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Mickey Coslor has quite the impressive resume.
The junior second baseman and slapper, who has a 4.0 GPA at Port Charlotte (Florida) High and plays club ball with Rock Gold 16U – Waye/Manetta out of Southwest Florida, was ranked in the Spring at #75 in the 2023 Extra Elite 100 and has been a four-time USSSA All-American.
The All-State player has also really impressed us over the last few years in how she’s promoted herself via her MickeyCoslor.com website and has regularly kept in contact to keep us up on her latest successes.
We asked the standout athlete what has worked for her in marketing herself in the recruiting process and she graciously agreed to share her insights… her are Mickey’s suggestions.
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When I was asked to suggest “5 tips to help a player get recruited,” so many ideas quickly came to mind: work hard, hustle, send e-mails, shoot video, practice, practice, practice…. that kind of stuff.
But quickly I realized I probably am not the most qualified to provide this information, but maybe something I suggest can help someone else.
I’ve worked hard but I’ve been very fortunate lucky too:
- I’m lucky to have had coaches, my parents, and even college coaches believe in me enough to teach me the five points I’m going to outline below.
- I’ve been lucky to play on a travel team that’s allowed me to interact with college coaches in the camp environment going back to 7th grade.
- I’m lucky Coach Johnny Manetta switched me to be a left-handed slapper four years ago…. something I never would have thought to do.
- I’m really lucky my organization has a lot of contacts with colleges throughout the country.
But, it hasn’t been easy for me: it’s taken a lot of practice on and off the field!
I’ve always been a bit shy, I was always the smallest one on the field when I was younger, and it sure was uncomfortable for me to learn these tips that I kept hearing about over and over.
I haven’t decided on a college yet, but I’ve been fortunate to have received some great offers from amazing schools at the D2, D3, NAIA and Junior College levels.
In addition to actual offers, I think I’ve been contacted by around 60 schools throughout the country from all divisions. We’ll see if anything develops in a couple of weeks from Div. 1 schools, and I will keep you updated.
I’m fortunate that through hard work on the field and in the classroom, and by doing the following five things for the past couple of years, I’m confident I will have a great school to attend after I graduate in 2023.
Hopefully these tips will help someone else get noticed and recruited by a school that will be their perfect fit!
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1. GIVE 100 PERCENT: HUSTLE, WORK HARD, AND BE LOUD ON THE FIELD
I hear it all the time: you’re only on the field for an hour and a half… why not give your absolute 100 percent?
If you’re going to make an error (which we all do), why not do it 100 percent? Strike out? Better be swinging it hard.
Always assume that somebody is watching. Remember there are so many good players out there, so do something to set yourself apart!
I’ve been approached by college coaches following games that pointed out I was always talking to my teammates, seemed to love playing the game, and they saw I wasn’t afraid to dive for a ball or run the bases hard.
I recently had a D2 coach talk to me after a game where I didn’t get a hit, and only had a couple of routine fielding chances, say that he noticed I was at my 2B position before the other team was even off the field and that was the type of player he was looking for!
I’ve had college coaches share photos on social media of my dirty uniform and tell me they always notice players that seem to be outworking everyone else.
Most of us don’t pitch 70 mph or hit four home runs every game, but you CAN create opportunities for yourself through hard work.
If all I’m ever known for is playing the game 100 percent and having fun, I’ll take it!!
2. BE OPEN MINDED, REALISTIC AND NEVER “BIG LEAGUE” ANYONE!
Not everyone is a top DI-caliber player… nor do we have to be.
I know there is a program for all of us that will allow us to play the game we love while getting a great education.
Have dreams and work hard towards those dreams. Use those dreams for motivation, but stay realistic. Sometimes that’s hard to do, and it can hurt. I’ve heard so many stories of players ending up at schools that weren’t even on their initial “list.”
There are so many good schools out there, of all sizes, at all divisions!
Research schools and conferences; research their academic programs. Figure out where you might fit as a player and student, but never be surprised or uninformed. Are you a D2 player? NAIA? Power 5 D1? A smaller D1 that might be classified as a mid-major?
One of my earliest formal written offers came from NAIA Georgia Gwinnett College. I was fortunate enough to get to practice with the team just prior to their post-season run this past season. Their field and facilities are absolutely amazing, the coaching staff is top-notch, and the team has been in the top of the national rankings since they started their program. They run their program like a D1, for sure.
Juco programs like College of Central Florida and Florida Southwestern recruit some of the best talent in the country and are always at the top of the national rankings. Div. 2 schools like Southern Arkansas, Texas A&M-Commerce, North Georgia and Lander have amazing programs with great coaches and facilities.
I recommend not shutting the door on any type of program or coach just based on their level or division. I’ve always been honored when any program is interested in talking to me! I remember meeting a junior college coach a couple of years ago that said she knew I probably wasn’t interested in her school…. but to please keep sending her videos and information.
I knew at the time she was a great coach, and sure enough… she’s now a D1 head coach. Oh, and remember: college coaches talk to each other all the time — about the good AND the bad!
By the way, what exactly is a “Mid-Major” college that I always hear about? Is there such a thing as a “Major-Minor” or a “Minor-Mid?”
Just remember it’s not always about the classification, division or level. Find YOUR best fit!
3. MARKET YOURSELF – SHOOT VIDEO, SEND E-MAILS, USE SOCIAL MEDIA
Don’t be afraid to promote yourself!
Early on, I hated doing this, and wasn’t very good at it. Most of us don’t like talking about ourselves. Just like everything else, it takes work and practice.
I know there are great recruiting services that will help, and some of us are part of great travel ball organizations that have the contacts and really get the word out — but it never hurts to do some of your own marketing.
I highly recommend creating a YouTube channel, and have someone shoot video of at-bats, defensive plays and baserunning. It takes time and work to put it all together, but it’ll pay off!
I really feel that even during the year of COVID, e-mailing coaches with video clips and information kept me in the recruiting loop when they couldn’t see us at the fields…. and that led to much of the in-person recruiting this summer season.
I’m fortunate to have a website at www.MickeyCoslor.com that is an anchor for video clips, our game schedule, my recruiting profile, contact information, etc.
It’s important to stay organized, so be sure to create a database or spreadsheet with the schools you’re interested in, along with those that have shown interest in you, and take notes.
Send follow-up e-mails and updates on how you’re doing throughout the season.
Post video clips to social media. I’ve been lucky to have had a few videos go viral with a lot of college coaches and pro players sharing them.
Remember—if you know in advance what college coaches will be attending tournaments or camps—to send them an e-mail letting them know you’ll be there, along with a game schedule, your information and a video link.
4. ATTEND CAMPS
Some of the most rewarding experiences I have had on the softball field have been at camps.
I know for a fact that camps have helped my recruiting position. I’ve been able to attend camps at D1 schools like Alabama and South Carolina, Florida Atlantic, South Florida and Florida International.
I’ve attended camps at smaller junior colleges like Santa Fe, multi-school camps, and everything in between.
I was able to get comfortable talking with college coaches in those settings, and to really learn what some of those programs are looking for in a player.
I’ve attended Stephanie Best’s ProSwings camps in Florida for several years, and that camp has probably opened up more doors than any other.
Where else can you showcase your talents in front of 40-plus colleges in one weekend!
If you’re on a budget, like most of us are, I highly recommend finding a good multi-school camp!
5. ALWAYS REALIZE THERE’S A LOT OF GOOD SOFTBALL PLAYERS OUT THERE
This 5th one is kind of all-encompassing…. but it all circles back to realizing you’re not the best out there. Actually, there are nine of you that ARE the best in the country at your position, and that’s pretty darn cool.
But, that leaves thousands of us at each position that aren’t the best.
As you go through all these tips, think about “Why would a coach recruit me?” For me, I play second base, have decent speed and slap. I play shortstop in high school and am a pretty decent fielder.
There are so many good infielders that are fast, and a lot of amazing slappers… better than me. I know that. How many great outfielders are there? I know lots of amazing pitchers that have struck me out and awesome catchers that have thrown me out.
Always have it in your mind to do something to set you apart from everyone else. Make personal connections with college coaches, even when it’s uncomfortable. If Coach Sara has been recruiting 5 or 10 great infielders throughout the summer, why would she finally select me to offer a scholarship to play for her?
Introduce yourself, even when your teammates are leaving the field for lunch.
Maybe get to that camp a bit early to meet a new college coach. Shake hands, let your personality show through. Say thank you, make eye contact. Ask questions. Have fun on the field. Dive for a ball you haven’t been comfortable diving for.
You’ll get more comfortable each time you do it, and suddenly you might be able to make that one amazing play. Make a phone call to a college coach, send an e-mail. Maybe sprint 100 percent to first when you pop up… it might get dropped and you’ll be a hero standing on second.
I once had a college coach tell me he timed me at 2.82 seconds home to first running out a popup to the third baseman. I was embarrassed; he was impressed.
Hustle on and off the field. Be loud out there. Be a good teammate, be a leader. Try to take that extra base even though you might get thrown out.
Do a delay steal or be selfless and put down the sacrifice bunt.
I’m not exactly an expert on ANY of this… but I know college coaches look for a lot of the small things — they’ve told me so.
Above all else, be thankful to be playing softball!
And thank your parents and coaches for the opportunities they’ve given you!