FIVE TIPS EVERY BASEBALL RECRUIT SHOULD KNOW

Finding a baseball scholarship can be a difficult process. Scholarships for baseball aren’t as abundant as they are in other sports, and that means learning about exactly how the baseball recruiting process works is essential.

When does the baseball recruiting process start?

1. The baseball recruiting process starts in middle school. Baseball recruiting starts early because competition for baseball scholarships is extremely high. At the Division I level there are up to 11.7 scholarships for baseball available for each school, and in Division II there are just nine baseball scholarships available for each school. The value of each scholarship means that baseball coaches have to identify recruits in the 7th and 8th grades.

How do I get discovered?

2. College coaches scout baseball recruits based on third-party evaluations from a trusted neutral source like NCSA. You may swing a sweet bat and field with a slick glove, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be recruited by college baseball programs and get that coveted scholarship for baseball. College coaches initially identify top baseball prospects using online tools from a trusted resource like NCSA first, well before they see you display your baseball skills in person.

How do coaches evaluate prospects?

3. The Internet is your best baseball recruiting tool. College baseball coaches are busy and can’t spend all of their time at high school baseball games. The Internet makes sure they don’t have to. Easy access to video highlights and statistics from a third-party evaluator like NCSA lets coaches quickly find players that fit their system. Showcasing your skills on the Internet makes the recruiting process easier for both you and the baseball coaches you want to impress.

Where am I qualified to play?

4. Less than 2% of the nearly 500,000 student athletes that participate in high school baseball will play at the Division I level. Realize that the majority of college baseball programs aren’t in D-I, so set your expectations accordingly. More than 80% of collegiate baseball players compete at the Division II, Division III, NAIA or junior college level. NCSA is an experienced neutral talent evaluator, and can tell you exactly which level you should shoot for and where you’re likely to find the most success.

What is my coach’s role?

5. Your coach can take care of your on-the-field development, but getting a baseball scholarship is your responsibility. Ultimately, your ability is what earns you a baseball scholarship, but the recruiting process requires a lot of work off of the diamond. Your high school baseball coach is busy and has too many responsibilities to be able to dedicate the time that the recruiting process requires. There’s a good chance that you’re not the only one on your team who hopes to play college baseball, and having a high school coach manage the recruiting process for several athletes at once is just too much to ask.

Source: http://www.ncsasports.org/Five-Tips-Every-Baseball-Recruit-Should-Know?utm_source=outbrain&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=baseball-hed