The Around the Dirt platform has one centralized goal: to connect ALL individuals who participate in and contribute to the bat and ball sports.
There is no game, however, without one crucial element on the dirt: THE ATHLETE.
When creating the web platform, serving the athletes throughout their entire journey from novice to elite was our top priority.
Whether it’s finding a new skill coach, diving through recruiting resources, or searching for a new team, the needs of each athlete vary throughout the years.
MISSION #1: CONNECT
Our motto is simple, yet so incredibly powerful. Play ball, connect all. And if you’ve been in the sport long enough, you will hear one common phrase when it comes to developing an athlete: It takes a village. Here are a few ways athletes can connect with the people they will need along the way!
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Want to find a nearby skill-specific camp being offered by a local trainer? Interested in positioning yourself in front of college coaches during the recruiting process by attending a college camp or combine? Ready to see what tournaments are offered in your state and surrounding areas so that you can ensure your coaches are placing you amongst the best competition? Our filterable calendar of events allows you to search for every piece of pertinent information regarding the events in your sport!
DIRECTORIES:
The Around the Dirt platform provides a simplified searching experience for athletes to connect with important and impactful individuals along the way!
- Trying to find a good recreational league to see if baseball or softball is a good fit for your athlete? Check out our Recreation League Directory to find a league in your area!
- Looking for a new team because you’re moving to a new area or you’re simply just ready for a change? Check out our Nationwide Club Team Directory.
- In need of a skill-specific trainer to help you hone in on a certain aspect of your game? Our Trainer Directory will help you find a coach that fits your needs AND directs you toward their vault of skill training videos!
- Ready to start looking for and connecting with prospective college coaches as you prepare to navigate the recruiting process? We have a full directory, updated quarterly, of every college campus - junior college, NAIA, NCAA DI, DII, and DIII - that offers your sport, as well as their contact information and direct links to their social media handles!
- Not ready to hang up your cleats after your college days are finished? Head on over to our Adult Slow pitch Directory to find a team!
FORUMS:
One thing we know about our people is this: We like to get the dirt on what’s going on. The forums section of Around the Dirt is a great location to find information about teams looking for players, discover upcoming tryout opportunities, locate lost and found items, find items to buy/sell/trade, or simply just chat about popular topics!
TEAM PROFILES:
Have you ever been on the hunt for a new team only to get lost in the sea of opinions? Using our team profile feature, athletes can now:
- Search for teams in their area
- Read about recent posts and updates of a particular team
- Get in direct contact with the coaching staff via email, phone, or text message
- View a team’s schedule
- Access all streaming links such as Game Changer, Athletes Go Live, or social media handles
- And, even favorite the teams they want to keep up to date with!
MISSION #2: EDUCATE
If one thing is for certain throughout an athlete’s progression, it is this: Access to resources and information is a major key to unlocking the next level of success. Here are a few of our favorite resource features for our Around the Dirt athletes:
RECRUITING TOOLS:
Athletes approaching the recruiting phase of their development will be hit with a ton of information at once. Oftentimes, this leaves them feeling overwhelmed on where to begin. Athletes can now visit the Recruiting section of ATD to gain access to:
- Recruiting education blog posts
- Podcast episodes with experts in the recruiting field
- Connect directly with college coaches through our College Coach Directory database, which is updated quarterly for accuracy.
- Create their own on-site recruiting profile sheet through Recruit Sheets.
- Even better: You can find out which college coaches have confirmed their attendance at showcase tournaments by viewing the tournament event pages!
EXPERT-LED INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS:
Gone are the days of having to scour through YouTube or social media for new ways to train to become the best in your position. The Around the Dirt trainer directory and video vault allow athletes to search by specific skill for training videos they need to take their game to the next level. From physical skills, arm care, strength and conditioning, mindset training, situational awareness, and game IQ development to athlete nutrition education, our ATD video vault has got you covered, in one centralized location!
BLOGS AND PODCASTS:
We believe that unlocking your next level of play often begins by learning new insights and perspectives. What you fill your mind with is what feeds your progress! Backed by experts in the field and pros who have been there, our ATD weekly blogs and podcasts seek to serve the athlete every step of the way with topics that are relevant to the game today!
MISSION #3: EMPOWER
While connection and education are top priority in the Around the Dirt platform, we also seek to hit every OTHER angle in the athlete’s game:
VENDOR VILLAGE:
Find and support a small business that can accomplish anything you need. From creating senior banners and recruiting video creation experts to t-shirt designers, our Vendor Village helps us “keep it in the circle,” and find you the best deal for what it is you need!
EQUIPMENT AFFILIATES:
Get ATD member-preferred discounts on equipment you will need!
FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES:
Say goodbye to booze wagons and Superbowl squares! These companies will help you meet your fundraising goals!
…And SO MUCH MORE!
As an athlete, the journey is a marathon, not a sprint.
From hitting the dirt at the start as a rec league player to navigating the competitive arena in pursuit of achieving a roster spot at the highest level… The journey is so special.
We seek to serve YOU, the hard-working athlete with dirt strewn across your body and apparel, every step of the way.
Ready to empower YOUR mind and body in your pursuit of becoming an elite-level athlete?
Come join us on the NEW Around the Dirt platform.
We’ll see you there.