You Can Play College-Level Baseball After High School

You Can Play College-Level Baseball After High School
But Will You?

A freshman in high school starts out with the idea of going to college and playing college-level baseball. Throughout high school, this idea remains the same but you seem to lose track of time, something that we all take for granted, until it’s gone. Could you have done something differently that may have resulted in the opportunities you had in mind? Is the process as difficult as it seems that we tend to procrastinate?

Student-Athletes

You have the skills, the drive, the motivation, and most importantly, you have the family support. What could possibly be missing that prevents this from happening? All of the resources are out there, what’s the problem? There are so many opportunities available, so why are so many seniors up in arms by the time they graduate? Where did all of that time and planning go?

Who is responsible for this dilemma? No matter how you slice it, you and your parents play the most important role in your success. The outcome is the result of the actions you take and decisions you make. There are no rules determining correct or incorrect decisions, only that you make them. Success will not come on its own.

When it’s all said and done, one of two things is going to happen. You will be actively recruited, or not. Unfortunately, the later is most common, but it does it have to be? No matter what the outcome, the world has not come to an end. Situations change but the vision remains the same.

Parents

Here are some important issues you should consider. An early start to the process will give you a huge advantage. There are so many things that can be accomplished as a freshman or sophomore, staying one step ahead of the game. Juniors and seniors will be faced with a more aggressive approach. Bottom line, there is no time like the present to take action. In fact, for many parents, starting is the most difficult. Not because they don’t want to, they just don’t know how to.

One thing is for sure, there is no greater reward than the experience as you take this journey. An American pastime and your son is in it. You will welcome the road ahead and take the necessary steps to ensure that your son is on track, and take full advantage of the opportunities available to him. They are out there, you just need to go and get them.

Alternatives

Where does the high school coach fit in? Well, every high school and coach is different. One thing is for sure, if they could ensure that every one of their student-athletes could get into college and play baseball, they would. Most coach’s head straight to field, right after they leave their full-time job, spending more time with the team than they do with their families. For the most part, they do what they can with the resources they have. You may or may not get help from your high school coach, but you shouldn’t rely on it.

There are recruiting companies who will jump at the chance to help, although, they come at a price. You need to weight the benefits. Many families are on a limited budget and you will need to set aside some funds for attending events that range from $50 for a ½ day to large showcase events that could set you back up to $1000 for a weekend event. There are many issues to consider when deciding on which events to attend (i.e., skill level, grade level, budget, college interests, etc). These decisions should come fairly easy to you.

Most families will simply educate themselves on the process considering the alternatives. This is an excellent choice although it comes with great responsibility. Can you sacrifice the time and energy for the sake of your son’s future? Of course you can, and most parents do. The question is, will you get started or will you follow that popular pattern of letting time get the best of you. If you can get over that hump, you will find success and dreams will come true.

The Basics

As a freshman, you should start a large list of colleges you would be interested in attending. As you grow and mature, your interests may change. Continue to work hard academically – good grades will play a major role in the options you will have available by the time you graduate. As a sophomore, find a little time to visit a college campus or two, and familiarize yourself with the atmosphere. This will help you with your college list. Your junior year becomes a little more exciting. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center (Clearinghouse), in the event that you have NCAA I or II in your sights. Continue to maintain good grades and stay focused. A player profile and a highlight video should be provided to college coaches. If they can’t see you in person, a skills video is an excellent tool. One way or another, a coach will not recruit you if they can’t see you.

There are many other ways to get yourself noticed. Check to see if there are any colleges on your list that are hosting any camps or clinics. Go! Of course, play as much summer travel baseball as you can. Consider a showcase event. Many colleges look to these organizations for recruits.

Always check with your guidance counselor to make sure you are on track academically. You don’t want to wait your senior year to find that you don’t meet eligibility requirements. Most NCAA colleges have higher academic standards and if you have the tools that NCAA is looking for, you don’t want academics to stand in your way.

Most importantly, set your goals high and keep your mind and options open. If you want to go to college and play college-level baseball, you can. The opportunity is there for everyone and you don’t have to be a top prospect or a valedictorian to do so. Many high school graduates attend junior college and go on to four-year institutions, some even enter the MLB draft. All is good!!! After all, obtaining a college education and playing baseball is the goal.

What Next?

Start now! That’s all it takes. One thing is for sure, four years of high school will come and go in a glance. There is no putting off for next year what you must be doing this year. This will be key to your success, and you can do it.

To find out how you can have all of the resources you need, visit www.baseballedge.org. Imagine having absolutely everything you need in one place, right now, at your fingertips. From academic requirements and recruiting guidelines, to college camp, clinic and showcase events happening all over the country. When you didn’t know where to start before, you do now. Visit us today at www.baseballedge.org.

About the Author
Thrandur is a well known author and a successful webmaster. He is the owner of GPS-Compare.com. You Can Play College-Level Baseball After High School.
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Baseball Tryouts - Intangibles to Help You Stand Out

By Chuck R Stewart

Our baseball team held its tryout yesterday afternoon. Most of the kids who wanted to play again next year and who played on the team this last season did to have to go through an official tryout but a couple of them were put on notice that they would need to make the team again this year if we received some interest from talented players. Everyone took the news well because the understanding is that we are playing competitive baseball. Here are a few of the highlights and some thoughts on the intangibles that you should consider and use to your advantage at your next tryout.

Greeting. When you are greeting a coach for the first time be sure to look him or her in the eye and have a firm handshake while thanking them for the opportunity to tryout for the team. I was amazed at what a simple gesture this is that can influence a coaching staff as much as it did yesterday. There were three players who had the confidence to walk straight up to me, introduce themselves in an assertive manner and then begin to prepare for the tryout. Two of those three were offered spots on the team.

Playing Biography. Be prepared to offer a short playing bio when asked where you played and what positions you are interested in trying out for on the team. Players who give a short answer to that question are missing a great opportunity to tell the coaches quite a bit about themselves. Go so far as to have rehearsed a couple of sentences to share with the new coaches who have no idea who you are other than a name and number. One player yesterday afternoon had a few sentences together that even went so far as to tell me why he was interested in making our team. It went like this - Coach, my name is Jack Wilson (made up name for publishing). I played with the Tri County Cubs last year. I was the third pitcher in the starting rotation and pitched in 14 games last season. My ERA was 4.40. I also played third base, hit in the 6 spot in the lineup and hit .315 for the season. I am looking for a new team to play on next year because I want to be able to also participate in my high school football program summer workout sessions and the Cubs did not like us to play another sport while baseball is in season. Needless to say, I was very impressed and quickly escorted him to meet the other coaches - he was offered a spot on the roster last evening and will be a great addition to the team.

Get There Early. I was very unimpressed with how many of the 15 players trying out for the 4 spots available on our team showed up within 5-10 minutes of the tryout. All the coaches noticed. We started promptly at 2:00 and some of the boys were still putting their cleats on while were discussing the format for the tryout and providing some background for the team.

Use these tips to make a good first impression on the coaching staff, be prepared by continually taking batting practice and fielding, pitching prior to the tryout and you will be sure to put your best foot forward in making the team you would like to play on for next year.

Coach Chuck Stewart operates a baseball web site called offering pitching machines
batting cages training aids and coaching/instructional videos along with lots of free coaching content. Coach Chuck offers a pitching machine for every skill level and budget. He has coached baseball teams for 8 years and enjoys sharing the love of the game of baseball with his players.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chuck_R_Stewart


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"Little Leaguer's elbow" can be serious if it becomes aggravated

Happy Labor Day! Here is an articles related to arm injuries for Little League and other Youth Baseball Players. The articles clearly exppalins the causes, signs and prevention of the injury calle "Little League Elbow" by doctors. Have a great day, Nick

"Little Leaguer's elbow" can be serious if it becomes aggravated

Elements of a Great Baseball Glove

By Peter V. John
So you're shopping for a new baseball glove. You want something that will not just catch a ball but will feel like an extension of your own hand. That doesn't come with just any glove, which is why you need to shop carefully and keep in mind the things that make a baseball glove great.

Material - Baseball gloves can be made of synthetic materials or of leather. Most players choose leather for its softness and durability, as well as its ability to conform individually to the player's hand. Top-grain cowhide is the standard for most gloves. Full-grain leather is stiffer, which may make the glove last longer but also takes longer to break in than top-grain leather.

Webbing - The type of webbing you choose can depend upon the position you are playing. Webbing that has space between each strip of leather is ideal for outfielders and third basemen, because it has more "give" and can trap a ball easily. Middle infielders use closed webbing, a solid pocket, to quickly grab a ball from the pocket. Pitchers also prefer closed webbing to hide their pitches before they're thrown. There is also a trap-style or "six-finger" web that allows flexibility and versatility. Other open styles are the H-web and I-web.

Lacing - Make sure the lacing on your glove is nice and tight. If you can wiggle the finger stalls a lot while wearing the glove for the first time, the lacing is probably too loose. Remember that the lacing will loosen as the glove is broken in, so you don't want too loose a fit from the start.

Size - Keep in mind the position you will be playing when determining the size of your baseball glove. You wouldn't want an open-web, five-finger glove if you're a catcher; neither would you want to use a catcher's mitt in the outfield. Middle infielders need a short glove, while outfielders use a longer glove. First basemen use a mitt that is similar but not identical to a catcher's mitt. Whatever glove you choose, make sure it is appropriate to the position you will play most often.

Fit - Lastly, if the glove isn't comfortable the first time you wear it, don't expect it to miraculously conform to your hand as it is broken in. A certain level of stiffness is expected, but if the glove just feels wrong on your hand, give it up and try another glove. The glove should fit snugly yet comfortably, and have an adjustable wrist strap to allow for a personalized fit.

Vinci has manufactured high-quality baseball gloves and equipment since 1997. Vinci baseball gloves are the highest in quality, durability, style and performance. They are made from only the best US steer hide and kip leathers. When you wear a Vinci, you are part of our family.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_V._John

Build a Batting Cage in Your Backyard

By Brandon Bland

To build a batting cage, there are many different options you have to consider. A batting cage in your backyard can be one of the greatest assets to you or your child's playing career. Therefore, it is a wise investment and one that should be highly considered by every ballplayer and their parents.

The first thing to consider is where you would like to set up your batting cage. There are many various ways in which you can set up a cage, and will all depend on space available, budget, etc. First off, all cages will require various amounts of assembly and construction. If you have an unlimited budget and space available, it will be no problem to purchase a nice high quality cage from a company like Jugs or Atec.

For those of us looking to save a little money (who isn't, right?), there are many other options available. You may buy kits from several companies online that will ship most or all of the parts to you for fairly reasonable prices. Something that you should also consider is that you may purchase many of the parts, including netting, and especially the frame from your local hardware store. This can result in some pretty substantial savings, because you will end up saving on shipping costs.

If you have limited space, you may have to get a little creative on how you rig up your cage. There are however, standard sizes for cages that most nets are made for. Here is a list of some of those sizes.


70' L x 14' W x 12' H
65' L x 11' W x 11' H
10' L x 12' W x 12' H
55' L x 12' W x 12' H
40' L x 12' W x 12' H

The size you choose will depend on how much space you have to play with, how old the ballplayer using it will be, how much you wish to spend, etc. Obviously the larger nets cost more than the smaller ones. Regardless of the age, a wider and higher cage will allow for a little more comfort and room to work with.

Hopefully this will give you some insight into the things you should consider before you build a batting cage. Remember, that it will be a wise investment in you or your child's playing career, so take your time and make sure you will get exactly what you need. You can find more information about equipment and netting here:

http://www.baseball-equipment-review.com/build-a-batting-cage.html

Brandon Bland is the webmaster of Baseball Equipment Review, a site devoted to informing ballplayers of the quality of today's baseball equipment so they can make informed decisions about their purchases.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandon_Bland

Are you looking for a great batting cage at discount prices? Are you considering building your own backyard batting cage and training center? If so, you should visit BattingCagesDirect.com now!

Do You Need Baseball Equipment For Training?

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Do You Need Baseball Equipment For Training?

By Ken Austin

Whether you just want to play the sports enough so you can hit a home run or are determined that your son gets the opportunity to enter the major league. You could do a lot better by investing in baseball equipment that trains you for this.

As a little leaguer coach or just looking to bond with your son by coaching him on specifics of baseball, you can use baseball equipment that trains you for this job.

Why not try this baseball training equipment? The baseball Instructional DVDs & VHS videos would train you to pitch by learning the 30 common pitching mistakes to avoid. Or you could try baseball hitting videos that will take you from basic skills through advanced hitting drills and techniques. There are video training baseball equipment that would give you baseball workouts to increase you power and performance on the playing field. These kinds of training baseball equipment are worth investing on, as you can replay these until you get the training basics right.

Another baseball equipment you could utilize to increase your swinging prowess to a better speed are such products as a training bat. This baseball equipment usually has a properly weighted bat and resistance weights in the form of rings to ensure you train at just the right weight. As you build up strength, you can swing through the strike zone at higher and higher rates of speed.

Some other baseball equipment may not exactly qualify as baseball equipment but these magazines, training manuals and even training sessions with a professional are constructive steps to getting your baseball skills up to swing. Whether you want to go professional or just get one or two home runs. The use of baseball equipment to train you into improving is always a wise investment.

Ken Austin
Baseball Gear and Equipment
Sports Resource Guide

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Austin