on college campuses at schools you are interested in – don ’ t be afraid to contact coaches to learn when they are holding any camps .
As you plan your academic schedule , put an emphasis on taking AP / Honors courses to be sure you meet the requirements needed to put yourself in the best position for admission at your top school . Meet with your academic counselor to discuss what your options might be for your future . Retake the ACT or SAT to see if you can improve on your original score . You might consider taking this in the fall as well as in the spring . Begin considering the schools that have begun showing interest in your and making an unofficial visit . Meet with the coaches , tour the campus to get a feel for what it might be like to be a student on their campus . Take advantage of day trips to local universities and then plan longer travel around breaks . You can begin overnight visits starting in January ( or official visits ). No matter what , do an overnight visit to any campus . What really separates schools from one another are the people . There are a ton of great schools out there , but you have to consider the academics , athletics and social aspects of each institution you are considering to help determine the “ fit ”. Plan on taking the SAT or ACT again in the fall to improve on your score .
Now is the time to put together a recruiting video to help market your skills . If you are a pitcher , take a few clips from behind , from the side as well as from the front . Live action , short clips allows college coaches view your “ stuff ” as well as how batters are reacting to your pitches . As a catcher , show a few clips of you throwing to second base from behind so we can get pop times on you . Show a couple of you framing and blocking . Defensive players , get a few clips of you fielding the ball right at you , to your backhand , forehand and charging balls ( show case style ). Again , for all these players , any short views of you playing are a bonus . In terms of showing off your swing , video from the side and behind work well for us to see your bat speed and mechanics . Two big suggestions – have a BP thrower that throws strikes and dress like a baseball player . This isn ’ t mandatory but sends the right message to any college coach .
Continue to work in the weight room and on your athletic development . It is easy to see the results when you are lifting weight , but speed and quickness are an important part of baseball and should not be over looked . Spend time improving all areas of your game . Do take care of yourself and train smart . Playing games and working out will tax your body so be sure to get proper rest while you eat intelligent meals to fuel your body .
Depending on your high school season , play travel ball or play in a summer league when possible . Baseball is a game of experience . The more you play , the better you typically become . Baseball is a game built around failure – you have to learn to manage the ups and downs of a season . If you add the recruiting process into this equation , the pressure can be over whelming . The key for any high school athlete is focusing on the process of improving each time you take the field . You cannot control many things in baseball , but you can control how hard you work , how much effort you give as well as how you react to your success or failure . If you use each opportunity as a learning experiences , this will lead you to success .
Throughout your junior year , you should be receiving invites to camps as well as general contacts from coaches to learn more about you . Based on this interest , take advantage of the summer to visit colleges