The APR: Five Years Later

Woody Wingfield: Your Link to the Colleges

A while back, we did a blog entry on the Academic Progress Rate (APR) and its effect on college baseball. With the APR hitting the five-year mark, I thought it would be a good time to rehash what the APR means for college baseball.

As a recap, the NCAA installed the APR five years ago as an “academic audit” of all Division I sports. More specifically, it was established to measure the ability of universities to move their student-athletes closer to graduation every semester. If a team’s score fell below 925, or a 60% graduation rate, they would be subject to various penalties, including reduction of schedule or scholarships. Of all intercollegiate sports, only men’s baseball, football and basketball scored below the minimum during the first year. So, naturally the pressure fell on baseball coaches to clean up their sport.

How are they doing? Currently, the sport holds a single-year APR of 963, and its four-year average is up 31 points to 946, the largest jump of any sport.

Of course, this kind of change happens not just in the college classroom, but on the recruiting trail, too. Nowadays, college coaches are much less likely to take a chance on a player that may struggle to stay eligible at his university. For older players with poor grades, this means that the JuCo option may be the best route to Division I, given the “clean slate” you get as a transfer student. There are also several strong Division II, Division III and NAIA programs out there that don't fall under the scope of the APR.

For younger players, this means that your academics can never take a backseat to your work on the field. They can’t ride shotgun, either. One of the first things any college coach will look at is your academic record, so that needs to pass muster before they spend any time coming to watch you play. It’s always a shame to see a great player get passed over because he didn’t take care of business during geometry class.

Remember, there’s a reason the Baseball Factory logo includes not only a baseball, but a book, too.


Woody serves as the Director of College Recruiting Operations, working with players and parents in the ACR, Exclusive and Exclusive BATS Programs. His role is to assist all families with questions they may have throughout the recruiting process. Woody is a graduate of the University of Virginia where he worked as an intern with the Cavalier Baseball Team.

My Choice: Picking the Right School

Guest Blogger: Bryan Hoffman

When I stepped onto campus at the University of Maryland in 2005 I was determined to make the best of my four years as a member of the Terrapin baseball team. I had a good high school and American Legion career and was fortunate enough to earn the opportunity to play baseball in the ACC. This was it, college baseball, I had finally arrived at the end of the enduring journey that is college recruiting.

It was the first day of fall workouts and the first day to make an impression on the coaching staff. My bullpen session was going well until about 15 pitches in. I had just placed a 2-seam fastball on the inner half of the plate, but when I went to throw the next pitch something felt wrong. My next 10 pitches were considerably slower and my control had just disappeared – I knew something was wrong. I met with my trainer and we thought I had a little tendinitis, but a few weeks later we came to find I had a torn rotator cuff.

On December 29, 2005 I underwent surgery on my left shoulder to repair the tear and hopefully get back to full health in time for 2006. As the months passed I regained arm strength, improved my conditioning, but the life on my fastball just simply did not return.

This led to extremely tough times for me mentally as my hopes of one day being a big leaguer faded with each passing day. I went on to be a member of the team for two more seasons, finally seeing my first game action as a red-shirt sophomore in 2008 (my first collegiate pitch was a fastball high and away to the second overall pick in the 2009 draft, Dustin Ackley). As I recorded the final out in what proved to be a much longer inning than I had hoped, I expected myself to be embarrassed and angered, but as my abilities changed, so too had my mentality. For as poor as a showing as that inning was, it was definitely one of the high points of my life. Not only had I refused to listen to my peers telling me to just give it up for the past three years, but I also got to pitch against a top five team in the nation!

I ended up “retiring” after that season to turn my complete attention to academics. The NCAA is not lying when it says most athletes do go pro in something other than sports. My experience at the University of Maryland is irreplaceable in my mind, and at one point was something that may have never happened.

As I was going through the recruiting process my parents would continue to remind me to choose a school that not only offered the right baseball program, but also the academic and social atmosphere that I would enjoy if somehow baseball did not work out. I remember questioning them at the time and repeatedly telling them that baseball was my primary focus because it was going to be my job one day, and as long as I found a program with good competition and the opportunity to succeed, that was all that mattered.

Now as I look back I realize how important those words of wisdom truly were. As a young student athlete the college recruiting process can force you into pressured decisions that are going to impact your life in the long run. We all remember our mindset as teenagers and the focus was not always on the future and planning. So families, as you go through this process I urge you to assess each and every opportunity as much more than a baseball decision, but a life decision.



Bryan Hoffman is a Signature College Recruiting and Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout Representative for Baseball Factory. Bryan joined the Baseball Factory in September 2009. He played his collegiate ball at the University of Maryland for three years before focusing on academics. He currently resides in Severna Park, MD.

Lessons From Your Past

Julie Thompson – A Baseball Factory Parent’s Perspective

You’ve heard it so many times—the successful fit between a baseball player and college program involves a complex mix of factors. As families, we do our homework and try to anticipate situations, asking what we hope are the right questions. We keep a positive outlook, because of course, college baseball should be a positive experience. In addition to looking forward though, we need to look at the past. Part of building a positive experience means avoiding negative ones—often, those things we thought we’d gotten by, and frankly, would like not to think about again. But if we ignore those negative situations, we can’t learn from them, and you really don’t want that part of history repeating itself.

Most parents I know are optimists. If we or our sons want a particular situation, we may not ask some of the hard questions, or be objective about things that could result in words we don’t want to hear. We probably don’t even realize we’ve overlooked the hard questions. We think we’ve covered everything objectively. Unless there are glaring tip-offs that a fit isn’t right, we might believe bad things with that desirable baseball program happen to someone else. ‘Our sons are great players, right? They’ve won awards and been on championship teams! Of course that coach will see how talented he is! He’s not going to recruit behind our son...that’s just something he did to that other player.’

Perhaps we don’t know the hard questions to ask. Recruits are presented with positive feedback and an optimistic outlook—after all, coaches and players want to show their school and program in its best light. Usually, recruiting time is fun and flattering and it’s easy to get caught up in all that positive energy. Perception isn’t always reality, though, so when objectively evaluating that school and program you’re sure you’ll love….ask ‘What has gone wrong in the past, and what can go wrong in the future?’

1). ‘Not that guy again…’ If you’ve reached the point to be considered for college baseball, you must have had at least one experience where the fit with a coach wasn’t great. Make sure your son is comfortable with the coach’s style, philosophy and general personality so he can be successful working with him.

2). Ouch, that smarts…What happens when a player gets injured? Would he maintain his scholarship if he couldn’t play baseball again? What are the facilities both on-campus and off-campus for diagnosis and treatment? What are the trainers’ backgrounds? Make sure the school has a good system in place to deal with an injury.

3). Competitive compared to what??? What’s the baseball program really like? Is the program as demanding and challenging as your son expects? Do they put out 100% in practice—or do they ‘show up’ and do what they need to do in practice, and nothing more? Try to watch a team practice to see how it is run and the effort the players put forth. Can your son see himself fitting in?

4). Oh yeah…academics. What are the academic offerings and expectations? (Remember? That’s why he’s really there). Is there any tutoring assistance? What happens when your son has to miss a class (or a few classes) for a game? It’s more important to find a school that is an academic fit than an athletic fit. If things aren’t going well in the classroom, he may never make it onto the playing field.

5). That’s a nice little sport you play there. How important is baseball to the school’s administration? Are the facilities impressive, adequate, or downright substandard? What’s the work-out room like? Is there a separate locker room for the baseball team? Make sure that the program is supported and that the facilities are going to provide your son with the best opportunity to succeed and enjoy his experience.

6). Who is your son, really?? The most important question of all: what is your son’s true personality? What will really matter to him in college, and what will happen if those elements aren’t there? Does your son adapt well to imperfect conditions? What about the climate? Is he a warm-weather boy adapting to snow and cold, rainy springs? If your son got injured his first day of school and wasn’t able to play baseball again, would he still be excited about the college and enjoy his experience? This isn’t something you want to think about, but it’s important to make sure, just in case. If the answer is NO, then this isn’t the right school for him, regardless of how good a fit the baseball program might be. It is important for your son to ask himself in-depth questions that will help with making the right decision.

Take it from one who has been close to a situation that didn’t work out—learn from all the negatives and mistakes you and your son have experienced in the past, and then, let him make the decision. Take a hard, objective look at your son. Know who he is and what he really feels in his core. Your guidance is valuable, but in the end, it’s his journey. Learn from the past and avoid those things that didn’t work. Give your son’s journey its best chance to be filled with positive experiences by taking off the blinders and considering all of the factors that might affect that “optimistic” view.



Julie Thompson is a parent of a former Baseball Factory Exclusive Program player. She has volunteered to share her opinions, observations and general thoughts regarding the college recruiting and player development process. She will share what worked and what didn’t for her son, in the hope that other parents and players may benefit from her experience.

How to Have a Productive Summer

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

Are you having a productive summer? The months of June, July and August provide players with an abundance of time to work on many aspects of their game. Unfortunately, very few players take advantage of this extra free time and let their game suffer in different areas. If you have a game plan and set some goals for yourself, you can give yourself a lot of separation from other players.

So, what can you be doing today that will get you ahead of the pack tomorrow? Before I run down a possible “to do” list, I think it’s important to emphasize, above all else, balance in the summer schedule. Too much focus on one area can cause just as many problems as not putting in any effort at all.

The majority of the summer should be spent on, of course, improving your game. You should always strive to play at the highest level possible, while at the same time ensuring that you’ll get the necessary reps and exposure. On top of that, summer ball is a good time to try different things and get reps at new positions.

A lot of players make the mistake of concentrating too much on tournaments, camps and showcases, and forget about the endless process of conditioning and training. Getting plenty of reps on the field will allow you to stay fresh with your bat and glove, but unless you continue to put in time in the gym, you can easily get out of shape and suffer a setback or injury.

One of the most overlooked areas that recruits can work on is their academics. After all, who wants to think about books in the summer? While you don’t have to work through a summer school course, you can really help yourself by putting some time aside each week in preparation for the SATs or ACTs. Even if you’ve already taken the test once, you can put yourself in a better position by working to improve your scores by 100 points. The summer is also an excellent opportunity to work on upcoming admissions essays. Ideally, you should brainstorm for a creative essay, a “why you want to attend” essay and a “tell us about yourself” essay.

Finally, rising seniors should try to create a mock “college” schedule that they can follow to prepare for the life of a college student-athlete. Many players struggle at the college level not so much by the competition they face, but by the rigors of early classes and training in the morning. Time management can really make the difference between a starter, a bench player or a spectator, and the more practice you have at this, the more success you’ll have at the next level. While you know your schedule best, don’t be afraid to work with your parents and friends currently in college to develop an efficient schedule.

The key to having a productive summer and reaching any goals we set for ourselves is to have a game plan. By making yourself aware of what needs to be accomplished over, you can set reasonable benchmarks and improve your chances of getting the most out of your free time. If anything, game plans will ensure that, among the travel, tournaments and practices, you may be able to have some fun this summer!

Kelly Kulina is the Senior Vice President of College Recruiting at Baseball Factory. Kulina is a former Associate Head Coach and recruiting coordinator with the University of Maryland. As a former recruiting coordinator for ten years in the ACC, Kulina has vast contacts and is widely respected throughout the nation. From 1989 to 2000, Kulina coached 46 players who were selected in the MLB draft.

Be a Closer!

Bernadette Bechta: Blackboard Basics

Spring is an exciting time of year! High school seniors are preparing for graduation, Advanced Placement tests, and their Senior Prom. Underclassmen will take state-required assessment tests that determine graduation eligibility. They hope to get their driver’s license and strive to have a strong junior season. Spring sports’ news and scores fill the morning and afternoon announcements. Spring fever definitely hits many student athletes right about now. Many teachers can be heard discussing the fact that athletes care more about their ERAs than their GPAs. This is also a dangerous time for student-athletes. Keep the basics in mind as you close this school year:

• It is more important to be a ‘finisher’ as well as a ‘starter’. Your end of the year grades are the ones that end up on your transcript. Do what you need to do in the fourth quarter and final exam to secure the grade you need and want. Visit the Guidance Counselor to help you determine the needed grades.

• Advocate for yourself with teachers. If you are struggling in a class, stop in after school on a regular basis to ask your teacher questions. Schedule an appointment on the day before a test to seek extra help. Teachers admire this trait in students and coaches will understand if you tell them ahead of time.

• Manage your time. Sometimes when you are in-season with a sport, you have to prepare ahead of time. If you know you will have a test on Friday, do some preparation on Sunday. Read the textbook and make notes so that you can review before the test. Your weeknights can be stressful with practice and games, so you must use your weekend time wisely.

• Keep track of your grades. If necessary, use a grade sheet to record each assignment and ask the teacher to record your grade at the end of each week. You will soon learn the importance of each assignment and recognize how a quarter grade evolves over a period of time.

• Stay focused on your goals, both academic and athletic. Don’t let anyone or anything distract you. Summer will soon be here and you will have time then to catch up with your social activities.

• Treat your teachers, coaches, parents, staff, classmates, teammates and yourself with respect. You will soon be asking for letters of recommendation and they are an important part of your application. Coaches will soon be selecting team captains for next year. You will be remembered tomorrow for who you are today!

Remember, it’s the score at the end of the game, not the end of an inning that determines the winner of a baseball game. There are many championship teams that get off to a slow start, yet finish strong to earn a postseason berth. A team’s record at the end of a season is what determines whether they qualify for playoffs. So, whether you are closing the school year as a sophomore, junior, or senior, each academic milestone builds into your student record.

Successful students complete their homework every day, they prepare for test day, and strive to perform well on the last exam. The same is true for baseball players. They practice hard, play to win each pitch, make each play without error, hit every ball hard, and try to make a difference on a team in every game. Everyone wants to end the season on a win. Try to be the “Closer” who cares about the ERA, as well as their GPA, SAT, and class rank.

Bernadette Bechta serves as the main academic contact for all players and parents in Baseball Factory's Exclusive Program. With over 20 years of experience as a teacher and advisor at the high school level, Bernadette will provide families with guidance on topics ranging from application essays to financial aid. In addition, Bernadette’s two sons have both gone through the Exclusive Program, so she knows the ins and outs of the process from a parent’s perspective.

Invest in the Tests

Bernadette Bechta: Blackboard Basics

In the spring, students feel the anxiety of testing. Some students are preparing for the Advanced Placement (AP) tests in various subjects while others are preparing to take the SATs/ACTs for the first time as a junior. The SAT Subject tests are also taken in the spring and are required at about 150 colleges around the country. What do all these tests mean for the prospective college applicant?

Let’s start with the AP test. If you are enrolled in an AP class, an International Baccalaureate (IB) program, or if you are taking a rigorous Honors class and study from an AP test book, you should consider taking the spring tests. A score of 4 or 5 at many schools could yield college credit. If you calculate the internal rate of return on this $75.00 investment (cost of the test), you could realize quite a return on this investment. Having a course or two “on the bench” as a reserve could help you as you meet graduation requirements with a busy baseball schedule. An individual course at college ranges from $1000 to $5000. That’s a good call for any high school student. If you are successful in these classes and perform well on the tests, this is a good indicator to a college that you are well trained and capable of college work.

I often receive questions from parents about the SAT vs. the ACT. Let’s compare them. The SAT test lasts approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes and includes an essay. The essay is scored by two or more readers who grade your essay from 2-12 with 12 being the highest score. Practice and preparation can help your score on the SAT test and random guessing will penalize you. The maximum score for the SAT is 2400 with a grade for Math, Critical Reading, and Writing and a separate score for the essay. The recommended strategy is to take the test two or three times. The College Board publishes a book, The Official SAT Study Guide for the New SAT, which has eight practice tests. It is a good study tool.

The ACT is well known in the Midwest and the South. It has sections in Math, Reading, English, Science Reasoning and an Optional Essay. The maximum score is 36 and the essay is scored on the same scale as the SAT from 2-12. The test lasts 3 hours without an essay and 3 hours 45 minutes including the essay. There is no penalty for random guessing. The ACT has traditionally been known as more content-oriented than the SAT. The questions are linked more to the high school curriculum than to critical thinking and problem solving. Check with your Guidance Office for preferences at individual schools.

Finally, if some of the selective colleges on your list require the SAT Subject tests, consider taking them in May/June as you finish a class. The test consists of three one-hour tests. These are content-based tests, designed to measure a student’s mastery of a specific subject. Test prep books and software programs can help with preparation. New research shows that these tests are a better indicator of academic success than the traditional SAT because they are directly related to curriculum.

As you can see, testing is an entire subject in itself. The expression "No Pain, No Gain" applies here as you prepare for all of these tests. Your time and effort could yield you great returns. The Dean of Admissions at Rollins College gave a candid response to the question, “How much do tests count?” He said, “At most institutions, standardized test scores count less than students think and more than colleges are willing to admit.” However, keep in mind that testing is only one part of the evaluation process. Your GPA, extracurricular activities, special talents, and service are also important. For more information, check out College Board or ACT.


Bernadette Bechta serves as the main academic contact for all players and parents in Baseball Factory's Exclusive Program. With over 20 years of experience as a teacher and advisor at the high school level, Bernadette will provide families with guidance on topics ranging from application essays to financial aid. In addition, Bernadette’s two sons have both gone through the Exclusive Program so she knows the ins and outs of the process from a parent’s perspective.

How Green Are You?

Bernadette Bechta: Blackboard Basics

It was nearly 40 years ago (April 22, 1970) when I attended the first Earth Day celebration at Belmont Plateau near Philadelphia hoping to stir an awareness of environmentally-conscious movements that included organic gardening, earth shoes, and solar energy; recycling wasn’t considered at this point. Progress has been continual since then but many young people today have been stirred after watching Al Gore’s documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth.” Colleges are reacting also and “going green” initiatives can be found on many campuses today. In fact, colleges feel these environmental movements can attract students and parents who see this involvement needed and necessary.

High School and College campuses are brimming with young people eager to make a difference. Princeton Review now has a category called “Best Green” colleges and Harvard tops the list. These campuses are going beyond recycling and energy efficiency and are staging Green Move-Ins and Green Move-Outs where recycling clothing, furniture, and food will benefit the communities and e-cycling is big: computers, batteries, CDs, etc.

What does this mean to you, the potential college applicant you might ask? Well, if you are involved on your high school campus in an environmental club, a bicycle co-op, a green initiative to save the trees, showcase it on your Academic Resume. Start a club, work with the local community, do some research, work with your Science Teachers. Colleges want to be enterprising in this area and you can help them. MIT now offers $20,000 grants for energy research. There are competitions for earth friendly resident halls. College Administrators are concerned about your quality of life while on their campuses. If this happens to be one of your passions too, let your favorite college know. It might be a difference-maker.

To learn more, check out these articles:

• Princeton Review: College Guides Open New Chapter With Green Rating
• CSE Live: Princeton Review College Guides Open New Chapter With Green Rating
  
• USA Today: Going Green Registers with Colleges

Bernadette Bechta serves as the main academic contact for all players and parents in Baseball Factory's Exclusive Program. With over 20 years of experience as a teacher and advisor at the high school level, Bernadette will provide families with guidance on topics ranging from application essays to financial aid. In addition, Bernadette’s two sons have both gone through the Exclusive Program so she knows the ins and outs of the process from a parent’s perspective.

The Fun is Just Beginning

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges


Congratulations to all of our Exclusive and ACR players that have signed their National Letters of Intent or have been accepted early to schools! I know I speak for everyone at the Baseball Factory when I thank you for the opportunity to work with you and your families. We wish you nothing but they very best and we look forward to following your collegiate careers.

You should be very proud of what you’ve accomplished. To have the opportunity to play college baseball is one thing, but to make the decision early in your senior year is a great achievement. So, order your college sweatshirt, baseball hat and bumper stickers- you’ve earned it! But do you have any idea what lies ahead? As with most things in life after high school, it’s not going to get any easier from here.

Now that you’ve made your decision, you enter a select group of “labeled” senior baseball players. While you won’t have to deal with the pressure to perform in front of college coaches, you have new expectations to deal with. You come into your season with a big “X” on your back that says “committed,” and everyone from teammates to opposing players to parents will be comparing themselves to you. Whether it’s fair or not, that’s the way it is and going to be! Whispered statements like “That’s the kid that committed to Coastal Carolina” carry a lot of assumptions, and whether you’re ready or not, you will be representing that school when you take the field. It is going to be a lot like this when you enter college as a student-athlete, so you better get used to it now!

One thing to keep in mind is that while you’ve consistently been among the best on your teams or in your district, you will be joining a team filled with the best. On top of that, you’re starting at the bottom of the totem pole and have to prove yourself all over again! The accolades you received over the years won’t mean a whole lot when you step on the field at the college level. Instead, your performance during fall workouts will set the course for your freshman campaign and beyond. At the very least, you need to remember that commitments and scholarships are only year-to-year. A commitment during your high school career will get you on campus. But must prove yourself everyday in the classroom and on the field because someone is waiting to take your spot! Remember, you have not accomplished anything yet at the college level!

Finally, one of the hardest transitions any college student has to make is to learn time management. Trust me, it’s tough to have to choose between hanging out with your friends and concentrating on what has to get done. Unfortunately, how fast you learn to focus on the “needs” rather than the “wants” will have an impact on your success as a student-athlete. Being the best you can be on the field and in the classroom is a big time commitment- there are no shortcuts! So, there’s no better time than now to prepare yourself for your season and your future. This is a great opportunity to “plan to work” and “work your plan” before you have to deal with the increased distractions and peer pressure of a college environment.

It’s so easy to fall behind and near impossible to stay ahead. The next few months will be a critical time for you and can have major implications for your collegiate career. Being on your own, dealing with the ups and downs and playing more games than any other sport in college athletics will be one of the toughest transitions you will ever have to make, and you have to be prepared. Again, don’t forget to enjoy the moment! But get ready to work harder than you ever have. And don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Kelly Kulina is the Senior Vice President of College Recruiting at Baseball Factory. Kulina is a former Associate Head Coach and recruiting coordinator with the University of Maryland. As a former recruiting coordinator for ten years in the ACC, Kulina has vast contacts and is widely respected throughout the nation. From 1989 to 2000, Kulina coached 46 players who were selected in the MLB draft.

There Is No Off-Season

Andy Ferguson: Another Day, Another Double Play

While there are still a few competitive team events around, the vast majority of players are done with their 2008 baseball season. For some, this time of year also signals football playoffs and/or the beginning of basketball. For others, the countdown to the first day of 2009 practice is on.

In any case, this is the beginning of the season of opportunity – not the off season. You have the opportunity to better yourself as an aspiring college baseball player - without the constant games, travel, showcases, travel, tournaments, travel and more games. Keep in mind that as an aspiring college baseball player, you have a lot of things to work on…so you shouldn’t have any trouble staying busy.

Over the course of the next several weeks, we will identify and review areas in which you should focus your “opportunity season” efforts.

ACADEMICS

If you think it’s tough to stay on top of your school work now, spend a couple of weeks as a student-athlete in college. And no, not just because of bus rides and weekday night games during the Spring semester/season. How about 6:00 am workouts, afternoon swimming and/or running, early work before practice, or extra time on the tee/extra flat ground work after practice…all while trying to handle a 15 or 18 hour course load during the Fall semester.

Take the time now to try and improve your academic standing. You don’t have as many demands on your time – you really need to take advantage of that. Get some extra help on a subject you are weak in, and make it important to prepare for the SAT and/or ACT tests.

Remember, ACADEMICS MUST BE CONSIDERED FIRST. You have heard it a million times, but you have to understand that student always comes before athlete. Ever heard of anyone being called an athlete-student?

STRENGTH TRAINING

There are very few, if any, high school age players that have any real amount of physical strength. To be fair, it is hard to actually get stronger over the course of the 500 or so game schedule it seems most play between March and October. However, that isn’t the case from November through the beginning of high school practice.

Skip the bench press (unless you are willing to keep the weight low and the reps high), and spend time instead on improving the strength in your legs and your core. You don’t want bulk in your upper body, so spend time strengthening the smaller muscles in your shoulders (Jobes) and work hard on your forearms. Jobe work can be done with a sand filled tennis ball can and/or elastic band, and forearm work can be done with rope connecting a weight to a small length of PVC pipe – simply roll the weight up, then back down. (For more information on these excercises, please feel free to email me at andy@baseballfactory.com.)

Baseball players must maintain range of motion while improving strength - flexibility is vital. Make sure to stretch often – whether you are lifting or not, you can make gains in your flexibility. I see so many players that are stiff and muscle bound, which makes it so hard to play a sport that requires quick and compact movements. It is so easy to do, it just requires time, effort and commitment – something most are not willing to give. For more on this topic, please read (or re-read) Dana Cavalea's entry on static stretching methods.

Coming next week: SKILL DEVELOPMENT, THROWING

Andy Ferguson is currently the Senior Director of Baseball Operations with the Baseball Factory. Ferguson joined the North Carolina State baseball team as a walk-on, and went on to solidify his role on a team that participated in four consecutive NCAA Regionals. He later coached with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and then served as an Associate Scout with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Diego Padres.

Striking a Balance

Julie Thompson – A Baseball Factory Parent’s Perspective

Introduction

Like most things in life, finding the best college for your son usually means striking a balance. Sometimes a school meets every one of the criteria on the student’s wish list, but most often there are a few trade-offs in the picture. The role the player expects to have on the school’s baseball team may become the deciding factor. At the risk of lightning striking me, though, there’s more to life than baseball – and when baseball gets frustrating, it’s the rest of college life that helps your son keep a healthy perspective.

The college search was a good way for Kyle to define who he really was, and what he truly wanted out of the next four years of his life. First, we created a profile, which was reflected on his baseball resume. Then came the wish list: a four-year school with solid to strong academics, competitive baseball – defined as the highest level at which Kyle could expect to play (and okay, in reality, baseball came at the top of Kyle’s wish list…), a climate where baseball could be played outside as many months as possible, and an urban, or at least busy, college setting.

There weren’t a lot of schools that fit this list – in actuality, there was only one Kyle wanted. He never lost sight of the list, but talked to every coach who called, responded to every email, and visited as many schools as he could. Kyle thought about ideas that were out-of-his-box – and, although he may have been less enthusiastic with some situations, he never closed a door. He surprised all of us one night after a conversation with a coach from a junior college in a cold climate. The coach’s presentation and ability to connect had made Kyle realize there were a lot of different ways to approach the college years.

In the end, Kyle went to his “wish list” school – with one caveat. He chose to be a part of a large, outstanding baseball program where he was “one of the group,” instead of an impact player. That decision has its own set of trade-offs. The talent pool was deep, and the playing time, limited. To someone who lives for baseball, the work-outs were ‘rigorous’ – to those less dedicated, they were ‘grueling.’ It was a lot work and a heavy time commitment for what many players would consider too little a return.

Kyle’s friends that chose to be impact players at lesser known, but still solid programs freely admitted they wouldn’t have had the patience or personality to be a part of Kyle’s situation. Kyle kept a positive attitude however, accepted the trade-offs, and improved substantially as a player. And on those days when baseball got frustrating – and it did – Kyle reveled in the rest of his life. He loved so many things about the school – the climate, the surroundings, the type of student the school attracted – his life there, in general. He thrived academically. Others may have chosen a different balance, but Kyle set his priorities, resolving to accept the trade-offs – and even when baseball dealt Kyle some disappointment, life in general was still pretty darn good.



Julie Thompson is a parent of a former Baseball Factory Exclusive Program player. She has volunteered to share her opinions, observations and general thoughts regarding the college recruiting and player development process. She will share what worked and what didn’t for her son, in the hope that other parents and players may benefit from her experience.

Back to School

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

September is back to school month here in MD. The start of a new academic year is a chance for each student to recommit himself in the classroom. It is also a chance to set some academic goals and strive for strong performance.

As parents, it is a really good time to sit down and develop an academic game-plan with your son. List your child’s classes on a piece of paper and have him write down the grade he thinks he can get if he gives it a 100% effort. At the end of the semester/marking period, pull out the goals and see how he performed. Try to hold him to this high standard of excellence he has set for himself.

Here are a few key points to consider as you are building an academic game-plan and considering NCAA eligibility rules:

1. Core Courses – NCAA Division I requires 16 core courses as of Aug 1, 2008. NCAA Division II requires 14 core courses as of Aug 1, 2008. Division II will require 16 core courses as of Aug 1, 2013.

For Division I you will need 4 years of English, 3 years of math (Algebra I or higher), 2 years of natural science/physical science (one must be a lab science), 1 year of additional English, Math, or Science, 2 years of social studies, 4 years of additional core courses (from any area listed above, or from foreign language, non-doctrinal religion or philosophy)

For Division II you will need 3 years of English, 2 years of math (Algebra I or higher), 2 years of natural science/physical science (one must be a lab science), 2 year of additional English, Math, or Science, 2 years of social studies, 3 years of additional core courses (from any area listed above, or from foreign language, non-doctrinal religion or philosophy)

Please note that electives do not count towards your NCAA GPA eligibility!

2. Test Scores:

Division I has a sliding scale for test score and grade-point average. The higher the SAT/ACT score, the lower the GPA can be.

Division II has a minimum SAT score requirement of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68.

The SAT score used for NCAA purposes includes only the critical reading and math sections. The writing section of the SAT is not used.

The ACT score used for NCAA purposes is a sum of the four sections on the ACT: English, mathematics, reading and science.

All SAT and ACT scores must be reported directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center by the testing agency. Test scores that appear on transcripts will not be used. When registering for the SAT or ACT, use the Eligibility Center code of 9999 to make sure the score is reported to the Eligibility Center.

3. Grade-Point Average:
As stated above, only core courses are used in the calculation of the grade-point average.

Be sure to look at your high school’s list of NCAA-approved core courses on the Eligibility Center's Web site to make certain that courses being taken have been approved as core courses. The Web site is http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net/.

Division I grade-point-average requirements start as low as 2.0 but require SAT scores as high as 1010 (Math/Critical Reading).

The Division II grade-point-average requirement is a minimum of 2.000.

For more info on these topics, visit http://www.ncaa.org/

Good luck to all the students starting a fresh academic year. Remember, college coaches are recruiting Students First and Athletes Second. It is never too late for students to commit themselves in the classroom!

Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 13 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

Baseball Factory Four Point Check List – Part 1, Baseball, Books and the Beach

Steve Sclafani: All Access Pass

When was the last time you went 4 for 4 at the plate?

No doubt it’s always great to step up to the dish four at-bats in a row and get four hits, but today I want to talk about the Baseball Factory system of moving your career forward as a student-athlete with our monthly four point check list.

Each month you should sit down and ask yourself the following questions:

1) What am I doing to improve my academics? Not only GPA, but preparation for the SAT/ACT.

2) What am I doing to improve my baseball skills? Am I attacking my weaknesses? Do I know exactly what I need to work on?

3) What am I doing to make sure I play against top competition so I truly test my skills in a game situation?

4) What am I doing to promote myself to college and pro scouts?

In our view at Baseball Factory you need a balanced attack that starts with your academics. There is a reason our logo prominently features a book along with a baseball.

Let’s talk this week about improving your academics (GPA/SAT’s). I know what a lot of you are thinking….I’m on summer break and I would be more than happy to get started with points two through four above, but point #1 is not on the radar.

Well let me tell you that the summer is a great time to make academic improvements. For one, you have a lot more time on your hands and can truly focus on your weaknesses in a more relaxed environment. Instead of going to school for seven hours, then off to practice for two hours and then home to do homework, in the summer you can be fresh and well rested and dive into a subject with full concentration for one hour a day. This will help you take a giant step forward in your academic career.

Why not pick one subject that you seem to struggle with every year and get a head start for September? How about picking up a book on a completely new subject to broaden your horizons? What about taking an SAT prep class during the summer?

Have a great summer, train hard, have fun, play lots of baseball, but don’t forget to develop yourself academically and work on the subject that causes you trouble during the school year!

Next week I will discuss what you can do for baseball skills development over the summer.

Sclafani’s ability to create new opportunities for baseball players nationwide and to develop exposure vehicles has led to over 20,000 Baseball Factory and Team One players competing at the college level, $500 million in scholarships, and over 2,000 players selected in the MLB draft. Sclafani was recognized as a member of Baltimore’s prestigious 40/40 Club, honoring 40 top executives under 40 years of age. Steve is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he played second base.

Getting It Right the First Time - Part 4

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

If you are just checking out the blog, take a look at Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of this discussion. Let’s jump right back in and cover the last two criteria players should consider when evaluating the baseball program at colleges on your target list.

• Academic Support & Graduation Rates – Baseball players at the collegiate level play more games and spend more time on the road than any other student athlete. Without a doubt, 56 games a year adds up to a lot of time spent on the road and in hotels and not in the library and the computer labs. If you don’t have the grades, you will end up watching from the stands! When looking at schools you are interested in, it is important to evaluate the structure of academic support the Athletic Department provides for the team. Staffing and resources can make a big difference in the academic career of any baseball player.
  
  
• Conditioning and Athletic Training – Back when I was the Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at the University of Maryland, when my players signed their Letter of Intent the first thing our staff sent them was our strength and conditioning program, which they were to begin immediately. Players need to look into the type and amount of training the baseball program requires of its players, as this can be a major jump from your own regiment. You are playing at a much higher level, and you will need to get bigger, stronger and faster. Training and medical facilities are also an important component to consider, as bruises and injuries are a part of our game. Does the school provide you with the means to get yourself back on the field when the injury bug hits? To evaluate this criterion, players should look at the size of the training staff, and whether or not they work across multiple sports.
  

One out of every 250,000 amateur baseball players eventually makes it to the Major Leagues. For the 249,999 other players, the degree they receive in college will assist them in being successful in life after baseball. Some of the best advice I can give prospective athletes is to set baseball aside for a moment; at the end of the day, your overall happiness is most important. This alone shows how important it is to evaluate a college as a total package. Most college athletes will be professionals in something other than sports. Plan and prepare yourself today to be successful tomorrow.

Kulina is a former Associate Head Coach and recruiting coordinator with the University of Maryland. As a former recruiting coordinator for ten years in the ACC, Kulina has vast contacts and is widely respected throughout the nation. From 1989 to 2000, Kulina coached 46 players who were selected in the MLB draft.

Balanced Attack - Part 2

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

Last week I wrote about the importance of a “Balanced Attack” to the college recruiting process for high school players. Parents need to avoid the “showcase and college camp itch” when it comes to every invite received in the mail. Try not to allocate your family’s entire budget to these two categories. As I mentioned last week, showcases and college camps are important, but they need to be a part of an overall strategy that makes sense for your family’s goals and objectives.

At Baseball Factory, our staff constantly stresses to families that they need to look at four different areas of focus EACH year when determining their plan of attack to prepare for college baseball. Leaving out any of these four areas can create an unbalanced approach and leave you behind the curve.

For those parents that are scratching their head and are looking for some guidance, here are the first two areas to focus on when creating a game plan for the college recruiting process:

Academic Performance – This is #1 on the list by a long shot. An honest assessment of the student’s academic achievement needs to be performed. Make sure to get a copy of your son’s official transcript from the guidance office and calculate his core course GPA. Remember only the core courses (ie: Math, Science, English, History, etc) will count towards your son’s eligibility for NCAA programs. Check out NCAA.org for more information on this topic. Those lovely elective classes like baseball and weight lifting will not contribute one bit to his academic eligibility. Have him take sample PSAT, SAT, or ACT tests depending upon his year in school to see how he measures up. If the academics need improvement beyond what the student is capable of doing on his own through hard work, seek academic tutoring or standardized test prep courses. The reality is that the admissions process is wickedly competitive and the better STUDENT-athletes (notice STUDENT and not athlete is capitalized) have an admissions advantage every time.

Skill Development – As Steve Bernhardt wrote in his Building the Better Ballplayer Blog, parents need to seek professional instruction assistance for the areas of their son’s game that need improvement. It is easy to practice the areas of the game where the players are excelling. It is much tougher to work on your weaknesses and try to elevate them to a player’s strengths. Just think: instead of running off to another showcase and “exposing” a weakness for everyone in attendance to see, what if you used those same budget dollars to get professional instruction and improve your game? Doesn’t that make more sense? Well rounded players at the high school level usually make better players in college. Whether it is running speed, overall body strength, throwing mechanics, hitting mechanics, defensive ability, etc. get yourself some professional help and attack your weaknesses.

Next week, I will touch on the final two areas of focus for your balanced attack. If anyone can guess what the last two categories are, feel free to post them as a comment to get some discussion going!

Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 13 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

Getting It Right the First Time – Part 2

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

Last week, I began discussing criteria to consider when evaluating the schools on your college list. The first two areas to consider were Academics and Location. This week we will take a look at three more points of interest when narrowing down your choices:

• Size – As I mentioned last week, bigger schools are not for everyone. Larger schools generally have much larger classes and less chance for face time with the professor. If you come from a small high school, you need to consider how moving to a larger school will change your experience in the classroom.

• College Environment – One of the biggest mistakes people make in the process is falling in love with a school before they’ve had a chance to see the campus in person. Players must spend time on campus and get a feel for the student environment. It is important to project how this environment will factor into the next four years of your life. Just by walking around campus, you can get a feel for what it is like to try to get around, especially during classes. Just like a coach won’t make a final decision based on what he sees in a video, you can’t make a decision based on what you’ve seen online!

• Cost – Every year, there are always players that find themselves at the end of the process without options because they failed to put down on paper what they can afford for college. It does no good to look at schools that realistically you will not be able to afford. Even if you excel in the classroom and on the field, there’s no guarantee that the bottom line is going to be manageable for all the schools on your target list. Be proactive and research different avenues with financial assistance, whether it’s academic grants or outside scholarships. You cannot rely on baseball to pay for your education. There are simply not enough scholarships available at any level to think otherwise!

Next week we will take a look at the criteria to consider when evaluating the baseball program.

Kulina is a former Associate Head Coach and recruiting coordinator with the University of Maryland. As a former recruiting coordinator for ten years in the ACC, Kulina has vast contacts and is widely respected throughout the nation. From 1989 to 2000, Kulina coached 46 players who were selected in the MLB draft.

Getting It Right the First Time – Part 1

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

I’m a firm believer that there is a school out there for every single player just as long as they are committed in the classroom and on the field. If there’s a will, there’s a way! A startling statistic I came across the other day showed that 30,000 student athletes transfer every year. Of all Division I baseball players, 27% have transferred at one point during their career! While this also includes junior college transfers, these numbers show that student-athletes are making decisions to go to a school that, for one reason or another, turns out to be the wrong fit for them. Now that the NCAA has eliminated the “one-time transfer exemption” at the Division I level, players must now sit out a year after they transfer to another school. It is more important than ever for prospective athletes to take the time to make the best decision possible!

One of the biggest misconceptions is that the bigger (and usually more visible) school is the better choice. There are more than 4,200 degree-granting institutions in the United States, and only a fraction of them get the T.V. airtime that the University of Texas, UCLA and a handful of state schools receive. Just because a school has the mystique of an appearance on ESPN’s College Gameday does not automatically make it the better school for you. There is good baseball at all levels: DI, DII, DIII, NAIA and JC. Don’t get hung up on what division of baseball a program plays—your job is to find the best combination of athletics, academics and social atmosphere that is right for you.

It’s never too early to begin the college search process. While the junior year picks up significantly in intensity, there are plenty of things to do during the freshman and sophomore year. Simply reaching out and doing research on schools is a great way to get started! I have found that one of the best tools to help develop a college interest list is the College Board’s College Matchmaker. Not only does it help identify regional schools with your academic interests, but it can also divide schools by division of collegiate sport.

Making this process work for you requires a lot of research and a lot of time spent visiting schools and writing coaches. In Rob Naddelman’s last entry, he offers up some excellent thoughts on what players should ask themselves as they try to manage the college search process. What I’d like to do is give you some additional direction and criteria to evaluate schools that you are considering:

• Academics – Academics have to be the priority. A lot of money is going towards your education and many of you work too hard out there for this not to be a priority in the process! There are enough options academically to provide several possible “fits” for you athletically. All players need to ask themselves how their degree will be valued after college and what doors this education will open up. This one criterion alone can put many smaller schools above the bigger “State U” schools!
• Location – Geography is often overlooked, but can have a big impact on the college experience. Players need to consider the climate they are accustomed to and the climate of the school they are considering. There is a reason you don’t see to many native Floridians playing in Maine!

Check back next week for more key components to consider when determining the right program for your needs.

Kulina is a former Associate Head Coach and recruiting coordinator with the University of Maryland. As a former recruiting coordinator for ten years in the ACC, Kulina has vast contacts and is widely respected throughout the nation. From 1989 to 2000, Kulina coached 46 players who were selected in the MLB draft.