Is This How Offers Work?

I have not heard of a school asking the player when he wants to receive an offer. But based on your statement that if he was to tell the HC coach he is ready for an offer , only for you to tell HC that it is too early in the process?  Why are you going again? 

BTW , the AAU coach should have as little to do with this process as possible IMHO

My 2017 experienced this same scenario early in the process.  I think it was his second unofficial.   Shortly after that visit he received his first offer and the first school quickly offered.  Once one school offers the others seem to know almost immediately and the sense of urgency gets ramped up.    

 I still don't really understand the tactic.   But I don't think it's uncommon.   

Also- They may ask you what your timeline is and what other schools you have visited or are going to visit.   

Dont take this personally but there is too much thinking ahead about what will happen going on these days.

My suggestion is to attend the unofficial to see exactly what its all about and learn from the experience. If your son is ready to committ, thats fine, if he isnt thats ok too but keep in mind that the coach drives the bus and he will ultimately control the situation.  

bacdorslider posted:

I have not heard of a school asking the player when he wants to receive an offer. But based on your statement that if he was to tell the HC coach he is ready for an offer , only for you to tell HC that it is too early in the process?  Why are you going again? 

BTW , the AAU coach should have as little to do with this process as possible IMHO

Can you elaborate on your last sentence?  I assume AAU coach means travel coach. If HC/RC cannot talk to underclassmen and communication is not through travel coach, how does anything work? Schedules, interest, knowledge of players...

It's hard to say what is "typical;" but what is universally true is that athletic scholarship dollars for baseball are precious. Even if a program is fully-funded (and many mid-major DI's are not), that pool made up of 11.7 scholarships to be spread among 27 players tends to be meted out carefully by coaching staffs.

So, it is from that context that I see your situation, BaseballinCT. It sounds to me like you have a staff that is protective of its pool of scholarship dollars and respectful of the players they recruit; not wanting to offer unless they believe the player has a genuine interest in considering them.

Otherwise, it sounds like an invitation that comes from a sincere interest in getting to know your son and his parents better; giving all of you deeper insight into their program and school. Therefore, I'd take them up on it if what you know from your current vantage point suggests that it could be a place that your son would like to play and go to college.

...and, if the question concerning your son's preparedness to receive an offer from them comes up, your son shouldn't be afraid to be honest; telling them that it's a bit too early in the process to begin considering specific offers from them or anyone else; leaving the door open for both sides to continue to stay in touch with one another.

Remember, a college recruitment is akin to a courting relationship. If there's genuine interest from both sides, there should always be room to keep the lines of communication open; leaving the opportunity available for the coaching staff to make the offer when they have reason to believe there's a mutuality of interest and attendant receptiveness.

Best of luck to your son!

My son's first unofficial visit was to a school we knew well, close to home, etc, etc, but our first contact with them was only a couple days before the visit.  Heck, we had never seen the RC at a game that summer, and this was mid-July.  We went, met the RC, toured the campus, etc.  We had a few minutes alone with no coaches and son said "If they offer, I'm taking it"....just fell in love with something there I guess...never really asked him what it was.  RC was great, but facilities are not, program isn't great, etc, etc.  but something hit him and told him this was the place.  No offer that day, but RC came and watched him throw the next day...and offered the day after.  Son accepted it on the spot and has loved it ever since.   They always say when you find the right place "you'll know"....in my son's case, that's exactly what happened.  Good luck!

Prepster posted:

It's hard to say what is "typical;" but what is universally true is that athletic scholarship dollars for baseball are precious. Even if a program is fully-funded (and many mid-major DI's are not), that pool made up of 11.7 scholarships to be spread among 27 players tends to be meted out carefully by coaching staffs.

So, it is from that context that I see your situation, BaseballinCT. It sounds to me like you have a staff that is protective of its pool of scholarship dollars and respectful of the players they recruit; not wanting to offer unless they believe the player has a genuine interest in considering them.

Otherwise, it sounds like an invitation that comes from a sincere interest in getting to know your son and his parents better; giving all of you deeper insight into their program and school. Therefore, I'd take them up on it if what you know from your current vantage point suggests that it could be a place that your son would like to play and go to college.

...and, if the question concerning your son's preparedness to receive an offer from them comes up, your son shouldn't be afraid to be honest; telling them that it's a bit too early in the process to begin considering specific offers from them or anyone else; leaving the door open for both sides to continue to stay in touch with one another.

Remember, a college recruitment is akin to a courting relationship. If there's genuine interest from both sides, there should always be room to keep the lines of communication open; leaving the opportunity available for the coaching staff to make the offer when they have reason to believe there's a mutuality of interest and attendant receptiveness.

Best of luck to your son!

+++1

Some schools won't "offer" if you tell them you're not ready to commit. It's their particular recruiting practice. 

A few schools have told us to let them know when he's ready to commit and they'll make an offer. 

Go44dad posted:

bacdorslider posted:

I have not heard of a school asking the player when he wants to receive an offer. But based on your statement that if he was to tell the HC coach he is ready for an offer , only for you to tell HC that it is too early in the process?  Why are you going again? 

BTW , the AAU coach should have as little to do with this process as possible IMHO

Can you elaborate on your last sentence?  I assume AAU coach means travel coach. If HC/RC cannot talk to underclassmen and communication is not through travel coach, how does anything work? Schedules, interest, knowledge of players...

I agree,   son's summer coach was tremendously helpful.   he acted as liaison between schools and my son.  he's been coaching the same team for many years and has had many talented players come through.  He's well respected by the colleges and brutally honest with both them and his players- which gives him credibility.  I don't know how we would have navigated the process without him.

Had a similar situation here as well with a college.  Unofficial visit, then exchange of texts by coach and son about a weekend visit.  Then met officially with school.  Then, coach texted son, "Is this where you want to play?"  Son replied back honestly that it was on his short list, but didn't allude that it was THE school.  After that, HC slowed the texting and interest waned.  I think if the reply had been, "Yes - I want to play for you!," then son would have gotten an official offer. 

Go44dad posted:

bacdorslider posted:

I have not heard of a school asking the player when he wants to receive an offer. But based on your statement that if he was to tell the HC coach he is ready for an offer , only for you to tell HC that it is too early in the process?  Why are you going again? 

BTW , the AAU coach should have as little to do with this process as possible IMHO

Can you elaborate on your last sentence?  I assume AAU coach means travel coach. If HC/RC cannot talk to underclassmen and communication is not through travel coach, how does anything work? Schedules, interest, knowledge of players...

Sure the AAU or TC can set up a time for the player to contact the coach, can tell RC when player is scheduled to play, but other than that he has no dog in the hunt.   I very much  like and appreciate my sons TC coach, but it's no concern of his who is offering what, how much, which school player might be leaning towards. when an offer may or may not be offered....

By OP own admission AAU coach has had other players recruited by said school.  It is not uncommon for multiple players on the same travel team be recruited by the same RC.

Don't be so naive to think that this HC and RC are only talking to your AAU coach about one player.

BaseballinCT posted:

The RC of a mid-major D-1 school has been following my 2019 all spring and summer.  RC has set up an unofficial visit this week and requested that my wife and I attend so we can meet the HC and staff, ask questions, tour the facility, etc.  Son's AAU coach has a great relationship with the HC and RC.  I asked AAU coach if they will make an offer.  Based on the experience of AAU coaches former players recruited by this school, he told me to expect the HC to say that when my son is ready to receive an offer from them, they will make one. In other words, they won't make an offer until he/we tell them we want an offer.  

Don't get me wrong - if my son were to receive an offer, he would respectfully tell them it is too soon in the process.  But my question is - is this how it typically works? Seems like a "chicken/egg" thing so they don't have an offer hanging out there for a while.  Maybe they don't love him enough to straight out offer him.  If they do this, how would we even know if they're offering $ or just a roster spot?

Anyone experienced this scenario?   

This happened with my son a couple of times...

TPM posted:

Dont take this personally but there is too much thinking ahead about what will happen going on these days.

My suggestion is to attend the unofficial to see exactly what its all about and learn from the experience. If your son is ready to committ, thats fine, if he isnt thats ok too but keep in mind that the coach drives the bus and he will ultimately control the situation.  

+1.  Agree.  Your presence has been requested.   See what it is about, and evaluate if this is a good situation.  As TPM stated the coach drives the bus.

Additionally, baseball recruiting is a marketplace.  The coach deals with this everyday.  His decision to offer or not offer has implications and sometimes consequences.   When you meet with him, try your best to put yourself in his shoes to understand what he says and his actions.  This can tell you what is going on in that marketplace.  The OPs marketplace is a D1 mid-major.  For example....when my oldest son was being recruited by D1 mid-majors 7-8 year ago most of the state schools were mostly done recruiting by this time.   There were a few private D1 mid-majors schools that were late in the cycle because it was difficult to recruit with their higher tuition.  My point is this example is the remaining recruiting roster spots in this marketplace may only be comparable private schools not public schools.

My personal experience with a HC and RC coach requesting recruit AND parents meet for an unofficial visit almost always led to an offer.  I've heard coaches ask recruits about their timetable and I've heard recruits ask coaches about their timetable.  That's not an unusual request from either.   If anything I think that question further qualifies the situation, so nobody is wasting the others time.  

Good luck!

Yeah. We had schools the last two years ask straight up if he was ready to listen to an offer. Biggest mistake my son made (at my direction) was to tell schools he wouldn't be ready to think about a commitment until after Jupiter. Then, he missed the entire fall and recruiting fell WAAAYYY off. Schools that very well might have offered back then disappeared into the woodwork as rumors flew as to why he didn't throw in the fall. Should have simply said he was always prepared to consider an offer.

Yes, correct answer, always ready to entertain offer.  when my 2014 was on a visit to a C-USA school, they were ready to offer, asked him when he wanted to commit... I wanted a bigger conference... I blew that deal for him.. bird in the hand...

We are talking about a mid-major... my 2013 coach at a mid-major... it means a lot to him to know the player really wants to be at that school.... I said at that school... not on that team... 

FWIW  so many times this baseball thing is not going to work out... I know that's not what any of us want to hear.... but its true.... make sure of the school as well as the team....

So, everybody is saying...Do as much of your homework AHEAD of time as is possible! Go into these encounters/ meetings with a very GOOD idea of what YOU are looking for AND what the coach is looking for. Know something about the school (admissions, degree programs, campus life, etc), the TEAM, the Coach, the facilities, the conference, etc. 

Go in with eyes wide open. And, enjoy!

bacdorslider posted:

Yes, correct answer, always ready to entertain offer.  when my 2014 was on a visit to a C-USA school, they were ready to offer, asked him when he wanted to commit... I wanted a bigger conference... I blew that deal for him.. bird in the hand...

We are talking about a mid-major... my 2013 coach at a mid-major... it means a lot to him to know the player really wants to be at that school.... I said at that school... not on that team... 

 

 

FWIW  so many times this baseball thing is not going to work out... I know that's not what any of us want to hear.... but its true.... make sure of the school as well as the team....

 

Yeah, at least your kid fell into a school with a decent baseball program and an OK academic reputation. 

roothog66 posted:

bacdorslider posted:

Yes, correct answer, always ready to entertain offer.  when my 2014 was on a visit to a C-USA school, they were ready to offer, asked him when he wanted to commit... I wanted a bigger conference... I blew that deal for him.. bird in the hand...

We are talking about a mid-major... my 2013 coach at a mid-major... it means a lot to him to know the player really wants to be at that school.... I said at that school... not on that team... 

 

 

FWIW  so many times this baseball thing is not going to work out... I know that's not what any of us want to hear.... but its true.... make sure of the school as well as the team....

 

Yeah, at least your kid fell into a school with a decent baseball program and an OK academic reputation. 

well sort of, I was talking about 2014 , in reference to not taking the C-USA deal..  he ended up JUCO  ....

2013's coach was the D1 guy who wanted players that wanted to be at the school as much as the program.  Mid-level D1 is different than power 5. and they do recruit differently and  different things mean different things to certain coaches and programs.

But I can say that 2018 committed as a sophomore and while a lot on the board disagreed it was the move to make.  while some of the recruiting is the same, almost all deals are a little different somehow.

bacdorslider posted:

roothog66 posted:

bacdorslider posted:

Yes, correct answer, always ready to entertain offer.  when my 2014 was on a visit to a C-USA school, they were ready to offer, asked him when he wanted to commit... I wanted a bigger conference... I blew that deal for him.. bird in the hand...

We are talking about a mid-major... my 2013 coach at a mid-major... it means a lot to him to know the player really wants to be at that school.... I said at that school... not on that team... 

 

 

FWIW  so many times this baseball thing is not going to work out... I know that's not what any of us want to hear.... but its true.... make sure of the school as well as the team....

 

Yeah, at least your kid fell into a school with a decent baseball program and an OK academic reputation. 

well sort of, I was talking about 2014 , in reference to not taking the C-USA deal..  he ended up JUCO  ....

 

2013's coach was the D1 guy who wanted players that wanted to be at the school as much as the program.  Mid-level D1 is different than power 5. and they do recruit differently and  different things mean different things to certain coaches and programs.

But I can say that 2018 committed as a sophomore and while a lot on the board disagreed it was the move to make.  while some of the recruiting is the same, almost all deals are a little different somehow.

 

Gotcha. Forgot about the other son. I'm with you. Every case is different. I can say, there are regrets concerning some offers sophomore year that should have been more carefully considered. It's looking like things for my 2018 are going to work out well, but for a few months, it was questionable.