Closing recruiting before NLI period

Well, I would say not necessarily - but they do know what they are looking for.  The issue in your case may be that despite whatever his skills and academics are - the school doesn't see him as a good fit for them.

Look at it this way, at least they have the courtesy to tell you he is not a fit for them.  That isn't necessarily an indictment of his skills - as much as it is an indication that he doesn't meet their current needs.  It's hard to know what those needs are without actually being part of the coaching staff.

As my 2017 has learned, the schools really start narrowing their lists down at the start of Junior year when they can start contacting recruits.  A school may have 10 players they are pursuing with interest at infielder from the class of 2018, and when Sept 1st rolled around they started working down that list.  Your son could have been #5 on the list, but if anybody above him verbally committed, they are now done at that position.  Yes, they are pretty confident that the verbal commitments will be honored.  If that school was in your son's top 3, chances are it was #1 on the kid who verbally committed and he is set and not going anywhere else. 

Not to be negative, but as this process plays out through the Junior year, your son may find he has been eliminated from a few other schools without having done anything wrong.  They all work off lists and it is fantastic that your son is on their lists now into his Junior year.  But as many will tell you here, you will know soon enough if they are actively recruiting your son or just monitoring him while pursuing others.

As Rob-T suggested, appreciate their honesty and move on to other schools of interest.  They could have lured your son into a camp and you incurred those costs and then told him they are already set at his position.  It sounds like your son has a lot of other schools interested in him, so he has to decide which is more important--playing college baseball or going to the school that just dropped him off their list. 

Finally, one thing I wish we had done over was do more campus visits when my 2017 was a junior.  Spend some time in Spring Break when classes may be in session at the college and go visit the ones at the top of his list.  Especially if he interested in the high academic schools that have a much different feel to them.  The Summer is a bad time to visit because you don't get to attend classes or experience the usual atmosphere.  Now my 2017's Fall semester has been packed with campus visits/coach meetings and unfortunately missed school days. I cannot emphasize enough how important the campus visit is--some schools I thought he would love he dropped once he spent a day on campus, and the school at the top of his interest now I never thought he would like until we got there, met the coach and players, went to class and spent a night in the dorm.  It is really time consuming, so start early.

100% agree with Rob T. This RC is doing your son a huge favor. You will never know the details of their situation, but you pretty much know that your son will not play there. For all we know, the school may have more commits than they have room for already. Many schools will keep you hanging on for months not knowing where you really stand, which is really frustrating. Your son can remove this school from his baseball list, and get on with the process. He (and you) should try not to take this kind of news personally (as difficult as that is). It's all about finding a good match. Good luck the rest of the way.

From Backstop22:  Finally, one thing I wish we had done over was do more campus visits when my 2017 was a junior.  Spend some time in Spring Break when classes may be in session at the college and go visit the ones at the top of his list.  Especially if he interested in the high academic schools that have a much different feel to them.  The Summer is a bad time to visit because you don't get to attend classes or experience the usual atmosphere. 

Agree 100% but how can a baseball player visit schools during Spring break?  Heck, if  he plays fall baseball or football and/or basketball visiting then is difficult too.  It's a real dilemma.

OTOH, my 2017 keeps talking about going on a extensive road trip to visit friends at multiple colleges in SoCal.  The only reason I'm not worried about that is that I know he's too damn busy to do anything but talk about it.

Great advice and comments, two week for spring break is a great opportunity for him to really experience the schools, missing high school tournaments won’t hurt him and the coaches should understand. Should he keep this school in the loop, especially since he will be changing positions? Just don’t want to burn any bridges, but also don’t want to get on the “doesn’t get the hint” list.

Top schools "close" their recruiting long before the NLI period.  The RCs have their back up lists in case something unexpected happens with those who have verballed but then somehow don't sign.  Most top programs are not looking for players in the Summer between HS Junior and Senior years...they are completely done with recruiting that class.

It sounds like this program is already done recruiting certain positions in the Fall of HS Junior year.  As everyone above has said, they are doing your family a favor by being honest.

And schools "over sign" as has long been documented on this site.  Hedging against losing a signee to the MLB draft.  Or maybe just creating a large Fall roster that gets cut down in time for Spring.  It's a positive for your guy that this school is not doing that to him.

Good luck!  It sounds like your son will have many wonderful options.

bigQ posted:

Great advice and comments, two week for spring break is a great opportunity for him to really experience the schools, missing high school tournaments won’t hurt him and the coaches should understand. Should he keep this school in the loop, especially since he will be changing positions? Just don’t want to burn any bridges, but also don’t want to get on the “doesn’t get the hint” list.

Sorry I would think most HS coaches would have a big issue with missing games in season but maybe yours is different than our son's  was.  I would check with coach before going too far down that path assuming he will be good with it. 

Agree that you would have to clear it with the coach first, and each school's approach to Spring Break is different.  And I should say some HS coaches simply do not get how important the college recruiting process is for kids and campus visits with missed practices and games is a part of that.

Our HS played a low level 3-day tourney with no league games that a number of kids missed for college tours and such.  Another option is some high schools get a three day President's weekend in February.  We've found most colleges have class on some of the Holidays that high schools get off.  My 2017 visited a campus on Veterans Day and got to attend two classes at the prospective college.  But my point is try to visit your top campuses when they actually have classes in session and students are going about life as usual.  That gives you a much better read on what it is really like than just walking around empty buildings in the Summer. 

There is also a value in contacting the coach and telling him you are coming for a visit.  Then they know you are serious and may move you up over other kids who are not visiting yet.

bigQ posted:

Great advice and comments, two week for spring break is a great opportunity for him to really experience the schools, missing high school tournaments won’t hurt him and the coaches should understand. Should he keep this school in the loop, especially since he will be changing positions? Just don’t want to burn any bridges, but also don’t want to get on the “doesn’t get the hint” list.

HS ball is going full tilt at this point in time and players in most programs will not be going anywhere. My son's HS program always did an away trip this week which is a very big deal for the players and their families. 

I agree with the others regarding the coach letting you know he is done. Big favor. Again most players and parents don't get the "numbers game" coaches are working. Once they fill a position they move on. Even if your son is #3 on their board and #2 takes the spot, your done at that program no matter how good a player. (usually) 

bigQ posted:

Great advice and comments, two week for spring break is a great opportunity for him to really experience the schools, missing high school tournaments won’t hurt him and the coaches should understand. Should he keep this school in the loop, especially since he will be changing positions? Just don’t want to burn any bridges, but also don’t want to get on the “doesn’t get the hint” list.

They have politely told you to move on, don't take it personally.

Good comments.  It can be difficult to accept, but agree the coach is doing you a favor.  It's a two way street; some colleges will be interested in your son, but already, your son might know he's not interested in that college.  Both sides are saying "next" all the time.   

The coaches have position needs they're looking for with specific high level skills.  Some of the colleges you mention likely have limited position needs.  Your son should ask how many MIF's or C's they're looking for.... When one of the Ivy's or Service Academies are only looking for 1 or 2 MIF's for the class of 2018, they are looking at some top skill sets throughout the country.  These are players who are possibly D1 offered kids with top skills and grades, but searching for a top education. 

Your son should continue to refine his footwork and glove work to improve his marketability. Find the best fielding coach around; someone that started in the MIF for a top D1 program or played professionally.  They will teach the next level of fielding skills to your son.  

Good luck.