Pretty much echo the above, re: timeline. It's all about the summer. Where it gets tricky is that the # of slots available at each school is NOT the same. Some schools seem to have only 2-3 slots. They might say they like your skills but then they follow up with this quote: "It's ultimately up to admissions." They are being clear and honest and you need to listen to every word carefully. "We love you, apply EA, but it's ultimately up to admissions" is not the same as "We love you, apply ED, and we will support you with admissions." That may seem painfully obvious but when you're in the midst of a great campus visit at a school that is the gastronomical equivalent of a Three Star Michelin restaurant, it's pretty easy to just hear the "We love you..." You ignore the rest of the sentence at your peril, even if your kid is in the 25-75% range of scores and GPAs of admitted students. At some places you HAVE to have coach's help.
Going back to the timeline for my two kids: one was offered in the coach's office in July after two showcases and a pre-read. Offer stood, amazingly, until son completed other campus visits in October at schools where he had also been offered (all offers in summer, and no offers under a deadline).
Second son was offered at several places in the summer and fall, either at showcases or campus visits, turned them all down after he heard the EA spiel but only listened to 'we love you" part. Has now been deferred at his two top choices but recently was offered admission without the coach's help at a NESCAC school and is awaiting other admission decisions. Very relieved and grateful that he has a place to play if he wants it. Not a path I'd recommend.