RECRUITING TIMELINE

RECRUITING TIMELINE

Sophomore Year

September - October

Continue to hit the books hard in your sophomore year. Grades will count as much this year as any other year.
Play on a fall baseball team if possible, but rest your arm a minimum of 8 weeks prior to your spring high school season..
Long toss after school, run sprints and distance (2 miles or 20 minutes).
If you are a pitcher talk to a pitching coach about setting up a fall/winter throwing plan.
If you play a position hit in a batting cage and take grounders and fly balls as the weather permits.

November - January

Locate an indoor work-out facility that offers “top level” instruction in mechanics, skills and conditioning.
Target 1-3 Winter College baseball camps. With some scheduling you will be surprised how many you can attend. It also is a good Christmas present from parents and grandparents.
Start preparing yourself physically and mentally for your high school team tryouts.
Don’t let up on the grades.
Talk to your school counselor about ACT/SAT tests and begin preparing for them. You should take them at least twice and preferably three times before your senior year.

February – May

High school season. Work hard on your skills, development and physical strength.
Don’t be afraid to ask your coach for some additional work after practice. If he is unavailable have your father or a teammate to help you afterwards. Serious players work hard at their game.
Take care of injuries and don’t overlook them. Learn the difference between being injured and being hurt. Every player has to play through some minor “hurts”, but you should never attempt to play through an injury. Listen to what your body is telling you and no when you MUST shut it down. It could save you surgery and possibly your career.
GRADES, GRADES, GRADES..

June – August

Summer league season. You need to play with the best and against the best if you want to be the best. Push your talent level and play up.
Talk with your summer coach about showcases, college camps and scouting combines. It is not too soon to start getting your name out and on a few lists.
Take advantage of our conditioning program and ask coaches for help with your skills.
Ask about professional tryout camps in your area. Most major league clubs hold these during the summer. They are free and a good opportunity to get your name out in the “Recruiting Grapevine”. Remember the recruiting network is widespread. Just because one does want/need you don’t mean he won’t speak to another who might.

Junior Year

September - January

Send out your first contact letters. Pick out 20-25 colleges you are interested in and write the coach a letter. Include a copy of your fall schedule.
September 1 is the first date written contact is allowed by the NCAA.
Ask you high school coach and summer coach to write a letter of recommendation for you. Verify with them and any professional scouts that have seen you play that it is okay to use them as a reference. ALWAYS ask before using them.
Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse. Initial registration is recommended, even though they cannot clear you until after your final transcripts. Most counselors will tell you there is no need until after your junior year, but press the matter and get the forms in now. They cannot list you until your final junior transcript, but you will be placed into their system.
DO NOT LET UP ON ACADEMICS!
Familiarize yourself with the NCAA admissions / eligibility requirements and talk with your high school guidance counselor about this. You can research this online at www.ncaa.org .
Follow the same winter workout program mentioned in the Sophomore Year guidelines.
Register for the Fall ACT/SAT standardize tests. Do it in the fall and not the spring to keep from conflicting with your high school season. Request that the scores be sent to the NCAA Clearinghouse (there is a box to be checked on the application for this).

February – May

Send out your spring high school schedule with a short note to coaches showing your interest in their program.
Plan on visits to as many schools as possible. Check them out during baseball season. Talk to as many players as possible away from the coaches. Research their current roster, the number of transfers away from the program in the past, returning players (especially in your position) and their facilities. Make this an “Unofficial Visit”, which means that the school doesn’t pay for any of the cost of the visit. They can provide you with free tickets to games, though.
Take advantage of any “Junior Day” invitations during your spring season, as long as they don’t conflict with your high school baseball schedule.

June – August

Your summer season should focus and playing in premier events and attending “Select or Advanced” summer camps. Don’t waste time and money on “moneymakers”.
Play against the best possible talent. Gauge yourself against some of the best players at each camp to see how you stack up.
Get an HONEST evaluation from a professional as to your ability. Don’t be thin skinned and/or proud. Not everyone can play upper Division 1 baseball nor is everyone a professional prospect. Find out where you stand and pursue a level you can play at.
July 1^st is the first day contact from college coaches is permissible. It is also “Showcase” month where we get you in front of as many decision makers as possible.
Attend a professional tryout in your area.
Seek out a Fall Scout Team – one that plays fall showcase events.
Visit with your high school guidance counselor to make sure you are on track academically and are meeting your core subject requirements. Also make sure your counselor sent your final junior year transcript to the NCAA Clearinghouse.

Senior Year

September – October

Send out your Fall Schedule to college coaches.
If you don’t think you will sign in the early signing period, request camp information from the schools you are interested in or those who have shown interest in you.
KEEP YOUR GRADES UP!
This is also a time for many colleges to focus on bring players in for “Official Visits” during football season. Be warned that during these visits everyone is on their best behavior and what you see is not always a true picture of the program. Do your homework and don’t be deceived or become infatuated.

November – January

November is the month for the early signing period for the National Letters of Intent. Spend time prior to receiving a NLI to investigate what it is and how it applies. You may learn more about the NLI at www.national-letter.org . Know what you are signing before you sign it.
Remember while there are contact restrictions placed on the coaches, you may call college coaches by telephone at any time. Call and find out their interest.
Continue following your fall/winter workouts and preparing for your final high school season.
Don’t become discouraged if you are not offered in the early signing period. More sign in the later period than the first. The first is generally a time schools work on “blue collar” players (likely draft picks), pitchers and middle infielders.

February - May

Remember that the attention drawn to you this spring will open doors for your high school teammates. Serve as a mentor and help them out.
Play with intensity and play every game like it may be your last.
Encourage, lead and assist your teammates.
April is the beginning of the late signing period.

June – July

Don’t forget to play at a high level of competition this summer after you finish high school. Remember those who will follow you and give something back to the program that has helped you. Again, attention drawn to you will help younger players get to where you have. Also, many college coaches and professional scouts look for loyalty or lack thereof.
“Resting for the summer” will NOT prepare you for what awaits you in college. Find a program that will not overwork you during the summer, but will assist you to reach your peak performance when you begin your fall workouts. Trust me you will not be ready after months of “resting”.
Remember your accomplishments foster support and help recruiting in years to come.