Is this normal?

This would probably fall in the not usual category. I would assume the fact that it isn't an NCAA school is the reason why the coach doesn't mind poaching a little bit. At the end of the first semester players leave for various reasons (cut, grades, homesick, playing time, don't like the school, etc). There is probably a roster spot or two open and after seeing/hearing about your son in the fall games they probably figured they could convince him to make the switch. I'm not sure many will feel the same way, but if your son thinks the interested schools would be a better option he should seriously consider pursuing one, especially the Ivy.

Thanks for the info. I can see where S1 might be a special case. 

Son is in a very good place where he is  athletically, academically, and socially, but there is no doubt that an Ivy certainly has allure, and the other school isn't chopped liver. Would hate for him to move on and find that the grass, er... turf, isn't greener at the new school, though.

In looking at the roster of the one school, I can see where they might be a bit short on the skills my guy offers.

Definitely not normal.

Something sparked their interest and it wouldn't be a bad idea to find out what it is.   If your son is willing, I don't see how getting more information and meeting new coaches would hurt.   I suspect he has a combination of academics and baseball skills that they feel could help them.  When opportunity knocks, answer the door.

Good luck!

We talked about it some more. Sounds like a few schools, all HA/Ivy, might've came up short in their recruiting  this year. Don't think S1 is too interested in moving from where he is at, though. His school is a fit for him, both academically and baseball wise. His teammates are great, and the coaches seem to like him. From my reading of this site, that isn't always the case. 

   I've got another one coming up, so what I  learn now I can apply to the other one. He is likely to be a pitcher rather than playing the field, which makes it easier in a way. I left things too late with S1, but he's landed in a good place.

I would agree with you....yes, the other options seem nice....but all he knows about them is what he's seen online and from talking to the coaches for a few minutes.  Finding a place that works (school, baseball, etc) is a HUGE part of the college experience...and if your son is at a school that fits him academically and athletically I would be VERY leary of making a change....at least in mid-year.  If he gets to the Spring and finds out things are different than they are after his first fall then consider it....but doing something now seems like a disaster in the making.

Agree ^^. The grass is greener where you water it. 

Buckeye 2015 posted:

If he gets to the Spring and finds out things are different than they are after his first fall then consider it

I'm assuming this is an NAIA school, so this likelihood is even less--he's already on a roster, getting playing time.

I've never heard anything like this before. Thanks for sharing it.

If your son is attending an NAIA or a 4 year college in Canada or another country, I think he would still have the year in residency requirement when transferring to a D1 (Ivy). If he decides to pursue that any further, he should ask the coach about it. No sitting out issues with a D3.

I was also confused at first. I assumed your son was at an NAIA, but none of their schools fit the academic profile you described. If your son is in Canada I have no clue how the transfer process would work or if the semester he has already completed would even count against the NCAA clock. Curious to know how transferring to/from foreign schools would go down. 

Not his school, but UBC (British Columbia) is NAIA, and has  very good to outstanding academics, depending on the faculty. Nice baseball team, and very nice facilities, also.

I know if you are Canadian and been to the States and played College ball, if you decided to come back home the time spent in NCAA, JUCO or NAIA doesn't effect your eligibility to play in University/College in Canada. 

In fact many guys who have spent a year or two or more down south and come home to finish or continue studies wind up playing 2 or more years (one guy is in his 10th year) at the College or University levels.

So I would assume that going from a Canadian school to a school down south would be similar.

Wales posted:

 

So I would assume that going from a Canadian school to a school down south would be similar.

Transfer rules are specific to the association and division that the player is transferring "to". The "from" doesn't matter very much (2 year vs 4 year is the main thing). NCAA D1 has the most restrictive transfer rules of all the college sports associations. The D1 rule seems pretty clear about this, but there may be exceptions for 57special's son's situation, which is why I'd talk to the D1 coach about the details if he gets serious about transferring to an Ivy.

14.5.1.5 Foreign Institution Transfers. A transfer student from a foreign collegiate institution (college, university or two-year college), except one entering as a bona fide exchange student, shall comply with the one year residence requirement set forth in Bylaw 14.5.5.1.

If this is your son's possible ticket to an Ivy League opportunity, I should think you would pursue it even if it might mean that he gives up a lot of playing time.  I do think you could ask the coaches outright what the rules would be upon transfer, but it sounds like maybe they're thinking they can get him eligible right away, hence the contact now, in between semesters.

I hear you saying your son is at a high academic school already, but I'm not sure you and I are on the same page as to what "high academic" means.  The lifetime earnings of your typical Ivy League grad far exceed those of grads from many very respectable schools.  Using baseball as a means of successfully making that life path jump sounds like the smart play to me.  And since you're not describing him as a pro prospect, he's at worst going from starter to bench player for what amounts to his final three seasons.  Everyone has to make his own decision, but if this were my son, I would urge him to do this even if it ended up costing him his playing time. 

Midlo Dad posted:

If this is your son's possible ticket to an Ivy League opportunity, I should think you would pursue it even if it might mean that he gives up a lot of playing time.  I do think you could ask the coaches outright what the rules would be upon transfer, but it sounds like maybe they're thinking they can get him eligible right away, hence the contact now, in between semesters.

I hear you saying your son is at a high academic school already, but I'm not sure you and I are on the same page as to what "high academic" means.  The lifetime earnings of your typical Ivy League grad far exceed those of grads from many very respectable schools.  Using baseball as a means of successfully making that life path jump sounds like the smart play to me.  And since you're not describing him as a pro prospect, he's at worst going from starter to bench player for what amounts to his final three seasons.  Everyone has to make his own decision, but if this were my son, I would urge him to do this even if it ended up costing him his playing time. 

We are probably on the same page. I have family that are profs at Dartmouth and Chicago, as well as JHU, WUSTL, and UCLA, among others. We are comfortable with my son's decision. 

57Special,

So, the discussion thread is "Is this Normal".   I've been on this site for a while and seen people come and go and made a few friends along the way.   I've provided some decent advice/experience (or so I've been told) to many people on this website from my oldest son's recruiting journey that I thought would help others seeking a similar path or outcome.  Your question about the normalcy of a current College Coach asking about a current college player's interest level in transferring to his program is a good one, and I clearly understand that question.  

However, your reaction to the Ivy/HA opportunity (and MidloDad's comments) has me absolutely baffled and I was wondering to myself as I had 6 hours in the car yesterday....is your reaction "normal".  In my personal experience on HSBBWeb, hundreds of people have PMed me over the years asking about Ivy/HA recruiting and how to leverage their son's skills to get into these HA schools to try to set themselves up for the rest of their lives.   Honestly, you are the first person I've read since 2007 (when I first started reading threads here)  that is not interested in learning more about an Ivy/HA opportunity or at least following up with the coach who initiated the communication to get more information.   I just don't understand your reaction or reasoning.   This is America, and you are absolutely entitled to do whatever you feel is best for you and your family, but you have absolutely blown my mind.

As always, JMO.

I didn't perceive any slight.  All I saw was that he felt his son's current school was on par with Ivy League schools.  Whether I would agree or  disagree, (a) I cannot venture an opinion without knowing what school we're talking about and (b) it seems they've made their decision and moved on in any event.  That is, I see a mention of being comfortable with son's decision -- and while the decision made is not explicitly stated, from the tenor of things, I take it he decided to stay put.

The one thing that always bothers me -- with any player, but certainly with players in our program -- is when they go to a school that would candidly be considered a step down from what would typically fit them, just to play baseball for just a few more years.  The goal is to maybe use baseball to get into a BETTER school than what otherwise might be available to you, to play, and maybe to get some financial help as well.  Compromising the foundation for the 50-70 years of life that follows college for a few more years in uniform is, to me, a regrettable decision.  (I would except from this anyone who is a bona fide MLB prospect, but those are indeed exceptions and not the norm.)  Especially when you can keep playing anyway, even if it ends up being club baseball or such. 

But even with our own program's players, I make one thing clear:  I'll offer my advice, that's what I'm here for, but in the end it's your life and your decision to make.  Sometimes players make what I consider immature, short-sighted decisions, but they are still their decisions to make, and after all, none of us has a crystal ball to say how the future would have or will turn out.

fenwaysouth posted:

57Special,

So, the discussion thread is "Is this Normal".   I've been on this site for a while and seen people come and go and made a few friends along the way.   I've provided some decent advice/experience (or so I've been told) to many people on this website from my oldest son's recruiting journey that I thought would help others seeking a similar path or outcome.  Your question about the normalcy of a current College Coach asking about a current college player's interest level in transferring to his program is a good one, and I clearly understand that question.  

However, your reaction to the Ivy/HA opportunity (and MidloDad's comments) has me absolutely baffled and I was wondering to myself as I had 6 hours in the car yesterday....is your reaction "normal".  In my personal experience on HSBBWeb, hundreds of people have PMed me over the years asking about Ivy/HA recruiting and how to leverage their son's skills to get into these HA schools to try to set themselves up for the rest of their lives.   Honestly, you are the first person I've read since 2007 (when I first started reading threads here)  that is not interested in learning more about an Ivy/HA opportunity or at least following up with the coach who initiated the communication to get more information.   I just don't understand your reaction or reasoning.   This is America, and you are absolutely entitled to do whatever you feel is best for you and your family, but you have absolutely blown my mind.

As always, JMO.

My son was offered a spot at more than one HA school. He  choose one that suited him best. So far, it's working out well for him, both academically, BB wise, and socially. He is hesitant to mess with a good thing. 

    Oh, and his BB skills DID help him get into a faculty that he otherwise might not have been admitted to.

    There are, of course,  circumstances to any school "fit", and the school he's at has unique features that work especially well for him.

There are some top-notch schools in Canada, with international reputations similar to Ivies (McGill being one). If OP's son attends and is happy at such a school, that is great.

Fan2024 posted:

There are some top-notch schools in Canada, with international reputations similar to Ivies (McGill being one). If OP's son attends and is happy at such a school, that is great.

Roger that, thanks.   That would explain a lot, and that did not occur to me.