Have to say -- surprised by this... Saw on PG that Miami just commit a 8th grade LHP that throws 84. Wow. I mean sure he is a stud, but still...
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The kid is a really good pitcher. I thought he was a 2020 because he's always played in my son's age group.
He is a year older than his class. If he continues progressing he could reclassify. Also he has been up to 87 mph recently.
We can count on the "U" to set a new low....surprising they beat Mississippi state to it. I did hear a few of the lower level SEC schools where at the Ripken World Series trying to get an early start.
PGStaff posted:He is a year older than his class. If he continues progressing he could reclassify. Also he has been up to 87 mph recently.
You could have said the same for Todd Morinovich
Not doubting he is a stud and good for him. To me, it just speaks volumes about the state of baseball recruiting and how it feels more like football at times.
Why is this wrong? If the family wants to do it kind of their call. We all dream of our kid being that big time recruit. And we have them here in our age group. But at some point I am sure it becomes a burden as well. Attention is great right up until it is a distraction to your daily life. I know one family that simply can not get agents to stop calling no matter how many times they tell them they aren't doing anything til he is a senior. It is frustrating for them. Early commit can calm your life a bit at least in the college area. Unfortunately this young man may begin to have the same problem with agents calling!
Nope -- please don't misread me. Im hardly criticizing the parents or the kids. All I am saying is that a lot is going to change between now and the time an 8th grader steps foot on a college campus. My 2017 is not the same baseball player today that he was when he was playing travel ball at 14. I'd say the same thing of a kid that was signed to play college football in 8th grade or any sport for that matter -- boy or girl.
Good for this kid and his family. I sincerely hope it works out well...
Kids are bigger, faster, stronger now with more exposure because of camps and other all-whatever games so football coaches have begun to offer earlier. So, kids are bigger, faster, stronger, throw harder with more exposure so guess what? Baseball coaches are offering earlier. So yes, baseball has become football. The coaches are making lots of money and feel the pressure to win so they do what they think need to do to win. Can you blame them? I'm not asking you if you agree with it. Who wants to lose their Power 5 job and uproot their family and move to another state? What would you do if you were a coach?
We have talked to two coaches in our home state in the last couple of weeks and one said the new trend of early offers won't change his philosophy. He doesn't think that kids should have offers before they get a driver's license and he will not offer freshmen. The other coach said that he doesn't like it but he will offer freshmen because of changing landscape of recruiting.
At the end of the day, each parent will do what think is best for their kid. Even if it's a terrible decision, they had the very best intentions. Every parent doesn't have access to this website or good advice so every situation is different.
I, personally, won't judge but also know that my 2020 isn't ready to commit. To each his own.
The coaches who don't like early recruiting will change their minds eventually. It will happen when they realize they're now competing from a competitive disadvantage. I remember D1 hockey coaches saying they won't recruit 20yo freshmen out of junior hockey. They all do it now. At the competitive level the coaches are very well paid. They are paid to win or go home.
Gives us fathers bragging rights only benefit I can see.
Miami may have actually got a commitment from this kid but they aren't the only school offering to 14 year olds. I've heard of more than ten 2020's getting offers, and frankly, I don't know that many people! 
This practice sickens me. Certainly a lot of blame to go around, but the NCAA needs to take the lead to fix the problem they've created. I'm hoping the NCAA, College Presidents, ESPN and the like, can step away for a few minutes from drafting their next multi-million dollar media contract to fix this escalating recruiting issue. This is sending the wrong message to hopeful college athletes and their parents. JMO.
we are talking about an 8th grader, I can absolutely blame the parents and have no problem doing.
Grow up, use your head and realize your 14 year old son is not ready to make that type of choice. if you really believe he is able to do so in an intelligent way... good luck to you, there are most likely others issues that are larger problems we don't know about.
fenwaysouth posted:This practice sickens me. Certainly a lot of blame to go around, but the NCAA needs to take the lead to fix the problem they've created. I'm hoping the NCAA, College Presidents, ESPN and the like, can step away for a few minutes from drafting their next multi-million dollar media contract to fix this escalating recruiting issue. This is sending the wrong message to hopeful college athletes and their parents. JMO.
Yup - thats how I feel about it too.
BTW, my 2-year old grandson swings it pretty well from the left side. Anyone know of a showcase for his age group I can take him too next summer? He will be 3 by then. Don't wanna fall behind. His father (our son) is taking too much time to get him out there in front of coaches.
old_school posted:we are talking about an 8th grader, I can absolutely blame the parents and have no problem doing.
Grow up, use your head and realize your 14 year old son is not ready to make that type of choice. if you really believe he is able to do so in an intelligent way... good luck to you, there are most likely others issues that are larger problems we don't know about.
ABSOLUTELY.
My 2017 didn't commit until has Mom and I said he could. Doesn't mean that he hadn't made up his mind earlier, but until we were comfortable that he had seen and given the proper consideration to the choices in front of him did we clear him to make a commitment.
During the time of the first school he said he wanted to attend until his final commitment, he changed his mind three times, mostly based on the new opportunities that presented themselves between the first school in the mix and final schools on the table.
A fourteen year old isn't mature enough (generalization, I know) to choose what they eat regularly or when they need to go to bed each night. You really think they're mature enough to make a decision of which college to attend based on something other than a cool logo or school colors? If I had let my son decide when he was fourteen I guarantee the choice would have been based on the school's shoe and bat contract.
This is nothing new. It has been going on for years. There were a couple of schools that got this going. They started getting verbal's from younger kids and other programs followed because they felt they were losing out to these programs. When you have kids that have grown up always wanting to play for certain programs and they offer then some are going to verbal. The school loses nothing. If the player doesn't develop, gets hurt, fall off in the class room, get's in trouble, they simply can back out. The player can change his mind as well until he actually signs on the dotted line.
Yes there are potential pit falls for an 8th grader making a decision like this. But hopefully he has some good people in his life that can help him understand that getting an offer and actually keeping it is a another story. There is no benefit for the player really other than the "prestige" he might feel as well as the parents. If he ends up being a stud and does the right things those offers are still going to be there. And if he doesn't they won't be there. The school? It's a no lose situation for them. If the kid continues on the projected track they have the inside track. If he doesn't they simply can back out.
I felt a few years ago this was eventually going to hurt these schools that were heavy into this. I thought after they backed out a few times they would get hammered with negative recruiting comments from coaches, parents and players. Nope. Even though that is the case almost every time someone get's back out on it has seemingly had no effect on the next group that gets offered early. I guess the "glory" of being that guy is too much to ignore regardless of what they have heard.
old_school posted:we are talking about an 8th grader, I can absolutely blame the parents and have no problem doing.
Grow up, use your head and realize your 14 year old son is not ready to make that type of choice. if you really believe he is able to do so in an intelligent way... good luck to you, there are most likely others issues that are larger problems we don't know about.
+1 with the exception of 5 tool guys-short of injury they usually pan out in college
If he de-commits he has a commitment and honesty problem or inability to keep his word with a handshake, which we know should be "like oak" and in the meantime the school can over-recruit and back out anytime with little to no backlash. Enjoy the prestige and soak it up parents.
Baseball is NOwhere near Football recruiting, which i believe is akin to the wild west with few "real" rules and where coaches actively continue to recruit committed kids and committed kids continue to allow those recruiting conversations in hopes of a better deal and leverage.
Nuke83 posted:old_school posted:we are talking about an 8th grader, I can absolutely blame the parents and have no problem doing.
Grow up, use your head and realize your 14 year old son is not ready to make that type of choice. if you really believe he is able to do so in an intelligent way... good luck to you, there are most likely others issues that are larger problems we don't know about.
ABSOLUTELY.
My 2017 didn't commit until has Mom and I said he could. Doesn't mean that he hadn't made up his mind earlier, but until we were comfortable that he had seen and given the proper consideration to the choices in front of him did we clear him to make a commitment.
During the time of the first school he said he wanted to attend until his final commitment, he changed his mind three times, mostly based on the new opportunities that presented themselves between the first school in the mix and final schools on the table.
A fourteen year old isn't mature enough (generalization, I know) to choose what they eat regularly or when they need to go to bed each night. You really think they're mature enough to make a decision of which college to attend based on something other than a cool logo or school colors? If I had let my son decide when he was fourteen I guarantee the choice would have been based on the school's shoe and bat contract.
I like the approach Nuke used. It makes sense and is what I plan to do for my son.
For everyone else, it's none of my business.
http://www.alligatorarmy.com/2...tension-details-2025
In my opinion, that^ is why it's changing. Mega contracts and everyone is doing gazillion dollar baseball stadium renovations so the perceived and real pressure to win is increasing and will continue to increase. So in that regard, baseball is becoming more like football. WVU even recently got a $25 million stadium renovation and I don't think of them as a baseball powerhouse.
I do know of a couple of 2020's who have committed. One in particular has always wanted to play for his home school. He said that he is playing for the name on the front of the jersey, not the back...and it doesn't really matter who the coach is because it's where he's always wanted to play. Now, of course, lots could change but shouldn't we applaud the desire to play for the name on the front of the jersey? Sounds pretty mature to me.
At the end of the day, I don't know each parent's particular situation or what their considerations are when allowing their kid to choose a school so how can I judge the situation? I can only control what happens in my house. I just don't think that every parent of an early commit is a chest-pounding buffoon. For the most part, I do believe that they all want what's best for their kid.
Look up a kid from Hayward CA named Emilio Vasquez. Perfect situation of why a school shouldnt recruit that early. Emilio was one of the best pitchers in the country at 12-15. Throwing in the 80s as a twelve year old. Hitting 84 as a 13 yo, pitching from 50 feet. The kid was flown to play internationally and throughout any big national championship tourney in America. He couldnt even recall everywhere he had flown in the past 12 months, just to guest play on a baseball team. He is the same class as my son, 2017. 2 years ago, the boys played together at a showcase. When the showcase was done, my son said that he was playing with Emilio Vasquez. Didnt even notice the kid's play, if anything, he was very underwhelming. He is now a senior RHP sitting 84 mph, 5'8" 135 lbs. Let's just assume his best playing years were in the past.
justbaseball posted:fenwaysouth posted:This practice sickens me. Certainly a lot of blame to go around, but the NCAA needs to take the lead to fix the problem they've created. I'm hoping the NCAA, College Presidents, ESPN and the like, can step away for a few minutes from drafting their next multi-million dollar media contract to fix this escalating recruiting issue. This is sending the wrong message to hopeful college athletes and their parents. JMO.
Yup - thats how I feel about it too.
BTW, my 2-year old grandson swings it pretty well from the left side. Anyone know of a showcase for his age group I can take him too next summer? He will be 3 by then. Don't wanna fall behind. His father (our son) is taking too much time to get him out there in front of coaches.
I read in Baseball America a couple of years ago he went womb. I believe the Bay Bees are expanding their program and adding 3u. With this early recruiting a kid can't start too soon.
Nuke83 posted:old_school posted:we are talking about an 8th grader, I can absolutely blame the parents and have no problem doing.
Grow up, use your head and realize your 14 year old son is not ready to make that type of choice. if you really believe he is able to do so in an intelligent way... good luck to you, there are most likely others issues that are larger problems we don't know about.
ABSOLUTELY.
My 2017 didn't commit until has Mom and I said he could. Doesn't mean that he hadn't made up his mind earlier, but until we were comfortable that he had seen and given the proper consideration to the choices in front of him did we clear him to make a commitment.
During the time of the first school he said he wanted to attend until his final commitment, he changed his mind three times, mostly based on the new opportunities that presented themselves between the first school in the mix and final schools on the table.
A fourteen year old isn't mature enough (generalization, I know) to choose what they eat regularly or when they need to go to bed each night. You really think they're mature enough to make a decision of which college to attend based on something other than a cool logo or school colors? If I had let my son decide when he was fourteen I guarantee the choice would have been based on the school's shoe and bat contract.
When my son was fourteen he wanted to play for Louisville. They had cool uniforms. My son hadn't grown yet (5'4"). He played short for his middle school. He admired Chris Cates the 5'2" All American shortstop. Toss in one game the two pitchers charting and gunning pitches let him sit with them and it was a done deal.
hshuler posted:http://www.alligatorarmy.com/2...tension-details-2025
In my opinion, that^ is why it's changing. Mega contracts and everyone is doing gazillion dollar baseball stadium renovations so the perceived and real pressure to win is increasing and will continue to increase. So in that regard, baseball is becoming more like football. WVU even recently got a $25 million stadium renovation and I don't think of them as a baseball powerhouse.
I do know of a couple of 2020's who have committed. One in particular has always wanted to play for his home school. He said that he is playing for the name on the front of the jersey, not the back...and it doesn't really matter who the coach is because it's where he's always wanted to play. Now, of course, lots could change but shouldn't we applaud the desire to play for the name on the front of the jersey? Sounds pretty mature to me.
At the end of the day, I don't know each parent's particular situation or what their considerations are when allowing their kid to choose a school so how can I judge the situation? I can only control what happens in my house. I just don't think that every parent of an early commit is a chest-pounding buffoon. For the most part, I do believe that they all want what's best for their kid.
In girl's sports early recruiting has always been an issue. The girls are physically mature at fourteen and fifteen. My daughter verballed when she was fifteen. Fortunately she knew what she wanted for a major and followed through on it. I can't remember how many times I told her forensic science isn't as glamorous as on tv. She didn't go into the field. She's now a lawyer.
I believe the NCAA should not allow programs to talk to players until the summer before junior year. Then they should be eligible to sign NLI's junior year. If college programs can't restrain themselves put some restraints on them.
The problem with my idea is it looks out more for the student than the sport. The NCAA is more interested in the sport and extorting money from college sports.
hshuler posted:http://www.alligatorarmy.com/2...tension-details-2025
Now, of course, lots could change but shouldn't we applaud the desire to play for the name on the front of the jersey? Sounds pretty mature to me.
Yes and no. I would say that it's unselfish, but not necessarily mature.
What is the reasoning for the desire he has for the name on the front of that jersey? He's been a fan of the football team since he was 3? First ball cap that Dad bought him when he was 5?
There's so much more to it than the logo and colors. The degrees offered, the academic challenge, the type of campus (urban, suburban, sticks) and student body, the academic support, the coaching staff fit (of course, always subject to change, but the odds increase the further out you are from arrival), etc., etc.
My son was a fanatic for a certain school. Thought he would commit there in a heart beat if offered. Loved them so much that his nickname from the age of 9 was that school's mascot. His commitment is to a different school in the same conference. All this to say it was all the other things beyond the name on the front that led to his decision. I have no doubt whatsoever that he would have committed to the other school at the age of 14 had we let him.
I'm not saying that this kid in your example has made a poor decision or that it won't work out. He may have come to the same decision when he's 17. I would hope that the kid (at 14 and 17) and family is mature and versed enough to take all the right considerations into making their decision whenever it's made. Just as many late commitments choose poorly, so it's not simply a function of age and maturity, however I would think that the longer you wait and the more opportunities you allow to be presented, the better the chance is for success for both school and student when the player arrives on campus.
It is certainly up to each family to do as they wish, but I honestly believe that even parents aren't able to make the most informed decision of what's going to be the best fit for a 14 yr old when there is so much that will change for them between then and when they're 18.
I really wish the NCAA would make three changes to the baseball recruiting landscape.
First, official visits should be accelerated to be allowed the first day of a student's Junior year instead of Senior. Second, no verbal offers (or commitments) should be allowed prior to a student's Junior year. Finally, early signing period should accelerate a year ahead to November of HS student's Junior year.
So now players can make visits to schools that they may not otherwise be able to afford in a way that better coincides with when offers can be made, commitments need to be made and having the early signing period just a couple of months after offers being able to be made, there will be greater scrutiny by both players and schools regarding offers made and accepted.
hshuler posted:
And if we really want to have fun with this, Then UF should make this contract extension offer to O'Sullivan, but tell him that he can't sign it for two years. No other schools are allowed to make offers to him, but if UF wants to continue to search and choose another coach in the next two years, they can rescind this offer to sign another coach, without penalty, and then O'Sullivan can begin entertaining other school's offers. . . .
Nuke83 posted:
I really wish the NCAA would make three changes to the baseball recruiting landscape.
First, official visits should be accelerated to be allowed the first day of a student's Junior year instead of Senior. Second, no verbal offers (or commitments) should be allowed prior to a student's Junior year. Finally, early signing period should accelerate a year ahead to November of HS student's Junior year.
So now players can make visits to schools that they may not otherwise be able to afford in a way that better coincides with when offers can be made, commitments need to be made and having the early signing period just a couple of months after offers being able to be made, there will be greater scrutiny by both players and schools regarding offers made and accepted.
Nuke - You got my vote for the new NCAA grand pooba, but using common sense like that might get you in trouble!
I didn't initially want to chime in, but I'm with Nuke. Priorities such as academic fit should be well ahead of the baseball commitment. Baseball first is a recipe for disaster IMO.
I believe we all are very passionate about baseball and our kids that play the sport. Keep in mind, IF your player lost the use of his arm today and the ability to play baseball, heaven forbid. After all, it is the MOST important piece of the equation, in which NO college coach would remember your name if you lost the ability to throw the ball!
A simple question. Would he still choose that school?
Nuke83 posted:hshuler posted:http://www.alligatorarmy.com/2...tension-details-2025
Now, of course, lots could change but shouldn't we applaud the desire to play for the name on the front of the jersey? Sounds pretty mature to me.
Yes and no. I would say that it's unselfish, but not necessarily mature.
What is the reasoning for the desire he has for the name on the front of that jersey? He's been a fan of the football team since he was 3? First ball cap that Dad bought him when he was 5?
There's so much more to it than the logo and colors. The degrees offered, the academic challenge, the type of campus (urban, suburban, sticks) and student body, the academic support, the coaching staff fit (of course, always subject to change, but the odds increase the further out you are from arrival), etc., etc.
My son was a fanatic for a certain school. Thought he would commit there in a heart beat if offered. Loved them so much that his nickname from the age of 9 was that school's mascot. His commitment is to a different school in the same conference. All this to say it was all the other things beyond the name on the front that led to his decision. I have no doubt whatsoever that he would have committed to the other school at the age of 14 had we let him.
I'm not saying that this kid in your example has made a poor decision or that it won't work out. He may have come to the same decision when he's 17. I would hope that the kid (at 14 and 17) and family is mature and versed enough to take all the right considerations into making their decision whenever it's made. Just as many late commitments choose poorly, so it's not simply a function of age and maturity, however I would think that the longer you wait and the more opportunities you allow to be presented, the better the chance is for success for both school and student when the player arrives on campus.
It is certainly up to each family to do as they wish, but I honestly believe that even parents aren't able to make the most informed decision of what's going to be the best fit for a 14 yr old when there is so much that will change for them between then and when they're 18.
I really wish the NCAA would make three changes to the baseball recruiting landscape.
First, official visits should be accelerated to be allowed the first day of a student's Junior year instead of Senior. Second, no verbal offers (or commitments) should be allowed prior to a student's Junior year. Finally, early signing period should accelerate a year ahead to November of HS student's Junior year.
So now players can make visits to schools that they may not otherwise be able to afford in a way that better coincides with when offers can be made, commitments need to be made and having the early signing period just a couple of months after offers being able to be made, there will be greater scrutiny by both players and schools regarding offers made and accepted.
Great points and I like your suggestions...and I know that more went into the decision than just baseball. I didn't want to go into a huge amount of detail about the family and their decision.
I have said numerous times that my son is not ready to commit for many of the reasons that you've stated.
The first is that he has no clue what he wants to major in at this point. That's important to me!
He also has not seen enough campuses, coaching staffs or what academic support is available. That's important to me!
He's 14 and so he can't even get his learner's permit yet. That's important to me!
Shoot, he can barely keep his room clean. That's important to me!
This is my opinion and what's important to me. Different people value different things but it's their choice. Do I agree with it? I don't necessarily disagree just because I would do things differently.
Can I blame a coach for offering early? Not really because coaches have to always do what they can within the rules to gain a competitive advantage.
I am not arguing or trying to persuade your thinking but again, every situation is different and we don't know what went into the decision-making process. I just don't think that everyone is clueless and are over the top parents. That's my simple point in this discussion.
This is a topic that I think about a lot.
Personally I would never allow my son to commit to anything that is four years down the road. I have said many times that the early recruiting benefits the college much more than the player. It can really backfire on the player.
That said, I understand the recruiters. In fact, I would do the same thing if I were a DI coach. In some cases, I can understand why a young kid might commit that early. I just see it as unnecessary with no real college benefit to the player.
Maybe the one benefit is that it puts that young player on the map. MLB scouts are going to know who the power colleges have verbally committed. It might be hard for some to understand, but MLB is the big dream for many young kids. Some at 14 are thinking they want to get drafted early and get to the Big Leagues as soon as possible. Some might even have reason to believe that. Maybe they are hoping they don't have to go to college and are just using the early commitment to gain recognition to scouts.
Truth is, who knows exactly why people do what they do. Guess I can't understand why anyone really cares unless it involves them somehow. People are different, they make different decisions. I can think someone made a bad decision, but then again, I might be wrong!
With so many problems we face these days, like young kids with guns, with drugs, and terrorism, how can an 8th grader verbally committing to a college be all that important? What is the worst thing that can happen? The college changes its mind? The kid and parents change their mind? It was a bad decision? Nothing life threatening involved. Make the adjustment that is necessary. Correctly choosing the right college is a mistake made by many, including those that are not involved in athletics.
Bottom line... I live in Iowa, why should I care if some young boy and his parents in California decides to commit to a college when he is 14 years old? His parents didn't ask me for advice. I don't really know why they did that, but they did. It just makes me want to see that boy play. Should they be called foolish or stupid? How would I know? Why not just wish them luck and hope things work out well.
It's not like all these decisions turn out bad or can't be corrected. Sign a pro contract or go to college? We can give all the reasons we might choose one over the other. What we seldom know is the reasons others use in making their decisions. Even the best choice for most everyone isn't the best choice for everyone. Guess I'm in the "live and let live" camp when it comes to these type things.
Backpick25 posted:I didn't initially want to chime in, but I'm with Nuke. Priorities such as academic fit should be well ahead of the baseball commitment. Baseball first is a recipe for disaster IMO.
I believe we all are very passionate about baseball and our kids that play the sport. Keep in mind, IF your player lost the use of his arm today and the ability to play baseball, heaven forbid. After all, it is the MOST important piece of the equation, in which NO college coach would remember your name if you lost the ability to throw the ball!
A simple question. Would he still choose that school?
Going to play devils advocate here, I disagree with this line of thinking. I don't think this it applies for every kid and every situation. Honestly, my 2017 would not be going to the school he's currently committed to if it weren't for baseball. My guess is that he wouldn't stay there if baseball goes away. I'm ok with that decision. If baseball goes away for whatever reason- injury in this example- and it's no longer the right fit- then transfer. Go to a school that is the right fit without baseball. I don't think this scenario would be a disaster. It's life, things change, you adapt and overcome.
PGStaff posted:...Guess I can't understand why anyone really cares unless it involves them somehow. People are different, they make different decisions. I can think someone made a bad decision, but then again, I might be wrong!
I mostly agree with you - I don't really care unless its my friend or relative - but this is a HS advice website - so opinions and experiences is what you get! 
Nuke83 posted:hshuler posted:And if we really want to have fun with this, Then UF should make this contract extension offer to O'Sullivan, but tell him that he can't sign it for two years. No other schools are allowed to make offers to him, but if UF wants to continue to search and choose another coach in the next two years, they can rescind this offer to sign another coach, without penalty, and then O'Sullivan can begin entertaining other school's offers. . . .
. . . Then, if he does make it there, and they fire him before the season even starts, he's has to sit out a year before he can coach again, unless, of course, he drops down a division.
What is different about baseball versus football and basketball and early commits is significant. If this 8th grader is so great that a major college is already offering him a commitment, then there is a strong chance this player will be so great when he is a senior in high school that he will be drafted in the first round of the MLB draft. Then the whole college decision will be moot anyway. At least basketball makes them show up for one year at the college before going pro.
Of course if the kid winds up getting hurt and not becoming as great as the school thinks, that commitment can vaporize anyway. Like PG noted, there really seems to be nothing to gain for the player to make such an early commitment--if he does get hurt will not have initiated any other discussions with coaches at other schools as a fallback.
It's hard to see very early commitments through parent's eyes. Not everyone has the same view of the situation. Some parents perspective is my kid will attend the best college he can get into. Some are just happy the kid is going to college. I remember someone here saying their son is getting a college degree because he's playing baseball. Some might think, "Damn! My kid is going to be the first in the family to go to college!In the second and third scenario I can see a parent allowing the kid to commit early.
I know a kid who turned down money to walk on at his parent's aunt's and uncle's college. It was where dad played baseball. Fortunately it worked out for him.
Picture a dad from FL who didn't go to college. But he's been a lifelong Gator football fan. His son and he have been watching Gators football in their Gator tees since the kid was little. Now his 14yo son is approached by Florida (pick your sport) and offered a verbal. How would you expect dad to respond?
PGStaff posted:This is a topic that I think about a lot.
Personally I would never allow my son to commit to anything that is four years down the road. I have said many times that the early recruiting benefits the college much more than the player. It can really backfire on the player.
That said, I understand the recruiters. In fact, I would do the same thing if I were a DI coach. In some cases, I can understand why a young kid might commit that early. I just see it as unnecessary with no real college benefit to the player.
Maybe the one benefit is that it puts that young player on the map. MLB scouts are going to know who the power colleges have verbally committed. It might be hard for some to understand, but MLB is the big dream for many young kids. Some at 14 are thinking they want to get drafted early and get to the Big Leagues as soon as possible. Some might even have reason to believe that. Maybe they are hoping they don't have to go to college and are just using the early commitment to gain recognition to scouts.
Truth is, who knows exactly why people do what they do. Guess I can't understand why anyone really cares unless it involves them somehow. People are different, they make different decisions. I can think someone made a bad decision, but then again, I might be wrong!
With so many problems we face these days, like young kids with guns, with drugs, and terrorism, how can an 8th grader verbally committing to a college be all that important? What is the worst thing that can happen? The college changes its mind? The kid and parents change their mind? It was a bad decision? Nothing life threatening involved. Make the adjustment that is necessary. Correctly choosing the right college is a mistake made by many, including those that are not involved in athletics.
Bottom line... I live in Iowa, why should I care if some young boy and his parents in California decides to commit to a college when he is 14 years old? His parents didn't ask me for advice. I don't really know why they did that, but they did. It just makes me want to see that boy play. Should they be called foolish or stupid? How would I know? Why not just wish them luck and hope things work out well.
It's not like all these decisions turn out bad or can't be corrected. Sign a pro contract or go to college? We can give all the reasons we might choose one over the other. What we seldom know is the reasons others use in making their decisions. Even the best choice for most everyone isn't the best choice for everyone. Guess I'm in the "live and let live" camp when it comes to these type things.
PG, yes, there are certainly bigger problems in the world and yes, adjustments can be made. But this can be a pretty big deal in the life of a kid and the pocketbook of the parents (and/or kid). As you know, the kids who are committing early are exceptional players. If they take themselves off the board for their sophomore, junior and senior seasons and something happens, they have missed out on a lot of opportunities to talk to other coaches and see other schools. So, then, when they have to make that adjustment and scramble for a new school, it could mean going down several pegs in their school of choice. Also, when a big change like this happens late, there isn't always time to search out another school that is a good fit all the way around. That exceptional player can find himself in "settle" mode.
Discussing the pro's and con's and opinions as you and others have done here will hopefully provide insight so that others can factor that valuable information and make the best educated decision for their particular situation.
In the eight years I've coached our HS program, there has not been a single player who was even close to being in the position to make such a commitment as a freshman. Not ready physically to show sure-bet projectable D1 material and certainly not ready mentally to factor in everything that should be considered when choosing a school. Many have decided as juniors and seniors. Now, girls, on the other hand... we have a rising soph who is already committed to a major D1 (so she basically committed as a freshman). Dad is a friend. She shows all the right signs, physically and mentally. They seemed to have done all the right things as far as school visits and listening to options. She seems to have made her decision for good reasons. She seems unusually mature and confident in her direction. So, this is the very rare instance where I think it might be a good choice. But I do think there is a difference (beyond early maturation) between the boys' situation and the girls' that isn't often discussed. This applies to pitchers only. In fastpitch, it is common for one girl to throw the majority of innings for the team and maybe one other gets secondary innings. That never happens in baseball. Even your ace is only taking the mound once every four games, give or take. So, finding that one stud pitcher that will carry the program becomes much more of a "race for the prize" in fastpitch than it does for baseball. If you are a stud baseball pitcher and you decide to wait, you will likely still have options at the school who recruited you early as well as other top schools later. So, for stud softball pitchers, I think it is an entirely different world than for other softball and baseball players.
pabaseballdad posted:Backpick25 posted:I didn't initially want to chime in, but I'm with Nuke. Priorities such as academic fit should be well ahead of the baseball commitment. Baseball first is a recipe for disaster IMO.
I believe we all are very passionate about baseball and our kids that play the sport. Keep in mind, IF your player lost the use of his arm today and the ability to play baseball, heaven forbid. After all, it is the MOST important piece of the equation, in which NO college coach would remember your name if you lost the ability to throw the ball!
A simple question. Would he still choose that school?
Going to play devils advocate here, I disagree with this line of thinking. I don't think this it applies for every kid and every situation. Honestly, my 2017 would not be going to the school he's currently committed to if it weren't for baseball. My guess is that he wouldn't stay there if baseball goes away. I'm ok with that decision. If baseball goes away for whatever reason- injury in this example- and it's no longer the right fit- then transfer. Go to a school that is the right fit without baseball. I don't think this scenario would be a disaster. It's life, things change, you adapt and overcome.
Until college B says they won't accept half the credits from college A, then life kind of stinks.
My opinion there is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing a school based on sports. You are going to have to go a ways to prove to me the major universities are that divergent academically. Unless you are in a very specific field that somehow is supported by vet few schools... They all pretty much have the same stuff. I do agree however there are some with better placement records. I guess that is the trade off. But if you bet on yourself you believe you will make yourself marketable. And sometimes that ex player thin helps as much as the reputation of a school. And also agree no big deal to transfer. It's your life do what is best for you and your future!
2020dad posted:My opinion there is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing a school based on sports. You are going to have to go a ways to prove to me the major universities are that divergent academically. Unless you are in a very specific field that somehow is supported by vet few schools... They all pretty much have the same stuff. I do agree however there are some with better placement records. I guess that is the trade off. But if you bet on yourself you believe you will make yourself marketable. And sometimes that ex player thin helps as much as the reputation of a school. And also agree no big deal to transfer. It's your life do what is best for you and your future!
Well, I would argue that it is a big deal to transfer. As Cacogirl points out, it is quite common for classes not to be accepted and for the student to have to attend school a fifth year. Add in the extra year of tuition, cost of living and wages in your field of study not earned and you are talking about losing easily $50-100K.
cabbagedad posted:2020dad posted:My opinion there is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing a school based on sports. You are going to have to go a ways to prove to me the major universities are that divergent academically. Unless you are in a very specific field that somehow is supported by vet few schools... They all pretty much have the same stuff. I do agree however there are some with better placement records. I guess that is the trade off. But if you bet on yourself you believe you will make yourself marketable. And sometimes that ex player thin helps as much as the reputation of a school. And also agree no big deal to transfer. It's your life do what is best for you and your future!
Well, I would argue that it is a big deal to transfer. As Cacogirl points out, it is quite common for classes not to be accepted and for the student to have to attend school a fifth year. Add in the extra year of tuition, cost of living and wages in your field of study not earned and you are talking about losing easily $50-100K.
Think about this logically, it is usually the general requirements that don't transfer. Examples would be anthropology, music appreciation and the other bull classes that make us "more well rounded students". What do freshman load up on....that would be general requirements. It isn't chemistry and calculus that you will have an issue transferring.
Maybe you are thinking, well gee that's just dumb...no that's to keep people from spending three years at Podunk University and then transferring to a prestigious school and boom you have your bachelors degree from "guaranteed to get a job with this diploma" university.
If my kid doesn't love the school WITHOUT baseball he's going to have a really hard time selling it to me.