16/17u Gamers, 

As college coaches turn to their summer recruiting schedules, there will be more and more of them in the stands at 16u and 17u tournaments. 

This email is just a reminder on the proper etiquette around college coaches and their interaction with parents.

First, please remember that when college coaches are at a game, they are working.   It is their job.  So, 99% of the time they are not interested in small talk or with interacting with people in the stands.  Being approached by parents is a major distraction for them. 

Here is how the process works:

The coaches will call the head coach or stop by to get a copy of the roster before the game.  (Note - each weekend, Matt emails hundreds of college coaches with our game schedules and rosters).

The college coaches either go behind home plate or down the lines to watch the game.  Most of the time they will be wearing a school polo shirt and/or hat (but not all of the time). Sometimes they will have a radar gun and notebook out, other times not.

Every coach does it a little differently.  We have had D1 college coaches watch games from their cars so players did not know that they were there.  Others will want to talk to the players (after July 1st and well after or before a game).  

But, universally, college coaches are not interested in talking to parents.  If they want to talk with parents, they will come to the dugout and ask the coaching staff to arrange it.  This occasionally happens, but almost never until the coach has talked to the player first.

So, regardless of how excited you may be that a coach is in the stands to watch your son, please refrain from approaching them.  And, please do not do a sales pitch for your son.  This will do more harm than good.  They are interesting is seeing your son, and maybe eventually talking with him.  They are not interested in recruiting parents.

If you have any questions, please contact Matt.  He has a lot of experience in this area and knows what college coaches expect.

Thanks,

Mark Gallion