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!

Balancing the College Baseball Budget

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

Prior to the beginning of this season, the athletic departments at Northern Iowa and the University of Vermont announced that this would be the final season for their baseball programs. While the last thing any athletic director wants to do is cut programs and staff, priorities have to be made even at the largest state schools. Even worse, the economic recession has exacerbated the funding deficit between revenue and non-revenue sports. Unfortunately for coaches and recruits alike, “America’s Favorite Past Time” is on the wrong end of this deficit.

While colleges and universities across the country have spent the past year making tough financial decisions, their athletic departments have come to grips with the fact that they’re not immune to what is going on with our economy. Even as the NCAA reports an average annual increase of 5% in student-athletes at member institutions, all sports at all levels have been tightening their belts. Sadly, as low as funding for college baseball has been, being a non-revenue sport puts it at the top of the list to come under the “budget microscope.”

The biggest reality I had to face when I was coaching was to understand exactly what it meant to be a “non-revenue” sport. With smaller audiences and a TV deal worth a fraction of the ones that basketball and football have, there are only a handful of Division I baseball programs that actually “make money” for their school. In most cases, baseball programs rely on the success of football, basketball and fundraising to finance their programs. On top of that, 35-man rosters and a 56-game schedule make baseball very expensive relative to other non-revenue sports, such as golf and tennis. So, when it comes budget time, baseball has lots of lines on its budget for an AD to adjust or eliminate altogether.

Even fully-funded programs find that in order to make a push for additional amenities, coaches need to fundraise and bring additional money into their program. Adding advertisements to the outfield wall, baseball programs and booster clubs were all ways I helped ease the budget crunch for the University of Maryland program. Yet, even with additional fundraising efforts, the most successful coaches are also going to be the thriftiest.

If you can assume that uniforms and equipment, travel and field operations are all fixed costs, the first cutback will always be recruiting. Coaches cannot afford to go to as many events, and if anything, have to budget for the events they do go to very carefully. When I was on the road, I would often share rooms with other coaches or stay with friends and family just to help my bottom line! One of the first things we share with players in our Exclusive College Recruiting Program is that the college baseball recruit has to be prepared to recruit coaches before they come see you play.

Writing and calling coaches, making unofficial visits and having a video all dramatically increase your chances of being seen by coaches this summer and fall. When I went to games, tournaments or showcases, I already knew ahead of time who I was going to see. I couldn’t afford not to do my homework on players beforehand! Players, too, cannot afford to take the “shotgun approach” to their summer schedule. Pick your spots carefully. Who is going to be at a showcase? Who do you have consistent contact with? That’s how coaches with short budgets look at their summer.

There’s no doubt in my mind that college baseball’s popularity is on the rise even with casual fans. The College World Series has really taken off the last few years and the game is reaching more viewers through increased TV coverage. Let’s hope that we’re seeing the end of “making do,” and instead push to make college baseball successful at every institution!

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.

The Power of Video

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

The video component of recruiting has come a long way in the last 20 years. Football coaches were way ahead their time with the use of film and video when it came to recruiting, scouting, and teaching of the game. Historically, college football coaches would request video of their prospective recruits from their high school coaches to assess the players overall athletic ability and skill. The player’s ability level and, subsequently, the coaches’ interest would determine the next steps in the process. Today, video footage is an absolute must for sports like baseball, and it has become a serious disadvantage to ignore this component!

Somewhere in the country on a daily basis, there is baseball being played. Even with the advancement of modern technology and communications today, players are still being overlooked because of coaching staff limitations, time and budgets. Smaller D-III schools notwithstanding, even the larger schools do not have the resources to attend every camp, showcase or tournament in the country. This is where video can start to fill the gap!

I can still remember getting several mail crates of VHS tapes daily at the University of Maryland and having stacks of VHS tapes all over the office. I would review what I could in the office, but found myself having to take them home and on the road trips just to keep up! Regrettably, because of volume and inconvenience, I’m sure there were a lot we never got to. Fortunately, today it is much easier now and a lot more convenient with online video available. There is nothing better for a coach than having the opportunity to recruit and evaluate players on the computer at his desk!

The purpose of having a video is not necessarily to get an offer from a college coach. However, using video to promote yourself to coaches can definitely make a difference and vault you onto his staff’s radar. Just as with football coaches, baseball coaches can use video to assess and determine the next steps to take with a prospect. “Does he have the ability to play at this level?” “Should we contact him, his coach and/or scouts in area? “Do we need to see him play in person, and if so, when?” Writing a letter or an e-mail to a coach is a step in the right direction, but without having the opportunity to evaluate your ability and skills on the field, there is not much else working in your favor. Providing video increases the chance that someone on the coaching staff will respond favorably.

So, what is the most effective way to deliver video footage? Personally, I’m a big fan of presenting footage prior to an unofficial visit, or as follow-up to that visit. Having an idea of what the coach thinks of you as a player prior to your visit can save you a trip or help you prioritize your visits to certain schools. I’ve even seen players bring up their video during the visit, so that they can get in-person feedback from the coach they are meeting with! Regardless of the situation, you should include a proper cover letter addressed to the coach. You need to introduce yourself, why you’re interested in the program and make reference to the video provided. Don’t expect a coach to watch your video without a proper introduction!

Please remember that this isn’t an audition tape- coaches need to use this for evaluation first and foremost. Anything above a display of your athleticism and baseball skills can lead to unwanted distraction of a coach’s attention and can be a turnoff. Leave the duty of first impressions to in-person visits to campus. The following should be avoided in athletic footage:
• Music
• Interviews
• Play-by-play from Mom and Dad!
• Any other unwanted noise(s).

It’s no longer considered far-sighted to have video available for review; rather, it’s now essential. Baseball plays more games than any other intercollegiate sport, players train every day while on campus, and the coaches are on the road recruiting when they’re not playing or training. Many times, you have to go above and beyond to reach these coaches throughout the year, whether they are on the field, in their office or on the road. However, more coaches are beginning to make full use of the technology today. Remember, there is no “dead period” in the recruiting process if you have a video, so take full advantage while you can!

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.

10 College Recruiting Mistakes to Avoid, Part 2

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

Last week, I started a discussion on common mistakes that players and parents make in the college recruiting process. All of these “pitfalls” can lead to a major limitation of your opportunities come decision time, and should be avoided at all costs. I’d like to continue that discussion in this week’s entry.

#4) Never Getting a Professional Edited Video and Evaluation

As I mentioned in last week’s entry, college coaches are not able to get out to many games, tournaments or showcase in order to see you play. Instead, many coaches rely on receiving a professionally edited video and a detailed professional scout evaluation from Baseball Factory in order to learn about players and begin recruiting them. From the comfort of their office, they can view video footage of a player and read an evaluation from a source they trust. This is a great way for them to narrow down their recruiting list before spending money to travel and see their top recruits in person.

In addition, the difference between a homemade family video and a professionally edited video is huge. Coaches have very hectic schedules, so they don’t have time to watch an hour-long unedited video of you performing in a game. They want short, quick clips of you defensively, on the mound, or at the plate. Most homemade family videos that are sent to coaches end up in the trash.

Not getting an unbiased professional evaluation can also hurt your college recruiting efforts. Keep in mind that in a college coach’s mind, your parents are biased and your high school coach is biased. Providing a college coach with an evaluation from a professional scout gives him an unbiased opinion that he can trust.

#5) Waiting Until Your Senior Year to Begin Marketing Yourself to Colleges

We suggest that players begin marketing themselves to college coaches the summer before their Sophomore year in high school. Start writing letters to college coaches to let them know of your interest in their program. While they probably won’t be out to see you play or even begin recruiting you heavily, they will start a file on you for their records and will keep up with your high school career on and off the field.

Players who wait until their Senior year to begin the recruiting process are at a major disadvantage, as coaches don’t have nearly as much time to recruit the player. There are fewer times to see the player in person, gather information from other coaches and scouts, and make a true assessment of the players ability and work ethic. It is hard to tell if the player has improved through high school, which is important for a college coach in determining if the player will work hard and improve during his college career.

If you are a Senior and are just now getting started: don’t panic! It is certainly not too late, but you will have to work harder over a shorter span of time. The lesson is, start early and be proactive.

#6) Not Sending Back College Questionnaires in a Timely Manner

If you contact a coach and he sends you a general questionnaire to fill out, make sure to get it back to him as soon as possible. Many players get offended by receiving a general questionnaire from a coach. “Why didn’t he write something personal? Does he not want to recruit me?” The truth is that the coach wants to get more information on you before he starts recruiting you.

College coaches use general questionnaires to gauge a player’s interest and begin a file on a player. If you take your time sending it back, or don’t send it back at all, the coach is going to assume that you aren’t interested in his program. In addition, make sure to send back questionnaires to colleges, even if they aren’t from a school you are pursuing. The more schools that are interested in you, the more leverage you have in the recruiting process. Keep all options open until you are ready to make a final decision.

By now, you should start to see an underlying pattern behind all of these common mistakes. Waiting to be discovered and leaving everything up to chance is the surest way to put a quiet end to your playing career- It is up to you to get the recruiting process started!

Be sure to check back next week when I wrap up my list of recruiting pitfalls.

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.

Our New Web Site has Arrived

Steve Sclafani: All Access Pass

I have to be honest with all of you... I can’t stop looking at our new home page. It feels like that first time you buy a new car and drive it off the lot. You wake up the next morning and can’t take your eyes off of your new ride.

Well, for those of you new to baseballfactory.com and those of you who are loyal veterans, welcome to the new and improved Baseball Factory web site.

As you might have noticed this is more than just a re-design of our web site. After more than 10 years of experience in the amateur baseball space we will continue to develop high school baseball players and promote them to college teams with our 200+ events per year nationwide, but we will now also be actively sharing our content with the world!

From Blogs to Feature Stories to Player Videos we hope you will enjoy coming back to the site on a daily basis to get the latest amateur baseball news.


Steve Sclafani is the CEO and Founder of Baseball Factory. Steve's ability to create new opportunities for baseball players nationwide and to develop exposure vehicles for players has revolutionized the player development and recruiting industry. His contacts and strategic partnerships have led the way to Baseball Factory being recognized as the top recruiting service by The National High School Baseball Coaches Association. Steve's scouting ability and penchant for matching players up to the right college baseball programs has lead to over 10,000 Baseball Factory and Team One players playing college baseball, $500 million in scholarships, and over 1,500 players selected in the MLB draft. Steve is a 1993 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he played second base.

When Do We Start Marketing Ourselves to Colleges?

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

The title of this blog is a common question I am asked by parents when I am attending a Baseball Factory Player Development event. To start, there are a lot of factors to consider, but the main ones to focus on are the player’s academic achievement to date, his current baseball aptitude, and his physical maturity. Assuming that all three of these items are not considered to be a limiting factor in any way, then my best advice is for players to start marketing themselves to colleges as a rising sophomore in high school.

Now some parents may say that is way too young. I have heard comments like, “he just got through his first year of high school and college is almost three plus years away. Our son is focused on just making his high school team and we can’t even think about college yet.” While it may be a few years away, the reality is that the time flies by very quickly. Plus, most parents that I speak with in our program that elect to start this process when their son is a rising senior say “gosh, I wish we would have known this information sooner and started marketing him to college a few years ago.” So, with time on your side, it pays to start getting active early in this process.

In my mind, the main benefits are the following:

1. Education – starting the marketing process at this point in his career will get your son (and you as parents) familiar with the college search process and different baseball programs earlier in the timeline, which will be valuable downstream.
2. Exposure – college coaches will begin a file on your son and can track his development over the next three years.
3. Communication – your family will begin to discuss what is important to your son in the college selection process and that will foster communication amongst your family which will create good dialogue and points to consider.

To effectively market yourself to a college, you need three things:

1. An edited video of your son performing. 2. An unbiased evaluation of his baseball skills. 3. A well written cover letter.

At Baseball Factory, we provide a video and evaluation within a personal player webpage for each participant so they can email a link to the webpage and a nice cover letter directly to the coach. This will serve as a good introduction to the coaching staff.

Starting the marketing process this early will give you a leg up on your competition in the long run. However, as you start this journey, remember to keep your expectations intact. A sophomore will not get the same recruiting attention from college coaches as a rising senior. However, since college coaches are now starting their recruiting process earlier and earlier to gain an edge, it pays for your son to get his name out there!


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.