I am wondering if anybody can tell me how baseball scholarships work for the second and subsequent years. The first year when an NLI is signed the athlete knows how much of a scholarship they will receive. When does a player typically find out what they will receive for year two. When does it show up in the students financial aid offer etc.?
Thanks for any information!!
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Was he promised a different amount second year?
He should be getting his scholarship notice in the mail ,I think by end of june and it should be for the same amount as last year.
If it would be different the coach should discuss end of season.
My son has been informed and signed his subsequent year's letter for scholarship during his post season interview. Coach discusses performance and expectations for the next year and gives him the letter to sign. The amount didn't change between Freshman, Sophomore and Junior year.
As bballman's son experienced, most coaches will have an "exit interview" with each player at the end of the season before they leave campus. The player should be informed in the meeting.
However, be aware that the university is allowed until the end of June as the deadline by which they MUST inform an athlete about the status of their scholarship for the following year. If the scholarship is reduced or not renewed, the notice is supposed to come from the Financial Aid office on campus and the university is required to offer the athlete an appeal opportunity (for NCAA Div. I and II schools).
Thank you for the responses! We are just still trying to figure out how this college baseball thing works 
Rick's post is the general rule -- the "exit interview" works like the annual review at your job, except the program holds all the cards, because (a) they have no real incentive to offer a raise, and (b) if they reduce you, your options are severely limited.
It's important to investigate the program's/coach's reputations for handling these sorts of things before committing. Some are notorious for using big %'s to lure in freshmen, only to savage them come June so as to free up money for the next class. Others make it a point of honor that they don't reduce you unless you have engaged in misconduct.
The best way to avoid this fearful waiting game is to ask for a 4-year guarantee when your offer comes. This is now something the program CAN do per NCAA rules, but it doesn't HAVE TO do it. I advise any player, upon receiving an offer, to ask, "Would I get the 4-year guarantee with that?"
They may say no, but then at least you'd go in with your eyes wide open.
Then again, sometimes they say yes.
And sometimes, the response is, "If that's all you need to commit, then, DONE."
Midlo Dad and others - How does one investigate a program's/coach's reputation as it relates to handling subsequent years? I'm not even sure how one goes about getting a feel for how a particular year or a particular class is broken out in terms of scholarship monies. Isn't this kept pretty close - sort of like company salaries and trying to make sure the lower paid folks don't start to feel cheated. Have read on this board that trying to pick up this information individually is not a good approach as there always seems to be some amount of inflation in the figures.
We asked the coach and he basically said he would honor it for all four years. He has for the first 3 and hopefully will the last. But, I agree, it's hard to judge without knowing some players and asking for what I would consider to be confidential numbers. My son had initially told me numbers on players that I know couldn't have been true, then come back and gave me more realistic numbers on the players. I generally don't share the numbers, but what I would share is whether the coaches have honored their word. The problem is, as a new parent or player, you don't know who is getting money and who isn't. I don't think you can go around asking all the parents or players on the team if the coach honors his scholarship promises. If you ask someone who isn't on a scholarship, you may ruffle some feathers. It is a tough situation to be in, really. I'd be interested to see how others answer.
My daughter had a post season meeting with her coach each year. Coach then told her his plans for her, gave her an evaluation and then made sure she knew the amount of her scholarship for the next year. Daughter's amount remained the same and never was a problem.
Can the coach give the 4 year agreement in writing? Doesn't seem like a verbal commitment from the coach would hold alot of water when push comes to shove?
Can the coach give the 4 year agreement in writing? Doesn't seem like a verbal commitment from the coach would hold alot of water when push comes to shove?
Yes.
The last time I looked at a conference grant in aid form was the first year schools were allowed to make multi-year offers. The form was set up as a one-year agreement, but it was accompanied by a letter signed by the coach affirming that it was a four-year offer. I wondered how binding that letter would be if the player and school fell out of love with each other, but fortunately, the school has honored it.
Perhaps the conferences (especially conferences like the PAC 12 that have announced policies of multi-year scholarships) have updated their grant in aid forms by now.
