May, 2003 Vol. 1 Nbr.6     

Let me take a moment to introduce STaF Athletics. STaF Athletics was founded on the principles of Sacrifice, Teamwork and Faith. These three words provide a clear purpose for an athlete to follow his/her path to great success in their athletic career. We strongly believe that an athlete's potential is based on his/her ability to succeed on and off the playing field while possessing the will to Sacrifice the time and energy needed to improve as an individual, the ability to excel as a member of a Team, while having Faith in themselves and teammates. 

Each year thousands of high school athletes are overlooked by colleges and universities for scholarship consideration. Some athletes are overlooked for valid reasons, however, many athletes who have the skills universities and colleges are looking for go unnoticed. Every college coach in America is looking for that special athlete who will help their team reach their next season's goals. Unfortunately, coaches do not have the time to visit every student that could help them reach those goals. 

STaF Athletics is a recruiting service for high school athletes. We have access to a wide variety of college recruiters and coaches. These coaches search our site for athletic prospects that fit their program.

STaF Athletics is committed to providing a valuable service to both the athlete and the college coach. We'll provide exposure for athletes through a Personal web page, Showcases, Tournaments, and personal contact with college coaches. 

Enough of that, let's get this month's article written by co-owner of STaF Athletics Chris Stafford. Coach Stafford is also the Varsity baseball head coach for North Cobb Christian School in Acworth Ga. He has had a lot of success placing student athletes with the right program. Listen to what he's got to say.

Gil.

College Athletics in your Future Plans?
^{Coach Chris Stafford} 

If so, how do you plan on putting yourself in the  best position to make it happen?  Of course the obvious answers are work hard, practice hard, condition hard, and play hard.  And these answers are all part of a good plan, but not the complete plan.  Next you might say study hard, get my grade point average as high as I can, take the SAT and/or ACT as many times as I can and make the best score I can.  These are also correct answers.  Consider the college coach who is deciding between 2 or more players of equal talent for a spot on the team.  First, you have to be accepted by the institution academically.  Then the coach will as himself which player is a safer investment.  Does he invest the scholarship in the kid who just barely qualified academically and is going to try to stay eligible while living away from home, taking a full load of classes, doing conditioning before classes and practicing after class or does he invest the scholarship in the kid with over the higher GPA and test scores.  That's a no brainer.  And on top of that you may qualify for some academic money to go along with that baseball scholarship.  Who knows, between the two maybe you get a full ride.  Or, maybe you get an academic scholarship and that gives the coach the opportunity to give you a spot and still have money to sign another kid.  In other words because you have good grades the coach can get you and another player.  Coaches like that. 

So, you have practiced hard and studied hard now all you have to do is play good and they college letters will start flooding in right? Wrong!  The myth that says I'm good they will find me is just that, a myth.  If you are 6'8" run the 60 yard dash in 6.4 and throw 90 mph yes the word will get around.  But does this apply to you?  If not keep reading.  

Hey, if you go to enough showcases colleges will start offering you a scholarship right? Wrong!  Again, if you are 6'8", run a 6.4, or throw 90 mph this will work and you will be noticed.  You see these are things that stand out in a big group showcase type setting with 100 plus kids. 

The vast majority of players that have enough ability to play at the college level do not have these types of characteristics.  Most players try to do the "little things" right.  At a big showcase with 100 plus players every scout and college coach is going to notice the kid who hits the ball 450 feet.  Those same college coaches and scouts are probably still watching him walk to the dugout, or take ground balls, or run the 60 yard dash when you walk up to hit at 5'9" weighing 170 lbs.  They are probably telling jokes or going to the restroom while you hit.  Even if you have a great swing and hit hit 3 singles to left 3 singles to center and 3 singles to right chances are nobody noticed your round of batting practiced that consisted of a bunch of singles.  "Little things" are not really little they just do not stand out in some settings.  "Little things" like work ethic, hitting the ball well to all fields, not having a particularly great 60 time but getting a great jump on balls, being a great kid that is a lot of fun to coach, being an intense competitor, etc.  Scouts don't notice these in a big setting as easy as they notice size and speed but coaches still want you to have it.   Here is an example.  One of my former players who transferred from one of the best high school baseball programs in the nation to play for me here at North Cobb Christian spent thousands of dollars for the opportunity to attend showcase after showcase.  Upon his arrival here at NCCS we discussed his strengths and weaknesses and determined that he definitely had the ability to play college baseball and we needed to put him in a situation where the College coach could really focus on him in a private or small group setting.  A short time later he signed a full scholarship to one of the best Division II programs in the country.  This also shows that it is also a myth that you have to go to the biggest school to get noticed.  This player wasn't doing anything at the "big" school but sitting on the bench.  Sometimes it is better to be the big fish in a small pond. 

So, how do you let them know you have these attributes?  Well, much recruiting is done on line via the internet now.  However it is not done quite like people think.  A typical day in the office for a college coach or scout is to check emails, browse over on line recruiting services and then follow any leads.  However many on line services have developed bad reputation for building players up to be better than they are.  In conversations I have had with SEC coaches at the Division 1 level all the way to the smallest junior college coach they all admit they do look at these recruiting services a lot.  However they all admit that some agencies have developed such bad reputations that they have totally written that specific agency off.  The problem is that some agencies promise a certain amount of contacts or interest for a player weather they are good or not.  To fulfill their obligation to their customer (the player) they make them sound better than they are.  Basically these agencies are in it simply for the money.  And some offer elaborate video editing and charge $500 or more for a package.  This is also not needed.  Here is why,  here is how it works, and here is what you should do:  Coaches and scouts do view these on line services.  They are looking for kids that can qualify to get into their school and they are looking for something that catches their eye as far as their playing ability.  If a kid purchases a web page from an on line recruiting service all the necessary information is right at the coaches fingertips.  The question is IS what the internet says true or not? To find out coaches simply call someone in the area that is close to the hometown of the prospect and ask if he is for real or not.  In other words the recruiting service is the initial attention getter but these coaches don't have time to evaluate your $500 edited video that they do not even know if it is really you.  But if they see your web page and notice something they like they will take the time to call someone about you.  If they like what they hear get ready.  My advice to any athlete wanting to make it to the next level is to contact a credible and affordable agency.

I have friends who are playing in the pros, friends who are coaching in high school, friends who are pro scouts, and friends who are coaching in college.  With their input we have started a recruiting service to help high school athletes reach their goals.  www.STaFathletics.com is a new service you should check out.

Chris Stafford

Please consult your physician prior to beginning any exercise(s) discussed in this newsletter. The comments and topics on this newsletter never take the place of what your physician can recommend. This information is presented for informational purposes and should be used with caution and professional medical advice. 

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