It isn’t always easy to find a team that’s the right fit for you. It wasn’t easy for me. Some guys will play for ten different showcase teams throughout their career.
I played for two teams in a span of 5 years. While I played USSSA, I didn’t start showcase until High School. Based on your location, it can be fairly easy or fairly difficult to find teams in your area. Living in North Carolina, I had a plethora of options. But, for a hopeful college baseball recruit in North Dakota or Maine - states with fewer baseball athletes and much shorter seasons - finding a showcase team to travel with and help you on your journey can be tough.
The more options you have the better chance you have of finding the perfect one. It’s not always going to be perfect. I had one team that I loved at first but it turned into an awful situation. You must be patient and test the waters.
While there are some websites you can use, your best bet is to go through your high school coach to place you on a team. The odds are your coach is going to know at least one showcase team that can took a look at you. If this option doesn’t work, I would recommend asking your friends/teammates on who they plan on playing for.
When I was having difficulty finding a team, I asked some of my teammates on my high school team and they gave me some great leads. Connections are a huge part of this process. You could have a high school coach that is best friends with the top showcase team around. You might end up being automatically put on the team without a tryout or anything. I wasn’t one of these lucky ones unfortunately. It can be a frustrating process and I completely understand it if you’re going through this right now. If you have a stand-out attribute or part of your game, let everyone know! I was a really fast guy so I made sure I was always hustling and stealing bases. Coaches love when a kid is able to recognize his game and make the most of it.
If you are having trouble finding a team, start putting in more work and see if you can get noticed through your high school season. A coach at another school may have a connection or even be a showcase coach himself. When you lace up and step on the field, it is another opportunity to be great and exposure your ability. Take advantage of every single one of these chances. You won’t get any of them back. Stay diligent and determined in finding a team.
It is extremely hard to be exposed to college coaches without being a part of a showcase team. Do whatever it takes to join a team, even if it means playing for a team that isn’t as good. An opportunity is an opportunity. You could get signed after your first tournament.
Showcase coaches have the most amount of connections with colleges compared to anyone else. It is your window to receive the scholarship you’ve been dreaming of. Take advantage!
