Recruiting Clinic
Jeff Spelman
Director, Team One Showcase

Question: As a parent, do I really have a significant role in the college recruiting process?

Answer: Baseball parents can have a major impact on their son's recruiting experience. Parents as well as their sons nearly always have to take the initiative in order for the player to get a college baseball scholarship.

Q: As a parent, what should I keep foremost in mind about recruiting?

A: A player must, of course, have talent. But a strong academic background, motivation, and exposure are also very important. Poor grades and lack of exposure are the two biggest factors that keep players from receiving scholarships.

To develop your son's talent during his first two years of high school, help find him first-rate instruction at camps, top summer baseball programs, and private workouts with current or ex-pro players. Also encourage him to work out with hitting devices and to do speed training.

A good summer team, one on which your son can play at least 40 to 50 games and have the chance to participate in top tournaments, will give him the kind of experience he needs -- plus valuable exposure.

Q: What are the usual steps in the recruiting process?

A: At the beginning of his junior year, he should apply for approval to play NCAA Division I sports from the NCAA Clearinghouse.

Colleges are permitted to write letters to prospects after September 1 during his junior year. Personal contact may take place after July 1 following his junior year, and once-per-week phone calls are also permitted then.

Questionnaires should be promptly returned, since timing can be critical.

And it's important to note that there's no better way to accelerate the recruiting process than for your son to play in front of college coaches sometime after his sophomore year.

Q: My son wants to go to a top-25 baseball school because he says that will increase his chances of making it to the major leagues. Is that true?

A: Only a very small percentage of players can attend those elite schools. What's more, major league teams draft players, even in the first round, from colleges of all sizes.

Q: How many official and unofficial visits can my son make?

A: Players can make five official paid visits to different schools and an unlimited number of unofficial visits, which they must pay for. They, however, can't make official visits or accept scholarships until they are academically qualified.

Q: My son is getting letters and phone calls from five or six schools. Does such attention ensure he'll get a scholarship offer?

A: No. Such attention can cease anytime, without explanation, since colleges routinely send letters of interest and questionnaires to hundreds of players each year. And each college may offer only five to ten scholarships.

Q: Which is better for my son: a small offer from a big school, or a big offer from a small school?

A: It depends. Does your son have the maturity to warm the bench at a top baseball program, where he might not see much or any action as a freshman? Or does he just have to play now? And how important is the possibility of someday getting to the NCAA regionals or the College World Series in Omaha?

Q: Will my son's scholarship be taken away if he's injured?

A: Some colleges and coaches will honor four-year scholarship promises if a player's injured, but it's up to them. Others will extend the scholarship one season beyond an injury. Still others won't honor scholarships in the event of injury, period.

Q: My son just received his first scholarship offer. How do I know if it's a good one?

A: Basketball and football scholarships are all "full rides." Ninety-nine percent of baseball scholarships aren't. Division I baseball schools are allowed a maximum of 11.7 full scholarships, and their players usually number 25 or more. Division II schools have 9.0. Therefore, most scholarships are for from 20 to 50 percent. What's more, probably more than 85 percent of all scholarship money is awarded to players up the middle -- pitchers, catchers, shortstops, and center fielders.

If your son is offered more than 50 percent, that's a great scholarship -- and he should probably expect to see lots of playing time.

Q: What percentage of scholarship money is spoken for in the early signing period?

A: Perhaps 50 percent-plus of all scholarships are awarded to up-the-middle players in the fall. To early signees also go most large scholarships, with the exception of those reserved for players who aren't yet academically qualified.

If you've found the right school, and the scholarship money is right -- sign!

Q: If my son didn't receive any scholarship offers before or during the November signing period, should I be concerned?

A: Shoot for fall signing, but don't panic if it doesn't happen.

You might follow up the end of the fall-signing period by sending videotapes to the schools he's most interested in.

Marginal college baseball prospects sometimes must recruit a school more than the school recruits them.

Q: When should a player walk on?

A: When a school and coach have a record of playing walk-ons and eventually giving them scholarships, your son might think about it. You could also ask to talk to players who have gone this route in a particular program.

Coaches must have some investment in a player, otherwise his chance of playing is a long shot.