What actually happens at a D2 college in the fall? We've been told that the roster will be determined in the fall. Is this true? Will there be actual games against other colleges? My freshman (and me) is eagerly waiting for this to play out.
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FrOm my understanding it is all intersquad and starters are determined from that.
At least that’s what I’ve been told.
When I coached at SSU in Northern Cal I scheduled the local JC and Pro Scout teams.After 5 weeks and daily intra squad games I select the Varsity team to travel to Hawaii in January. We also scheduled a visitors game at San Quentin .
Bob
@BB and BB posted:What actually happens at a D2 college in the fall? We've been told that the roster will be determined in the fall. Is this true? Will there be actual games against other colleges? My freshman (and me) is eagerly waiting for this to play out.
Here in FL D2 programs have V and JV teams. When son was PC/RC at Florida Southern they played against each other in the fall. The scholarship players usually made up the V team.
Things may have changed.
Should I assume that since he is a scholarship player that he will go to Arizona spring training late winter? And can parents go?
"Do not assume" ask the Coaches or Travel Coordinator.
Bob
BB and BB
Did you contact the Coach? Are you West Coast?
Bob
We are in Ohio. Have not talked to the coach about this subject.
@BB and BB posted:We are in Ohio. Have not talked to the coach about this subject.
And I suggest that you don’t. You should wait until the team determines who will travel for that trip and who won’t. Then make your decision. You may have to make arrangements beforehand that can be canceled if necessary. Maybe you can gain some insight from a support person involved in the program (like SID) but it’s not a subject to bring up with coaches.
@adbono posted:Maybe you can gain some insight from a support person involved in the program (like SID) but it’s not a subject to bring up with coaches.
You could contact whoever is in charge of baseball operations. That is the person who takes care of all travel, etc.
But I also strongly suggest that you wait it out and more than likely your son will be told that info directly from the coaches to pass onto you.
The only game parents were invited to in the fall was an intersquad "blue" vs "red" game on a Sunday. I think it was their last meeting before spring. D1
@keewart posted:The only game parents were invited to in the fall was an intersquad "blue" vs "red" game on a Sunday. I think it was their last meeting before spring. D1
Player is in Ohio but program is in Arizona? I am confused with the reference to spring training.
All NCAA programs have specific practice rules as do the conferences.
The University is in Ohio. They go to Arizona for 2 weeks for "spring training"
My son played D3 but his friends D2's were pretty much the same.
- Early fall is all about conditioning and weight training and letting students get centered and back in the school/baseball grove.
- Later in the fall "Captains" (Sr players) run practices (to get around NCAA rules on coaches contact) You can be sure coaches are watching from somewhere. At least top programs do this.
- There is a window when coaches manage the practices and then intersquad games happen and at least at my son's program they were mixed to give as many looks at the new players as possible. The teams were mixed not Varsity vs JV. They might stack a team if a pitcher they want to see against Sr players.
- "Fall World Series" happen later in the fall around late Nov and at least at my son's program the parents were invited and it also included fundraising activities. Teams are split to make them competitive. This games are serious for bragging rights and a lot of fun to watch. New parents get introduced to the existing parent/booster group. My son's team "travelled well" and always had a large group of parents at home and away games. We still have great friends from my son's college baseball days....but they're from Texas and Texans are a special group IMO. 
- At this point the coaches have a pretty good idea who will be playing and where.
- Practices re-start pre-season and additional looks at players happen. Lots of scrimmages.
At no point should mom/dad talk to coaches other than to say "hi coach how you doing", "how's the family...etc etc. By all means your son should be talking to coach about how is is doing and what they want him to work on.
You can go back and look at previous years rosters to see the odds of a Fr getting playing time but this is so dependent on the skills of the player and who is in front of him. I have seen freshmen start and play four years and have seen players wait 3 years to get significant playing time. (works for D3 but likely not other levels)
Exciting times for you and your son and best of luck! It goes fast and enjoy the time. Once their schedule comes out make sure you get to as many games as possible, even if he is not playing much as you will make life long friends and your son is going love going out and getting a big meal whenever you show up.
Edit: After I posted this I see that he is in Ohio so they might shift schedules earlier due to weather issues.
@BB and BB posted:The University is in Ohio. They go to Arizona for 2 weeks for "spring training"
Ok thanks for clarifying.
So your son needs to take care of business so that he can go to Arizona.
Stupid question- I apologize- but do fall games count against eligibility? If kid gets cut after fall still has 4 years?
@Herewego posted:Stupid question- I apologize- but do fall games count against eligibility? If kid gets cut after fall still has 4 years?
Fall games do not count against eligibility
I just looked at a D1 Fall 2024 roster and counted 49 players on it. (Coastal Athletic Association.) Is that really necessary?
Francis,
it is called “tryout boot camp” Survival for the true gamers.
Bob
@Francis7 posted:I just looked at a D1 Fall 2024 roster and counted 49 players on it. (Coastal Athletic Association.) Is that really necessary?
It has been like that at most competitive D1 programs for a long time. That’s why it’s going to be a big deal when lower roster limits are imposed. Classes of ‘25 & ‘26 are already being impacted by less recruiting efforts by D1 schools, decommitments of previously recruited players, etc. - and it’s only going to get worse.
@Francis7 posted:I just looked at a D1 Fall 2024 roster and counted 49 players on it. (Coastal Athletic Association.) Is that really necessary?
I just saw 40 on an ACC roster.
There are no restrictions on D1 fall rosters at this time. As long as the 11.7 is distributed correctly, I believe that you can have as many walk ons as you want.
From what I hear, not 100%, there may be a settlement coming regarding NIL dollars, as to who will fund and how much for each sport, which will hopefully settle proposed D1 roster limits.
Florida Gators fall roster includes 41 players, which includes lots of freshman.
What position does your son play? If pitchers have logged a lot of summer innings, they might not pitch past October. There were some fall scrimmages, but many pitchers couldn't participate because they had already been shut down. My son's college didn't finalize depth charts until right before the season started in the spring.
@TPM posted:Florida Gators fall roster includes 41 players, which includes lots of freshman.
How many of the freshman were recruited? Versus you can try and walk on players? Will any get cut before spring?
Generally Florida freshman are all recruited.
Understand that in many of the larger programs it takes a full season for the freshman to adjust, although some catch on right away.
The NIL question is interesting, though. Teams can only give 11.7 scholarships, but are all 40 (or 49) being given NIL money? There are no restrictions on that, after all.
@anotherparent posted:The NIL question is interesting, though. Teams can only give 11.7 scholarships, but are all 40 (or 49) being given NIL money? There are no restrictions on that, after all.
Since there are no restrictions there is also no uniformity. Every program is doing their own thing. Some schools are doing next to nothing. A competitive mid-major in Texas is paying everyone on the roster something in order to keep their players from leaving. A few have still left for bigger amounts elsewhere. A competitive mid-major in Tennessee has a bigger collective that I would have imagined and is offering their recruits larger scholarships along with a few thousand dollars in cash. Texas A$M matched Ryan Prager’s draft slot money to entice him to return. At the D1 level you can find just about any arrangement you could imagine. I have not heard much of anything related to NIL at other divisions of baseball (D2, D3, or NAIA). I would have to believe that NIL at those schools would be pretty unusual and less significant. Maybe someone that has a player in a good D2 or NAIA program can weigh in on what they know.
@adbono posted:Since there are no restrictions there is also no uniformity. Every program is doing their own thing. Some schools are doing next to nothing. A competitive mid-major in Texas is paying everyone on the roster something in order to keep their players from leaving. A few have still left for bigger amounts elsewhere. A competitive mid-major in Tennessee has a bigger collective that I would have imagined and is offering their recruits larger scholarships along with a few thousand dollars in cash. Texas A$M matched Ryan Prager’s draft slot money to entice him to return. At the D1 level you can find just about any arrangement you could imagine. I have not heard much of anything related to NIL at other divisions of baseball (D2, D3, or NAIA). I would have to believe that NIL at those schools would be pretty unusual and less significant. Maybe someone that has a player in a good D2 or NAIA program can weigh in on what they know.
I liked what you did with Texas A$M!
The entire NIL thing has gotten out of hand. No one denies that players should not be compensated for their name, image, likeness. But when you have players demanding what they should be given, the line was crossed. JMO
I also am not aware of any other divisions that award NIL money. You can't give what you don't have.
Ironically, the law allowing players to profit off their "name, image, and likeness" is supposed to allow them to get paid for advertising products, being used in video games, memorabilia, etc. Any player at any level could do that, if there were someone willing to pay them. It should be set by market forces, athletes should be able to negotiate about that, just like any other business transaction.
"NIL" collectives of money from donors to pay athletes (supposedly without the input of the coaches 
) is what is being talked about here.
And this is why I asked my question. Under NCAA rules, a team can only give 11.7 scholarships, but there's no limit on "NIL" money. So, a team could offer players cash from the NIL collective to come, but then cut them after the fall, right? Are contracts signed when this "NIL" money is given? Presumably they have no guarantee about roster spots?
I'm asking this because HS players need to know this kind of thing when considering offers. I'm really curious about the teams with over 40 players in fall.
Also should note that many teams don't post a 2025 roster until the day before the season starts in the spring.
I'm curious as to why some teams post these 40+ player rosters for fall. What's the point of doing that?
@Dadof3 posted:How many of the freshman were recruited? Versus you can try and walk on players? Will any get cut before spring?
In some states, HS students get $$ through a program within their state lottery. In FL it's called Bright Futures. You use it or you lose it.
So essentially if an athlete is in that situation, you don't need to walk on.
@anotherparent posted:Also should note that many teams don't post a 2025 roster until the day before the season starts in the spring.
I'm curious as to why some teams post these 40+ player rosters for fall. What's the point of doing that?
Agree the official roster isn't official until season begins. But there are unofficial rosters out there for fall at some programs that will remain the same. And yes it's hard to plan on how much you have to spend when you don't know.
The new ruling will come down on NIL money soon, hopefully. No more collectives, boosters, etc., it will have to come from the conferences.
@anotherparent posted:Ironically, the law allowing players to profit off their "name, image, and likeness" is supposed to allow them to get paid for advertising products, being used in video games, memorabilia, etc. Any player at any level could do that, if there were someone willing to pay them. It should be set by market forces, athletes should be able to negotiate about that, just like any other business transaction.
"NIL" collectives of money from donors to pay athletes (supposedly without the input of the coaches
And this is why I asked my question. Under NCAA rules, a team can only give 11.7 scholarships, but there's no limit on "NIL" money. So, a team could offer players cash from the NIL collective to come, but then cut them after the fall, right? Are contracts signed when this "NIL" money is given? Presumably they have no guarantee about roster spots?
I'm asking this because HS players need to know this kind of thing when considering offers. I'm really curious about the teams with over 40 players in fall.
You are correct in implying that the coaches influence the collective in terms of which players get how much money. And you are also correct that coaches are using NIL to cover the cost of a recruit’s attendance in order to get them to campus. But (just like academic money) any player that accepts a deal like that doesn’t count towards the 11.7 and the program is not invested in that player. I would assume that most NIL contracts are one year with no promise of renewal. So a player could be enticed to campus with a big NIL deal only to have it taken away after year 1. There is one Big12 school in particular that’s fond of this way of doing business.
