Renegotiating existing scholarship

The art of negotiation is about leverage. The only leverage a player has is transfer to a JuCo after freshman year. How many freshmen are so valuable the coach doesn't just wish him luck in his future? After that leverage involves sitting out a year or transferring downward.

Love to be a fly on the wall when walk on frosh David Berg from UCLA who this year appeared in 50 games and is tied for 2nd most appearances ever in NCAA history goes to coach Savage and states his case for a minimum 50% ride next year. Also, the lefty Grant Watson, another frosh who was the #4 starter and pitched last night is another walk on.
I wonder where all the scholarship pitchers are for UCLA? Bench?

quote:

Originally posted by Mark B:
Love to be a fly on the wall when walk on frosh David Berg from UCLA who this year appeared in 50 games and is tied for 2nd most appearances ever in NCAA history goes to coach Savage and states his case for a minimum 50% ride next year. Also, the lefty Grant Watson, another frosh who was the #4 starter and pitched last night is another walk on.
I wonder where all the scholarship pitchers are for UCLA? Bench?

If UCLA does need to allocate some baseball money to Berg and/or Watson, it probably became available when Max Fried, one of their two top pitching recruits, signed for $3,000,000 with the Padres.

Nisky ... Is your son a top shelf stud like the players in the responses?

Nisky,
I will step up and say I have never been involved in an effort to renegotiate a scholarship.
What I would offer is the view that the effort should not come from the parent, and should be very well considered before broached to the coaches. The player should also be willing to hear no.
From our experience in college baseball and with a somewhat diverse group of coaches, I would tend not to present it in terms of "leverage" of leaving the program or heading other directions, or suggesting that as a type of "leverage" if it truly is.
Our experience is there are college coaches who want to do the best by their players within 11.7 or their scholarship funding, if it is less.
What you don't know at the outset is whether and how much scholarship money is currently available. If most or all of the 11.7 is fully committed to returning and incoming players, the coach has no options.
For players who give 100% and contribute and succeed on and off the field in making the program, team and record better, some coaching staffs want to reward those contributions, if the staff feels the current scholarship is low and money is available.
Some, however, know the player cannot transfer to another DI without implications and can be pretty tough minded.
There are really no answers, to a specific situation, which can be provided on this board. Part of the answer rests in the skills, talent and contributions of your son, his position and his current scholarship level.
Part of the answer lies in the type of coaching staff who recruited your son.
Part of the answer lies in whether and how much scholarship money might be available.
Finally, part of the answer might lie in how the athletic department guides these aspects. Even though a scholarship is only for one year, some schools require the amount or increase to be honored beyond that time provided grades and integrity are not issues.
Some coaches and departments look at this year to year. In this group are some who will look at renegotiation as a 2 way street, if things don't go well for your son next year.
Lots of variables, in my view.

They could renegotiate it to 'no'.

Thanks for your thoughts infield. All good points.

Hey Nisky,
I would say that the "player initiated" renegotiation is rarely, if ever initiated. The Head Coach (HC) will understand the players value and offer more scholarship based on his perception. I do know of two instances where the HC increased $$ of scholarship to keep player from considering otehr options.

When HC offered my son, he said the offer will not go up while playing for him. He also said it would not go down either. So I would say proceed with caution. Beware what you ask and have strategy for either response. As infielddad said, do not go in thinking you have some leverage to negotiate with. It is not about leverage. It is about TALENT.

I was wondering what has changed in your son's situation. If you were happy enough to accept offer to begen with why do you feel son is worth more now? Just because you may have a good year does not mean you will continue to have good years. If more scholarship is based upon good performance this past year, will you expect a reduction next year if performance is not up to expectations?

Well we're going to find out how player initiated discussion goes. Our son set up phone conversation for next week to discuss this request with HC.

During offer meeting HC did say that $$ would never go down, only up based on performance. Son did have good year actually transitioning to higher premium position.

HC did say that $$ are already allocated (of course) but he will do what he can. Should be interesting. Thanks for thoughts.

Like a salary negotiation, you should make your best deal going in. Once your in the system you play by the system rules. Negotiating a starting salary you can ask for more than slot money if you think you have leverage like RJM states. New employer can say yes or no. But once you make that deal you might be bound by other company policies regarding raises and benefits.

IMO same thing with a scholarship. Make your best deal before committing because once your on the team you play by their rules and their scholarship restrictions.

Thought I would circle back and add that son had brief conversation with HC that resulted in increase in scholarship. (In these days, any increase is a good increase.)

I certainly wouldn't want to suggest its a normal and customary practice and I would attribute alot to the fact that the HC is a stand up guy.

But at the same time, fwiw, it can be done.

It will be interesting if the HC will be negotiating down next year if he doesn't maintain or improve.

quote:

Originally posted by dswann:
It will be interesting if the HC will be negotiating down next year if he doesn't maintain or improve.

I've heard of it happening both ways, which is only fair.
My son's HC essentially said he adds money if the player performs above expectations, and it wont hurt the overall programs ability to recruit new players.