(UPDATED 8/1/2024) Hopefully, you have taken the time to read our previous blog post detailing the importance of August 1st for baseball student-athletes, especially if you are in the class of 2026. This date allows NCAA Division I college coaches, to engage in recruiting discussions with student-athletes entering their Junior Year (class of 2026). This means that college coaches will be able to call, text, or email you directly regarding your recruiting process.

Now that we are passed August 1st, here are some tips to consider as you continue your baseball recruiting process.

This is (and should be) an exciting time on the recruiting calendar, but waiting to hear from coaches who want to take that next step with you, can be stressful.

If you have heard from college coaches, make sure you are emailing back in a timely manner and remaining responsive even if that school might not be at the top of your list.

If you have not heard from any coaches at this time, do not panic! This is just the start of coaches having the ability to communicate with you, and their focus is just moving toward the class of 2026. You may be unsure about how to handle the recruiting process now that we are past August 1st.

Here are five tips to consider now that this date is behind us:

  1. Introduce Yourself: If you have not introduced yourself to any coaches yet, start off by putting together a diverse list of target schools. Then introduce yourself and let them know you are interested and why. We typically recommend that you have anywhere from 20-30 schools on this list, making sure you have a wide variety of programs. Have some schools that you consider a reach, fit, and safety option for you both athletically and academically.
  2. Follow Up and Be Direct: If you have been proactive in your outreach to college coaches, now is a good time to check back in with those schools to see where they are in their process of recruiting the class of 2026. Find out if they are still looking for your position to determine if that school will stay on your list or not. If you feel that they are interested, try to set up a phone call to learn more about their program.
  3. Update Video: Make sure your most up-to-date video is available for coaches to view. SportsRecruits makes it easy to have your full video library available for coaches looking to evaluate you. Remember, athletes with video on their profile are 11x more likely to receive views from college coaches. Take the time to create an updated highlight reel, skills video, or even add some raw footage.
  4. Play in Front of Your Top Schools: Find opportunities to compete in front of the programs you are interested in. Be strategic. Make sure you are thoughtful about which events are worth it and which ones are not. Make sure that before you spend the money on those certain events you have connected with the coach and they know you will be there. If you are unable to find a prospect day they are hosting or an event the coaches are attending. See if you can visit the school when traveling throughout the year and schedule a meeting with the coach as well as a tour of campus.
  5. Consider Expanding Your List of Schools: If you don’t receive a lot of positive feedback from college coaches over the next few months, consider expanding your list of schools. Opportunities at the DII, DIII, NAIA, or JUCO level may not be on your list now, but this is a good time to re-evaluate what level is the best fit for you athletically. Check-in with your current athletic advocates (club coach, high school coach, trainer, etc.) to ask for their feedback. Watch videos of athletes who have committed to that school on their SportsRecruits page.

Good luck with your communication! As always, continue to be proactive, put the work in on and off the field, and make sure your SportsRecruits profile is up to date.

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Mike Babich is a Senior Recruiting Analyst at SportsRecruits. Mike has experience in collegiate athletics as a former football student-athlete at Mount Ida College, as well as a Graduate Assistant and Assistant Football Coach at Long Island University. He also served in the role of an Admissions Counselor for two years at Molloy College in Rockville Centre, New York. He has a passion for helping student-athletes better navigate and understand the recruiting process.