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Annual Scholarship Renewal

hackerhacker10+ posts
I have noticed that there are as a general rule very few Seniors on College rosters and still very few, as a percentage, get drafted and sign in the majors. So I was wondering, is it common for a college program to cut loose a "average" player after his junior year to make room for new players to the program ???

If a player is being used sparringly, and can see that during or after his sophmore year that the situation is probably not going to change, what are the players options as far as transfering.

It seems to me, that the college has the upper hand. For instance, a player could be told at the end of May, late spring, even July or August, that his athletic scholarship will not be renewed. Which of course would leave the player with zero to few possible options to make other arrangements.

So, if a player is able to see this situation coming after the fall of his sophmore year, knows he is not going to get playing time & faces the possibility of getting cut, what are the players options for transferring (assuming other colleges are still interested). And does this happen enough to be concerned with ???
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TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
Hacker,
In the bigger schools, or any school, if a player has not become a regular starter by his sophomore, junior year he has the option to transfer and this often happens. He can ask for a release, most of the time it is given as a mutual agreement. Few are actually cut, few lose scholarships,but many are drafted and leave after 3 years, that's why you see few seniors on a team. Many have left for those reaons, many give up the game but still some remain, just happy to be part of the team until they graduate.
Remember, the best 9 play, always. That's why during the recruiting process a recruit needs to understand he may have been one of the BEST 9 in HS,or pitcher, but not one THE BEST on the college team.
Go where you know you (or son) will play and enjoy the experience of school.
Last edited by TPM
A AParent1,000+ posts
College sports takes a tremendous amount ot time and dedication.

A lot of college freshman give up the game before their senior year. The reasons are as different as the players themselves. Some to focus on their degree, some for personal reasons, some get injured, some can't stay eligible, and the list goes on and on.

Colleges don't have to cut "average" players. They simply play the "best" players.

At some point every player who spends the majority of his time on the bench is going to ask himself this question - is what I am getting in return worth the time and committment involved? For some it is, for others it's not.

Keep in mind that many times the "average" ball player is not getting much of a scholarship to begin with (if any).

That is why it is so crucial to find a college where the coach is just as excited to sign you as you are to get signed by them.
L LOW337100+ posts
If i'm not mistaken, NCAA Div-I schools renew scholarships July 1st.......Scholarships cannot be reduced or taken away for performance. If they take away or reduce a scholarship they must have a good reason (social misfit, bad grades that lead to ineligibilty etc...)

If player wants to transfer he must ask for release before he speaks w/ other schools.....this prevents player from shopping around for a place to play and then popping on his coach that he is leaving (perhaps this could happen in mid July) which could leave the coach scrambling for a replacement....It just forces the kid to come clean w/ current coach on his intent he wants to transfer......99% of the time a release will be granted and if not it can be fought and almost certainly won.....
RHP05ParentRHP05Parent1,000+ posts
LOW337 -
While it is true that all players on scholarship must be notified by July 1st and the coach must provide a reason for any reduction in the scholarship. However there is no rule that I could find that a change in scholarship cannot be based on your baseball performance. It is important to know the policies of the school you sign with. Here are a few FAQ's from the NCAA Guide
quote:
Page 21 Question #7. Under what circumstances would my scholarship be reduced or canceled? Coaches should be able to give you some idea of how players are evaluated from year to year and how these decisions are made. The institution may have a policy governing renewal of athletics aid. Ask if such a policy exists and read it.
#10. What scholarship money is available if I suffer an athletics career-ending injury?
Not every institution continues to provide an athletics scholarship to a student-athlete who can no longer compete because of a career-ending injury.
#11. Will my scholarship be maintained if there is a change in coaches? A coach may not be able to answer this, but the athletics director may.
All of these are good questions to ask your prospective coach and/or AD to understand their policies before you sign. You are correct that they must give you a reason for any reduction and I believe you have the right to have a hearing... but I cannot find information on this review process. Can anyone help with this part?
Last edited by RHP05Parent
L LOW337100+ posts
I coached Div-I baseball for 11 years and to the best of my knowledge you cannot reduce or cut scholarship money for poor performance....you can certainly increase it....no complaining there huh LOL....

If there is a question call compliance of nearest NCAA Div-I institution.....If they cannot aswer it then they will call the NCAA...but I'm sure they could answer it.....very rarely will scholarships be reduced.....it could happen if out of state student / athlete became a resident...so freeing up money is possible w/o costing student / athlete's family money.....

There are many many many circumstances...
Call Compliance Office at said university....
L LOW337100+ posts
Sorry, I misread....the above is during the award......look on page 209....it does not get specific......very general.....

FYI...all Div-I coaches of all sports must take and pass an annual test on the Div-I NCAA Manual...it is well over 500 pages....test is only over chapters 13-15, is open book 40 questions, one hour twenty minute time limit and you are only allowed to miss eight.....you might be surprised but I did pass it every time....LOL LOL....
RHP05ParentRHP05Parent1,000+ posts
LOW337 -
Thanks for the link. I found the paragraph I remembered about a hearing.
quote:
15.3.2.4 Hearing Opportunity. The institution’s regular financial aid authority shall notify the student-athlete in writing of the opportunity for a hearing when institutional financial aid based in any degree on athletics ability is reduced or canceled during the period of the award, or is reduced / not renewed for the following academic year. The institution shall have established reasonable procedures for promptly hearing such a request and shall not delegate the responsibility for conducting
the hearing to the university’s athletics department or its faculty athletics committee.
The only mention I found regarding no reductions were all referencing "within the scholarship period". I know that there are many schools that do NOT reduce a scholarship once given, but my understanding is it is more a school policy vs. a rule that says they cannot do it. But, this stuff is very complicated and I could have missed something. Cool
Last edited by RHP05Parent
L LOW337100+ posts
Based on experience and others....99.9% of the time if a scholarship is cut or reduced and the student /athlete fights it he/she will win.....provided they did not get into any off field trouble, fail a drug test, become ineligible or not meet team or institution academic requirements etc...you know what I mean...Johnny only hit .260 last year so we will reduce his scholarship......I have never heard of that happening.....Should not be a concern....if it happens fight it or transfer...you know what I mean?.....Great topic and one should be aware....
hackerhacker10+ posts
Thank you all for your responses. From your responses I am coming to the following conclusions:

A. If a player is remaining academacily eligble, and not creating a discipline problem, it becomes very difficult for a coach to reduce or eliminate athletice scholarship monies.

B. If a player is not getting playing time, and would like to transfer, in the overwhelming amount of instances a "release" is granted to the player.

C. As posted in RHP05Parent's reply, the questions would need to asked and the player has to understand exactly what the expectations are.

Again, thanks all
LadyNmomLadyNmom1,000+ posts
Hacker sounds like you got the message....but think what TPM and AParent said shouldn't be forgotten....

"Go where you know you will play and enjoy the experience of school, and/or, it is crucial to find a college where the coach is just as excited to sign you as you are to get signed by them."

LOW337, don't know if you have been welcomed to this site yet....but Welcome! It's always helpful to the players and parents to have questions answered by someone with first hand experience and knowledge.
Last edited by LadyNmom
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
quote:
Originally posted by Bee>:
lp2,
you peaked my curiosty so I checked the rosters of BA's top 3 teams for seniors -
Clem 6, Rice 8, and Fla at 9,

you may want to reconsider the reliability of that coach's knowledge

.


Bee,
You are too funny. Frown What's amazing is that 4 out of the 6 are true seniors (some did transfer in).
GOOD coaches who run GOOD programs DO NOT cut for performance reasons.
What is common is for many schools to EXPECT that many juniors that are drafted will leave.

It's called "the three year plan". Smile
observer44observer441,000+ posts
.

Good thread...

While it is valauble to get into the administrative aspects of scholarship retention, I particularly like the practical...AParents response... clap


quote:
College sports takes a tremendous amount ot time and dedication.

A lot of college freshman give up the game before their senior year. The reasons are as different as the players themselves. Some to focus on their degree, some for personal reasons, some get injured, some can't stay eligible, and the list goes on and on.

Colleges don't have to cut "average" players. They simply play the "best" players.

At some point every player who spends the majority of his time on the bench is going to ask himself this question - is what I am getting in return worth the time and committment involved? For some it is, for others it's not.

Keep in mind that many times the "average" ball player is not getting much of a scholarship to begin with (if any).



IMO...Do you WANT to be at a school that is trying to get the scholarship back?....

And though obvious, this part of the post is pricelss in every respect...

quote:
That is why it is so crucial to find a college where the coach is just as excited to sign you as you are to get signed by them.


Cool 44
Last edited by observer44

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