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Top Gun Events, which produces elite travel softball events including the Top Gun Invitational, is being proactive in preparing for its summer tournaments and showcases.
With the “dead period” for college coaches likely being extended further into the summer, Top Gun has come up with innovative strategies to better serve college coaches wanting to evaluate prospective recruits.
Here is a release the company sent to Extra Inning Softball Tuesday night…
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We have some really exciting news to share with you today as we’ve been working hard behind the scenes and are planning for one heck of a Top Gun Invitational (TGI) 2020!
In lieu of pending NCAA recruiting rule changes, we’re expanding recruiting capabilities on behalf of teams, players and college coaches. As an industry leader in Elite level fastpitch events we continuously strive to provide advanced tools and services to benefit players, teams and college coaches alike.
Because TGI is one of the top recruiting showcases in the country, we’re preparing to provide our athletes and college coaches with a recruiting platform unlike anything this event has ever seen.
These expanded offerings will provide a tremendous resource for college coaches regardless of potential recruiting restrictions that may include an extended dead period, safety concerns or budget restrictions.
This “Virtual Recruiting Platform” includes opportunities for:
- broadcasting games
- player & team combine workouts equipped with data analytics
- individual player profiles.
This allows college coaches to evaluate and recruit athletes virtually if they are unable to attend physically and provides recruiting opportunities long after the event is over.
And what’s even better — we are making this available to all teams and college coaches free of charge during this year’s Top Gun Invite.
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Here is more info on these three key areas:
1. GAME BROADCAST:
Top Gun Events is currently evaluating resources to broadcast games during the event that will provide on-demand access to college coaches for evaluation as their time allows.
2. TEAM/PLAYER ANALYTICS & COMBINE WORKOUT:
A combine-style workout for teams will be available and broadcasted for college coaches on-demand — providing players and college coaches with skill and data analytics for virtual recruiting and analysis. A separate combine for Pitchers and Catchers will also be available and broadcasted.
3. PLAYER PROFILES:
Immediately following the combine, college coaches will have access to player profiles for additional review and evaluation — still all free of charge. From each player profile, both the athlete and college coaches will have the ability to access the athlete’s profile information, analytic data and action clips.
We are committed to providing a platform that is so much MORE. One that helps every athlete find their best possible fit to thrive on and off the field at the next level.
Yes, this platform is going to be incredible for TGI 2020. But, it’s much more than that. The recruiting landscape will look different this summer due to the COVID pandemic, but the landscape is also going to be fundamentally different from here on out. Our platform will continue to serve beyond just TGI 2020. It’s going to help athletes find their best possible fit at the collegiate level for years to come.
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A NOTE FROM JEREMY MCDOWELL
“We couldn’t be more excited to bring this platform to not only the Top Gun Invitational, but also to the softball community overall, “Jeremy McDowell, CEO & Founder of Midwest Sports Productions and partner of Top Gun Events, said.
“We know how much softball means to our athletes and families, and we want to help as many athletes as possible play this beautiful game as long as possible at the next level. But, for us it’s more than just helping girls get to college programs. We believe that it’s all about helping girls find the best fit possible for them at the next level – whatever level that may be – so they can thrive both on and off the field.”
“This type of platform is long overdue in our game – the kind of platform that leverages the power of technology to connect players with college coaches in ways that actually help athletes and college coaches in the recruiting process,” McDowell continued.
“Through elite level competition, data analytics that college coaches are asking for, broadcasted games, and a portal that connects players to coaches, we can’t wait to bring this to our sport and help both players and college coaches cut through the unnecessary noise in the recruiting process and focus on what matters – athletes finding the best possible fit at the next level.”
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More Top Gun Invite notes for this year:
TGI SCHOLARSHIP:
If you have athletes interested in applying for the TGI scholarship, please remember that the deadline to submit the application is in two weeks — Tuesday, May 26.
We’ll be awarding four total recipients with $1,000 scholarships (two in the 18U Maverick division and two in the 18U Viper division).
Applications can be downloaded from the Top Gun site and either mailed to the office or emailed to [email protected].
FOLDS OF HONOR:
Top Gun Events has promised to stand beside and support Folds of Honor and its scholarship program.
While we know this is a challenging time for everyone, the need is still there.
Nearly three million spouses and children have been adversely affected by war through the death or disability of a U.S. service member. That certainly has not stopped.
Their mission pays tribute to the Americans who bear the heaviest cost for our freedoms and reminds the public it is our duty to honor their sacrifice.
Most importantly, the scholarships offer support and hope in one of the most difficult times of their lives. For the families of fallen and disabled service members… finding funds for education can seem an insurmountable hurdle on top of their already overwhelming burdens occurring today.
We’ll be working with Folds of Honor to do all the heavy lifting for you and create team pages for everyone. Again — we know that this is a challenging time for everyone — so please know that anything you can do to support, big or small makes a tremendous impact.
EXTENDED 2020 SEASON:
Lastly — just a quick reminder that Top Gun along with USA Elite Select has extended the Summer season through the month of August. We’ve added three new Kansas City events to the Summer schedule:
- Top Gun Endeavor: July 31 – August 2
- Top Gun Resolve: August 7-9
- Top Gun Conquest: August 21-23
You can check out the full lineup at topgunevents.com.
Please stay safe and healthy – we can’t wait to see you all soon!
— Top Gun Events staff