Guaranteed Roster Spot - How does this work?

Great questions!  Of course, there likely aren't sure-thing answers to each of your questions.  Here's my take:

1) If your son can contribute and proves it in scrimmages/practices, he will play.  Coaches wanna win…they have to win to keep their job.  Performance nets playing time.  I would say that scholarship…and especially big scholarship guys will get more chances to prove they shouldn't play…but there are plenty of players in your son's position in college baseball that have played a lot.

2) Yes.  Anywhere I know about…yes.

3) Yes.  But that really goes for everyone including scholarship players.  How many times?  More than most would believe.

4) In my view, you said your son loves the school and the rest of the fit sounds pretty good. That sounds like what we looked for ourselves.  I think you can ask the coaches any of the questions you asked here.  Listen for either firmness or hesitation in answers.  I tend to trust people if they look me in the eye and give me their word.  But that's caused me trouble more than once, so you gotta follow your own gut.

Good luck!  

CaliBaller, here are my thoughts on your questions.

1. It really all depends upon the integrity of the coach.  I've consulted with parents who were told that their son had a "guaranteed roster spot" and then found out that 9 or 10 other recruits were told the same thing, when there are only 8 walk-on roster spots on most Div. I teams.

2. This will be true at the majority of schools.

3. I agree with justbaseball on this one also.

4. A few other things to keep in mind include: a) if it's not too late, your son may want to stay a "non-recruited" athlete so that he'll have the chance to be eligible at another Div. I school if he chooses to transfer; b) you may want to check out the track record for walk-on players at the school where this coach was previously by looking ar rosters for the past few years at that school;, and c) you may want to check out the following blog on our website, as well as resources in the "Store" of our site, such as our "Informed Athlete's Guide to Campus Visits."

http://www.informedathlete.com/walk-on-transfer-rules

Rick

There is something called an "Institutional Letter of Intent" that formally guarantees a roster spot for players that do not receive baseball$$. The NCAA recognizes it, and the school can announce the players in their recruiting classes right along with the LOI guys. 

Rob,

The NCAA rules allow a college to make a written offer of acceptance and/or financial aid to the college, and it may be signed by the player at the early signing date.  In the Division Manuals it is termed simply a "written offer of admission and/or financial aid."  Perhaps some conferences (e.g. Ivy or Patriot Leagues) may have a more elegant name for this.  Once such an offer has been signed, the college may publicize its recruitment of the player.

However, it isn't clear to me how this guarantees a roster spot, nor what recourse a player would have if a written guarantee were provided but not followed.   Note that an NLI also doesn't guarantee a roster spot--it just (in principle but not in practice) guarantees the athletic aid.  Any player receiving athletic aid is a counter and in baseball must be included on the 35 man squad list, but that doesn't require the college to allow the player to practice with the team.

CaliBaller,

I agree with the already posted answers to your questions.  I'd like to  point out that even a coach who is acting in good faith may have reasons to not include the player of the squad list--thus meaning he wouldn't be able to practice with the team.  The most obvious is an injury which will keep the player from contributing during the baseball season.  Additionally, if the player arrives at fall practice in poor physical condition, e.g out of shape or with a chronic injury which leads to regression in performance, then probably the coach will feel that the player hasn't kept up his end of the bargain.  

If this school's academics are the priority, it sounds like he has a great plan.

Rick is right.  You need to try and find out how this coach as treated others in this same position in the past.  Some programs are absolutely truthful when they say your son will be treated like the scholarship athletes, others just say this and do not honor the promise.  Do your homework by talking to ex players of coach and program.

Congrats, sounds like something your son really wants.

Others have given good advice on doing your homework.

Lots of things in life involve trust, and this is one of them. Good luck and congrats again to your son.

Thanks, guys for all the expert feedback on my questions.    This is all VERY helpful.    We met with the HC and the Recruiting Coach on Sunday.     I had prepped my S to ask most of the questions around the position/offer; however, I did jump in on a few occasions.    

HC answered all our questions to our satisfaction.   My main point of comfort is the Written Offer letter that he showed us he will be sending to us.  

   The Letter outlines the areas that would cause my S to lose his spot, and they are basically grades, drugs, and anything that disgraces the Team.    

This team carries only 18 scholarships, so there are 17 not on scholarship (very heavy on pitching scholarships to be able to compete on West Coast).   So, many position guys are in same boat as my S. 

I talked to someone who knows the coach from his past two posts- he's a standup guy- but we'll have to see how this progresses.    HC said there is chance of a couple of guys going to minors in next year- and, if so, he would get us some $....I am not planning on that (any comments on this appreciated). 

Bottom line- we're elated with the school and the facilities and I know my S will work his ass off to get to a point where he can contribute.    After we committed, the HC and RC both gave my S and me a big hug...  We walked around the campus for an hour while my son couldn't wipe the grin off his face (nor could I).  

The scholly description is confusing. Lots of super knowledge exists here on HSBBW so please chime in. NCAA allows a max of 11.7 (full scholly dollars) distributed amongst a minimum of 27 of the 35 , of which each of the 27 MUST get at least 25% of Tuition+Room/board. Thus, some fully funded schools may have 8 players getting zero athletic funds. That being said, how does the "17 not on scholarship" compute, whether this school is fully funded or not. 

From what I know, 27 is the max that can get scholarships  - not the minimum.    The minimum scholarship for any single player is 25%.   

That's correct.  27 is the maximum number of team members that can be on a baseball scholarship, and those receiving a scholarship must receive at least a 25% scholarship.

I would say they are not fully funded.  Maybe they only fund 9?

Just because a team doesn't split the scholarships 27 ways doesn't mean they aren't fully funded. There's a major conference coach who (at the time of his statement) only splits scholarships 20 ways. His logic is only 18-20 players actually impact of the team's season. 

It doesn't mean they are either...

yup...meant to write MAXIMUM 27 of the 35. Walkons plus the 27 > than 35 risk not being rostered in February. If it's a dream school that's a bonus. Guaranteed roster spot even better. Best of luck.

While I understand there are others in the West, the approach the OP describes is one attributed to Coach Hill at the University of San Diego. They are fully funded. They also have one of the newest and most beautiful baseball facilities in all of college baseball, and a campus which is just as gorgeous.

Reportedly, Coach Hill allocates the vast majority of his 11.7 scholarship dollars amongst about 15 or so of his 35 man roster. Through that approach, he is able to attract the very top talent, as evidenced by their regular season record and the draft, on a regular basis. With tuition, room and board at USD being close to $60,000 per year, he  used this approach to build USD into  the top program in the WCC, but one which struggles  in post season play. He has also been able to use this approach to get top players to school rather than signing in the draft out of HS.

So long as the scholarship players stay healthy and perform as projected, USD will be a visible program which wins regularly.

I would expect to  see other WCC teams adopt the approach and could also see it at a school like USC, although USC has scuffled mightily to keep those top players who sign the NLI.  So many USC players get drafted and sign, one last year in the 38th round. 

Infielddad -you are in the right ballpark when you talk USD and our offer.   This is exactly what the HC said to us....expensive school...tough place to compete for pitchers equals pitchers get most of the c$$$.

Cali Baller, did the HC discuss options for obtaining money?  Did he leave that to your son's performance on the field?  Just wondering if the subject was brought up.  Maybe I missed it.