This was just put up on LA Times.
"Savage insists that UCLA will not renege unless a prospect runs afoul of the law or fails to qualify academically. He said the Bruins will honor commitments even in cases of significant injury.
But that puts colleges at greater risk of making mistakes with limited resources. They are allowed only 11.7 scholarships to spread in partial offers among 25 or more players."
Replies sorted oldest to newest
The news of Savage signing this kid broke earlier this year.
IMO, this is a very slippery slope. One that I don't think anyone can do anything to slow down.
Will be interesting watch these kids progress.
Rich
According to the article
"These boys aren't even old enough to formally accept an offer. Under NCAA rules, they must wait until the fall of their senior year to sign a national letter of intent.
In the meantime, the most they can do is make an oral commitment — an unofficial promise — to sign three or four years down the road. Moniak and Strumpf plan to join Danner at UCLA. Pratto, Allen and Moya say they are headed to USC."
"There is one more complication with early commitments: Nothing is written in stone. The NCAA does not even recognize oral commitments."
I'm not sure I would want to depend upon a promise given how coaches are more apt to change their mind.
I hate to burst your bubble. But a "promise" is all you get until today, which happens to be signing day.
So, all those kids that have been "signed" for the last month, 6 months, 12 month, etc as class of 2014 grads have had nothing more than a "promise".
And if your son is pursuing D3 athletics, there is no "signing". Coaches must keep "recruiting" kids until they show up on campus.
Rich
This is ridiculous, but I shouldn't say much...my 2017 has verbally committed to UF........they just don't know it yet and I'm sure they have no idea who he is( I guess my son should let them know soon)!...I hope they honor his commitment..
I hate to burst your bubble. But a "promise" is all you get until today, which happens to be signing day.
So, all those kids that have been "signed" for the last month, 6 months, 12 month, etc as class of 2014 grads have had nothing more than a "promise".
And if your son is pursuing D3 athletics, there is no "signing". Coaches must keep "recruiting" kids until they show up on campus.
Rich
On this topic, one of the knowledgeable veterans here said that these verbal commitments were honored by schools 99% of the time (or something like that). If so, then they do mean more than a "promise".
And if they didn't, if there was a lot of reneging going on, kids would stop entering those agreements, at least at those schools who did the reneging.
Rich
D3 recruits and parents:
Your commitment from the school you have applied to is "signed" when you get your acceptance letter from Admissions.
Whether you toss it in the circular file ( if this would be consistent with any Early Admissions or Early Decision rules) is your own business.
I hate to burst your bubble. But a "promise" is all you get until today, which happens to be signing day.
So, all those kids that have been "signed" for the last month, 6 months, 12 month, etc as class of 2014 grads have had nothing more than a "promise".
And if your son is pursuing D3 athletics, there is no "signing". Coaches must keep "recruiting" kids until they show up on campus.
Rich
Totally agree. I would always have other options ready.
If a program is recruiting or discussing commitments from 14 year old kids (yes kids!) that tells me a lot about their decision making process and character. I know this happens in other sports (frequently in women's sports). It doesn't mean I have to like it or agree with it. If I was the NCAA Puba for a day, cleaning this up would be my first order of business.
If a program is recruiting or discussing commitments from 14 year old kids (yes kids!) that tells me a lot about their decision making process and character. I know this happens in other sports (frequently in women's sports). It doesn't mean I have to like it or agree with it. If I was the NCAA Puba for a day, cleaning this up would be my first order of business.
As a dad with a 14 year old freshman, there is no way in H**l my son is even close to being able to make that kind of decision. We recently went to a prospect camp at a local collage, just to get a feel for what baseball could be like at that level. His take away? He liked the player's lounge :-)
While a very select few boys will make commitments at 9th or 10th grade I'm seeing a trend on the softball side that even the less than elite players are going early.
My theory is that its all about physical maturity. Most 9th grade boys will look very different by the time they are seniors. But girls mature earlier. So a coach is getting a much more accurate picture of what a young lady will be as a college player.
I'm still in the camp that waiting is probably smart… unless we are talking about a Top 10 Academic & Athletic school. I shake my head when I hear kids "committing" to mediocre colleges as 10th graders. UVA wants you? UNC wants you? Go for it. "East Upstate BFE University" wants you? Maybe wait a bit.
Rich
Girls are different. They physically mature much sooner. D1 softball teams are already actively recruiting for 2016 and 2017. They're done with the 2015s. If a fourteen year old girl is competing at the 18U Gold level colleges can see what they have. The only major future projection is strength.
The colleges offering verbals to fourteen year olds aren't really committed and/or risking their reputation. When the kid turns eighteen and isn't a stud all the coach has to say to the kid is, "we'll honor the verbal the first year. But I can't see you ever getting on the field here." 99% of players would run from this situation.
What happens if a college program commits to a verbal offer then the coaching staff is gone when its time to sign the NLI? The only situation I'm familiar with the new coach offered all the verbals the opportunity to walk away. A kid I know walked. Those who stayed had their verbals honored. Do new staffs typically honor verbals? My concern would be lack of attachment from not being recruited by the new coach.
