In last 8 weeks I’ve been hearing:
“How do you get noticed in this climate?”
“This is the worst time…I feel bad for the seniors?”
“There’s no way for me to get recruited.”
STOP. I’ll tell you right now; you need to pivot. There’s been a tool a group of players have been using, and it’s been slowly gaining attention from baseball influencers. Before I tell you what it is, we need to address the underlying issue.
You need to take control of your recruiting.
How I see high school baseball is this….
1. Club baseball teams primary job is to develop your skill sets, put you in the right events, and consult you. They’re your expert guide and should be your most trusted resource.
2. Showcases are for creating an internet foot print and be seen by scouts. You’re not guaranteed the scout in attendance will be a decision maker (aka head coach or recruiting coordinator). Also, every showcase is not the same and they offer different types of services. Do your homework!
3. Tournaments are for competition and for scouts to see game play. Tournament directors are driven by team sign-ups and creating a competitive schedule. Good tournament providers aim for the bracket to have close scoring games.
4. College camps are an educational tool and a chance to see the school up close. You can get recruited from these events, but understand it will take more than one look to get an offer. The rule of the thumb in marketing is that you need to see something 7 times to make a decision. I could make the same case for recruiting a player.
There are 455,000 high school players in the country. And there are only 25,000 college players. Playing on a local team is not enough unless you have a remarkable skill. Even with a unbelievable skill, you need to market yourself to some degree.
Most player’s think the only way to market yourself is playing in tournaments, showcases, or college camps…this is true, BUT, what is marketing? It’s grabbing needed attention on a product or service. In this case, it’s your ability to hit, field, or throw a baseball.
Now, who are you trying to market too?
Coaches.
Where is there attention?
TWITTER!
You need to use Twitter video. The majority of the baseball influencers use this tool to communicate thoughts and ideas. They typically follow people inside their networks like Driveline or the ABCA, but they also follow baseball clubs.
Tweet a video and get your club to retweet you. Continually do this when you have the right skill sets and you’re going to get the attention of a school.
To learn more about our thoughts on the future of recruiting and how you can use tech in your twitter videos, listen to this episode of the Closing Pitch.