I'm so frustrated!!!!

[SBNut]

I know this topic has been discussed before, but I just can't keep it in. DD is an '09 player & has a couple of schools looking at her, but nothing definite yet. She is on a very good team, but not one with great name recognition nationally. They have had very good finishes at ASA Nationals in past years & have alumni playing at top D-I schools across the country. But at the AFC showcase last weekend, they were put at an outlying field where ONE - count 'em ONE - recruiter showed up. Next weekend at Batbusters, they're not at the Sports Complex, so I'm predicting the result will be about the same. DD writes & emails a boatload of coaches before each showcase, but the reality is that the recruiters stay at the main field & generally won't stray from there.

WHY can't the organizers of these showcases try to get MOST or ALL the teams at least a couple of games at the main complex? WHY should only 40 or so teams get the opportunity to be seen? WHY do the Firecrackers, Hotshots, Cruisers, Shockers, Beach Girls (who haven't been competitive in a couple years) ALWAYS get their games at the main complex? Their players are going to be recruited no matter what. There are a LOT of great players on teams that aren't so widely known. DD's team has played several of the teams that are playing at Huntington Beach next weekend AND BEAT THEM! But we get put at a field 6 or 7 miles away & probably won't seen ONE recruiter!

The Surf City website stated last week that there are TWO HUNDRED 18U teams entered in this showcase. 20% of them were put at HBSC for the weekend. The other 80% of the teams paid the same fees, are staying at the same hotels, and are spending the same money for gas, food, etc. to travel & stay there. So why can't more consideration be shown for the other 80% of the teams? I know it's been said before that it's all about the money for the Batbusters & I do believe that. But can't they make it just a LITTLE bit about the girls & TRY a little harder to get more teams seen at the main fields?????

And while I'm griping, how about the scheduling? Why do they schedule an out-of-town team for a Sunday game at 6 pm? The local teams have all gone home by then, but the teams that still have a 6 to 8 hour drive ahead of them are put into the 6 pm time slot. This is INSANITY!!!

I know, I know, it's been this way forever. But if MORE teams would voice their concerns to the showcase organizers - and maybe even stop coming - they might start listening. As far as I'm concerned, last weekend was a total waste of time and money. And this weekend probably will be as well. We could stay home & scrimmage 5 teams for a whole lot less money!!! And be in bed by 10 pm.

Isn't there something that can be done?????

[slapper]

We saw the same thing at the Elite Showcase in Plano TX. The Ronald McDonald is the same way. If you are not part of the "in" crowd your girls suffer. At the very least every team should get at least one game at the main complex and it should not be the 8:00 am on Saturday or the 6:00pm on Sunday for your only game. Too much money, too little exposure. Do not call it a Showcase if its not!!!

[itsme]

Is your daughter sending out letters randomly or has she maintained contact with colleges/coaches throughout the year? I'm not sure what venue you played at but at Surf City I have seen multiple coaches at fields other than HBSC. How involved is your club coach in talking to college coaches? Also, I don't know how much money, if any, the Batbusters make. One of their coaches is co-director but he shouldn't be faulted for running the showcase. I for one am thankful for the showcases because athletes can get seen.

[NumeroUno]

If the players and coaches do their work, pass out player profiles and make their calls the scouts will go to the other fields and watch. Obviously when their is a field with 8 fields and a field with 2 fields the scouts will go where they have more teams to watch. Make your calls to the colleges and invite them to watch your players.

[PLCSara]

SB Nut -
I would love to talk to you about the situation with your daughter. I know the recruiting process is extremely frustrating and overly competitive. I am an experienced former coach who's opinion the coaches trust, so clients use me to get their foot in the door with the college coaches.

I have a few clients currently, who are in a similar situation as your daughter, needing a way to attract those college coaches to the specific girl, rather than waiting for the coaches to just happen to walk by. So far, I have had great response from college coaches when I am contacting them on behalf of girls, getting their opinion of the girls, and attracting them to the games.

I also have some clients who are going to have many many opportunities, but need help filtering through all the mess, knowing what they are reading, deciding what camps to attend, and ultimately making a good decision.

Please call me 619-850-1884 so we can discuss ways we can get coaches out to your games the next two weekends.

[Intel]

I challenge anybody to schedule 200 teams for 5 games (500) games at 8 timeslots on 7 fields for 2 days and get all 200 teams one game at the Huntington Beach Sports Complex. I would like to hear you scream when you play one game at 8:00 saturday am, drive 30 to 45 minutes to HBSC play a game at 1:00 pm, drive another 30-45 minutes back to the first complex to play a 6:00 pm game. Do the math, only 108 games possible. Get real.

The blame is with the same D1 coaches you want to watch your team play. By limiting recruiting in the fall to 4 weekends has created the few major tournaments and the log jam of the fall season. As a coach has said many times, if I want to see one of your players play, I will find the way to see the player play. It is up to your team and the individual player to put in the time and effort to make that college coach want to come and watch the player play. Coaches come to watch specific players play in specific games. They do not just wonder around a complex looking for that special unknown player. A different player may catch their eye, but some player or coach created the interest that brought the college coach to the game.

[wadeintothem]

I challenge anybody to schedule 200 teams for 5 games (500) games at 8 timeslots on 7 fields for 2 days and get all 200 teams one game at the Huntington Beach Sports Complex. I would like to hear you scream when you play one game at 8:00 saturday am, drive 30 to 45 minutes to HBSC play a game at 1:00 pm, drive another 30-45 minutes back to the first complex to play a 6:00 pm game. Do the math, only 108 games possible. Get real.

The blame is with the same D1 coaches you want to watch your team play. By limiting recruiting in the fall to 4 weekends has created the few major tournaments and the log jam of the fall season. As a coach has said many times, if I want to see one of your players play, I will find the way to see the player play. It is up to your team and the individual player to put in the time and effort to make that college coach want to come and watch the player play. Coaches come to watch specific players play in specific games. They do not just wonder around a complex looking for that special unknown player. A different player may catch their eye, but some player or coach created the interest that brought the college coach to the game.

Thats very disturbing news.





I always thought they were there to watch me.

[NumeroUno]

Here is somewhere you can start
USA Sports Pro/USA Travelball is now offering to shoot your skills video as well as offering you an online sports profile/resume. The total cost for both is only $60.00 per player. Please call or email your information (name and phone number and email address) to reserve a spot. We will be shooting your skills videos on Wednesdays and Fridays in the afternoon in Mission Viejo. We can also come to your team's practice and shoot your whole team. Just give us a call.

USA Travelball is dedicated to promoting the student athlete to colleges throughout the US at an affordable cost. Your online sports profile/resume will include all your contact information, hitting/pitching/fielding coach’s information, high school/travel ball history, skills videos, photos and more. No need to send attachments or DVD’s when contacting the college of your choice. Just send your personal link and the coach can see all they need to with the click of the mouse. Your profile and video will also be included in our database for coaches from across the country to view.

Please call or email with any questions about our services. Current coaches connected with USA Travelball are Marty Tyson (Corona Angels), Frank Rizzo (OC Elite) and Bret Denio (So Cal Explosion). We are all dedicated to promoting the student athlete to colleges at all levels.

Bret Denio
http://www.usatravelball.com
bret@usatravelball.com
714-785-2120

[Intel]

I would like to amend what I said earlier to ..... the college coaches are their to watch a specific player in a specific game make a great play only to have wadeintothem blow the call.

Sorry could not help myself, by the way appreciate the job you did in Stockton with our team. You help my DD out by not call her out on strike three, if you had only known she was my DD

[wadeintothem]

I would like to amend what I said earlier to ..... the college coaches are their to watch a specific player in a specific game make a great play on to have wadeintothem blow the call.

Sorry could not help myself, by the way appreciate the job you did in Stockton with our team. You help my DD out by not call her out on strike three, if you had only known she was my DD

Hey tolda ya to be careful what you ask for. Its the heybucket jinx. If I talk to you before a tourney we'll both be at, I end up getting your game.. that makes me 3 for 3 with heybucket members.


You know, that pitch was totally a ball by like a whole millimeter....
and she's a helluva catcher! That much I knew!