For many parents, finding the best-recruiting websites for baseball helps to maximize the chances of their child getting an athletic scholarship. However, the challenge is separating all the many recruiting sites and selecting the one that provides the best opportunity for your child.

The value of recruiting sites is that they offer professional guidance in a field which few parents have any personal experience. Basically, recruiting websites are professional organizations that offer their unique skills, experience, and knowledge to help students stand the best chance of getting a scholarship. While many parents may have the time to do the work, they do not have the knowledge necessary to take advantage of the opportunities that are present.

How to Choose the Right Recruiting Site for Baseball?

The first step is separating the contenders from the pretenders in terms of their recruitment services. This means only looking at the recruitment sites that offer the right services for their clients.

Experience: This means more than just the number of years the professionals hired by the company have in helping kids in getting athletic scholarships, but in their success rate as well. While many companies can provide expert advice, it is their percentage of success that really matters. Their experience should be backed by customer testimonials and other means of knowing who does the best work.

Networking: The main application for the services provided by a recruiting site is reaching the right people at colleges and universities with the videos and letters needed to get their attention. Networking is the most vital recruiting service offered since it gets the right people interested in your child’s potential for their team. Too many parents often go to the wrong schools and wind up wasting time where they could’ve been working towards the right ones.

Guidance: Too many recruiting sites fall short when it comes to providing all the information that parents need. This means that they should be guiding both the parents and student in maximizing their chances at getting an athletic scholarship and letting them know about other opportunities such as tuition discounts or other forms of scholarships that can really help.

Of the many recruiting sites on the web, there is one that does have the experience, guidance, and contacts necessary to provide your child the best chance of success, SportsForce.

Why SportsForce Stands Out from the Competition

Of the best-recruiting websites for baseball, SportsForce is the one that is head and shoulders above all others. There are good reasons why, the most important of which is the experience and networking connections, which separates them from everyone else. With over 1,000 successful placements, hiring Sports Force means that your child will have the best chance of getting a baseball scholarship using our resources and guidance.

Get a free evaluation from SportsForce today so that your child can get properly evaluated and put on the right path towards success. While no company can promise an athletic scholarship, your child’s chances improve markedly when you have the knowledge, experience, and resources of SportsForce behind them all the way.

For kids still in middle school or just entering high school who have a passion for playing baseball, there may be opportunities to get an athletic scholarship if you have the right potential. However, there are many things that can go wrong, which can create missed opportunities in landing an athletic scholarship. This is where professional recruiting sites can help, allowing kids with real potential to get recruited for baseball.

Why Choose a Professional Recruiting Site?

You may feel that professional recruiting sites are a waste of time and money when parents can do the work. However, it’s not just sending out videos or attending certain camps, there is a lot more to providing your child with the best chance to get an athletic scholarship for their baseball talent.

Experience: The people that run the best-recruiting sites have years of experience in evaluating talent and the potential of all athletes. This is vital because many parents make the mistake of aiming their efforts at colleges or universities that have little to no interest while missing opportunities that might get their child an athletic scholarship.

Networking: As in most professions, it’s not just what you know, but who you know that really counts. The best-recruiting sites have solid networking relationships with all colleges and universities so that they can place the right videos and information in the hands of the right people. Having an inside track makes all the difference for making the most of your child’s chances of getting an athletic scholarship.

Opportunities: Keep in mind that even the best efforts of the finest recruiting sites may not get your child an athletic scholarship in baseball. However, there are other opportunities to reduce college tuition that might be offered if you know where to look.

For example, while Division III schools do not offer scholarships, they do offer tuition breaks for many athletes that can really reduce the amount needed to be paid.

Plus, if your child is academically inclined, colleges and universities look favorably on those who might be able to earn a different kind of scholarship for their off-the-field efforts. There are many ways in which college tuition can be reduced and this is where recruiting websites can help. This is why so many parents choose Sports Force to assist their child in the recruiting process.

Why Sports Force?
For those with talent enough to receive an athletic scholarship, the best way to get recruited for baseball is to trust in a company with an outstanding reputation and track record. Utilizing its deep connections and networking ability in the college market, Sports Force has helped over 1,000 student-athletes get scholarships and can ensure that the right coaching staffs see your child’s talents.

Not only can SportsForce provide the right path towards obtaining an athletic scholarship, but we can also offer alternative means of reducing tuition costs, which helps a student-athlete in completing their education. Don’t wait, contact SportsForce today and find out how your child can maximize their opportunities for getting a baseball scholarship with a Free Evaluation.

When you consider the number of high school students who play baseball and the number of athletic scholarships available, the chances of landing this type of scholarship may seem slim. The truth is that only a fraction of those who play in high school will obtain an athletic scholarship to play baseball in college. Understanding how to get recruited for college baseball starts with a professional organization that provides evaluation, guidance, and proper marketing to maximize your chances of success.

How Recruiting Organizations Help You Find the Right College or University

While many parents take it upon themselves to try and find the right college or university for their child who plays baseball, most do not have the knowledge or experience to know where to go or how to properly market their child’s abilities. A professional recruiting organization offers professional evaluation, marketing, and locating services, which give you the best chance at landing a scholarship.

Your Talent Level: Everything starts with a proper evaluation of your talent level and abilities on the diamond. An in-depth evaluation by professionals with an eye for talent will let you know where you stand and what level of schools are best to focus your attention.

Where to Go: The first step is evaluating your child’s abilities on the baseball field. Of the many thousands who play baseball, a select few are recruited directly into the major leagues and only a small number make it to Division I schools. However, there are ample opportunities at Division II and Division III schools that are looking for quality athletes.

Preparation & Marketing: The good news about getting noticed by college and university coaching staffs is that there are baseball tournaments and competitions that they attend. By participating, you are allowing these recruiting coaches to get a good look at your abilities.

Combine that with an effective marketing campaign that includes a short highlight video that shows off your talents, letters, and emails to the right colleges and universities, and working in the off-season to improve your abilities to make the best impression possible.

All these efforts, when pulled together can offer you the best chance of landing an athletic scholarship. Keep in mind that there are other ways to help fund your dream of going to college and when combined with your talents on the baseball diamond may lead to success. A professional recruiting website like SportsForce offers all these services which are guided by years of experience in working with young athletes so they can play baseball in college.

Why SportsForce Can Help

At SportsForce, we can help you get recruited for college baseball thanks to our professional staff that offers their knowledge, experience, and proven methods that ensure you have the best chance possible for a scholarship. We have helped many students take the right path towards getting scholarships through our evaluation process, marketing, and networking abilities.

For students who want to play baseball in college on an athletic scholarship, click HERE to get a free evaluation.

For students who are just entering high school, the time to start preparing for college is right now. Coaching staffs at colleges and universities start their search for talent at the freshman and sophomore levels. By the time a student reaches their senior year, they will most likely have been evaluated many times and their chances at getting an athletic scholarship is set.

Unfortunately, many parents are not aware of the process that college and university coaching staffs use to find the right talent for their programs. This means that for many students who have the right potential, they are not finding the places where they have the best chances of landing an athletic scholarship.

What Parents Do Not Know

Because there are relatively few athletes who excel so well they seemed destined for scholarships, many parents believe the same is true for all those who show talent in their field. Unfortunately, that is not the case as so many are simply not seen because they are not in the right place.

Talent: Every parent sees the best in their child in every endeavor. Unfortunately, many of them do not compare what they see to the competition that is out there for athletic scholarships. So many parents push for Division I schools that they overlook the opportunities at lower level programs where landing a scholarship is easier. This means that loads of kids are missing out on valuable opportunities because they are aiming at the wrong places.

Starting at the Right Time: College and university coaches start their search for talent when students enter high school. Basically, to maximize the chances for success, students must not only excel in their sport, but also participate in tournaments, camps, and sessions where coaches are present. For those who wait until their senior year, it’s usually too late, which means that they have missed out on the opportunities available to excel when they were freshmen and sophomores.

Marketing: It takes more than just playing well on the field or court, your child must be seen by the right people for them to stand a chance at landing a scholarship. Today, thanks to the internet, social media, and the many connections they provide, marketing your child’s abilities is easier than ever, but still, most get lost because they are never seen by those who make the decisions.

Why Choose SportsForce?

At Sports Force, we have proven ourselves to be one of the best college athletic recruiting websites by helping over 1,000 kids get scholarships. Our professionals have many years of experience in evaluating, promoting, marketing, and building networks so that students stand the best chance of landing an athletic scholarship. This is why SportsForce has become one of the premiere recruiting sites that helps high school athletes realize their dream of playing at the college level.

If you have a son or daughter entering high school with a talent for a specific sport, we can help them in their quest to play at a higher level. Let us help you make the most of your child’s chances of getting an athletic scholarship by applying for a free evaluation here.

Unfortunately, the college recruiting process is not a predictable one as many coaches use their own criteria to fill the needs of their team. So, while you may try your best to get your name and abilities out there for the coaches to see, the final decision will rest with them on who they choose to provide scholarships.

For parents and their children looking for the right college or university, it pays to look at the big picture, then narrow down the options over time. Too many will start with a shortsighted perspective and try to expand from there, which normally works against getting a scholarship when the original choices are gone. Putting all your eggs in one basket works against your interests primarily because of the unpredictability of recruiting.

The Unpredictability of Recruiting

Recruiting for colleges is a fluid, ever-changing process that often changes the perspective of how a high school athlete is viewed over the course of two to three years. In addition, coaching changes at universities are frequent as well. This means that an athlete who was highly prized may be forgotten as the new coach takes over.

Another issue is the opinions of those who may be a part of the recruiting process who may advise you and your child that the chances of getting a scholarship are not worth much until the offer is presented. You should never put much faith in what anyone tells you until the scholarship has been offered. Plus, focusing on what one coach says may cause you to miss out on other opportunities that may work out better in the long run.

The unpredictability increases with the lack of knowledge parents and their children have about the colleges and universities themselves. All schools that are worth serious consideration should be thoroughly researched so that their recruiting strategies are understood. For example, a coach will recruit athletes that best fit the system they have created. If your talents are not normally part of that system, then your chances are diminished in terms of getting a scholarship.

How SportsForce Helps You

You can avoid putting all your eggs in one basket by getting SportsForce on your side. We provide the resources you need to help your child get recruited by colleges and universities around the country. In a nutshell we maximize the chances of your son or daughter getting a college scholarship that pays for their higher education.

We help you see the big picture with all the possibilities to consider then narrow down in the right manner. The knowledge, experience, and talents that SportsForce brings to the table means that your child stands the best chance of getting selected by the appropriate college or university.

SportsForce offers a complete line of services designed to get the attention of college coaches so that your child will have their name, abilities, and potential placed front and center for consideration. While there are no guarantees in getting your child a sports scholarship, having SportsForce on your side increases the chances far above the normal recruiting channels that are available. Get a free evaluation from an expert HERE.

So you’ve developed your recruiting game plan, effectively marketed yourself to your target schools, and you’re starting to see some responses and interest from college coaching staffs. When you get past the initial emails expressing their mutual interest, the next stage is to get on the phone together. So what are you supposed to say?

In this edition of our college lacrosse education series, we’ll cover some of the things you need to keep in mind when you reach the stage of speaking on the phone or in person with a coach who is actively recruiting you. Like many things in life, relationships are the key to a successful recruitment, and often a phone call is an early step in fostering those relationships with college programs.

Breathe

Yes, there is a physical component to this. We’ve all felt anxiety in new situations…it’s a natural and normal reaction. Just like performing on the lacrosse field, you’ll do better when you can calm your nerves to simply perform. One of the main ways you can control this (on the field and off) is through your breathing. Before the call, do some controlled deep breathing exercises and review the information you’ve gathered on the school, lacrosse program, and coach to whom you are scheduled to speak. If you get hung up during the call and find yourself sucking air, try to take deep breaths with your mouth away from the phone while the coach is speaking.

Be honest/ this is about YOU

Of course you don’t want to lie to a coach on the phone or in person, but what we’re talking about here is providing a coach with YOUR goals and dreams. We’ve all memorized the “right answers” to questions about our game- “it’s about the team”, “I’ll play anywhere you need me”, “I just want to be a good teammate”, but that doesn’t tell a recruiter what you think YOU can bring to their program. If you want to compete for a starting spot as a freshman, say that. If you’re willing to play defensive midfield for a year or two to get the chance to compete for an offensive spot, say that, but it needs to be about what YOU want and what YOU are willing to do to make that happen. You have to realize that your coach and your program aren’t in charge of your progression, so it’s up to YOU to get better and compete for playing time. At the college level, your desire and dedication to reaching your own goals serve as an important indicator to a coach of how well you will play for them and their program, increasing your ability to secure a roster spot or scholarship offer.

Avoid negative statements

There is a difference between saying you prefer a larger university and saying you don’t like small schools. There’s a difference between saying that you’re interested in higher-level academics than something disparaging, even about another school. As a high school student-athlete, it’s likely that you have an idea of what you want, but you really don’t know what will work best for you and your family. The risk you run by going negative is in offending a recruiter. These coaches are proud and dedicated to their schools and programs, so the wrong critical or negative comment can change the complexion of the conversation and end their recruitment of you. Enter each interaction with an open mind, ready to listen to what the coach is trying to tell you about the opportunity they’re offering.

Ask questions

One of the best ways to let a coach know that you’re seriously interested is through thoughtful questions. You want to ask things that can’t be found through a quick google search. Information like majors offered, class sizes, and campus location can all be found quickly and easily. If you want to maximize your time with the coach, you want to ask questions you can’t find online:

1. What would my typical day look like in the fall? In the spring?
2. What type of player do you recruit? How many are you recruiting in my class?
3. Where do you see me fitting in your program? What can I work on to fit better in your program?
4. Does the lacrosse team live together? Is there a Greek system or a “Lacrosse Fraternity”?
5. Is there a prevalent major among the guys on the team?

These are just a few examples, but you want to ensure that you convey to the coach that you have thought about his program and you are interested in learning more from him. That kind of preparation encourages the coaches to engage with you and lets them know they’re not wasting their time with a prospect that is only lukewarm on their school.

Don’t commit to anything you’re not sure of

College coaches are salesmen. They have to be salesmen to attract the best recruits and build their programs. Because they are juggling 75 recruits to commit 15 of them, they sometimes get aggressive in asking for your thoughts on commitment to their school. Don’t let a coach paint you into a corner or solicit an answer you’re not prepared to give. A simple “I would need to discuss that with my family before I give you an answer” will usually suffice. The same applies for pressure to visit the campus – “Thanks coach, and I’ll sit down with my parents to see if that weekend can work for us as well”. The main thing you want to avoid is agreeing to something only to go back on it later, which can create issues in your relationship with that coach.

While we often talk about this college selection process as one of the most important decisions you’ll make in your life, we also must recognize that a coach’s choices affect their families and livelihoods as well, so they take this process very seriously. They want to get to know the real you so they can evaluate your fit in their program, both on the field and off. Your ability to communicate effectively and show genuine interest in their school and lacrosse program can greatly impact the opportunities you get throughout the recruiting process. You certainly don’t have to be polished and have all the answers, but effectively communicating through some nerves shows coaches your maturity and begins to give him an idea of who you are, both as a student-athlete and a young man.

We’re here again with The Realities of College Recruiting Podcast Episode 6. This week’s episode is titled, “Don’t play for college coaches.”

Our 6th episode once again features Ryan Thompson (former college baseball player and MLB Scout) and Andrew Beinbrink (Former All-American & MLB Player) discussing what happens if you try to play for the college coach who is scouting you and who you really should be playing for.

What are college coaches looking for?
For which reasons should you be playing the game?
How can you perform well while being under pressure?

Find out all of the answers to these questions in this week’s episode!

This podcast episode will also cover:
– How to keep the passion for your sport alive
– The importance of competition
– Find your own best approach to the sport you play

Don’t want to miss an episode?

About the Realities of College Recruiting Podcast:
The Realities of College Recruiting podcast, brought to you by SportsForce, will tackle some of the toughest college recruiting questions. Our college recruiting experts will share their personal expertise and key insights that will help you maximize your college recruiting efforts. This is a weekly podcast that is hosted by former MLB scout for the Cleveland Indians, 2x coach of the year (Junior College) and current recruiting advisor for SportsForce, Ryan Thompson The Realities of College Recruiting podcast will bring you interviews with some of the top college coaches from around the country in order to help make your college goals a reality! Raise your game with SportsForce!

We’re here again with The Realities of College Recruiting Podcast Episode 5. This week’s episode is titled, “Sport Specialization & Commitment.”

Our 5th episode once again features Ryan Thompson (former college baseball player and MLB Scout) and Andrew Beinbrink (Former All-American & MLB Player) discussing the importance of playing mutliple sports and how to minimize the pressure on your student-athlete…

How much time should you dedicate to your sport on an annual basis?
How can student-athletes prevent a “burn out”?
How can you minimize the pressure on your student-athlete?

Find out all of the answers to these questions in this week’s episode!

This podcast episode will also cover:
– The decrease of student-athletes playing multiple sports
– The importance of certain types of exercises and limitation of constant repetition
– How to manage the student-athlete’s dedication to a particular sport, especially at a young age.

Don’t want to miss an episode?

About the Realities of College Recruiting Podcast:
The Realities of College Recruiting podcast, brought to you by SportsForce, will tackle some of the toughest college recruiting questions. Our college recruiting experts will share their personal expertise and key insights that will help you maximize your college recruiting efforts. This is a weekly podcast that is hosted by former MLB scout for the Cleveland Indians, 2x coach of the year (Junior College) and current recruiting advisor for SportsForce, Ryan Thompson The Realities of College Recruiting podcast will bring you interviews with some of the top college coaches from around the country in order to help make your college goals a reality! Raise your game with SportsForce!

We’re here again with The Realities of College Recruiting Podcast Episode 4. This week’s episode is titled, “Exposure vs. Being Exposed.”

Our 4th episode once again features Ryan Thompson (former college baseball player and MLB Scout) and Andrew Beinbrink (Former All-American & MLB Player) discussing the factors you have to consider before you go to showcases and tournaments to be exposed.…

Where do you fit from an athletic standpoint?
How do you determine which events are right for you?
What do you need to know before you’re exposed to recruiters?

Find out all of the answers to these questions in this week’s episode!

This podcast episode will also cover:
– how to evaluate which event to attend
– how to qualify a college coaches interest
– what are the key intangible measurables for college coaches

Don’t want to miss an episode?

About the Realities of College Recruiting Podcast:
The Realities of College Recruiting podcast, brought to you by SportsForce, will tackle some of the toughest college recruiting questions. Our college recruiting experts will share their personal expertise and key insights that will help you maximize your college recruiting efforts. This is a weekly podcast that is hosted by former MLB scout for the Cleveland Indians, 2x coach of the year (Junior College) and current recruiting advisor for SportsForce, Ryan Thompson The Realities of College Recruiting podcast will bring you interviews with some of the top college coaches from around the country in order to help make your college goals a reality! Raise your game with SportsForce!

Raw talent and athleticism can dominate a 7/8th-grade lacrosse game, and we’ve all seen that in action. When you get to higher levels, however, the players that are putting in the work to improve their game quickly catch and surpass these “naturally good” players who don’t put as much work in to get better. Players who are building their strength and endurance in the offseason, who never let their stick go untouched in any given week, who show up to practice to train hard, and who take care of their health and nutrition habitually eventually rise to the top.

Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard

We’ve all heard the stories about Michael Jordan being cut from his high school basketball program as a freshman, Steph Curry getting very little interest from college coaches, and Tom Brady being drafted in the NFL’s sixth round, 199^th overall. If they simply accepted these circumstances and believed they just “didn’t have it”, where might they be today? Certainly not among the greatest performers their sports have ever seen.

So here are some things that highly successful athletes do to stay ahead:

1. While the world sleeps, they work

How many times do you catch yourself saying “I just ran out of time today,” making an excuse for why you didn’t go to the gym, or go for a run, or hit the wall for some stick work? I know I have. Well here is your solution… get up early, perhaps 5:00/6:00 am, and get it done first. I promise you all Fortune 500 CEO’s and Olympic athletes don’t sleep in or watch 4+ hours of TV a day, or waste hours on social media.

Think about it, do you want to be someone who reads about other people’s greatness or do you want to be someone that others read about your greatness? You decide. I think you will find that the morning calm before the world wakes up is a magical and spiritual time, and there is no greater feeling in the world than heading off to school, or your work day, knowing that you have already achieved something great… a long run, gym, or yoga class.

2. Their work creates confidence, so when life presents an opportunity, they seize it without hesitation

Opportunity is defined as “a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something.” I am sure you all are recognizing the big opportunities– invitation to a recruiting camp, showcase, etc. But let’s really break it down and focus on the little opportunities that you may be overlooking that have the greatest impact. The opportunity to hit the gym with your parents or friends, the opportunity to play in a box league, the opportunity to reach out to a local collegiate player to train with them, the opportunity to stay late after practice and help a teammate or yourself work on your dodges, or stick handling, or shooting.

It is these little opportunities that will raise your game immensely. Gen. Colin Powell, former Secretary of State said “If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.” What he means by this is that if you are going to succeed on the grander scale you need to first succeed on a smaller scale. Start your day with making your bed. It is a little achievement but it is nonetheless an achievement and a start.

3. They create routines and hold themselves accountable

We all know routine is important, but we can all get a calendar and map out our week and think, wow, I am going to get so much done this week. But what I want you to do is get to the END of your week and say, “Wow, I GOT so much done this week!”

Look back and see how many actions you were able to cross off. This is accountability, and I promise you there is no one in your life that is going to force you to do anything. Your parents are great advocates of yours, along with your friends and teammates, but at the end of the day, the only person that can make you get up and run farther, or faster, or do a third set of squats IS YOU. This is a true testament to how bad do you want to be great? I guarantee all those lacrosse players you are watching on TV seldom had to be told to run harder, run farther, or lift more. They do it because they want to be great!

4. They fill their bodies with proper nutrients and a lot of it

Fuel. Cars need it to run, engines machines need it to run, and we ABSOLUTELY need it to run. But you have to remember that it needs to be the right fuel. If you just went to the gym and worked out hard, then reward yourself with a healthy snack and some hydration. Don’t ruin everything you have achieved in the gym by getting drive through after. That is being counterproductive.

Remember that you are an elite athlete and may look a little different than your non-athlete friends. I am here to tell you that more is OK! You are strong and fit, and your body needs more because you are burning more. So don’t feel bad about finishing your whole sandwich, yogurt, apple and peanut butter, Cliff bar, banana, and huge water. You needed it! Because at the end of the day, if you thrive at the first three–getting up early, seizing the opportunity, and being accountable, then you will never reach your potential if your body cannot keep up. Eat healthy, eat often and hydrate all the time! Be that person in the class that always has a water bottle with them.

5. They get the most out of every practice, drill, scrimmage, and game

You’ve gone to practice thinking about your upcoming math test, you’re tired from yesterday’s game, you don’t like Monday training sessions, you deserve a day off…

Highly successful athletes have bad days too, but they never give a bad effort or let themselves dog it through a drill or practice feeling sorry for themselves or making excuses. We’ve already talked about seizing opportunities, but what if your opportunity comes on a less-than-ideal day for you? Mental fortitude is another trait that is not inborn but learned and trained. It’s an everyday attitude that is built through a consistent level of effort, regardless of the circumstances.

I went to West Point and played for legendary college coach Jack Emmer. One of the many lessons I took from him was that you have to deal with what comes up and power through it if you want to win. He would say, “If we lose, there’s no asterisk next to this game because….” Fill in the blank:

“We had an Army Physical Fitness Test this week” / “It snowed 18 inches on our field” / “The streets outside our facility are flooded” / “You have a 20-page paper due”

I could recite a long list of things I heard from Coach Emmer over my four years at Army, but the lesson it left us with is that you cannot let outside factors affect your mental and physical preparation to meet your opportunities to excel. Try to use the energy from all the frustration or stress to fuel your focus during your training session or event…every thought you entertain that does not feed your success actually hampers it.

Remember, practice doesn’t make perfect…perfect practice makes perfect.

Whether you fall into the “natural talent” category or not, success at the highest levels of anything in life will require your time, effort, and focus. Make yourself better at every opportunity, and enjoy the growth you’ll achieve, knowing that you’re ready for your opportunity when it presents itself. It’s truly just up to you…do you want to think about the excuses you have or the success you want?