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What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by Parent on September 25, 2024, 2:26 pm

My opinion .. basically in this order.

1. Talent—It sounds stupid, but if you don't have the skills to compete at the projected level, you're not getting money.

2. Travel Team—College coaches count on the travel system to vet their players. If you're a Bandit, you're probably pretty good and will have your talent tested consistently. If you're not playing on a team with a history of placing players at schools you want to be recruited by, you're in the wrong place or need more realistic goals.

3. Genetic Potential—It doesn't seem fair, but college coaches understand that specific body types improve based on college-level training. Just like you can't coach speed, a limited amount of muscle can be added to a smaller frame.

4. Grades—This goes up and down the scale based on the school's academic competitiveness, but they have to keep you eligible, and coaches are judged internally on their teams' academic performance. Graduating athletes is a big part of the job.

5. Player Character—They watch everything at the games and keep their social media correct. They want good teammates. Whining and bashing current coaches means you go to the AD when you sit.

6. Parent Character - If you're an asshole, don't be part of the recruiting process. Crazy parents can get good coaches fired.

7. Social Media / Videos - Nobody cares about the slow-motion home run unless you include the at-bat where she whiffed on three straight-rise balls. Failure and how you react to it is a big part of recruiting.

8. High School - everyone loves a winner, but the circumstances are challenging to compare.

Just my thoughts.

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by 3 5 6 on September 27, 2024, 9:31 am, in reply to "What actually matters in recruiting .."

Those no longer matter and 4 is up in the air depending on the school, you can have sub-par grades but if the staff want you that bad they'll get you admitted.

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by Bill Conroy on September 28, 2024, 11:12 am, in reply to "Re: What actually matters in recruiting .."

@ Parent - I feel you have put together a terrific list.
@3 5 6 - I respect your opinion but I can tell there are exceptions but in my opinion, grades do matter. Especially if your not getting a full athletic scholarship. It might become less important with Power 4 schools if NLI lawsuit gets settled but for now it's important at P4/5 and mid majors.

Body type does open and close doors because of potential. Some schools will look at the current body of work, while others will look at the potential upside or lack there of.

Coaches want players with good attitudes, even great talent with bad attitude or demeanor, can bring a team down. Also, schools have departments completely focused on players and their parents social media. If schools are doing it, I assure you, corporations are doing it with regards to potential NIL money.

Parents behavior does factor in. I have been asked several times if a parent is going to be a problem and unfortunately, sometimes the answer is yes.

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by @Parent1 on September 26, 2024, 4:11 pm, in reply to "What actually matters in recruiting .."

Good list. I love some of the a-hole comments, it cracks me up. I wonder about character? Is it as important today? Coaching clinics I attended in the past rated kid and parent character super high. Two HOF coaches really drove the character importance home. 'We can coach good kids..."

But now with open portal and NIL $$$, does a coach really expect a kid to stick around for 4 years? Do they pull all of the softball skill from the kid that year to hopefully get to the WCWS and then reload the next year? Its definitely a different formula now. Deal with the BS or not?

To me, this really dumbs down the game. I look at P4 baserunning and wonder "what?" But I guess pounding the long ball cleans up many baserunning mistakes... It's changing for sure.

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by It's The Team on September 26, 2024, 3:10 pm, in reply to "What actually matters in recruiting .."

The single most important thing (talent being somewhat equal), is the organization you play for. If you don't think so, go on Twitter and see who has been active with the P5 commits so far this month. Those are the 1's and 2's accepting their offers.
The big dogs are absolutely killing it this month.

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by King on September 25, 2024, 8:15 pm, in reply to "What actually matters in recruiting .."

Your list is good.

There are girls who play for non-chill and non-bandit teams that are better than Chill/Bandit players (who are going to D1 power 5 schools).

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by haha on October 1, 2024, 9:30 am, in reply to "Re: What actually matters in recruiting .."

and havent seen any bandits or chill girls posting their commits

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by @King on September 26, 2024, 10:16 am, in reply to "Re: What actually matters in recruiting .."

Good is based on your performance against other players you'll compete with for a roster spot. Meaning, if you want to play P4, you need to show success against other P4 athletes on a consistent basis. Having an outlier performance the one time you play against that level isn't enough to move the needle at that level. It's very different to perform against solid teams consistently and #1 pitchers game in and out.

I'm not saying you're wrong; I'm saying it isn't easy to prove it definitively.

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by @parent on September 25, 2024, 8:08 pm, in reply to "What actually matters in recruiting .."

Good list. I agree with your top five in that order.

What I would change.

6- Social Media/Videos, I personally believe that coaches do pay attention to live videos of at bats.

7- High School- Still not all that important but more important than than parents

8- Parents

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by Honey comb on September 25, 2024, 3:15 pm, in reply to "What actually matters in recruiting .."

Thanks. Here is what I think is the best peanut butter in order.
1 jiff
2 Skippy
3 house brand
I find both posts equal in importance. Just my opinion.

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by @HoneyComb on September 26, 2024, 11:17 am, in reply to "Re: What actually matters in recruiting .."

It's just my opinion, but the majority of posters with actual knowledge and successful kids don't bother posting random critical statements. They just move on and reap the benefits of their success.

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by @Parent on September 25, 2024, 2:43 pm, in reply to "What actually matters in recruiting .."

Agree, but from what I've seen the character issue seems to go away based on talent levels. There are some bat shit crazy pitcher parents out there and the kid gets money.

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by @@Parent on September 25, 2024, 4:17 pm, in reply to "Re: What actually matters in recruiting .."

For some parents, the coach should offer the kid money to go to another team! Yes that bad. A couple of them played on teams frequently mentioned on this board! Not sure how certain coaches keep these people in check.

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by @check on September 25, 2024, 8:21 pm, in reply to "Re: What actually matters in recruiting .."

They don't, they deal with it cause the kid is that good, sometimes it's the kids that are that bad too but because they are that good those teams frequently mentioned on here turn a blind eye.

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by 9. on September 25, 2024, 2:31 pm, in reply to "What actually matters in recruiting .."

Thanks?

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by Go Chill on September 25, 2024, 8:25 pm, in reply to "Re: What actually matters in recruiting .."

18U Chill pitcher…stud since age 12…frumpy body type…but 1000 solid innings on her resume…can’t get an offer (body type problem).
Silverhawks and Cheetah pitchers…have never been a #1 on any team they’ve played on since 10U…both with great body types…both going to power 5 schools.

If any team had to win one game, you’d pick the Chill pitcher, but she can’t get an honest look.

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by Decade on September 26, 2024, 11:48 am, in reply to "Re: What actually matters in recruiting .."

The 1990's are calling, and wants their bad opinions back. We see a variety of body type pitchers succeeding at the P5 level.

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by @decade on September 27, 2024, 9:30 am, in reply to "Re: What actually matters in recruiting .."

Strongly agree, you can add the height to that as well

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by Bill Conroy on September 28, 2024, 11:18 am, in reply to "Re: What actually matters in recruiting .."

I agree that different body types can succeed. I also will say that if I have 6 foot pitcher throwing 64 MPH, and I have 5 foot pitcher throwing 64MPH, I will receive more calls on the 6 foot pitcher but I would expect both players would get their scholarships.

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by Hmmm🤔 on September 30, 2024, 4:22 pm, in reply to "Re: What actually matters in recruiting .."

Some organization just got a 5’4” player committed to OU.

If you can play, you can play.

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by @Hmm on September 30, 2024, 7:07 pm, in reply to "Re: What actually matters in recruiting .."

There are outliers in every data set. How about the rest of the roster?

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by Plenty on September 30, 2024, 9:17 pm, in reply to "Re: What actually matters in recruiting .."

There are plenty of examples. Scan the rosters at all levels. No, it’s not an outlier.

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by @Plenty on October 1, 2024, 12:58 pm, in reply to "Re: What actually matters in recruiting .."

OU players that actually got innings range from 5'9" to over 6'

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by Really on October 1, 2024, 4:07 pm, in reply to "Re: What actually matters in recruiting .."

Boone started most every games. You’re now a reliable source of information.

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by Hmmm on October 1, 2024, 2:21 pm, in reply to "Re: What actually matters in recruiting .."

The subject is recruiting. Stay with us.

Present roster at OU.
5'3"
(2) 5'4"
5'6"

They just graduated 5'3", 5'2".

And that's the top program in the country. If the player can play, they can play.

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by Coach on September 26, 2024, 9:16 am, in reply to "Re: What actually matters in recruiting .."

This seems very unlikely.

Re: What actually matters in recruiting ..

Posted by @Parent on September 25, 2024, 2:42 pm, in reply to "Re: What actually matters in recruiting .."

Yeah, what kind of moron puts his/her opinion on a board, this is a place for facts. Now lets get back to discussing if Chill teams are talented or even improving.

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