Making it to “The Show:” Part III

Ok, you’re leading off in the top of the 7th; your team is down by one run; the coach for your top choice school just stepped up to the fence; you lace a first pitch curveball into the right-center field gap, turn on the jets and dive safely into third for a triple.  You get up, pump your fist, beat your chest, and strut your stuff to a wildly cheering group of faithful fans. You just showed that college coach everything he or she need to see, right? Not so fast… read on.

As we discussed in “Making it to The Show Parts I and II,”  your behavior, demeanor and how you conduct yourself on and off the field may be more important to a recruiter than your athletic performance.  Making great plays in the field or getting big hits is expected at this level or these coaches would not be in attendance.  The survey in Part II clearly demonstrated that the vast majority of college coaches responding placed a much greater value on character than any other attribute when looking at potential players for their programs.  So the coach watching that recruit hit that triple will most likely be sticking around to see how that player reacts when she strikes out in a big situation or allows a ground ball to go through her legs with runners in scoring position.  It’s easly to be “all that” when you’ve just succeeded; but how are you going to react when you’ve just failed?

Here are some important do’s and don’ts:

• Don’t  throw your helmet or your bat when you have a bad plate appearance or stomp selfishly back to the dugout toally absorbed in your own personal failure.
• Do  stop your on-deck teammate and tell her how the pitch that got you out moved and what sequence of pitches she might expect.  If the information you give your next hitter results in a prodcutive at-bat, you have effectively eliminated the negative aspect of your own at-bat.
• Don’t  sit, disengaged in the dugout, when you are not in the game or place your attention on anything other than your team and what they are doing.
• Do  pay attention to the game, cheer for your teammates, help with pitch counts or scoring, look for patterns that may tell you what the opposition may do in certain situations and be generally engaged in all aspects of the game whether you are playing or not.
• Don’t  stroll on or off the field or show a lack of focus and enthusiasm.
• Do  sprint to and from your position on the field and warm up with intensity and purpose.  These may be the only opportunities you get to make an impression.
• Don’t  look to mom and dad for cues during your games or to bring you drinks, snacks or any other supplies.   Several years ago there was a top pitching prospect being seriously looked at by a prominent school’s coach.  This player was very interested in that school.  During the game the coach noticed that the pitcher was getting signs from her father in the stands.  That player never heard from that coach again.
• Do  pay careful attention to your travel coaches and always demonstrate your ability to separate from the influence of your parents and to rely on yourself and your teammates for preparation and support.

Remember that any coach who considers bringing a player into their program will live with that decision for four years.  That’s a long time to spend with a moody, brooding, self-absorbed individual.  Low maintenance, team-orientated athletes are a coach’s dream.  Show your love of the game by demonstrating good sportsmanship, respect for the umpires, your teammates, and the opposition; then rest asssured that your character will shine through.