What constitutes the commitment/acceptance process for the DIII athlete? In the other classifications, a school presents a scholarship offer; the athlete accepts, signs an NLI and is placed on the roster. Absent scholarships and NLIs, how does it play out in DIII?
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The coach wanting to walk through the admission application is a good sign. Being asked to apply ED is a good sign. These are indications the player is high on the coach's list. Anyone else should consider themselves a walk on candidate. D3 can roster as many as they want. A #40 on the roster doesn't have much of a future. JV players (if there is a JV) rarely make varsity.
A friend's son played D3 for a team that was always on the borderline for being ranked. He was also recruited by some mid majors. The coach told the player to send him his admission app and apply ED. The coach was allowed admission preference for six baseball recruits. The coach told a lot of recruits he needed pitching. 27 pitchers showed up in the fall for 3 additional roster spots.
Marklarker,
In all negotiations there is a buyer and seller. Depending on which you are (buyer/seller) someone has to initiate an offer. If the Coach is the seller, he will over-communicate with your son and eventually offer him.....he wants him on the team for baseball or baseball/academic reasons. If your son is the seller, he's going to have to initiate these committment discussions with the Coach. Once the committment dialogue has started you need to get your ducks in a row with FA and ED applications. That ED application is where the verball committment has turned to a physical & legally binding committment
D3s vary considerably. As RJM said if the Coach is helping your son get admitted through ED (as an academic stretch) that can be a good sign. I would do my research on the school, the coaches reputation, financial aid prospects and any academic scholarships he might qualify for. A lot of this has nothing to do with baseball and you'll probably end up doing most of the leg work.
If this is a high academic D3 then motivation may be clearer but admissions may be riskier. The Coach helps your son get in, then he'll want him to apply ED as he's identified him as someone he wants on the team. Be direct with the Coach to make sure he has a roster spot on the team for your son with his ED application. Do your research to understand if your son is appropriate for this level of baseball or possibly higher. It is very important to understand the Coaches motivations for wanting your son...try to get a clearer picture on that.
Good luck!
My son will be attending a D3 this coming fall and playing baseball and he was recruited by the coach (made a visit and stayed with a player). There is no formal letter - he contacted the coach and said he loves the school and is coming this fall.
The schools is a high academic engineering school and there was no help with admission - he applied early and was accepted. Though I believe being recruited may help him come fall/spring - we understand the reality is that he is on the team when he earns a spot on the team.
