"COLLEGE CORNER" ....... with Steve Van Note

All Star Baseball's Steve Van Note (center) with College Coaches at a recent Showcase.

  Plan Ahead To Attend The Right Showcases!

Steve Van Note is the Director of Special Events for All Star Baseball Academy and a great source of information for players who are looking to play baseball at the college level.  Steve starred as an outfielder at the University of Delaware and later as a third baseman for the champion Lancaster Barnstormers in the professional Atlantic League.  "College Corner" will be a regular featured column on the ASBA Blog, so look for sound advice and tips from Steve on an ongoing basis. 

High school players sprint to the finish, as college coaches
watch and time their speed at the Mid-Atlantic Showcase.

Q. How do we choose the right types of showcases for our son?

Coaches checked out the prospects closely last week
             at the Mid-Atlantic Showcase, held at Blue Rocks Stadium in Wilmington

A. With a lot of camps and showcases out there, deciding which event to attend can get confusing. Having your son interested in the event is a huge plus. When a player attends an event and really doesn't want to be there, it will be obvious. Energy level and enthusiasm are important. 

For a showcase, talk to someone in the profession who can give good advice to your son about what events are out there. Once you have your options, take a look at the schools attending the event. If the schools at the event are an option for him at the college level, then that event will be a good opportunity.

Bucknell Assistant Coach Scott Heather helps Strath Haven
 pitcher Jake Enterlin with his follow-through.

Early in the spring, your family should take a few trips to local D1, D2, and D3 schools and plan to watch as many games as possible.  Compare the size and strength of the players with your son. Notice the attention and enthusiasm the team directs towards the game. Does your son focus as much, and run on and off the field the same way?  Simply pay attention to the game's small tendencies. These visits could give you an idea of whether you should attend a D1, D2, or D3 showcase. 

Having a list of the specific schools on the brochure is something that I would look for.  If the outline of the event provides enough opportunity for your son to get good exposure, then it should be a solid event. With the price of tuition where it is today, it would be better making the investment to attend multiple events now and not run the risk of transferring later.  It is very important to find the right match for your son's playing skills and goals.

Players listen closely to pointers from All Star Baseball's 
Creighton Gubanich, who played in the Majors for the Red Sox.

All Star Baseball Academy's instructional camps and showcases are listed on our website at www.allstarbaseballacademy.com.   Players and their families can also call 610-399-8050 X3 for information about upcoming events, or stop into your local ASBA facility for full details.  Get Better and Get Noticed, Too!!  All Star Baseball Academy is here to help you meet your goals.  Take a look at our Fall Showcases and make plans to attend the ones that fit your goals.

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