Your New Year's Resolution: Clean Up Your E-mails!

Woody Wingfield: Your Link to the Colleges

We’re coming up on the New Year, which means it’s resolution season. While there’s plenty to be done in the gym to get ready for the spring season, now is a good time to make a New Year’s Resolution to correct some common “e-mail etiquette” mistakes.

In the college recruiting game, these mistakes often distract coaches from what they’re meant to see, or send the wrong message entirely. How you come across in an e-mail, which is called “tone,” can be a crucial factor in whether or not these coaches look at any videos you send them or come to your games. Take a look at some suggestions that the College Recruiting Staff has put together:

• Use an e-mail address with your name in it. Suggestive e-mail addresses such as “partydawg1091” or “sportsfreak11” don’t tell coaches anything useful about you, but they can make an impression before you get to introduce yourself properly.

• This is an e-mail, not Facebook. So, let’s leave out “haha,” “lol,” “omg” and the emoticons- those little smiley faces. Use your words to set the tone of the e-mail.

• Please don’t forget to say “please” and “thank you!” While people tend to gloss over these words when they’re present, it’s certainly noticeable when they’re absent. When you write e-mails, you want to come off as respectful and approachable, and when you forget to include either of these words, you sound demanding.

• Avoid using capital letters at all cost. As far as tone goes, using all caps IS LIKE YOU’RE SHOUTING AT SOMEONE THROUGH E-MAIL.

• Don’t forget punctuation. E-mails devoid of punctuation are typically difficult to comprehend, and are almost like listening to someone mumble.

• The only punctuation you should be using, however, is a period and a question mark, so let’s leave out the exclamation marks. In addition, make sure to avoid using “…” to end statements or “??” to end questions. Both of these add unclear tones to your e-mail.

• Last, but certainly not least, PROOFREAD YOUR E-MAIL. Yes, I was shouting there. While it’s so easy to rely on the little red squiggly line underneath errors, Spellchecker won’t catch everything. Many times, people will use an incorrect word, such as “there” instead of “their,” and since it’s spelled correctly, it’s not picked up. Your best bet is to read through your e-mail backwards, then read it normally. This way, you’ll read each word individually, instead of as a phrase.

Most times, your e-mails will be a college coach's first impression of you. Take some time this winter to practice proper e-mail etiquette, and you're sure to receive a few more responses!

When to Apply: A Crash Course

Woody Wingfield: Your Link to the Colleges

Dan Mooney and I enjoyed working with and learning from Kelly over the past few years, and I certainly enjoyed helping him to produce “Your Link to the Colleges.” So, when we were approached about carrying on his blog, we jumped at the opportunity to continue the tradition of helping young players achieve their dreams of playing college baseball. In honor of Coach Kulina, here are the first of many new installments to the “Your Link to the Colleges” blog.

When to Apply: A Crash Course

One question that the Exclusive Program staff has been receiving this fall is when to apply to schools, and more importantly, which ones? While it’s a good idea to apply to a few schools before January, there should be a rhyme and a reason to which ones you start with, and when to send in the application.

If you’re looking at selective academic schools, then the admissions process is pretty straight-forward. These institutions have tough admissions standards and low acceptance rates, and in order to have a better shot of getting in, you’ll need to apply early decision. Applying early decision is similar to committing to a college coach, in that it is a binding agreement that tells an admissions committee that if you are admitted, you are definitely enrolling. Most early decision deadlines are in November and December.

Typically, coaches from these selective schools base their recruiting on who can get in, but you should get an idea of where you stand with a program’s needs before you apply. Most times, coaches that want you in their program will encourage you to apply early. I would suggest that if you do have a #1 school in mind that likes you as a recruit, you should apply early decision there. Many schools will feature TWO early decision deadlines, so if you are denied or deferred at your #1 school, you still have time to apply elsewhere.

For all other players, this process will be more drawn out. Many times, the recruiting process will not line up with admissions deadlines, so don’t panic just yet. It’s helpful being a recruited student-athlete, and having a coach in your corner can get you through those application deadlines.

So, if you’re going to apply to schools before January, which ones do you start with? Take a look at your college list and ask yourself the following questions:

1. Which schools could I be happy at, even if I’m not playing varsity baseball? Which of those schools is my dream school?
2. Which schools can I definitely get into?
3. Which schools have I heard from the most for baseball?

While not everyone can play at the State-U they grew up watching and loving, it doesn’t hurt to get an application in, as long as you’d be happy there regardless of what happens with recruiting. The next school(s) should be under the “academic safety” category, to ensure that no matter what, you will have a home next year. A great way to take care of a safety school application it to apply to an institution that features rolling admission. For those that are hearing this term for the first time, rolling admission is an open-ended deadline for prospective students to apply to the school. There is no set time to get the application in, and no set date for an admissions decision. Rather, the sooner you get your application in, the sooner you hear back. So, if you apply early, say in September, you will hear back faster than if you applied in December, when the volume of applications is higher.

Finally, look at the schools you’re being recruited to play baseball at- these applications will depend entirely on where you’re at in the process. Many times, college coaches will simply tell you when you need to apply. If you’re hearing good things and you’re not sure, then it’s OK to ask. If you’re having conversations with college coaches that haven’t seen you play yet, then you should apply to a few of these schools to move the process along. Being accepted at a school DOES help you with the recruiting process, and when coaches come out to high school games in the spring, accepted players will be the first that they will scout.

Remember, the recruiting process is very much a marathon, and it takes many, many steps to find the perfect fit. If anything, your first applications should concentrate on the “sure thing” as well as your “reach” schools. Just stay patient and proactive with the process, and you will find that “fit!”

Woody serves as the Director of Exclusive Program Operations, working with players and parents in the Exclusive Program. 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.

When to Attend a College Camp

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

When is it a good time to go to a college camp or showcase? More importantly, which ones do you attend? These are the types of questions the Exclusive Program staff answers everyday, and I wanted to give you the Reader’s Digest version of what we cover with our players.

High school baseball players will often mistake camp invites and questionnaires to mean that they are a recruited athlete at that institution. If you check page 77 and 78 of the NCAA’s Division I manual, you’ll read that the following make you a “recruited athlete”:

• Providing the prospective student-athlete with an official visit
• Having an arranged, in-person, off-campus encounter with the prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete’s parent(s), relatives or legal guardian(s)
• Initiating or arranging a telephone contact with the prospective student-athlete, the prospective student athlete’s relatives or legal guardian(s) on more than one occasion for the purpose of recruitment
• Issuing a National Letter of Intent or the institution’s written offer of athletically related financial aid to the prospective student-athlete. Issuing a written offer of athletically related financial aid to a prospective student-athlete to attend a summer session prior to full-time enrollment does not cause the prospective student-athlete to become recruited

Notice how there’s no mention of attending a camp or talking to someone after a showcase. Don't get me wrong, camps and showcases are a vital part of the recruiting process for both players and coaches. They give college coaches the important opportunity to watch prospective student-athletes on the field, and players the opportunity to showcase their skills beyond video. However, to get the most out of this part of the process, there needs to be a method to the madness.

When considering a camp or showcase, there are several things that you need to ask yourself:

• Is this a school I’m interested in?
• Is the host school or some of the schools in attendance a good fit for me athletically and academically? If you can’t answer this question, you should consider getting a third party evaluation of your skills, which doesn’t include your parents and high school or travel coaches.
• Have I had contact with someone on the baseball staff? Would they know who I am when I arrive? Have they seen me play before or on video?
• What are their recruiting needs for the upcoming year?
  

The questions in the third bullet point have to do with going to a camp/showcase as a “camper” or as a “prospect.” A camper is someone that simply got the invite, signed up and showed up. A prospect is someone that has already been in touch with a college coach, has been seen in person or on video, and just needs to get in front of the rest of the staff. Naturally, the prospects in attendance will draw much more attention from the coaches than the campers.

So, when you received the camp invite, you should have already responded. If you haven’t previously written to the staff, now would be a good time to introduce yourself and explain why you’re interested in the program (and that you’re considering the camp). Further, if the staff hasn’t seen you play before, this is the time to forward any video you have. Only when you have individual contact (not mass-mailed e-mails) with a college coach should you consider the camp or showcase.

As a wrap-up, here are a few assumptions you CANNOT make when considering a camp or showcase:

• I am automatically a prospect.
• If I don’t attend, they won’t be interested in me.
• I am attending this camp to earn a scholarship or roster spot.
• This is the only opportunity for this school to see me play.
• The more I attend, the better off I’ll be.
• Camps and showcases are one in the same.
• Every coach is going to be able to see me and I’ll get a fair share of exposure.
  

For most prospective college baseball players, camps and showcases are a must; however, taking the shotgun approach will cost a great deal of time and money for your parents, with a smaller chance of return on the investment. Do yourself a favor and take the time to lay the groundwork before jumping in the car or on a plane.


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.

Put Your Blinders On!

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

Blinders are used as a popular training tactic in horse racing. Wikipedia defines “Blinders” to mean the following: Blinders, also known as blinkers or winkers, are a piece of horse tack that restrict the horse's vision to the rear and, in some cases, to the side. They usually are made of leather or plastic cups that are placed on either side of the eyes, either attached to a bridle or to an independent hood. Many racehorse trainers believe this keeps the horse focused on what is in front of him, encouraging him to pay attention to the race rather than other distractions, such as crowds. (this bold/italic sentence is most appropriate for the message contained in this week’s blog)

It would be very helpful for some parents that are going through the recruiting process to put their own blinders on! So many families get wrapped up in what other teammates and players in their county are doing for recruiting. Many Baseball Factory parents have complained to me that other players are hearing from coaches, receiving letters, and moving forward in the process so why aren’t things moving more quickly for us? When I hear parents express this type of frustration I usually give the following advice:

1. Most parents overstate the level of interest their sons are receiving from college coaches. Receiving a camp invitation in the mail does not necessarily mean that the college coach is recruiting you. Most of the time parents get excited for their sons and harmlessly stretch the truth about what is really happening. For two great blogs on how to gauge a college coach’s recruiting interest, make sure to check out Kelly Kulina’s entries entitled: What’s In a Letter-Part 1 and Part 2.

2. Each college coach has a different set of recruiting needs. Not all Division I schools are created equal. The same is true for Division II, Division III, NAIA, or Junior College programs. Each school has a different ability level, number of scholarships, and positional needs for their incoming freshman class. Just because another player hears from a Division I school, and you believe your son is a better all around player, it doesn’t mean he is a better fit for that particular school.

3. The college search process is a marathon, not a sprint. You need to show patience in this process and understand that building a recruiting class takes a lot of time for a college program. You need to be respectfully aggressive with your marketing approach, but don’t put unrealistic time frames on the process that only create more stress and frustration.

Remember that every family is on their own path. What is good for one player as far as college is concerned may not be good for another. Stay focused on what is the best course of action for your son, and don’t worry about what is going on around you. “Keeping your blinders on” will help you gain perspective, stay on track for the race, and not be distracted by what is going on around you….remember the Wikipedia definition from above?

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.

What Can a Parent Do?

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

The college recruiting and search process is an emotional roller coaster ride for every family. Up until this point in their careers, very few young men will have faced so many high’s and low’s over a stretch of time. As the school routine sets in, players start to feel increased pressure, real or imagined, to find a place to play in college. It’s over the course of these next few months that the role of parents becomes so important. There are certainly different approaches for mom and dad to take. Some just happen to work better than others.

I mention “high’s” and “low’s” in the recruiting process to illustrate how 17 and 18-year-olds react to different feedback, or lack thereof, they receive from college coaches. Most prospective student-athletes come into this process with goals they’ve set for themselves: what level they think they can play, majors they want to pursue, parts of the country to move to, etc. Not all of the schools that contact your son will fit into these categories. Parents need to be the mature ones and remind him how important it is to respond to everything he receives from every single college coach. Following this golden rule will ensure that when it comes time to commit, your son will have several options to choose from and will benefit from making an informed decision.

Now let’s cover the reactions. It’s so easy for parents to jump into the natural role of protector. After all, who wants to see their son upset? However, these natural reactions can lead to some bad habits that, unless tempered, can cause even more panic for your son or cause him to lose interest in the process.

Again, we’re dealing with 17 and 18-year olds and emotions are already running high. Regardless of how much interest your son is getting, it’s important for you to keep him grounded. Don’t let him pull the trigger on the first school that shows interest in him. Remind him of the goals that he set for himself, and help him to figure out where this school fits. More importantly, don’t let your son beat himself up over the low’s, when there aren’t schools banging down the front door. It’s never as bad as he thinks, and you need to be the voice of reason that reminds him of that.

Showing the appropriate type of support can also make a difference. Obviously, your son needs to know that you’re behind him during the process. This also means that he needs to know that you think he’s doing the right thing. If he’s not hearing back from a particular school, don’t let him (or yourself) assume that the coach isn’t interested (and is therefore an idiot). What does that teach him about perseverance? More importantly, you may be pushing your son towards a feeling of helplessness and fatalism that he may not recover from. Instead, show your son how to take a wide variety of avenues in approaching college coaches. Gently remind him that if he sticks to his gameplan, things will happen for him.

Finally, the most involved role a parent can take is in the management department. Notice how I say “management,” and not “labor.” It’s very easy for parents to take the reigns themselves, especially when they see that things aren’t going well. Even before this point, many find it difficult to avoid writing e-mails for their son or disguised as their son. Trust me when I tell you that this is a big mistake. College coaches want to hear from your son. Not from you. Not from his high school coach. From him. At the end of the day, he can be the most potent force in this process if he chooses to be, and parents make poor substitutes. After all, he’s going to be the one to have to walk into his coach’s office when a problem arises, so the sooner he gets use of taking responsibility, the better.

So, from a management perspective, here’s where all of those years of “chore charts,” managing multiple activities on your family’s calendar, and even doing your taxes can come in handy. Sit down with your son and help him create a system to organize and track all of the schools he’s heard from, as well as all of the coaches he’s contacted. For example, our staff recommends a simple spreadsheet that can go on the fridge. Be persistent, but not overbearing, in reminding him of when he needs to respond to coaches and when he should follow up with them. Organization and preparation will be a difference-maker for your son, and will save you many hours spent writing e-mails on his Gmail account.

Active parents alone cannot get a player recruited to play college baseball. They can, however, provide motivation and perspective for their son and help into the driver’s seat. Empower him to set a goal and attain it. With a little faith, it will all work out, and it’s guaranteed to pay dividends for many years.

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.

What College Coaches Look For Pt. 2

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

Last week, I started a list of "what coaches look for." This week's entry is the final set of factors that coaches look into when they recruit players.

Technical:

The technical side of what coaches look for is the ability of a player to translate fundamentals to performance at the next level. As they move up the ladder of competition, some players have trouble making adjustments and keeping up with the speed of the game. They may have the ability to play at a certain level, but the pace of the game can make it hard for them to adjust in the field or at the plate. When recruits would visit Maryland and watch us play, they would often size up their competition on the field. I always got a kick out of a player referring to a play they felt they could have performed better. That's the right attitude to have, but the reality is, they have no idea how much faster the game is at the college level!

Coaches know that there are some players that showcase well, and some that play beyond their tools during games. Obviously, coaches want players that look good and play well, but it’s not necessarily joint prerequisites. Those raw athletic prospects that need a lot of refinement will get looks because of their projectability. However, they still have to prove themselves on the field during a game to coaches in order to have a shot at playing at the next level. Prospects that may not have the arm strength of the foot speed to play at a certain level may get an extra look because they do other things to compensate for that lack of athleticism (see David Eckstein).

Tactical:

The “tactical” factor that coaches look for is a player’s mental approach to a game. Understanding your athletic tools and position as it pertains to game situations can have a major effect on how you execute a play. Having the ability to slow the game down is important when you play at a higher level. Are you at the right place at the right time? How adept are you at reading bat angles and the ball off the bat? Instincts are tough to teach, and knowing "what to do and when" is a special talent that coaches look for in players.

You’re never too good or too old to stop learning! Be a student of the game and take every opportunity you can to learn the fine points of the game. It’s the difference between “talented” players and truly “great” players.

Variables:

Finally, other “variables” can push you ahead of other prospects. These characteristics should be considered last, but certainly not least! Whether you wear khakis, a collared shirt, or remember to take you hat off in front of coaches does make a difference, even the smallest of ones. However, it’s the smallest of differences that will differentiate you from other prospective student-athletes. After all, if a coach has to choose between players of the same academic standing and athletic stature, what else does he have to choose between?

Remember, coaches are looking for much more than how hard you throw the baseball or how fast you run. Keep these factors in mind when you take the field, visit a coach or sit down to do your homework, because they all add up!


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.

What College Coaches Look For Pt. 1

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

Every day, we get closer to the high school and summer baseball seasons. There's plenty to be done before then, but I thought now was a good time to go over some of the characteristics that all college coaches look for in prospective players.

Academics:

One of the more consistent themes my blog entries have had is that academics can be more of a difference maker than players initially think. When I was recruiting for the University of Maryland, one of the first separators for my recruiting classes was whether or not they had the grades to get into the school. I attended many camps and showcases and immediately eliminated many players before they even picked up a baseball--nearly half my recruiting pool! With the addition of the Academic Progress Report (APR), coaches are more accountable for their team’s grades, retention and graduation rates. The NCAA has reported an improvement in team academics after enacting this policy, but one of the hidden consequences of the APR is that 1) coaches will no longer take a chance on a player with academic liabilities and 2) players with an excellent academic record will be more valuable to a team.

Physical

As I discussed in my last entry, different positions require different physical characteristics. On top of that, many college coaches' philosophies will differ, affecting the makeup of their team and, in turn, their recruiting needs. Some guys like size or speed, others go for hitting and some will just focus on pitching and defense. Your body type, weight, height and overall athleticism are all important to coaches and will be one of the first things that a coach will look at. On the technical side, your hitting ability, raw power, foot speed, arm strength and overall fielding ability make up who you are as a player. One or more of these are going to be a strength for you as a player--these are what coaches are recruiting. Your ability to showcase these skills, especially at the right position, will play a lot into your success in the recruiting process.

Psychological/Intangibles:

The first entry I wrote for the Baseball Factory Blog was about the mental tools that college coaches look for. How a player handles himself on and off the field is very important. Coaches don't want players who will create problems, regardless of ability! On the field, your attitude in dealing with failure and success mean a lot to coaches--they’re going to be with you when you face both, and they want to make sure that how you handle them will be in the best interest of the team. In addition, leadership skills, chemistry with other members of the team and overall comfort with the rest of the student body will play a part in the recruiting process. Finally, your “coachability” is an important aspect of the recruiting/evaluation process. When I ranked players on my recruiting depth chart, I took into account how easily the player could make adjustments, whether or not he believed that I could help him become better and whether or not he was willing to put the time in to improve.

Check back next week when I cover the second group of what college coaches look for!


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.

Prospects: College vs. Pro

Andy Ferguson: Another Day, Another Double Play

In my last entry, I wrote about the range of ability. This time, I would like to build on that and illustrate how different portions of each player’s range are of interest to college coaches and professional scouts.

Scouts, college coaches and otherwise educated baseball people realize that over time a player will establish a range within which he will perform. They like to see a player at the top of his individual range (or at his potential), but most of the time he will be somewhere in the middle (or at the usable portion of his ability range).

For the most part, college coaches are more interested in usable ability while professional scouts are more interested in potential. I’ll explain that a little further, but a simple example may help to start with.

Pitcher XYZ threw his fastball between 82 and 87. Most of them clocked at 83-84, making that (on that day at least) his usable fastball. He hit 87 a few times, making that (at least for the purposes of this example) his potential fastball.

The report turned in by the college focused on Pitcher XYZ’s usable fastball. It would say if he had control, command, movement, and if those things helped him get outs at present. Though the college coach would like to believe that Pitcher XYZ will develop further, he has to recruit pitchers (and players) that can help his program win games as soon as possible. Why recruit a pitcher that is a few years away from impact than a guy he could plug in right away?

Meanwhile, the professional scout is looking at the top end of his fastball range (87 in this case) and trying to determine if that is his potential or if he has more. He will look at Pitcher XYZ’s body, both in terms of his present frame and potential for physical development and added strength. He will evaluate his arm action, both in terms of the specifics of his actual arm stroke and the speed or power with which he works it through release. He will evaluate his delivery, both to identify potential flaws and potential areas for improvement that may eventually enhance Pitcher XYZ’s fastball in terms of velocity and/or command.

The report turned in by the professional scout focused on Pitcher XYZ’s potential. If he didn’t think he had any potential, he wouldn’t even write a report – since he wouldn’t be a pro prospect in that case. If he had potential, the scout would assign a grade to the pitch to express what he thought it would be when the pitcher reached his potential.

I should point out that there are many college programs with excellent track records of developing players. There are many fine junior varsity situations that players can find if they do their research.

It should also be pointed out that no player can reach his potential without time and effort spent on development – this is the primary concept that minor league baseball is built on. As such, scouts find players with tools to play in the big leagues, assuming they will go through the development process in the minor leagues.

At the same time, college coaches find players with tools to play at their program, assuming whatever level of development they know a player will be exposed to in their program – among other things, this is one of the main reasons why one college will recruit a player while another one chooses to pass.


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.

Why Change Positions?

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

At some point during their careers, players are asked by coaches to play a different position, or positions that they’ve never played before. Players and parents sometimes take offense to this, but it may be in their best interest in the long run. There are many reasons why your position may change at the next level, whether you’re looking up at the high school level, varsity or college. College coaches like to recruit players and athletes that are versatile, and players need to be prepared for adjustments like this. This could be the difference between making a high school or travel team, and ultimately affecting their marketability as a college player.

A lot of people make the mistake of discounting certain programs because they look at the roster and see that their position is stacked by several players. What prospective players need to understand is that in the college search process, the position they play and the position they’re most marketable at are two different things. We’ve had several players in our Exclusive Program that find themselves with better options at the college level when they agree to begin working at another position.

Most coaches will recruit up the middle, because they value that athleticism. They build their teams around those positions because they know if a player can’t cut it there, they can move him to a less demanding position, like the corners (if his bat plays there). This is true at any level of baseball--as you move up the ladder of competition, more is required to stay in the middle of the field. For example, during my playing days, I was a shortstop at the high school level, but then made the move to third base and eventually the outfield in college. So, if you’re a corner infielder or outfielder in high school, your competition is not only against other players at your position, but against players at those premium positions, as well!

When I was coaching at the University of Maryland, I recruited a player that I had never seen before. He was a rare right-handed batter, left-handed throwing first baseman from Pennsylvania. What caught my attention was not his bat, however; watching him during infield practice, I really liked this kid’s size, arm strength and how the ball came out of his hand. When I approached him after the game, I was surprised to hear how little pitching experience he had. I recruited and signed this young man as a pitcher without seeing him throw one pitch! Eventually, he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves out of the University of Maryland as a pitcher. This is a perfect example of a mismatch between your position and your tools.

One of my favorite stories from my coaching days has to be the story of Steve Schmoll. Coming to a fall tryout for the baseball team as a catcher, he was the last player released in the fall because we didn’t have room for him on the roster. I really liked this kid, not as a catcher, but as a pitcher because of his size, arm action and potential on the mound. Instead of giving up on baseball, he took our suggestion to put work in as a pitcher and come back next year. Not only did he make the club as a pitcher, he started several ACC games when I was at Maryland, and eventually took over the role of closer during his senior year. Throwing from a variety of arm slots and armed with a low 90s fastball, he was a prime candidate for professional baseball and eventually made his debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers!

The bottom line is that you haven’t failed if you’re no longer playing your “original” position. You only fail if you’re not willing to make an adjustment. Being flexible and open-minded, along with showing a desire to play wherever you can help the team, are very underrated, but recruitable tools. In fact, they may make the difference between playing at one level and not playing at all. After all, you can only prove yourself if you’re on the field. So the next time a coach wants you to try another position, take it as a compliment and an opportunity to get ahead!


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.

Agent vs. Advisor

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

During the summer, I wrote an entry about the NCAA Clearinghouse. Since that post focused on the academic side of the Clearinghouse, I’d like to take this entry to discuss amateurism and your NCAA eligibility. Unlike the other major sports, basketball and football, amateur baseball players can choose between attending college or playing professionally out of high school. This makes for some very competitive tension between college recruiters and professional baseball personnel, with the prospect stuck in the middle. If you’re fortunate enough to have this type of ability in high school or college, you have to do your research to get the most out of it. By walking blindly through the process, you run the risk of making a decision you’re not prepared for or may later regret.

College coaches know that there are some players that are "too good" and, dollar for dollar, they can’t compete with professional baseball for those players. That being said, if a player is involved in the draft process, he has to be very diligent in separating the college search process from his professional prospects. Regardless of talent, nothing will deter a college coach more than listening to one of his top recruits talk about which scouting directors he has heard from. In fact, I was once told by a college coach that he wasn’t going to pursue a prospect anymore because every time that he spoke with the player, all he talked about was "pro this and pro that." College coaches don’t want to hear all this- it makes them think that you’ll sign if you get drafted. Yes, they want players who can play at the professional level, but they want the player to play for them first!

The draft can have consequences not only on a player’s recruitment, but can also affect his eligibility. Grey areas like "Agent vs. Advisor," gifts and missed class can permanently affect a player’s eligibility, so they have to have a full understanding of the decisions they make. About 15 months ago, the NCAA released a memorandum to collegiate baseball players to explain how their decisions regarding the draft can affect their eligibility. From the memorandum, here are five ways collegiate players can lose their eligibility:

1. You agree orally or in writing to be represented by an agent or any individual acting on behalf of the agent [e.g., runner].
2. You accept any benefits from an agent, a prospective agent or any individual acting on behalf of the agent [e.g., runner].
3. If an advisor markets your athletic ability or reputation to a professional team on your behalf.
4. If you participate in a tryout with an MLB team that lasts longer than 48 hours, which you have not personally financed.
5. If you tryout with a professional team during the academic year and miss class.
   

Meetings with agents can also haunt a high school player, too. If you’ve been watching the Andy Oliver case, you’ll see that this is a prime example of "Agent vs. Advisor." More so, it shows that unless a player has a degree in contract law and NCAA bylaws, they should probably have an adult (parent and/or coach) with them for any meeting with an agent.

More importantly, players should know that being drafted DOES NOT mean they can’t play college baseball. Eligibility only becomes an issue when players do more than "test the waters." Division II even allows players to spend a year in professional baseball and, should they decide that it’s not for them, return to their original college team. As for Division III, since players don’t fall under the Clearinghouse, these eligibility issues don’t apply.

Professional baseball is a fantastic opportunity for any player anyone who’s played the game. What needs to be understood are the consequences of decisions that a 17-year-old can make regarding his future collegiate or professional career. If you’re being pursued from the professional side of baseball, you need to do your homework now and get informed. It’s the only way to avoid making a decision that you may later regret.

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.

Top 10 "Don'ts" of Letter Writing Pt. 3

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

This week's entry features the final part of my series "Top 10 Don'ts of Letter Writing." If you've missed the previous entries, I'd recommend reading Part Two and Part One for further reading.

7. Don’t ask for a scholarship or financial aid information.

Whether meeting with coaches or applying for a job, “compensation” is usually taboo. Trust me, at some point in the recruiting process, scholarship and financial aid will be discussed. All the same, there is no tactful way of bringing up athletic aid in writing to a coach. To him, players that bring up this subject can sometimes appear to be “just about the money.” Instead, put yourself in a better position by doing your homework in the meantime on FAFSA, university grants and 3rd party scholarship funds.

8. Don’t forget to change the coach’s name and address when sending out multiple letters.

Nothing will end your recruitment faster than writing to the wrong coach. I wouldn’t even read the letter or email if it wasn’t addressed properly. Coaches know that you’re looking at other schools, but also don’t want to be offended by being just another coach or school! Remember, they all have egos just like you do! You simply must take the time to look over each letter you send. Even better, rather than copy and paste a dozen copies of the same letter, spend some time personalizing every introductory letter that you send to coaches. Not only will you help yourself avoid that embarrassing stumble, but showing a coach that you did your homework on his program may elicit a more positive response. Coaches want players who want to come to their school and don’t want to be part of an e-mailing campaign!

9. Don’t forget to sign the letter.

This only applies if you are sending a hard copy of a letter, but think how you would feel if a coach sent you a letter and didn’t take the time to sign it- probably not too special. It doesn’t take a lot of time or energy and it shows a coach you’re that much more interested.

10. Don’t forget to proofread the ENTIRE letter.

Even with the safety nets of Spellcheck, you still need to proofread your letter. I’d recommend reading through everything you send top to bottom, and then backwards. It also helps to have someone else read it, too. Many times, players will simply check for misspellings, rather than ERRORS. It’s very easy to miss when the WRONG word has been spelled correctly. I remember one player sent a letter to a coach on his college list talking about his hitting ability. While talking about your skills isn’t recommended in the first place, what’s worse is that he accidently added an “S” to “hitting.” In this case, the coach saw the humor in it and cut the player a break, but such a silly mistake could just as easily cost that player his recruitment!

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.

Top 10 "Don'ts" of Letter Writing Pt. 2

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

Last week, I started a list of the Top 10 “Don’ts” of writing to college coaches. I’d like to continue this list with #’s 4 through 6:

4. Don’t discuss specific baseball skills or attributes.

Each and every player has a different skill set, using their strengths to help their team in different ways. The key to having those skills translate to the recruiting process is to let them do the talking on the field. Too many times players will try to market themselves to coaches by promoting their attributes in print, such as having superior plate discipline (“I didn’t strike out this year”). Unfortunately, it’s very easy for a coach to say that he expects anyone he recruits to have those skills, and then move on. You’re much better off letting a coach decide what your strengths are. Let your bat, glove and arm convince the coach you’re the real deal, not your e-mails.

5. Don’t include newspaper clippings or attachments.

Most players don’t hurt themselves by what they don’t include. It’s the extra “fluff” they send to a coach that usually gives a bad impression. It’s important to remember that there are only a few things that a coach will look for in a recruit initially, and none of them will be found in a newspaper clip. During my coaching career, there were always a few recruits that sent packages of newspaper clippings and sometimes scrap books to get my attention! For me, something this extravagant meant that the recruit might be trying to hide something. In a lot of cases, I never got to the important information, such as grades, SATs or schedules because I didn’t have the time or patience to read through all the information. Scrap books and photo albums are great stuff to have and share with your family and kids, but college coaches don’t have the time to look through all this information, nor enough office space to file all this stuff!
6. Don’t compare yourself to other players.

Just as in #4, you need showcase your skills on the field, rather than tell a coach that you have an Albert Pujols-esque swing or a breaking ball similar to Mike Mussina’s. Who gave the player this assessment- his dad, his HS coach or a college recruiter?

Even worse, I remember one recruit telling a local newspaper that he was, in essence, going to completely change the pitching staff of a school he was committed to playing for. To his unpleasant surprise, that article was forwarded to the coaches and the players of his future school. You can never be too sure of who’s listening, so don’t put any more pressure on yourself than you’re already going to have. Let your performance on the field speak for itself!

I’ll be rounding out the list next week with the final installment of my Top 10 “Don’ts” of writing to college coaches. Check back soon!

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.

Top 10 "Don'ts" of Letter Writing Pt. 1

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

I’ve spent the last few weeks talking about taking care of business over the winter months leading up to your spring season. As e-mail will probably be your first step in communicating with college coaches, I want to cover several common mistakes that are made in letter writing:

1. Don’t include any baseball statistics.

While statistics are important to players and parents and play a significant role in professional baseball, college coaches have very little use for them in the recruiting process. High school leagues and competition can vary from region to region, so trying to establish your skills based on statistical performance will be meaningless, unless the coach is familiar with the area. On top of that, most scorekeepers at the high school level have little to no training, so a hit one day could very well be an error the next! On my recruiting trips, I never knew what a player’s batting average, earned run average or win-loss record was prior to seeing them play. The player’s overall athletic ability, tools and how he played the game were what mattered most. All in all, supplying statistics simply doesn’t carry much weight with college coaches- you’ll make a better impression on video or on the field.

2. Don’t make your letter more than one page in length.

Given hectic travel, practice and office schedules, college coaches don’t have time to read a thesis paper! Even with e-mail as the primary medium, prospective student-athletes have to keep “quality over quantity” in mind when it comes to reaching out to coaches. Anything more than a page in length on a Microsoft Word document runs the risk of losing the readers’ interest, effectively ending your recruitment. Make sure that your letters to coaches have a purpose, such as introducing yourself or requesting a visit, and that you stick to that theme. Remember, the key to writing is not just catching the readers’ attention, but keeping it, too!

3. Don’t add photographs, symbols or other graphic art.

Just as the last tip pointed out, it’s hard enough to hold a college coach’s attention. So, why add something that may distract him? With technology today, it’s easy to be very creative in marketing yourself to a coach, but you are not being evaluated on your creativity! During my time at the University of Maryland, I saw everything from prom pictures to baseball stationary, and none of that made me like the player more. In fact, it usually did more harm than good. You’ll make your best impression by keeping to simple and professional.

Check in next week for the next installment!

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.

What is the Quiet Period?

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

During one of the busiest times of the year for most families, the Exclusive Program and Baseball Factory Staff regularly receive questions about why recruiting seems to hit a snag during this time span. For coaches, the holidays and semester break present a chance to catch their breath and spend time with families. In addition, having just completed the fall season and the early signing period, it’s time for coaches to re-group and size up their remaining needs. Since we’re about a month removed from the November signing period, I think now would be a great time to go over what the Dead and Quiet periods mean, and what you can do to help yourself in the recruiting process.

The Dead Period is when coaches are prohibited from making “face-to-face” contact with players or evaluate them on or off campus. It is commonly thought that the Dead Period was proposed out of respect for the players and parents. During the signing period, the dead period allows players and parents to sort through offers and opportunities without too much pressure. Besides falling on the two signing periods in November and April, you’ll notice that there are Dead Periods around different school openings in the fall and after winter break. After all, with school getting back in session, it is important to get re-focused on school without too many distractions. The remaining academic year will include two more Dead Periods, taking place January 2nd to January 6th and again April 6th through the 9th.

By definition, the Quiet Period is when a coach is prohibited from making contact in-person with players away from campus. So, a college coach cannot meet with you and your family at your home. In addition, he can’t visit you at school and watch you play or practice. However, coaches CAN work a college camp or showcase off-campus during the Quiet Period. They’re also allowed to call you or write you during this time. For in-person contacts, you and your parents can visit coaches on campus. This year, the Quiet Period runs from November 14th to February 28th

For most of my coaching career, there was no Quiet Period! Up until recently, there was very little downtime and college coaches, with the exception of the Dead Period, recruited off-campus year-round. So, as a coach, there was always significant pressure to be on the road recruiting! I believe this rule was put in place to get college coaches off the road for a little bit without completely shutting down the recruiting process.

So, what does this mean for the unsigned baseball player? If you haven’t read “Time to Re-Evaluate, Revise and Regroup!” yet, please take a few minutes to read this, print it out and stick it on your refrigerator. The Quiet Period underscores the fact that these winter months are your opportunity to make serious gains in the recruiting process! You can’t expect to succeed in this process without spending a significant amount of time on “behind-the-scenes” work. E-mailing college coaches with your Baseball Factory Player Page, following up on your letters to coaches and making unofficial visits to campus will provide you with serious momentum going into your spring season.

Not only are these methods proven to give you an edge, they very well could be considered the minimum. After all, most college coaches will not come to see you play during your junior or senior season without preexisting interest. The Quiet Period is a chance for you to make a good impression on a coach in person and over the phone, and to give him a preview of what to expect in the spring. Without taking these steps to recruit college coaches, you can’t expect to be recruited in return.

As always, our staff welcomes your questions and looks forward to assisting you in your endeavors!

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.

Meeting With Coaches

Julie Thompson – A Baseball Factory Parent’s Perspective

Meeting and talking with coaches has always been my favorite part of the college search process – their backgrounds, their methods of motivating and developing their players, the details of the programs, themselves – so many interesting things to find out. The tough part has been trying to stay in the background. Having a Type A personality, I’m prone to communicating; as a writer, I tend to interview…and as a mom knowing the effect this person may have on my son…let’s just say I have to work hard at stepping back and letting Kyle take charge.

So, Rule #1 – When you’re looking at schools, let your son do most of the talking! Conversations dominated by parent and coach may reveal you’re a great fit with the program, but probably will leave your son and the coach second-guessing their own relationship.

Rule #2 – When your son is in a program – let him still do the talking! He certainly needs you for guidance, but the reality is that your son is the one who knows both the written and unwritten rules of the program, as well as the personalities involved. The right conversations foster mutual respect and connection between your son and his coach. And the flipside can’t be ruled out…as a friend of mine was cautioned by her son, “I don’t care what the coach tells you or how nice he is to you…believe me, anything you say will be taken out on me.” Better they live with the consequences of their actions, not yours.

Rule #3 – Make sure you know the role of the person with whom you are meeting, as well as the person with whom you should be meeting. Seems simple…but some schools have developmental or JV programs. You and your son should meet with the appropriate coach. If your son will be on the JV team, make sure you meet with the JV coach. Don’t limit your conversation to the Varsity Coach, no matter how much influence you may believe he will have on developing your son (and moving him off JV). Find out the relationship of the JV program with the Varsity program, and if possible, the relationship between the JV and Varsity coaches. Are players freely exchanged between the JV and Varsity programs, or is your son likely to stay on JV for four years? The JV coach may be looking for a different type of player than the Varsity coach, or may have recruited his own players, to whom he might have a greater commitment.

While the primary conversation/relationship should be between the player and his coach, we as parents have both a right and a responsibility in this process. We need to get to know something about the person who potentially will have a significant impact on our son’s life, as well as the expectations of the program he may be entering. A little homework – a coach’s experience should be available on the school’s athletic website – and some general instinct on personal connection should help you start the process. The details will follow. Usually, the coach realizes it’s in everyone’s best interest to be knowledgeable, so much of the information you want and need probably will flow into conversations. Some topics you may want to make sure are covered include:


Baseball
1). What are the program’s current and future needs for the position my son plays?
2). How many players are you recruiting for that position?
3). What is the likelihood of playing time, next season? (With the understanding there are no guarantees on that one)
4). What do you think are my son’s strengths, at this time? What should he be working on?
5). Will your game schedule be the same as it has been in the past?
6). Where do you go for spring training (if applicable)? What schools do you expect to play while you’re there? How is the trip funded?
7). What is your practice schedule for fall ball and the spring? What is your work-out schedule and expectations for off-season?
8). Do you place your players in summer leagues? If not, will you help my son get placed for summer ball?
9). Have any of your players gone on to play at the next level? What can you do to help my son move to the next level?
10). Do you expect to remain at the school for the next few years? (So, maybe you phrase that one a bit more delicately!)
11). Do you communicate with your players regarding how they’re doing and how they can improve?
12). What’s the process for cutting players? How much notice and what kind of communication do they get?

Academics
1). What are the academic eligibility requirements for the team?
2). What is the team’s average GPA?
3). Is there academic support for the players, and if so, what is it? (Mandatory study halls? Tutors?)
4). How do players ensure their academic schedules won’t conflict with games or practice?
5). How many classes do players tend to miss because of games or practices?
6). How sensitive is the administration to players balancing academics with baseball?
7). Do you personally monitor the players’ academic performance?

General
1). What is the overall relationship of the players with each other?
2). Do the players tend to hang around together outside of baseball?
3). Do the players live together?

I’ll close with Rule #4 – Be realistic – to the best of your ability – and know your priorities. We all have hopes and dreams…and should. But we also know life isn’t perfect. Know the trade-offs of the decisions you make. Does your son want a highly competitive/prestigious program if playing time is limited and the risk of being cut is greater? Would he trade off the other amenities of a school or location to be an impact player at a school where overall, he may not be as happy? Only he knows the answer – and even he may not know the answer until he faces the situation.

I guess that brings me to Rule #5 – if any of that happens, let your son do the talking.


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.

Time to Re-Evaluate, Revise and Regroup!

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

So, you’re not signing your National Letter of Intent this week. Sit down. Take a deep breath and relax. It’s ok; most players don’t make their decision in the early period. Now, making the most of the time you have is the KEY!

Players that sign early are the ones that have been proactive in the recruiting process and on the coaches’ radar for months (and years!). Yes, it’s a payoff for hard work, determination and baseball skill, but I think it’s a poor measure of “success” for most prospective student-athletes. The reality is that for someone to sign early, several things have to fall into place. Players that sign early have had many conversations with coaches, have been seen in person and have spent the night on several campuses. You can’t expect to sign early without having these things happen, and to try to rush through them would be a mistake!

The bottom line is that you can’t beat yourself up over not signing early, or even worse, shut down the process. Let’s look at the positives:

• You have more time to research and look at schools. Chances are you never had a chance to visit the campus of many of the schools on your list and meet with a coach while there. Now you’ve got time to do that!
• Additional time to get your grades and College Board scores up.
• You have more time to get bigger, stronger and faster. This is a great time to take your game to a higher level. If you take advantage of the off season, you will be prepared and ready to open some eyes this spring!
• You don’t have to rush applications, which will be non-binding. Signing or committing early could mean that you’d have to apply with a binding application.
• Schools may have new recruiting needs, and not all coaches make their decisions early!
• You’ll have a much better idea of what your financial aid package looks like before you make your decision. In addition, more time to research grants, scholarships and loans available.

So, where to go from here? After the dust settles, it will be time to evaluate where you’re at with schools on your list.

• What have you heard from coaches? Have you received personal phone calls, or just camp information? Check out my series of blog entries, “What’s in a Letter” for more information on interpreting what you’re hearing.
• Which schools have you visited? Campus tours and information sessions are great, but how many coaches have you met with on campus? This is a great chance to show your interest, but you have to make it happen! Be proactive with coaches over e-mail and phones, and usually they can accommodate you.
• Have a plan in place and execute it! You can’t rely on coaches coming out to come see you play- be active in the process! The winter is a great time to market yourself to coaches using your Personal Player Page to separate yourself from other players. Remember, with video, there is no dead period!

Now is not the time to panic or resort to knee-jerk reactions. You’re not going on vacation, college will be your home for the next four or five years! Take inventory of what you’ve done up until this point- what you’ve seen and heard and where you’re at with schools on your list. What do you need to do to put yourself in a better position? You have plenty of time to find a place to play baseball and study if you’re willing to take the appropriate steps NOW. Remember, more mistakes are made in Early Period by college coaches and players! Take advantage of the time you have today to reap the benefits of tomorrow!

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.

Recruiting Trends in College Sports Pt. 2

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

Last week I began my blog with an article from ESPN as a prompt to talk about the two signing periods. I’d like to take this entry to touch on the issues and consequences of getting younger and younger commitments. While I haven’t heard of any 14-year-olds committing to play college baseball, I have seen and heard of many high school juniors committing. In order to keep up with their colleagues and facing increased pressure to succeed on the field, many coaches are having their hands forced and are trying to get commitments earlier and earlier. After all, if they don’t do it, someone else will!

Many players that commit early have never visited the school, let alone stayed overnight on campus! To commit during the junior year, for most players, is to make a dangerous assumption that, in the end, this school is the best choice, fit and opportunity out there. What happens if a player commits early, and then a better opportunity comes along? What happens if the player gets injured or has a bad year on the field or in the classroom?

Coaches, too, face a lot of unnecessary risk by getting commitments from younger players. What happens if their grades take a dive? Players with incomplete transcripts haven’t shown that they can handle a college workload, let along guarantee that they’ll be able to get into the school! What happens if a better player comes along prior to the November signing period?

The earlier the commitment, the bigger the gamble both sides are taking. Leaving so many variables on the table inherently requires significant perseverance, and it can be a lot to ask for from a 16 or 17-year-old. And unfortunately in the baseball world, talking to coaches at other schools after a commitment is a major faux pas. Not only will it get around very quickly and is never well-perceived, but it can have professional ramifications if you decide to continue your career in coaching or professional baseball!

So, what do you take away from this? Bottom line, there is no such thing as too much information. One of my earlier entries focused on “getting it right the first time,” which, as the name implies, focused on all the different criteria that prospective student-athletes must consider in order to ensure a successful college career on and off the field. The Exclusive Program Staff coaches players to treat the entire junior year as a time to research schools, so that when you take advantage of the available visits, both unofficial and official, you will have enough information to make the best decision possible.

As a wrap-up, here are some advantages of both signing periods:

Early/November:
• Injuries or bad senior season won’t have any affect
• More scholarship money available (athletic and academic)
• More favorable admissions
• Process is complete – you get to enjoy the rest of your senior year!

Traditional/April:
• Applications are non-binding
• Schools may have new needs
• More time to develop – get bigger, stronger faster!
• More time to research and visit schools


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.

Recruiting Trends in College Sports Pt. 1

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

As we’re coming up on the highly-anticipated November signing period, I thought I’d use this entry to discuss an issue I’ve been following the past few years. While all sports, baseball included, have designated “signing periods” during the prospect’s senior year, there is nothing to stop players from committing to coaches or schools much earlier than that. As reported by ESPN, college basketball has seen a disturbing trend in recruiting, leading to rumors that players as young as fourteen are committing to schools even before they’ve played a minute on a high school court! Is there a possibility that baseball could follow in the footsteps of basketball? And, if so, what are the consequences?

The “traditional” signing period has always been in April, with the “early” signing period taking place in mid-November. However, the November signing period has become so popular that it has become the norm for most D-I programs to finish their recruiting at this point. After all, if a coach can get his recruiting out of the way by mid-November, he’s able to focus on his team and season at hand. For many other teams that don’t carry enough clout to secure early commitments, they must continue their recruiting all the way to the beginning of classes in August, if necessary.

Personally, I was not a big advocate of the November signing when I was coaching at the University of Maryland. I have always felt that coaches, players and parents make more mistakes signing early than they do at the April signing period. Granted I signed a few players during this period because I didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to lock up a few guys early. However, the players I signed early were the ones that I’ve seen the most and knew the best. Coaches don’t have as much time to assess and evaluate players early and players/parents don’t have as much time to learn everything they need to about all the schools that are recruiting them before they make their decision.

One of the most important aspects of the recruiting process for a college coach is to really get to know the player they’re recruiting, both on and off the field. I tried to learn everything about every player and family I recruited and still felt like I needed to know more! That being said, I truly believe that for the most part, you really don’t know what you got or are getting, until the player is in the program. I think most college coaches would agree with that statement. By putting total emphasis on getting players signed by November, I feel that several critical pieces of recruiting process are being overlooked and disregarded.

Check back next week when I go further into the trends in college baseball recruiting, focusing on the issue that I mentioned at the beginning of the entry.

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.

Understanding Baseball Scholarships

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

Undoubtedly, financial aid is one of the most confusing pieces of the college search process. Balancing college visits, letter writing, and applications can be a difficult task on its own, but trying to add the scholarship component without a full understanding of the process can be downright frustrating. There is no cookie-cutter system with differences among divisions, conferences and individual schools. I’d like to take this entry to address some common misconceptions and give you a coach’s perspective on the distribution of athletic scholarships.

Unlike football and basketball, which are allotted 85 and 12 full scholarships, respectively, Division I baseball only has a maximum of 11.7 scholarships at a time for the entire team. Rather than giving each player a “full ride,” baseball coaches are given the responsibility of dividing the total scholarships among their players, deciding how much and to whom. This makes baseball an “equivalency sport.” Given a roster cap of 35 players, a maximum of 27 players can be on scholarship, with the minimum athletic scholarship level at 25%. Typically, positions in the middle of the field get the most attention first: pitchers, catchers, middle infielders and center fielders with speed. These positions comprise 65-80% of a program’s scholarship budget.

One glaring misconception I need to point out is that not all Division I programs have the full 11.7 scholarships. In reality, only half are considered to be fully funded. This makes the concept of a full ride to play college baseball everything but a myth: baseball has the second-lowest average scholarship award at $5,806, leading only men’s riflery! Furthermore, there is no such thing as a guaranteed four-year scholarship. Coaches will evaluate the player’s performance on the field and in the classroom, along with their scholarship on an annual basis. In most cases, the scholarships will only go up, but I have seen and heard of player’s scholarships being reduced and/or taken away completely.

Parents, you need to be prepared to significantly fund your son’s college education. All coaches understand the financial burden families face to send their children to college. However, you cannot get caught up in the value of a scholarship--it is not a translation of your son's worth, nor does it dictate playing time! All coaches have the task of putting together the best team possible, many with limited funding, and have to address both priorities and depth. To put this in another perspective, a 30% or more athletic scholarship is considered a major commitment on behalf of the institution.

A while ago, I wrote a blog entry about how I put together teams at the University of Maryland and what I looked for in prospective players. In addition to the “Three Aces” that I mentioned, there is one critical “4th Ace” that I left out: affordability. In addition to finding ACC-caliber players that had the grades to be admitted to the University of Maryland, I also had to recruit players that had the financial means to attend! Not only was it extremely challenging to find players that matched all three criteria, but I considered myself fortunate to get two of three.

Keep in mind that there are plenty of other options out there for financial aid, including FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), academic scholarships, and grants. The key to securing these different packages is to be proactive and do your research. You’ll never know until you’ve applied, and you can’t afford to wait around!

As a wrap-up, here is the breakdown of each division’s scholarship allotment:

NCAA Division I: 11.7
NCAA Division II: 9.0
Junior College: DI and DII: 24 DIII: 0
NCAA Division III: 0
NAIA: 12


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.