Behind the Seams #1 -2018 | Page 5

talent. If you consider all the early verbal commits in college athletics, this is proof coaches are looking ahead; especially at the DI level. . So what can you do to help yourself during this time even if you are not playing on the varsity team? Get help. Talk to your coach about what you can do to improve your skill level. Look and ask for help. There are numerous pitching and hitting coaches out there to help guide you on mechanical adjustment…just be aware. Ask private instructors questions about how they will help you develop to decide if they will provide the assistance you are looking for in an instructor.

The next step is to get into the weight room to develop into a bigger and stronger athlete. You will be in a lifting/athletic development program in college so the sooner you can familiarize yourself with the weight room, the better. Baseball is an explosive sport with short burst of power – train your body that way. There are a ton of on-line resources for your to review if your high school has limited resources.

Academics during your sophomore are crucial and sometimes over looked or not taken serious. This is your foundation. Take the most difficult class schedule you can manage – that is the key. If you are struggling in a course, learn how to ask for help and see your teachers for guidance. If you need extra help, look for a tutor to provide assistance in any subject. Taking AP (Advanced Placement) or Honors Courses will only help you as you go through the admissions process. The key is knowing yourself, but spend time working at your studies. If you have great grades will never hurt you in the recruiting process and open up more college/university options and poor grades.

Remember – recruiting is about knowledge. The more knowledge you have, the more educated decision you will make at the end. Let’s start with a general time line.

Your sophomore year is when things begin. It may sound crazy, but college coaches are working ahead in recruiting as often as they can to identify the next best talent. . If you consider all the early verbal commits in college athletics, this is proof coaches are looking ahead; especially at the DI level.

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