Recruiting 101 Episode 2: Your Questions Answered
Welcome to Episode 2 of Recruiting 101, the monthly series from Baseball Forward where Aaron Cunningham (Director of Operations, Hunter Pence Baseball Academy) and Ross Hawley (Baseball Forward) answer your college baseball recruiting questions.
This episode tackles 10 real questions submitted by parents and players navigating the recruiting process.
Watch or Listen to the Full Episode:
🎯 Key Takeaways Summary
Before diving in, here are the essential points from this episode:
✅ Don't rush - Most commitments happen senior year (August-October)
✅ Start preparing early - Build your resume starting in the 9th grade
✅ Active recruiting begins - After sophomore year (16U summer)
✅ Physicality matters - Big, strong, fast players get noticed
✅ Multiple communication paths - Camps, Twitter/X, email, phone calls
✅ Know your level - Apply realistically (don't apply to NASA with a business degree)
✅ Do your homework - Visit campuses, research programs thoroughly
✅ Grades are separators - Academic scholarships significantly increase funding
✅ Surround yourself wisely - Work with people who have proven track records
✅ Your coaches are references - Earn their endorsement through effort and character
Question 1: When Does the Recruiting Process Start?
The Timeline Framework
Preparation Phase: 9th grade
- Focus on body development and foundational strength
- Build fundamental skills systematically
- Establish your physical and athletic foundation
- Begin building your baseball resume
Active Recruiting Phase: After sophomore year (16U summer)
- College coaches intensify evaluation of your class
- Communication becomes meaningful and strategic
- You become genuinely relevant to their recruiting timeline
- Serious conversations begin
Don't Rush the Process
Critical perspective: With current NCAA recruiting rules, the timeline has shifted later. College baseball programs have "pumped the brakes" on recruiting younger classes.
If you're a sophomore (2027 class): Stay patient and focused on development. You have time.
If you're a junior (2026 class): You still have ample time in your recruiting process.
✅ Action Items
- If you're 9th grade or younger: Prioritize strength, conditioning, and skill development
- If you're post-sophomore year: Begin proactive, strategic communication with coaching staffs
- Put blinders on—don't compare your timeline to others
- Trust the process and developmentaltimeline
Question 2: How Do You Get a Coach to Notice You as a Recruit?
Physical Development Stands Out
The most obvious differentiator: Physical attributes.
Being big, strong, and fast is immediately noticeable. It's human nature in athletics—physical specimens command attention first and get noticed immediately.
If You're Not the Biggest Player
Demonstrate these critical qualities:
- Play hard consistently - Run on and off the field with purpose
- Compete relentlessly - Win the competitive battles
- Positive body language - Show you genuinely care about outcomes
- High baseball IQ - Make winning plays that impact games
- Bring winning baseball - Help your team succeed consistently
Research Your Target Schools
Strategic preparation: Study what current players look like at your target programs.
If you aspire to play at a specific university, examine their current roster—analyze what their players look like physically, skillfully, and statistically. This provides realistic benchmarks for your development.
Play with Love, Passion, and Respect
A universal truth: Every college coach in America recognizes this when they see it.
Make the plays that genuinely matter:
- Hustle on every single play
- Make hard contact at the plate
- Sprint to first base on routine plays
- Make routine plays consistently and reliably
- Show quality arm strength
- Display steady defensive skills
✅ Action Items
- Commit to year-round weight room training
- Research rosters at your target schools systematically
- Record yourself playing—do you look engaged and competitive?
- Focus on controllables: effort, attitude, preparation
- Be the player that consistently helps the team win games
Question 3: What is the Best Way to Communicate with College Coaches?
Effective Communication Methods
1. College Camps
- Provides close, personal interaction with entire coaching staffs
- Choose camps strategically based on your realistic skill level and target programs
2. Twitter/X (Highly Recommended)
- Coaches monitor the platform constantly
- Most coaches maintain open DMs
- Free and accessible 365 days annually
- Ideal platform for sharing highlights and updates
3. Email
- Professional and direct communication
- Include video links and statistical achievements
- Follow up appropriately without excessive pestering
4. Phone Calls
- Don't hesitate to call program offices directly
- Be prepared with clear, concise messaging
5. Leverage Your Network
- High school coaches with established relationships
- Travel coaches with connections
- Personal trainers with coaching relationships
- Anyone in your circle with ties to target programs
The Job Interview Analogy
Think of recruiting like a comprehensive job search:
Step 1: Build Your Resume
- Understand who you are athletically and academically
- Document achievements with evidence
- Maintain quality video showcasing your abilities
Step 2: Know Where You're Employable
- Conduct realistic self-assessment
- Match your skill set to appropriate competitive levels
- Understand program needs and recruiting priorities
Step 3: Do Whatever It Takes to Secure the Interview
- Email, call, visit, attend camps strategically
- Be proactive and persistent, never passive
✅ Action Items
- Create a Twitter/X account if you don't currently have one
- Follow college coaches at all your target schools
- Prepare a recruiting email template with quality video links
- Request introductions from your coaches
- Attend 4-5 strategic camps per year at appropriate levels
- Be persistent yet respectful in follow-up communications
Question 4: How Do You Choose What Program is Best for Your Kid?
Beyond Baseball: A Life Decision
This decision transcends baseball—it's one of the biggest life choices a young person makes during their formative years.
Considerations Beyond Athletic Competition:
- Academic Quality - What caliber of education will they receive?
- Financial Reality - Can your family afford it? What scholarship combinations are available?
- Character Development - Who are the coaches developing your son from ages 18 to 22?
- Values Alignment - Does program culture align with your family's values?
- Long-term Goals - Does this support or hinder future aspirations?
- Living Situation - Where will they live for 4-5 formative years?
- Player Care - How do they feed, house, and develop players holistically?
- Academic Accountability - Will they hold athletes accountable academically?
- Personal Development - Can staff handle the maturation challenges of young adults?
Critical Warning: Sometimes programs with outstanding on-field reputations for winning aren't the right fit for your specific athlete. Don't merely chase championship banners.
The Dual Framework
"Go where you're wanted AND where you want to go."
Success exists at the intersection of these two critical factors.
The "Just Knew" Principle:
- Visit campuses in person
- Have substantive conversations
- Build genuine relationships
- Collect quality data systematically
- When it's genuinely right, you'll recognize it
Don't commit prematurely just to sign. Committing simply to post on social media or participate in signing day ceremonies is short-sighted and potentially damaging to long-term success.
✅ Action Items
- Don't rush this major decision—invest proper time
- Visit multiple campuses (beyond just dream schools)
- Conduct honest conversations with coaching staffs
- Research player retention and graduation rates
- Speak with current players (not exclusively coaches)
- Evaluate coaching staff's track record with player development
- Consider location, weather patterns, campus culture
- Trust your informed instincts after collecting comprehensive data
- Remember: This decision encompasses far more than baseball
Question 5: Understanding the Different Levels
A Level-by-Level Breakdown
Top 25-40 Programs (SEC, Power Four conferences)
- Seeking players anyone could identify as elite
- "Obviously better than everybody else" physically and skillfully
- The finished product with minimal development needed
Mid-Major D1
- Now recruiting the caliber of players SEC programs recruited 10 years ago
- Elite high school players dominating competition regularly
- Highly competitive baseball environment
Lower-Level D1
- Often recruiting alongside top junior colleges
- Later in the recruiting process timeline
- Still high-level competitive baseball
Top Junior Colleges
- Directly competing with mid-major D1 programs for recruits
- Elite talent increasingly choosing JuCo for optimal development
- Becoming progressively more competitive
Mid-to-Lower JuCo
- Recruit later in the process
- Identify players who performed well senior year
- Provide opportunities for late bloomers and developers
Upper-Echelon D2 (Example: Angelo State)
- Recruit at very high competitive levels
- Strong programs with serious talent
Division III
- No athletic scholarships available
- Academic scholarships drive enrollment decisions
- Excellent baseball with strong academic focus
NAIA
- Different eligibility rules than NCAA
- Can include older players (26-27 year olds in some cases)
- Some programs allow players with minimal professional experience
- "Diverse rosters" with varied backgrounds
✅ Action Items
- Identify which competitive level matches your current skill set realistically
- Research 5-10 programs at your appropriate level
- Watch games at different levels to understand competition quality
- Don't artificially limit yourself to a single level
- Understand you can transfer between levels to find optimal fit
- Accept that your starting point isn't necessarily your ending point
Question 6: The Academic Money Secret
Grades Matter Significantly
A critical reality: Academic performance directly impacts recruiting opportunities and scholarship availability.
At Division III: No athletic scholarships exist. Only academic merit-based aid.
At Division II: Only 9 fully sanctioned athletic scholarships for entire rosters.
At Division I: Only 11.7 athletic scholarships total for the program.
The Financial Math
If you can secure 15% athletic scholarship money and 70% academic scholarship money, the total financial package is what matters. The source of funding is less relevant than the total award.
The Work Ethic Connection
College coaches often associate high school academic performance with work ethic.
When coaches observe poor grades, they sometimes question: "Is this athlete lazy or uncommitted?"
While not always accurate, this perception is a recruiting reality.
The Tiebreaker Scenario
Player A: 3.1 GPA
Player B: 3.6 GPA
Both are athletically similar.
Which player receives the scholarship offer? Player B—consistently.
✅ Action Items
- Take academic performance seriously starting freshman year
- Don't allow homework or class attendance to slip
- View academics as integral to your recruiting profile
- Inquire about academic scholarship opportunities at all levels
- Calculate total financial packages (athletic + academic combined)
- Don't forfeit opportunities due to preventable academic shortcomings
Question 7: How Can I Involve My Coaches in the Recruiting Process?
Your Coaches Are Your References
Think of it like a job application framework:
Just like professional references, you need coaches who will vouch for your abilities and character:
- High school coaches
- Travel organization coaches
- Strength and conditioning coaches
- Any coach within your development circle
The Critical Element: Earn It
Coaches with established reputations and credibility will not risk their name endorsing just anyone.
Their professional reputation is extremely valuable and carefully guarded.
What Coaches Evaluate Before Endorsing You
- Reliability and dependability
- Quality teammate behavior
- Consistent work ethic
- Strong character
- Someone they can confidently recommend without reservation
What Motivates Coaches to Help
The principle: If you consistently give maximum effort, demonstrate character, and commit fully, exceptional coaches will move heaven and earth to help you accomplish your goals.
Coaches will advocate relentlessly for players who:
- Give maximum effort daily
- Are exceptional teammates
- Handle themselves with class and maturity
- Communicate effectively and professionally
- Show unwavering commitment
The Separator
A reality in today's world: It's remarkably easy to be average like everybody else. Separate yourself intentionally.
How to differentiate yourself:
- How you handle yourself in all situations
- How you approach your daily work
- How you communicate with coaches and teammates
- The consistent effort you provide
- Your attitude and professionalism
✅ Action Items
- Build strong, authentic relationships with your coaches
- Consistently show up early, stay late, work with purpose
- Be an exceptional teammate and emerging leader
- Communicate respectfully and professionally always
- Ask your coach directly: "What do I need to reach [school/level]?"
- Request brutally honest feedback on your current competitive level
- Ask: "Coach, will you help me connect with [target program]?"
- Make it easy for coaches to enthusiastically endorse you
Question 8: Should I Expect My Travel Organization to Help with Recruiting?
Expectations for Your Investment
The clear answer: Yes, absolutely. You should expect recruiting assistance.
Travel baseball represents a substantial financial and time investment. If you're committing significant resources, you should expect tangible recruiting help in return.
Essential Questions Before Joining
Primary question: "Will your organization help in the recruiting process?"
Follow-up questions: "How specifically do you help? What's your documented track record?"
Warning Signs to Avoid
❌ Organization merely plays tournaments without meaningful follow-up
❌ Coaches collect fees without building recruiting relationships
❌ Massive organizations with 200-300 players per graduating class
❌ Directors don't personally know your athlete
Positive Indicators
✅ 40-50 players per graduating class (coaches know every player personally)
✅ Proven track record placing players at ALL competitive levels
✅ Coaches regularly field calls from college coaching staffs
✅ Personal relationships with college coaches documented
✅ Clear, transparent communication about recruiting process support
Research Requirements
Do comprehensive research: Understand the organization's track record thoroughly.
Investigate:
- Where have they placed players historically? (verify via website/social media)
- Do they maintain genuine relationships with college programs? (check social media engagement)
- Do they help players at all levels or only elite prospects?
The Size Problem
A critical question: How can directors personally know your son compared to 200+ other players in the same graduating class?
Answer: They realistically can't.
Large organizations will focus on the same handful of elite players until they graduate, then shift attention to the next elite group.
You want coaches receiving college recruiting calls to actually KNOW WHO YOUR ATHLETE IS personally.
If You're in a Suboptimal Situation
Don't allow it to become the excuse that ends your baseball career.
Perspective: If this becomes your career-ending excuse, were you genuinely serious about competitive baseball in the first place?
Take control of your situation:
- Make corrective measures immediately
- Advocate for yourself proactively
- Don't wait passively for help that may never come
- Find alternative resources and advocates
✅ Action Items
- Thoroughly research your travel organization's placement track record
- Ask: "How many players per graduating class do you manage?"
- Request specific examples of player placements
- Verify college coaches follow and interact with organization
- Ensure coaches know your athlete personally, not just by name
- Hold organization accountable to provide promised help
- If necessary, supplement with additional recruiting resources
- Never wait passively—be proactive about your recruiting journey
Question 9: What About Resources Like NCSA?
Ask the Coaches Directly
The recommended approach: Don't rely on sales pitches or parent opinions. Ask college coaches directly.
The Critical Question to Ask:
"Do you use NCSA? Do you use Field Level? What platforms do you actually use for recruiting?"
Why This Matters
You need concrete information about whether college coaches at your target level actually utilize these platforms for talent identification.
It's not for parents or players to determine effectiveness—it's for COLLEGE COACHES to inform you what they genuinely use in their recruiting process.
The Balanced Reality
Recruiting services like NCSA have likely helped numerous athletes successfully navigate recruiting.
Recruiting services like NCSA have also cost families thousands of dollars with no tangible results.
The truth: "It's going to produce different outcomes for different families."
The Proof-in-the-Pudding Test
Request verifiable references:
- Speak with other families who've utilized these services
- Examine documented track records
- Verify actual success stories beyond marketing materials
- Don't make decisions based solely on sales presentations
The Lower-Level Test
Aaron's insider tip:
Don't just look at organizations getting kids to the SEC or Big 12. Those players are "the single easiest people to help."
Look at who's getting kids to lower levels (D2, D3, NAIA, JuCo) "because that does take work."
That shows they:
- Put in sweat equity
- Promote players actively
- Connect dots between players and programs
- Help separate players from the herd
Surrounding Yourself with the Right People
Ross's Critical Point:
"The importance of surrounding yourself with people that know what the heck they're doing."
What matters:
- They don't have to know everything or everyone
- They need to have a proven track record
- Baseball is an incredibly relationship-based game
- It's a small world (six degrees of separation)
Questions to Ask:
- What are their intentions?
- Do they really want to help your son?
- Do they have the network?
- Can they provide references?
✅ Action Items
- Before paying for services, ask college coaches if they use them
- Request references from recruiting services
- Look at lower-level placements, not just elite
- Verify the organization has real relationships
- Don't fall for sales pitches - do homework
- Surround yourself with people who have track records
- Ask for examples of success stories
- Trust your gut on intentions
📋 Episode 2 Checklist: Your Game Plan
Use this checklist to take immediate action based on this episode:
Immediate Actions (This Week)
- Stop comparing yourself to others - put the blinders on
- If you're 9th grade (or younger): Focus on training and development, not recruiting
- If you're post-sophomore: Begin proactive coach communication
- Create or optimize your Twitter/X recruiting profile
- Make a list of 10-15 realistic target schools based on your current level
Short-Term Actions (This Month)
- Visit 2-3 campuses at different levels to understand competition
- Watch full games (online or in-person) at target schools
- Research rosters at target schools - what do players look like?
- Have an honest conversation with a trusted coach about your realistic level
- Check your GPA and create an academic improvement plan if needed
- Evaluate your travel organization's track record and recruiting help
Ongoing Actions (This Season)
- Attend 4-5 strategic camps (not just dream schools)
- Work in the weight room year-round
- Document highlights and stats for your recruiting profile
- Build strong relationships with coaches who can endorse you
- Reach out to 5 new coaches per month via email or Twitter
- Ask college coaches what recruiting platforms they use
When Decision Time Comes
- Visit finalists multiple times
- Talk to current players without coaches present
- Discuss financial reality: athletic + academic scholarships
- Evaluate coaching staff's values and development track record
- Trust your gut after collecting quality data
- Remember: This decision is bigger than baseball
About This Series
Recruiting 101 is a monthly series on the Baseball Forward Podcast dedicated solely to the college recruiting process. Aaron Cunningham and Ross Hawley answer real questions from players and parents navigating this complex journey.
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About Baseball Forward
At Baseball Forward, we help student-athletes and families navigate college baseball recruiting with expert guidance and comprehensive resources.
Our platform provides:
- Interactive database of 1,500+ D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO programs
- Expert recruiting insights from experienced coaches
- Monthly Recruiting 101 podcast series
- Tools to organize your recruiting process
- Direct connections to college coaching staffs
Ready to take control of your recruiting journey?
Visit recruiting.baseballforward.com to access our complete database and recruiting resources.
This resource was created from Episode 86 of the Baseball Forward Podcast featuring Aaron Cunningham (Director of Operations, Hunter Pence Baseball Academy) and Ross Hawley (Baseball Forward). The insights reflect their experience helping hundreds of players navigate the college recruiting process successfully.