Athletic recruiting

[Iwutke]

I get it. My son is certainly not a blue chip and he knows that. He’s just trying to see if he has chance to walk-on.

A couple last thoughts. Your OP said that “he wants to play for Navy,” and asked “Suggestions on any more that he should do?”. At this point “his travel team needs him” is no longer a factor. The whole point of travel sports is for individual advancement to the next level, not team success. The other players will still do their thing, even on days your son is not there. If his travel team’s game schedule doesn’t put him in front of Navy coaches, then he has to do it himself. Make Navy recruit your son until they tell him “NO.”

If he receives an appointment to Navy and tries to walk-on without the coaches knowing about him, he may be in a similar situation as my next door neighbor. Power 5 conference baseball, not pitchers. 50-75 in the group. Everybody got 5 swings in batting practice, 5 ground balls to SS and throw to 1B, 5 fly balls in OF and throw to base. That was enough to show the coaches what they needed to see. Could a player make the coaches stop and take notice?

Good Luck.

 

[NCA]

A couple last thoughts. Your OP said that “he wants to play for Navy,” and asked “Suggestions on any more that he should do?”. At this point “his travel team needs him” is no longer a factor. The whole point of travel sports is for individual advancement to the next level, not team success. The other players will still do their thing, even on days your son is not there. If his travel team’s game schedule doesn’t put him in front of Navy coaches, then he has to do it himself. Make Navy recruit your son until they tell him “NO.”

If he receives an appointment to Navy and tries to walk-on without the coaches knowing about him, he may be in a similar situation as my next door neighbor. Power 5 conference baseball, not pitchers. 50-75 in the group. Everybody got 5 swings in batting practice, 5 ground balls to SS and throw to 1B, 5 fly balls in OF and throw to base. That was enough to show the coaches what they needed to see. Could a player make the coaches stop and take notice?

Good Luck.

Thank you for the great advice.

 

[LA-JAG]

DS plays for Navy baseball and we were surprised how early the college recruiting process started. We were having conversations with coaches from multiple colleges the summer before his Junior year and quickly followed by recruiting trips starting the fall of his Jr. year. He had multiple offers to various schools by January of Junior year (including Ivy), and they all wanted a commitment by April. Interestingly Navy was the only one that didn't put as much pressure on him to commit, which actually played to their advantage.

If you go to Perfect Game, they track the commitments for all of the college baseball programs. Navy usually has their recruiting class filled by August of each year before the recruits become SRs in HS. It looks like they only have three commits for the HS class of 2024 (usually take 10-12), so there is room.

 

[NavyHoops]

DS plays for Navy baseball and we were surprised how early the college recruiting process started. We were having conversations with coaches from multiple colleges the summer before his Junior year and quickly followed by recruiting trips starting the fall of his Jr. year. He had multiple offers to various schools by January of Junior year (including Ivy), and they all wanted a commitment by April. Interestingly Navy was the only one that didn't put as much pressure on him to commit, which actually played to their advantage.

If you go to Perfect Game, they track the commitments for all of the college baseball programs. Navy usually has their recruiting class filled by August of each year before the recruits become SRs in HS. It looks like they only have three commits for the HS class of 2024 (usually take 10-12), so there is room.

One thing to remember about Navy, on pages like this, it’s all done by self reporting. Those who receive ‘appointments’ this early, don’t have appointments in hand. They have verbally committed to USNA, if they are appointed. That means completing dodmerb and everything. This happens a lot with football recruits. If you track things like this, and those who show up on I Day, there are usually some names missing. Also remember that USNA also has NAPS players coming in too for many sports. So essentially you almost have two recruiting classes coming in for some of the sports each year between directs and NAPS. USNA does not publicly release recruiting lists until I Day. On I Day there is always tons of of media releases for each sports team and those who just swore in.

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

One thing to remember about Navy, on pages like this, it’s all done by self reporting. Those who receive ‘appointments’ this early, don’t have appointments in hand. They have verbally committed to USNA, if they are appointed. That means completing dodmerb and everything. This happens a lot with football recruits. If you track things like this, and those who show up on I Day, there are usually some names missing. Also remember that USNA also has NAPS players coming in too for many sports. So essentially you almost have two recruiting classes coming in for some of the sports each year between directs and NAPS. USNA does not publicly release recruiting lists until I Day. On I Day there is always tons of of media releases for each sports team and those who just swore in.

Well stated

The coaches, from different USNA sports, that I have dealt with as a club coach and a parent and a GP have all been very upfront and honest about the appointment process. And about the possibility of prep school.

But it’s not only the recruit accepting an offer , it’s the coach who starts it all,off by making an offer.

And if that offer is accepted by the student their college recruiting days are over . They have committed to USNA and they inform other colleges that they are no longer being recruited

The SA coaches have to know in advance that whatever academic or medical issues there are for the student to overcome, they have already checked or already know that those issues can be over come. They can’t be guessing or hoping.

obviously bad injuries can happen after the accepted offer or other things like getting arrested for a DUI can upset things. But normal health issues and gpa and test scores the coach has to be real sure they can deliver.

 

[LA-JAG]

One thing to remember about Navy, on pages like this, it’s all done by self reporting. Those who receive ‘appointments’ this early, don’t have appointments in hand. They have verbally committed to USNA, if they are appointed. That means completing dodmerb and everything. This happens a lot with football recruits. If you track things like this, and those who show up on I Day, there are usually some names missing. Also remember that USNA also has NAPS players coming in too for many sports. So essentially you almost have two recruiting classes coming in for some of the sports each year between directs and NAPS. USNA does not publicly release recruiting lists until I Day. On I Day there is always tons of of media releases for each sports team and those who just swore in.

You are absolutely correct. The coaches are very up front that there are no guarantees and you must fully qualify with the SA and obtain a nomination. The commitment is by the players and not the team for all these sites. Plan B is a must for all players.

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

You are absolutely correct. The coaches are very up front that there are no guarantees and you must fully qualify with the SA and obtain a nomination. The commitment is by the players and not the team for all these sites. Plan B is a must for all players.

Not to quibble or sound like we are disagreeing.

But I have sat thru first hand or second hand 6 different kids in the extended family sitting with at least one SA coach from a variety of sports making a pitch for that student to attend that school.

And the question we asked———is there any chance he or she can’t get in?

Some of ours were A students some were barely B students. All were very good at their sport.

The coaches made it clear grades would not be a problem despite lack of excellence in grades, the health issues that would DQ them would not be a problem (wavers)

And a nomination would not be a problem, They needed to interview and hopefully get a nomination but if they can’t—-don’t worry one will be found.

Once we or they said yes the student had committed themselves to that SA. The system works. It’s not a crap shoot. There should not be a lot of worry (there will be worry anyway)

Parents and students should not be worrying that they can’t get in the SA (or the prep school) after the swim, lax, soccer coach etc has made an offer that was accepted.

Coaches that make offers that they can’t be trusted are soon coaches that will not be able to recruit the blue chip sports types. Other schools and other SAs would be telling recruits——you can’t trust that school or that coach.

And they would be right. The coaches need to know they can get that student in.

If you get an offer from a coach and it’s accepted in reality you can trust that offer——just don’t get arrested or fall off the porch and break a leg before IDay or reporting to the prep school.

 

[Sail]

My recent experience as a father of two recruited athletes (but not “Blue Chip”) at two different SAs, was very consistent with La-Jag and Navy Hoops above. In essence the coach would help, but it was on the student to have the grades/SAT to get into the SA and on them to obtain the nomination.

 

[Runnerthirteen]

My DS had a good friend last year who was recruited for football by both USNA and USMA. Not the most motivated or stellar student. The USMA recruiting coach told him not to worry. Told him he only needed a 21 on the ACT, but would have to do the year at the Prep School. A parent from a different sport recruited student said the biggest issue they had was coaches not really explaining in FULL detail the commitment during and AFTER the SA.

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

My recent experience as a father of two recruited athletes (but not “Blue Chip”) at two different SAs, was very consistent with La-Jag and Navy Hoops above. In essence the coach would help, but it was on the student to have the grades/SAT to get into the SA and on them to obtain the nomination.

We are saying the same thing with a different emphasis. And it’s the emphasis that can be confusing to the parent or student wondering what that offer from SA coach actually means.. It’s not the risk some seem to make it seem.

in my case the kids I know from the family (as well as my players) were all considered blue chip and the SA coach, who knew their grades and test scores and made it clear that admission to the prep school at a min was a given based on what they knew at the time. No arrests etc

And at least one of mine never had a nomination interview not for the prep school not for the SA. They did end up with a nomination for the SA but they never interviewed for one. Nominations we were told by the coaches would not be an issue as far as admissions. One would be found if needed. Although they do put pressure on the students to try and get one.

If you are a parent of a D1 sports type being offered a place at a SA or prep school by a SA coach and you accept you can indeed tell the other schools recruiting that you are now off the market. And your name will shortly show up on some list as a new SA sports commit. Long before your application is processed maybe even submitted.

The risk a commit faces after committing to a SA coach is the same thing all students at any college or enlisted might face——a previous unknown serious health issue, a major injury, a DUI, etc