Dear Prospect,

Below are frequently asked questions, with the relevant answers, to help you better understand the program:

Q, How important is it to play in the fall?

A, Extremely. There are three primary reasons to play in the fall: The exposure, the experience, and most importantly, the best opportunity of the year for a player to get better. If you have a desire to play baseball at the college level, there isn’t anything more important than playing in the fall.  The fall is the recruiting season for colleges when college recruiters are out in full force at all the major events.  If you want to play at the next level, you better start trying compete at the next level.

Q, How old should I be before I should get started?

A, With the early signing period and players verbally committing at a younger age each year, it is never too early to start getting your name out there as one of the better players in your age group.  The answer is: as soon as possible.  You cannot begin too early.

Q, What kind of experience should I expect to have?

A, The Academy has had hundreds players in the past who went on to play in college and in professional baseball.  Consistently they have told us that it was the best experience they had playing baseball. There was no substitute for playing against the colleges as a high school player or in some of the underclassmen showcases for the younger players.  They remember how good an experience it was to be playing on Major League Fields, and playing in front of hundreds of scouts and college recruiters.

Q, Why are the Northwest Championship and the Perfect Game WWBA now a part of the fall now season?

A, The Northwest Championships, Perfect game WWBA and the traditional fall season are now so close together we needed to combine them.  The deadlines for turning in the rosters require us to set the teams earlier.

Q, Do we have to go all the tournaments?

A, No, although it would be best if you did.  However, we understand there other things people need to do, including both family and school responsibilities.  If you cannot attend a tournament or cannot get to the tournament because of school you just need to let your coach know ahead of time.

Q, How are teams organized?

A, It depends on the weekend.  We are constantly making adjustments trying to put each and every player in the best possible situation to improve. 

Q, Who will be coaching?

A, We have a team of professional baseball people in place who have been coaching in this very situation for two decades.  Your team will be coached by one of the designated coaches.

Q, What is the format?

A, Scout baseball leagues across the country are all centered on player development and exposure for the players.  They are almost all wood bat events and very often score is not even kept.  The games are 7 innings.

Q, Where can I see a schedule?

A, The schedule will be posted on the website.  Each and every year the Academy re-evaluates the schedule to make sure we are going to the best possible events.  Each year we turn down several events and are the only organization from the Mountain West region invited to several others.

Q, What about missing school?

A, School is what this program is about.  We have close to a 90% success rate getting players placed into college when they have stuck with the program.  Seniors have 5 official recruiting visits allowed to them under the rules, and may use one of them for excused absences from School to attend the Senior Fall Classic.  If we are traveling the week of one of the national tests you may schedule that test at the site we are playing.  If you need to miss an event, to leave an event early, or come late to an event because of school you are welcome to do so.  School is first baseball, is second.  Also, generally a couple of these tournaments will fall on UEA or a district work day, and one is usually during a holiday weekend, as well.  We do not yet have the school schedules to be able to check this year’s school calendars, however, if the past is a predictor then there will be several events which coincide with school breaks.  Therefore the players are out of school anyway during several of these events.

Q, Have any Utah high school players been recruited through this program?

A, Several hundred players have graduated the from the Academy’s Programs and gone on to play at all levels of college and professional baseball.  Their primary exposure to recruiting has been in fall baseball. (See hall-a-fame list on web site for a list.)

Q, What if I have already committed to a College or University?

A, Over the last couple of years we have seen players from around west commit to a University as a sophomore or junior and then shut down their individual development.  In each one of these cases it has been a very poor decision.  Not only has this decision affected their reputation with the scouts (who continue to watch even signed players), but it negatively affects important skill development.  These are your most important developmental years, and there are very few opportunities to compete against this type of competition.  As soon as you shut it down and quit competing you are giving the rest of the field a chance to catch up or pass you by.

Q, what about individual playing time?

A, Playing time will be determined by many factors as it is at all levels of baseball.  Position, performance, attitude, etc…  If we didn’t think we could provide adequate opportunity for you to play, you would not be on the team.

Q, Travel

A, this is the 22nd year we have been taking these All-Star trips.  In the past almost every parent has accompanied their son.  Because of this, we have made no arrangements for transportation to and from airport, ballpark, etc. in the fall program. We do have hotel reservation in most cities where the teams can stay.  We hope to have that list up on the web very soon.