FROM THE COACHING STAFF:
Academics come first in the Paul VI Panthers Baseball Program. Our stance on that remark is year-round. Even when we are not in-season, the school's eligibility requirements will be followed. During winter workouts, the rules will be followed the same way that they would be followed during baseball season.

In the winter of 2003 a rule was created by the coaching staff stating that any of our prospective players who show up the INELIGIBLE LIST would not be allowed to participate in our winter training sessions. With the number of talented players we have trying out for the team every year, it is always difficult for the coaching staff to decide who we should keep on our roster. When people can't 'make the grade' it makes our decision making process much easier. It is a very simple procedure for the coaching staff to check grades, so there's nowhere to hide!

We (coaches) will not allow those who are on the ineleigible list to lift weights, run and train with the other propective players. We also do not think that they should be allowed to participate at the winter camps until they rectify the situation.



HERE ARE THE OFFICIAL ELIGIBILITY GUIDLINES OF PAUL VI CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL:

Any student who falls into one or more of the following categories is ineligible to participate in school-sponsored activities/athletics for the remainder of the current quarter.:

A student will lose eligibility if his/her grades include any of the following two standards:

1.      Two F’s and/or one incomplete in the current grading period.

2.      A GPA below 1.7 for the current grading period.

Grades for all participants will be checked at interims as well. If the requirements are not met, the student is ineligible until the end of the grading period.

The only exceptions to these rules are as follows:
1)-(INTERIMS)-The failing interim grade is based on an assignment, quiz or test that the teacher will still allow to be made up. In this case, eligibility may restored before the next quarterly grade report if the teacher sends a written note to the Dean of Academics verifying that the work has been made up and the failing grade no longer exists. At that point GPA will be recalculated.
2)-(REPORT CARDS)-The teacher must agree to officially change the grade under the same circumstances listed above and produce the same written note.



FINAL STEP:

Once we (coaches) have verbal or written proof from the Dean of Academics that a situation has been changed for the better and that the student is eligible by the standards listed above we will give strong consideration to reinstating the student-athlete into baseball activities.



We know Paul VI is has challenging academic environment. We create a challenging environment in our baseball program as well. So, if you can't manage to keep your name off of the ineligible list, the PVI Baseball Program is not for you. High School is not that hard and all of you are capable. If you can't do it now, you can forget about college. PRIORITIZE what's important to you and properly manage your time!

Here's how we do it at Paul VI-

First, see your guidance counselor about college admission policies and deadlines, and about registering for the NCAA Clearing House. Get this done first!

Next, get a college information sheet from Coach Emerson. On this sheet you will provide the following information to Coach in your junior year(preferably before the high school season begins)-
1) Guidance Counselor's Name
2) Overall GPA
3) Core GPA
4) SAT score
5) A list of 5-10 colleges you would like to go to the most.

When you make your list, you need to be realistic about where you want to play. There are very few players from this area who could play at Cal State Fullerton, Miami or Texas. That's not because we don't produce fine ballplayers in Northern Virginia, there are several varibales that factor into that eqaution. If you are unsure of where you stand as a baseball player, ask Coach Nolan. While it is not the coaching staff's job to select your college level, we CAN give you a good idea. If you aren't playing a significant role on your high school team, you shouldn't expect to play Division I Baseball (at least not right away). However, if you are good enough to make the varsity baseball team at PVI, there is a future for you in college baseball.

Keep this in mind: Big colleges in the Deep South and out West typically don't recruit heavily in the Washington Metropolitan Area. So, be sure your list includes colleges that are either in-state, in a nearby state and/or north of here. A COLLEGE HAS TO BE INTERESTED IN YOU AND HAVE A NEED AT YOUR POSITION. IF THEY DON'T HAVE A NEED AT YOUR POSITION, THEY NEED TO REALLY THINK ALOT OF YOU TO STILL BE SERIOUSLY INTERESTED. IF YOU DO ONE -or- TWO THINGS EXCEPTIONALLY WELL (such as: throw a 90+ mph fastball, hit the ball 450 feet, show amazing fielding ability -and/or- run a 6.5 second 60yd. dash) THERE WILL BE MORE INTEREST AS LONG AS YOU HAVE QUALIFYING GRADES.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:
1) Am I satisfied with the academic program at this college?
2) If something kept me from being able to play baseball, would I still be happy at this college?
3) Will I get to actually play or will I ride the bench for three or four years?
4) Should I go to a junior college first and then transfer to a four-year school? Should I try to play Division I, II, III or NAIA?
5) How much can my family afford? Is a scholarship possible?
6) Do I have any choices or is there just one school interested in me? (You may not have choices. There may only be one college that wants you on their baseball team.)

SCHOLARSHIPS & RECRUITING:
Scholarship money in college baseball is very limited. The maximum amount of scholarships in Div. I Baseball is 11.7 per school. Division II has a max of 9.0. Many schools are not fully funded and have less than the maximum. Division III schools do not award athletic scholarships. Junior colleges (2-year schools) vary in awarding scholarships. Some are fully funded and may have 10 or more full scholarships while others only give smaller scholarships primarily to "blue-chip" recruits or no scolarship awards at all. Pitchers, Catchers and Middle-Infielders (primarily shortstops) command more scholarship money than any other positions. Coaches recruit based on needs. EXAMPLE: If a coach has a starting catcher who is a Junior and two Freshman back-up catchers, who are projected to battle for the starting job next year, it is highly unlikely that he will be looking to recruit any catchers this year. Recuiting is a tricky process because of these types of factors. It's not a reason to panic if you have no offers before you begin your senior season. Sometimes it will take a while for your future as a college baseball player to be determined. The better your grades are the easier it is for our coaching staff to "sell" you. Some schools don't want you to apply through the admissions office because the coach feels he may have a better chance of you getting accepted if he personally files your application. Make sure you know what the coach wants you to do.

SELF PROMOTION:
Parents and players must be proactive! Make a 1-2 page resume on your baseball record, academic record and achievements. Add photos and personalize it. Make sure it's something people will look at. Make a video tape or a DVD of yourself hitting, pitching, fielding or playing in a game. These are great self promotion tools to send to the colleges that are realistic for you. Coach Emerson can give you examples on how to construct these tools. Ask Coach Nolan to call these schools for you. Have others (scouts, summer coaches) call as well. Every little bit helps!

SIGNING:
If a school wants you, they will usaully ask you to sign a National Letter of Intent. This will most likely include scholarship money if you are asked to sign in the Early Signing Period. Sometimes with Junior Colleges and small schools, there will be no letter to sign... just a verbal commitment or a "less formal" offer sheet will be presented to you. The early signing period beigns the second Wednesday in November of your Senior year and lasts one week. The spring signing period is from the second Wednesday in April through July.

SHOWCASE CAMPS:
Showcase camps and traveling summer teams are two extra ways for you to gain exposure to college coaches. But be aware, showcase camps are primarily a fundraiser for the organizer of the event and often have very little to do with you finding a college that wants you. There is a chance someone may see something in you that they like but, don't feel pressured into traveling across the country, attending showcases. The best thing for you to do is pick a few showcase camps where the coaches from the schools you want to attend and/or coaches who have shown interest in you will be.

SUMMER TRAVEL TEAMS & FALL BASEBALL:
Many will tell you that the path to college baseball is found in the summer. If this is true why do they pick the all-conference teams in the spring? Why don't they have a summer high school League or State Championship? Why can't you find regular news coverage about summer baseball? Why don't they select a summer All-Met or All-Examiner team? The answer... HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL IS THE MAIN STAGE, summer ball is developmental, so don't discount your high school playing career at all! Many summer coaches are very well connected, knowledgable and willing to help in the college selection process. However, college coaches typically want to deal with high school coaches more than summer team coaches and sometimes they just want to deal with you the player. Signing on to a summer team because of a well-known team name, well-known coach or the grand promise of "college exposure" are not neccesarily good reasons to choose a team. Baseball is a repetitive game, summer baseball is developmental and your focus should simply be: getting as many innings as possible against like or better competition. If you don't PLAY you won't develop. Find the best possible playing situation every summer (ie: a team that plays at least 25-30 games where you will get a lot of playing time). Your coaches can help you.

DO YOUR PART:
If you want to play college baseball your primary objectives are as follows:
1)Follow the instructions listed above (1st & 2nd paragraphs).
2)Perform at the highest level in the classroom.
3)Perform at the highest level on the field during your high school season(s).
4)Get extra exposure where possible.
5)Be proactive!

The coaching staff at PVI will pick up the phone for you and market you to the schools that you are capable of playing for. The coaching staff at PVI will also get college coaches to come watch you play. You must do your part too. Some of the first things a college coach ask are; "Has he been through the clearing house?...Has he applied?... has he been accepted?.. have I seen him play...has he sent me a questionaire, a resume or video tape?" He will then ask about your character and grades, followed by your baseball ability. If you have accomplished what you should have on and off the field, you'll be an easy "sell".



FAQ & ANSWERS:
Question: As a parent, do I really have a significant role in the college recruiting process?
Answer: Baseball parents can have a major impact on their son's recruiting experience. Parents as well as their sons nearly always have to take the initiative in order for the player to get a college baseball scholarship or a spot on the team. Be proactive.

Q: As a parent, what should I keep foremost in mind about recruiting?
A: A player must, of course, have talent. But a strong academic background, motivation, and exposure are also very important. Poor grades, poor reputation and lack of exposure are the three biggest factors that keep players from receiving scholarships. Exposure can be gained in many ways... from a high school coach who communicates with college coaches, sending colleges a tape and a resume, news coverage, showcase camps, scouting services, etc. To develop your son's talent during his high school years, have him communicate and work with his high school coach/team in off-season camps and conditioning, help him find private workouts with current or ex-pro players. Also encourage him to throw, field, work out with hitting devices and to do speed/strength training. Find a good summer team, one on which your son can play at least 25 to 50 games and participates in some showcase tournaments. This will give him the kind of experience he needs -- plus more exposure. The key is he must be able to actually play, not just be on the team. If he doesn't play he won't develop.

Q: What are the usual steps in the recruiting process?
A: At the beginning of his junior year, he should apply for approval to play NCAA Division I sports from the NCAA Clearinghouse.
Colleges are permitted to write letters to prospects after September 1 during his junior year. Personal contact may take place after July 1 following his junior year, and once-per-week phone calls are also permitted then. Questionnaires should be promptly returned, since timing can be critical. And it's important to note that there's no better way to accelerate the recruiting process than for your son to play in front of college coaches sometime after his sophomore year.

Q: My son wants to go to a top-25 Div. I baseball school because he says that will increase his chances of making it to the major leagues. Is that true?
A: Only a very small percentage of players can attend those elite schools. What's more, major league teams draft players, even in the first round, from colleges of all sizes.

Q: How many official and unofficial visits can my son make?
A: Players can make five official paid visits to different schools and an unlimited number of unofficial visits, which they must pay for. They, however, can't make official visits or accept scholarships until they are academically qualified.

Q: My son is getting letters and phone calls from five or six schools. Does such attention ensure he'll get a scholarship offer?
A: No. Such attention can cease anytime, without explanation, since colleges routinely send letters of interest and questionnaires to hundreds of players each year. And each college may offer only five to ten scholarships.

Q: Which is better for my son: a small offer from a big school, or a big offer from a small school?
A: It depends. Does your son have the maturity to warm the bench at a top baseball program, where he might not see much or any action as a freshman? Or does he just have to play now? And how important is the possibility of someday getting to the NCAA regionals or the College World Series in Omaha?

Q: Will my son's scholarship be taken away if he's injured?
A: Some colleges and coaches will honor four-year scholarship promises if a player's injured, but it's up to them. Others will extend the scholarship one season beyond an injury. Still others won't honor scholarships in the event of injury, period.

Q: My son just received his first scholarship offer. How do I know if it's a good one?
A: Basketball and football scholarships are all "full rides." Ninety-nine percent of baseball scholarships aren't. Division I baseball schools are allowed a maximum of 11.7 full scholarships, and their players usually number 25 or more. Division II schools have 9.0. Therefore, most scholarships are from 20 to 50 percent. What's more, probably more than 85 percent of all scholarship money is awarded to players up the middle -- pitchers, catchers, shortstops, and center fielders.
If your son is offered more than 50 percent, that's a great scholarship -- and he should probably expect to see lots of playing time.

Q: What percentage of scholarship money is spoken for in the early signing period?
A: Perhaps 50 percent-plus of all scholarships are awarded to up-the-middle players in the fall. To early signees also go most large scholarships, with the exception of those reserved for players who aren't yet academically qualified.
If you've found the right school, and the scholarship money is right -- sign!

Q: If my son didn't receive any scholarship offers before or during the November signing period, should I be concerned?
A: Shoot for fall signing, but don't panic if it doesn't happen.
You might follow up the end of the fall-signing period by sending videotapes to the schools he's most interested in.
Marginal college baseball prospects sometimes must recruit a school more than the school recruits them.

Q: When should a player walk on?
A: When a school and coach have a record of playing walk-ons and eventually giving them scholarships, your son might think about it. You could also ask to talk to players who have gone this route in a particular program.
Coaches must have some investment in a player, otherwise his chance of playing is a long shot.

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SAMPLE
College Info Sheet to Coach Nolan

Name: Johnny Johnson

I have registerd and passed with the NCAA Clearing house.

1)Guidance Conselor's Name: Mrs. Tani
2)Overall GPA: 3.67
3)Core GPA 3.35
4)SAT Score: 1210
5)Schools: Mary Washington University, Radford University, University of Virgina, Shepherd College, University of Florida, University of Maryland, Boston College and Frostburg State.

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