Step Into the Spotlight

September 1, 2023

By Headfirst

2216 words – a 8.5 minute read

Baseball 2026’s

As the sun sets on Summer 2023, we look toward an exciting school year ahead. But before fall fully sets in, let’s tie a bow🎀 on the whirlwind you just experienced.

In this edition:

Coach communication best practices straight from the sources themselves.
Insights into admission changes that could impact student-athletes in the wake of a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Wellness tips as you rest and recover productively this fall.

One big question: How can you stand out in your post-summer follow up?

The fall is a good time to reach out to coaches and ask for your feedback about your play on the tournament & showcase circuit.
Step into the spotlight with some tips straight from the sources themselves – a few of our Headfirst college coach partners!

Social media communications have become an imperative instrument in this recruiting world. A DM, or a tag can go a long way in getting your name right in front of coaches.

🚨Pro tip: It is critical that you tailor each outreach to the intended recipient. Grab their attention with a concise note featuring your specific interests in their school and program!

The fall is also good time for campus visits if your school calendar allows.

Whether offered an official visit or not, we recommend getting on campus or taking a virtual tour to help in completing our recommendations above. If you are able, spend a day or a weekend getting to know a campus and the baseball program.
🚨Pro tip: Ask the coach to connect you with a current player or two while you’re visiting to get a current feel for team energy.
Individual school camps can be a great way to get an intimate and focused look from the coaching staff at the same time you catch the campus vibes. If there are schools maneuvering their way to the top of your wish/dream list, these events can be time and resources well-spent.

Historical Change in College Admissions

One big thing: Top colleges are rethinking their admissions processes in the wake of a recent Supreme Court ruling – and athletic recruiting could be impacted.

The big picture: The Supreme Court struck down race-based affirmative action in college admissions earlier this summer and some public attention has turned to other features of the college admissions process – including the significant benefits to recruited athletes.

Go deeper: A study published in July by Opportunity Insights showed that among applicants with the same academic qualifications, “Ivy-plus” colleges (Ivies, Stanford, MIT, Duke, University of Chicago) gave preference to recruited athletes and children of alumni. These admissions tendencies also effectively acted as affirmative action for students from the wealthiest 1% of families in the country.

Athletes were found to be four times more likely to be admitted than nonathletes with the same academic qualifications.
The study estimated that one in eight applicants admitted from the top 1% (socioeconomic status) was a recruited athlete – vs. only one in twenty from the bottom 60%.
Some critics have taken this opportunity to put admissions preferences for athletes in their crosshairs.

The bottom line: The admissions benefits to recruited athletes are significant – and will be subject to particular scrutiny in the months ahead. We’ll keep you advised.

Rest & Recharge

One big thing: You’ve been busting your tail, and you deserve to recharge🔌. The fall is a good season to take time to reconnect with (or establish) your “why”.

Why it matters: Rest and a pause from the grind will help align your approach with your current wants and needs. These may have changed from what you thought you wanted when you started the recruiting process.

There can be great value in a temporary step back from the game to give some extra love 💗 to other outlets and areas of development.

We’ve compiled a list of considerations to get you started this fall:

Work with a coach or physical education teacher in your network to develop and follow a strength program throughout the fall.
Consider additional extracurriculars – or maybe another sport in the baseball offseason.
Deepen your understanding of the game by spending some time learning about the data and metrics side of the game or how cutting-edge college teams are leveraging performance data. The future is here!
Dedicate time to hang out with friends and family.
Volunteer somewhere meaningful to you or seek out an opportunity to gain additional leadership/mentorship experience.

📖What to Read: Enjoy The Journey – a healthy dose of perspective when you may be needing it most (3 minute read from our friend, Denison’s Mike Deegan).

🤝That’s a wrap on Summer 2023, and a 👋 to the school year ahead!

Our next edition will publish in early October 🎃
Thanks for reading – If we can support you further along the way, please feel free to reach out to: roadmap@headfirst.com.