS TO 10-15 COLLEGES. (POSTCARDS WORK WELL--WITH A SHORT NOTE. OR AN EMAIL TO COLLEGE COACHES WILL DO [MAKE IT PERSONAL TO EACH COACH AND NOT A MASS EMAIL]). [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]THE POSTCARDS OR EMAILS TO THE COLLEGE COACHES SHOULD CONTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE PLAYER, THE TEAM THE PLAYER IS PLAYING ON, THE PLAYER'S JERSEY NUMBER, THE POSITIONS THE PLAYER PLAYS, THE NAME, DATE, AND PLACE OF THE TOURNAMENT SHE IS GOING TO ATTEND, AND HER TEAM'S SCHEDULE IF SHE HAS IT. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]THIS INFORMATION FULFILLS THREE (3) PURPOSES: (1) IF THE COLLEGE COACH HAS FORGOTTEN TO RSVP TO THE TOURNAMENT OR WAS NOT PLANNING TO ATTEND THAT TOURNAMENT, IT MIGHT CHANGE THEIR MIND AND AT LEAST THE POST CARD OR EMAIL WILL REMIND THEM OF THE TOURNAMENT; (2)THE COACH IS NOTIFIED OF A PLAYER WHO WANTS TO COME TO THEIR SCHOOL AND JUST MIGHT FULFILL THE NEEDS/WANTS OF HIS/HER TEAM; (3) THE COLLEGE COACHES TELL US THAT WHEN THEY RECEIVE NOTES FROM PLAYERS, THEY LIKE TO AT LEAST GIVE THAT GIRL A COURTESY LOOK AND THIS BRINGS MORE COACHES TO YOUR GAMES TO SEE ALL OF THE PLAYERS ON YOUR TEAM.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]IT IS ONLY NATURAL FOR PLAYERS TO BE NERVOUS ABOUT PLAYING IN FRONT OF A LOT OF COLLEGE COACHES. IF PROPERLY PREPARED; A PLAYER JUST NEEDS TO BE THEMSELVES AND JUST PLAY RELAXED, BUT, PLAY WITH INTENSITY. THIS WAY THE PLAYER SHOULD BE ABLE TO PERFORM THEIR BEST AND TO SHINE FOR THE COLLEGE COACHES. HERE ARE SOME VALUABLE TIPS:

1. PLAYERS MUST BE IN FULL UNIFORM AND JERSEY TOPS TUCKED INTO THE SHORTS, WITH JERSEY'S NOT TIED IN THE BACK CONCEALING A PLAYER'S NUMBER.

2. BE READY TO GO ALL OUT ON EVERY PLAY IN THE GAME AND IN WARM-UPS.

3. PLAYERS NEED TO HUSTLE ALL THE TIME AND NEVER WALK ANYWHERE WHILE ON THE FIELD. (THIS INCLUDES WARM-UPS; ESPECIALLY SINCE MOST COLLEGE COACHES INTENTIONALLY WATCH WARM-UPS TO SEE HOW A GIRL PREPARES FOR A GAME.) MANY TIMES A COACH CAN SEE MORE REPETITIONS IN WARM-UPS THAN SHE WILL EVER SEE FROM A PLAYER IN A GAME. REMEMBER, DURING A GAME A PLAYER MAY NEVER GET A BALL HIT TO HER OR AN OPPOSING PITCHER MAY THROW A NO-HITTER AND WARM-UPS MAY BE THE ONLY ACTION A PLAYER CAN DISPLAY HER SKILLS THAT DAY.

4. A PLAYER SHOULD EXHIBIT A GOOD ATTITUDE AND WORK ETHIC. IF A PLAYER BOOTS A BALL OR MAKES A BAD THROW, THEY SHOULD KEEP A GOOD ATTITUDE, HUSTLE AFTER A MISTAKE IS MADE AND NEVER GIVE UP OR QUIT ON ANY PLAY.

5. IF YOU MAKE A BAD PLAY OR DON'T GET A HIT, OR GET ROBBED OF A HIT, DON'T SHOW BAD BODY LANGUAGE. DON'T DROP YOUR SHOULDERS OR ACT DISCOURAGED. JUST SHOW A DETERMINATION TO DO BETTER NEXT TIME.

6. STAY FOCUSED ON THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS TOURNAMENT. (WINNING THE TOURNAMENT IS NOT THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE.) EACH PLAYER SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON DOING AND GIVING HER VERY BEST EFFORT ON EVERY PLAY. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE TOURNAMENT IS FOR COLLEGE COACHES TO SEE PLAYERS PERFORMING AT THEIR BEST AND SHOWING QUALITIES THAT THE COLLEGE COACHES ARE THERE TO RECRUIT.

7. EVEN IF YOUR TEAM IS ON THE LOSING END OF A GAME, REMEMBER THAT THE COLLEGE COACHES ARE THERE EVALUATING THE EFFORTS AND TALENTS OF INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS. THEY ARE RECRUITING PAYERS, NOT RECRUITING FULL TEAMS OR TEAM COACHES.

8. IF AN UMPIRE MAKES A CONTROVERSIAL OR BAD CALL, KEEP A GOOD ATTITUDE, THESE COLLEGE COACHES KNOW THE GAME WELL AND THEY CAN SEE THE PLAY AND WILL NOT HOLD A BAD CALL AGAINST A PLAYER.

9. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE COLLEGE COACHES WATCH THE PLAYERS VERY CLOSELY WHEN THEY ARE OFF THE FIELD AND INTERACTING WITH THEIR TEAMMATES AND COACHES AND PARENTS. THIS INTERACTION AND HOW A PLAYER ACTS IN THESE SITUATIONS IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO A COLLEGE COACH AS A PLAYERS ACTIONS AND ABILITY ON THE SOFTBALL FIELD OF PLAY.

10. HAVE FUN. COLLEGE COACHES LOVE PLAYERS THAT LOVE PLAYING THE GAME. SHOW THE COACHES YOU ARE HAVING A GOOD TIME.

11. SHOULD THE COLLEGE COACH ASK YOU A QUESTION. ANSWER TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE. ALWAYS USE, YES SIR OR NO SIR OR YES MA'AM OR NO MA'AM. GIVE THE COACH TO COMPLETE RESPECT THE COACH HAS EARNED. THIS IS ONE THING PLAYERS OFTEN FORGET.
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Tips for parents

Very good list of tips for the players. Thanks for posting!

There are also a set of tips for parents during showcase event. I'm not aware of a formal list, but the simple advice the parent of a committed player gave me was, "as a parent, you should be invisible. Nothing wrong with being a fan, just don't make it obvious that you are the parent."

He then went on to give me some specifics behind that statement:

- Avoid micro-managing your child during a game. e.g. don't shout out instructions, make trips to the dugout even if it's to offer encouragement. Once the player enters the dugout, they are under the coaches control. Parental involvement during a game won't be tolerated in college.
- Avoid pampering your child at the fields. In his words, "After the game, don't approach your daughter until after the team's post game meeting. And NEVER, EVER carry your daughter's bat bag. They'll need to handle/manage themselves in college."

Since I've been following his advice, my shoulder is a lot less sore.

 

and . . . .

leave the girl or boy friend at home. Holding hands or otherwise 'dating' between games is not something college coaches want to see.

 

Hot Times

Ken Bailey is a good softball mind and a great leader of the Bandits Organization that truly cares about the kids he coaches. He is the author of the information provided. Great advise!