|
|
|
Note: You must be registered in order to post a reply.
To register, click here. Registration is FREE!
|
| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| sportsdad2 |
Posted - 10/01/2012 : 12:55:24
Looking for advise on Perfect Game and Showcase events. Just heading into the 14U year and up. What do we need to know? What would you do differently? Do we wait on the team to sign up for a showcase event, or what do we as parents need to do to get our son the opportunities?
|
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| BuzzDad |
Posted - 10/04/2012 : 09:46:22
My advice at 14u would be to get involved with the best team that you can (e.g., ECB, 6-4-3, ...) and do what it takes for him to achieve his highest level of performance (trainer, lessons,...). We had some college coaches look at our 14u team at the WWBA at East Cobb two years, and even more this past summer during the 15u and 16u events. After his 14u season, if you are interested in him playing in college, do an honest assessment of what level of college program you think he can play at and begin researching those schools. During these WWBA tournaments we found that schools were receptive to e-mail invitations requesting that they come to see my sons play. In my opinion, the better the summer team the more likely they are to show up. Also, I believe that you cannot sit back and hope that schools see your son. If you are on a premier team, yes, they will see him. If not, you are better off being aggressive. My younger son is on a premier team and it is not difficult to get ACC teams to come see him play. My older son was not as gifted so he had to make the calls to coaches and surprisingly they showed up. Kids and parents could not figure out why all of these coaches were showing up --- it was from his calls. I would not waste your $$ on showcases or colleges camps. We were able to narrow our older son's college choices quickly based on how far away he wanted to be, how much we were willing to pay over and above a scholarship offer (even at 50% scholarship level, justifying out-of-state tuition for my son who is not going to earn a living playing baseball was tough to justify). It is flattering to be recruited by LSU, UNC, UVA, .... but does he really want to be that far away and do you really want to pay that out-of-state tuition??? These are just my thoughts. First and foremost don't get as stressed out as I have, this is such a fun time. Enjoy and best of luck! |
| PeachFuzz |
Posted - 10/02/2012 : 15:15:17
If you want to get your feet wet, but do not want to have to take out a 2nd on your house...look into some of the smaller colleges' prospect camps. Some of them might allow frosh players. These usually run around the $100-$200 range. Again, you're probably not going to leave with a scholarship offer at 14 yrs old, but he'll get the experience of an individual showcase/camp event. Just ask around, cause some are nothing more than fundraisers, where others actually offer some decent coaching for the kids. |
| in_the_know |
Posted - 10/02/2012 : 09:13:20
Ditto to nastycurve's point. 14u is a good time to sniff around these tourneys and see what they're about, but unless your kid is the absolute beast of the southeast (and if he is, he's already known), none of the scouts are too concerned about 14's. Many of the kids at this age will be derailed by the larger field, girls, cars, substances, etc., over the next 2-3 years.
Spend this year learning about these, but don't sink any money into individual events at this time. If your normal travel team happens to enter the PG WWBA here in Atlanta, or the Fort Myers event, enjoy it, but I wouldn't make it a priority/must do at 14u. These events are expensive $750-$1500 per tourney, plus $10/day entry per person, and you aren't gaining or losing anything by playing or not at 14. |
| nastycurve |
Posted - 10/01/2012 : 22:39:32
Perfect game has both team and individual events. Next level offers individual events only(to my knowledge).
I would recommend doing both, but not at 14. Team Showcase is probably the best way to go at 14, while saving the individual until 15/16 yo where the scouts will take them seriously. Ive seen some 14yo at the individual showcases and the view is usually "yes he is really good, lets wait and see him next year". Its a lot of money(about 500-600) for someone to tell you, see you next year. |
| rippit |
Posted - 10/01/2012 : 21:00:47
quote:
Originally posted by sportsdad2
Looking for advise on Perfect Game and Showcase events. Just heading into the 14U year and up. What do we need to know? What would you do differently? Do we wait on the team to sign up for a showcase event, or what do we as parents need to do to get our son the opportunities?
Teams enter these events, not individuals. You need to find a team who typically plays in these events.
Beware. Summer showcase us mostly June and July. If your son's HS demands that he play with them in June or else, you have a big decision to make. |
|
|
| Georgia Travel Baseball - NWBA |
© 2000-22 NWBA |
 |
|
|
