Coronavirus has created a brave new world when it comes to softball recruiting. For months now most college coaches have been forbidden from doing any in-person recruiting. They have had to find a new way to “see” the players they are interested in. They have needed a new way to “get to know” the players they are going to recruit.
Technology is a powerful tool in recruiting as long as you know how to use it. There are many options available and all of them serve a different purpose.
For several years now, people have used different streaming services to broadcast their games. Whether you are using a simple FaceBook Live stream or one of the more expensive streaming services, there is a great deal of both good and bad news.
Streaming does allow a coach to “watch” the games. Most people set up a camera on the backstop and do their best to show the entire field of play in that single shot. Using this technique is a nice way to share the game with college coaches, or family members that can’t attend the game in-person. You can usually see enough to follow the game and keep up with who is winning and losing. You can usually see the hitter but, unfortunately, you can’t really follow the flight of the ball or see where the ball goes very far into the field.
Broadcasting the whole game is better than nothing, but it does miss the boat on how best to show an interested college coach what an individual player is capable of doing. If you want to increase your opportunity to get recruited using streaming, you need to change the way you are using the tool!
What should you be doing?
Each player should be streaming THEIR game. You need to have a parent or friend or someone to set the camera up to show your individual efforts. It requires that person resetting the camera several times during the game to be sure that we are focusing on your performance. The camera should zero in on you at home plate when you are hitting. Much more focused on the hitter and then follow the flight of the ball after it gets hit. When we go to defense we need to reset the camera to show that player playing her position. Again, zeroing in on the position you play. For example, a shortstop might be shot from the first base side so the coach can see you move, see you throw and see how you react. If you get on-base, the camera should again move to show your lead offs, your effort and your reaction to the ball when it gets hit.
Sounds like a lot of work, doesn’t it? Yes it is. But never forget, that college coach wants to see you play! They aren’t watching your game to see if your team wins or loses, they are watching it to see you YOU play.
There is another huge payoff to streaming YOUR game. If a college coach is tuned in to see your up close and personal stream of your performance you know for sure they are interested in you! They have invested their time and attention on watching you play. Wouldn’t that be helpful information?
Of course it would!
