I know the difference between Financial Aid and Athletic Aid. I am told by the coach you have to choose on or the other...and if the FA is more money than the AA then the coach gets my kid for free? Is that right?
Original Post
This is not directly related to baseball or athletic aid.
By "Financial Aid", you probably mean aid which is based on financial need--using FAFSA or another criterion, your family or son has demonstrated a need for financial aid.
Now, suppose that your son is awarded a scholarship in the amount of $2000 because he is a red-headed Lithuanian . His financial need has now decreased by $2000. It's great to get the red-headed scholarship, but assuming that there is a source to supply the need-based aid, there is no net financial benefit to your son.
It's the same with an athletic scholarship. Unless the athletic aid exceeds the amount of financial need, the athletic scholarship provides no financial benefit to your son, but it does cost the baseball program money and counts against the 11.7 limit. Awarding an athletic scholarship in this situation has no upside to anyone, and a substantial downside to the program.
By "Financial Aid", you probably mean aid which is based on financial need--using FAFSA or another criterion, your family or son has demonstrated a need for financial aid.
Now, suppose that your son is awarded a scholarship in the amount of $2000 because he is a red-headed Lithuanian . His financial need has now decreased by $2000. It's great to get the red-headed scholarship, but assuming that there is a source to supply the need-based aid, there is no net financial benefit to your son.
It's the same with an athletic scholarship. Unless the athletic aid exceeds the amount of financial need, the athletic scholarship provides no financial benefit to your son, but it does cost the baseball program money and counts against the 11.7 limit. Awarding an athletic scholarship in this situation has no upside to anyone, and a substantial downside to the program.