Collectively, A Thread To Celebrate Our Kids Athletic Accomplishments (1 Viewer)

[Gally]

Somehow, we all survived . . . but the post-COVID world is way different.

I didn't know whether I should "like this post" or put the sad face.

 

[SWC]

I am a long ways off from actually needing it, but can someone recommend a site (or does it vary by sport) where I can start uploading videos of my daughter's "greatest hits"? I want her to have a solid library of highlights starting as early as 8th grade to show progression. Or is this just a bad idea? I know the chances are miniscule for her to get noticed but I'm a hopeful dad.

i have had and helped a bunch of kids play college ball and i use free online video editors that i cant recall the name of now to make highlight videos and put them on youtube its free and easy to link to take that to the bank bromigo

 

[Todem]

Todem Jr’s team got no hit by the #5 ranked team in D3.

How was the pitcher? Was he that good or was it just one of those days that happens sometimes?

The first pitcher was downright filthy.

Sat 90-91 on his FB and had a fall of the table 12-6 curve ball that was ridiculous. He pitched 5 strong innings.

Second guy had good stuff but my son just missed a hanging slider and he was pissed. 1-2 count he got frozen by a chest high 92 MPH fastball.

His first AB he mashed one of the first pitchers curve balls but caught too much air as he flied out to deep RC.

The team was emotionally drained from the day before in Virginia and pulling out that huge win.

A combination of really good pitching and a drained team resulted in that.

New day tomorrow. Big conference series with the first place team in then conference. My sons team is currently in 3rd place.

 

[Chadstroma]

It was the 5th anniversary of the night that will live in infamy the other night (Rody Gobert COVID positive and the NBA stopped, Tom Hanks COVID positive, COVID elevated to pandemic status, Trump travel ban issued, stock market tanked, etc.). It was also the last time our son got to play in an official basketball game. I watched the highlights of that game for the first time in years. It's not hyperbole to say that EVERYONE's lives changed after that.

As far as the game went, our son was double- and triple-teamed with regularity. I had forgotten how many assists he had that game, and he had a lot of other great passes to open guys that shots didn't fall. He only scored 12 points but had to have been close to a triple double. Twelve points doesn't sound like much, but the game ended 41-39 . . . so everything is relative.

His team tried their best to give the game away, as they were up by 10 points with under 5 minutes to go and allowed the other team to tie in the last minute. He went football mode, lowered his shoulder and drove to the rim, got mugged, and made his free throws. It was a frenzy after that, as the other team got 3 or 4 good looks to win or tie but couldn't get a bucket and everyone went into a state of euphoria (it was a home game).

Watching it at this point was very surreal. Haven't really seen any of the players, coaches, parents, or spectators since. It seems like a lifetime ago in an alternate universe. No one knew what was coming next. My son never went back to high school, our other son never went back to college, my wife never went back to work at her office, and we were just days away from the "15 days to slow the spread" press conference. Somehow, we all survived . . . but the post-COVID world is way different.

At PT today one of the guys said "it is COVID day" I looked him like WTF and he said it is the 5th anniversary that the world went crazy. Crazy couple of years.

Messed up my older kids sports development. My daughter missed out and my middle son basically got delayed in starting.

 

[Todem]

Well Todem Jr had himself a very strong 3 game series....especially the 2nd and 3rd games....our bullpen on the other hand let all 3 games slip away.....all were there for tha taking and all slipped away.

My son seems to have wrestled the starting SS away from the 24 year old senior as he started all 3 games at SS and batted 2nd.

In games 2 and 3 he went 4/8 in 11 PA. he drew 2 BB and was also HBP. He made many outstanding defensive plays throughout the series as well.

They hit the road for their last non conference game in Virginia and then will be on the road till April 7/8 when I will be going up to watch that series.

Season slash line so far

20 games have been played:

He has played in 16 of them and started in 11

50 PA
36AB

.305 BA
.500 OBP
.806 OPS

Keep it going kid!!!

 

[Skipdog77]

I am a long ways off from actually needing it, but can someone recommend a site (or does it vary by sport) where I can start uploading videos of my daughter's "greatest hits"? I want her to have a solid library of highlights starting as early as 8th grade to show progression. Or is this just a bad idea? I know the chances are miniscule for her to get noticed but I'm a hopeful dad.

i have had and helped a bunch of kids play college ball and i use free online video editors that i cant recall the name of now to make highlight videos and put them on youtube its free and easy to link to take that to the bank bromigo

I put together highlight videos (hockey) of my daughter's play, and then uploaded them to YouTube. We also created a free profile for her on the NCSA website, but ignored all their calls regarding a "profile analysis" meeting and their hardsell salespitch. Everything they can do for you, your athlete can do for themselves with a little bit of hard work.

Have to do some legwork and pull together a list of colleges she would be willing to play for/attend, and make sure they have her intended field of study. At the beginning make this as wide as possible. Also be realistic about your child's ability level. Everyone wants to play D1, but those are the elite of the elite. Then put together a spreadsheet with colleges, the coach's contact info, and other things that may be important to her (athletic facilities, big city, small town, etc.), and then you can reach out to coaches via email and provide them the link to the profile. In that profile you can provide academic info, previous season stats, and links to your highlight videos. Then loo to attend tournaments, camps, clinics, etc where those coaches are going to be, and reach out to them with your game schedule a couple of weeks before. It helps greatly if you have a coach with some college contacts that can put in a good word, and who knows what tournaments to enter.

Chances that someone will just stumble on her profile or highlight videos aren't great, unless she's absolute top tier. You'll have better success with reaching out to the coaches and making that personal connection.

Once coaches see her at those tournaments and camps, they can check out her profile, may meet up with her following a game, etc. Our experience varied from coaches who offered a spot after just watching her video (desperate for players), to others who set up monthly calls with her to review video with her, amd help her improve her game. It was a very interestng experience.

I know hockey is different from other sports, but one thing the coaches did not want to see in highlight videos was 10 mins of girls scoring rebound goals. While they wanted to see some of it, they were more interested in seeing what she did when she didn't have the puck, how was her hockey IQ and compete level, was she in the right spots, supporting teammates, making hockey plays rather than individual "highlight" worthy plays. Alot of times they didn't want to watch the highlights and wanted to see a full period or game of play, so they could watch full shifts. Just something to keep in your mind as you put your videos together.

Good luck with it! Her recruiting journey lasted about a year and 3 months, and while it was a bit of a whirlwind, it was a great experience for her (and us).

 

[Chadstroma]

We also created a free profile for her on the NCSA website, but ignored all their calls regarding a "profile analysis" meeting and their hardsell salespitch. Everything they can do for you, your athlete can do for themselves with a little bit of hard work.

I sat through their pitch as I was curious what it was all about.

You are right, much of it is all things that you can do for yourself like edit videos. I think there is some value there but not for the cost of it. If you have money to burn, sure, why not but most of it you can do your own or your child does on their own and find other resources to do it otherwise. There is some free stuff you can do on it and learn from though which i think is their hook to sell you. A few other resources I have found. I think each have basically the same kind of format of having a free profile and then try to upsell you. I have not jumped into these as much yet.

1. SportsRecruits: Allows you to build a free student-athlete profile, research schools, and create highlight reels.
2. BeRecruited: Provides a free profile option where you can display your athletic and academic information.
3. University Athlete: Rsed by college coaches to evaluate student-athletes.

 

[SWC]

the big thing ncsa has is the database of teams email adresses from coaches to recruiting coordinators so you know who to reach out to that is what i have always said is the most useful tool it has and they put your stats into a database so teams will also reach out to you directly but it is costlythat to the bank bromigos

 

[Todem]

We also created a free profile for her on the NCSA website, but ignored all their calls regarding a "profile analysis" meeting and their hardsell salespitch. Everything they can do for you, your athlete can do for themselves with a little bit of hard work.

I sat through their pitch as I was curious what it was all about.

You are right, much of it is all things that you can do for yourself like edit videos. I think there is some value there but not for the cost of it. If you have money to burn, sure, why not but most of it you can do your own or your child does on their own and find other resources to do it otherwise. There is some free stuff you can do on it and learn from though which i think is their hook to sell you. A few other resources I have found. I think each have basically the same kind of format of having a free profile and then try to upsell you. I have not jumped into these as much yet.

1. SportsRecruits: Allows you to build a free student-athlete profile, research schools, and create highlight reels.
2. BeRecruited: Provides a free profile option where you can display your athletic and academic information.
3. University Athlete: Rsed by college coaches to evaluate student-athletes.

I paid them 2K when my son went into his Junior year of high achool.

For us it was well worth it. I got the entire coaches data base all in one place, he had a thorough profile, got a lot of follows, had many conversations with coaches, was able to use the tools to slim down his areas, majors, preferred geographical location, tons of filters you can use.

And he got recruited from reaching out via NCSA to 100’s of college coaches and got it narrowed down to a top 30 then top 15.

Had reach schools, perfect match schools and back ups (safe schools)

It worked out for us and we got our moneys worth.

 

[Todem]

So the kid played the last 4 at SS and batted 2nd

This weekend he will start the next three in CF and hit lead off.

Will report back.

At this point he is now

4th in hitting
2nd in OBP
1st in runs scored
1st in SB

 

[Todem]

What a weekend. So my sons team travelled to the Virginia Mountains for a road trip.

They had a strong 10-5 series opening win on Saturday afternoon. Todem Jr starting in CF and moved from the 2 hole to the leadoff spot for the first time since he became an everyday player several weeks ago. He looked quite comfortable out in CF making many good plays in the gaps and again showing his coaches and teammates his versatility.

Then yesterday the team had a double header on his 20th birthday. The first game, first batter launches a bomb straight away CF and the kid tracked it down and made a ridiculous catch against the CF walk to take away at a minimum a lead off double, potential triple. The teams would go back and forth with us holding a 10-9 lead heading into the bottom of the 9th.

Well due to some Pinch runner and pinch hitter decisions in the top half of inning 9 my son was slid over to RF for the bottom half of the 9th.

Bases loaded, 2 outs another ball is launched to straight away CF but the CF (god bless
Him my son felt sick for him as that was one of his roommates on this road trip) stumbled twice trying to track it after taking a fatal step forward on contact and the ball ultimately sailed over his head for a walk off win for the home team.

11-10

The third and decisive rubber match saw my son moved back to his primary position at SS after the junior who played their in the first game of the double header made 4 errors and 2 of them were very costly and ultimately made a difference in the final score. Physical errors are gonna happen at all levels….but to have 4 and cost you 2 runs is tough (in conference play) and that will lead you to the bench sometimes.

My son led of the game with a mammoth shot to CF that hit the warning track and bounced over the wall for an automatic double. He would set the tone for the rest of this game.

Fast forward to the top of the 4th we held a 4-3 lead with two outs and none on. He would take the first two pitches for balls. Sitting on a 2-0 pitch and god as my witness I turned to my wife and father inlaw and said this is a great count for him to launch his first collegiate HR on his birthday.

And he did just that!!!!!

A no doubter way over the LF wall!!!

But wait there is more!!!

Top of the 8th we held a 7-4 lead, again 2 outs and no one on the first pitch he sees a 90 plus fastball he hits an absolute laser linedrive that just kept rising and gooooooone!!!! His second HR of the day.

We were screaming with joy in our living room….the elation was real.

Bottom of the 9th….8-4 lead, bases loaded, 2 outs.

A screaming ground ball up the middle…..Todem Jr lays out full extension and snares it clean and flips to his senior 2B from his stomach to end the game for a series clinching 8-4 win!!

Now that is a birthday to remember!

He would finish this game:

3-5
2B
2 HR
2R
2 RBI

For the series:

5-13
5 Runs
2 RBI
2B
HR
SB
BB
2 Sacs
HBP

For the season currently:
#2 in average .329
#2 in slug .462
#1 Runs scored
# 1 Stolen Bases
# 1 sac bunts
#2 sac flies
# 5 in hits
#3 in doubles
#1 in HR
#1 in OBP (.431)
#2 in OPS! (.893)

His hard work is showing in spades.

He has a lot more he wants to accomplish and the season is just past the halfway point.

Next weekend a big conference series on the road in Greensboro NC and then I am heading up to Cary NC with his summer coach to watch a 3 game home stand vs their biggest conference rival!!!

 

[El Floppo]

Happy birthday, Jr!!! What a series!

 

[The Z Machine]

What a weekend. So my sons team travelled to the Virginia Mountains for a road trip.

They had a strong 10-5 series opening win on Saturday afternoon. Todem Jr starting in CF and moved from the 2 hole to the leadoff spot for the first time since he became an everyday player several weeks ago. He looked quite comfortable out in CF making many good plays in the gaps and again showing his coaches and teammates his versatility.

Then yesterday the team had a double header on his 20th birthday. The first game, first batter launches a bomb straight away CF and the kid tracked it down and made a ridiculous catch against the CF walk to take away at a minimum a lead off double, potential triple. The teams would go back and forth with us holding a 10-9 lead heading into the bottom of the 9th.

Well due to some Pinch runner and pinch hitter decisions in the top half of inning 9 my son was slid over to RF for the bottom half of the 9th.

Bases loaded, 2 outs another ball is launched to straight away CF but the CF (god bless
Him my son felt sick for him as that was one of his roommates on this road trip) stumbled twice trying to track it after taking a fatal step forward on contact and the ball ultimately sailed over his head for a walk off win for the home team.

11-10

The third and decisive rubber match saw my son moved back to his primary position at SS after the junior who played their in the first game of the double header made 4 errors and 2 of them were very costly and ultimately made a difference in the final score. Physical errors are gonna happen at all levels….but to have 4 and cost you 2 runs is tough (in conference play) and that will lead you to the bench sometimes.

My son led of the game with a mammoth shot to CF that hit the warning track and bounced over the wall for an automatic double. He would set the tone for the rest of this game.

Fast forward to the top of the 4th we held a 4-3 lead with two outs and none on. He would take the first two pitches for balls. Sitting on a 2-0 pitch and god as my witness I turned to my wife and father inlaw and said this is a great count for him to launch his first collegiate HR on his birthday.

And he did just that!!!!!

A no doubter way over the LF wall!!!

But wait there is more!!!

Top of the 8th we held a 7-4 lead, again 2 outs and no one on the first pitch he sees a 90 plus fastball he hits an absolute laser linedrive that just kept rising and gooooooone!!!! His second HR of the day.

We were screaming with joy in our living room….the elation was real.

Bottom of the 9th….8-4 lead, bases loaded, 2 outs.

A screaming ground ball up the middle…..Todem Jr lays out full extension and snares it clean and flips to his senior 2B from his stomach to end the game for a series clinching 8-4 win!!

Now that is a birthday to remember!

He would finish this game:

3-5
2B
2 HR
2R
2 RBI

For the series:

5-13
5 Runs
2 RBI
2B
HR
SB
BB
2 Sacs
HBP

For the season currently:
#2 in average .329
#2 in slug .462
#1 Runs scored
# 1 Stolen Bases
# 1 sac bunts
#2 sac flies
# 5 in hits
#3 in doubles
#1 in HR
#1 in OBP (.431)
#2 in OPS! (.893)

His hard work is showing in spades.

He has a lot more he wants to accomplish and the season is just past the halfway point.

Next weekend a big conference series on the road in Greensboro NC and then I am heading up to Cary NC with his summer coach to watch a 3 game home stand vs their biggest conference rival!!!

WOW!

MVP level performance there.