Should I /son be worried/wary?

Start by doing as much research on the program as possible. Also find out about the players who have played there. Is the college an academic fit? Chances are if he's getting an offer sight unseen he might be able to attract better programs. But you never know. Do the homework. Unless this is the "right" college I believe it's too early to be committing to a D3 for a 2016.

I agree with RJM but I will say that this is not as uncommon as you might think.  There are a lot of colleges that do not have the resources to go out and recruit, unless it is local.  I have had 4 players recruited and offered without the coaches putting an eyeball on them, in person.  

RJM, the player is a 2015, offered a roster spot for spring 2016.

 

Might not be common, but not uncommon, if that makes sense. I would think this is more common at lower levels of D3 than higher levels.

 

Don't worry, just be prudent and check the things that RJM suggests. Is it feasible to take a visit? Do you have any possible connections with current or former players? (Even a friend of a friend?) Do they have the 2015 roster posted? How many on it? Can he compete for playing time as a freshman (if that's important to him)?

I would tell my son that it's worth pursuing, but he needs to do a lot more research.

 

Understand that D3 does not have roster limits, so offering a roster spot costs a D3 coach nothing. 

 

You son should be wary of making a commitment to a school that hasn't seen him play.  Not having seen him, there's no way they can be as committed to your son as he would be to them.

 

Do your due diligence.

 

 

Keep in mind that there are baseball colleges out there that simply try to reach an enrollment quota.  They will pretty much take anyone who can pass entrance.

 

Not suggesting that this is the case here.  Usually it is easy to figure out with a little research.  Typically these are not very successful baseball programs.

 

The programs I'm referring to are the main reason why some say there is a college out there for every baseball player.

You've gotten good advice, I would do anything and everything I could to learn about the program and the coaches.  That said, if it were my son, I would spend at least as much time looking into the school itself.  Does the academic profile fit?  Do they offer a major that interests him?  The old addage "Would he want to be at this school if baseball went away (injury, was not getting playing time, etc)."  I think most of us believe that playing in college is a terrific goal and part of a great college experience, but if the school isn't right for him, minus the baseball, then I would be careful and go slowly.

 

I agree with all that is posted. As any option you have to research it thoroughly. In my son's D3 conference there are two schools that used this quite a bit.  They were hard to get into and only had a recruiting budget to look at local kids. But with the grades required they had to really recruit on a more Regional/National level. Many times the coaches t these schools relied on the word of fellow coaches that they trusted. They could not get out to see a kid in Georgia or California so they had trusted a hand full of fellow coaches who had seen the young man play or at a showcase. 

Sometimes it works out sometimes it doesn't. One of these schools no longer works like this and spends more time recruiting other regions. They have improved quite a bit since then. The other school still does it and while currently they are down, they occasionally get in the conference playoffs, and will have good runs for a couple of years until dropping back down to the bottom of the conference.

 

I know of at least one D3 assistant that travels on his own dime to recruit kids. This year he paid for his own trip and lodging out to Long Island to recruit from the Head First showcase. His school does not have the budget, to send someone. He does it because he loves the game and wants to help make a name for himself and the program. I do not know how often this happens in D3, but it has in at least this assistants case. 

PG Staff: "Keep in mind that there are baseball colleges out there that simply try to reach an enrollment quota."

Can you explain what you mean by that (why and what kind of colleges do this)? Sorry, am new to all this....

At a local Community College, they recruit all kinds of kids from our valley, and they truly don't have much of a chance to play there.  By enticing the kids by making them think they are interested in him as a baseball player, the kid signs up to attend school there.

Definitely agree with what others have said.  Remember that D3 schools have no roster limit.  I have a family friend with a son that is on a D3 team.  Their roster is typically 50-55 kids.  They are all on the roster.  They also have a JV team that plays a reduced schedule.  All these kids are listed on the varsity roster.  It doesn't cost the team anything - other than uniforms - to keep that many kids.  Just because you are on the roster of a school like this doesn't mean you will get any play time.  There is no way they can play that many kids.  

 

I would have your son talk to the coach and find out what he knows about him specifically.  Ask about what his chances are of playing right away.  Ask about, and go online and look to see what their roster has been over the last several years.  Do they have a JV team?  If they do, do they ever have kids that start out playing JV move up to varsity at some point?  

 

I would not just take a blind promise without knowing more details at this point.

http://www.unohracers.com/schedule/12/3.php

 

http://www.unohracers.com/jv/0/14.php

 

Speaking of huge D3 programs,how would any player ever be able to play at school like this? i counted 45+ kids on the JV alone. 

Wildcat,

That is an NAIA school. I know a young man that is probably getting ready to go there. He visited the school and his father says he loves it. His dad says he is getting athletic money if he accepts.

I have pointed this out to him and sent him those very same links.  

 

I agree with the advice given.  Lots of research and questions to be answered for sure.  However, I'm not so clear on the situation

 

1) A 2015 grad has been offered a spot on a 2016 D3 roster.  Do you have your years mixed up?  Do you mean your 2015 grad is being offered a D3 roster spot on a Fall 2015/Spring 2016 team?

 

2) "Son could get nearly all tuition paid @$3000 based on current GPA".   Are you missing a zero on your tuition savings?   Assuming your son has a high GPA and ACT score, typcially colleges will incent students to go to their D3 school with merit or academic scholarships that far exceed $3000.  

I would also verify how much of that is "Free" as in grant money and scholarships. How much of it is Federal Loans?

Do the NAIA and D2 schools have limits on roster numbers or do they also push the baseball numbers to increase school enrollment? 

No roster size limits in DII or NAIA, but not all of these institutions are using sports to increase enrollment.

I agree with midatlantic. All these divisions are too large to ascribe one thing to all. This is were research is needed.

Great advice people, thanks!  I guess a little clarification is in order...

1) son is a 2015 soon-to-be grad

2) Coach at D3 mentioned he had a bunch graduating from his 2015 roster; especially Pitching(#2,3,4 and (2) Relievers). So there should be multiple opportunities for PT on the fall 2015 roster/2016 season.  He did ask son if he played other positions.  son replied with " 2nd team All-League selection at 1B in 2014".

3) Concerning tuition, etc.  The coach gave a number to son based on his current 2B who had similiar numbers in GPA and ACT.  It was all grant money as far as we know.

4) Still have lots of research to do.  We are taking a visit/tour next week.

That school is 20 minutes from us.  They will have 80+ kids in the program in the fall...knowing full well that half of them will either a)quit or b)fail by spring.  I've been told by someone who knows people in the program that the coach's pay is based on the number of kids he brings in....which to me is ridiculous.  The school does have some of the nicest facilities of ANY school in the area...not just NAIA...ANY!!!   Indoor facility, turf infield, beautiful stadium.  I guess as long as the kids know what they're in for it's fine.....there are plenty of worse places you could end up to play ball.  Don't agree with how they do things....but I guess they're not the only one doing it that way.

No matter where you go you have to do the research. In the end it does not matter how many players are in a program, what matters is are you good enough to earn a spot on the travel roster. If you think the answer is "no" and that is important to you, then don't go there. If the coach indicates that he has a plan for you and can articulate it then at least you have a shot. Again all spots, in all programs, regardless of level, are earned. My son's program has around 45-50 kids (total) year to year and the coach keeps them if they do the work and are contributing. We have kids who may not travel much, but are a part of the team and contribute and recognize their role and are happy to be part of the team. It ends up being like a fraternity for them.    There are 2-5 each year that have some sort of injury and have the opportunity to get better and earn a spot the next year. Some drop on their own and some may transfer. College baseball is tough, the higher the level the tougher it gets. 

Plus Carlos Baerga as an asst coach!

Are there certain questions he should ask at the visit in the upcoming weeks?

Jake,  I saw your post on about this on another site...so I'm assuming you're fairly close to me.  If you want to ask specific questions without posting the school on here....send me a dialog I'd be happy to answer any questions that I can.   I have a good friend who was a D3 assistant until the end of last year. I can ask him anything you'd like to know.  Also, we've had some contact with some of the D3's here over the past year.

Welcome to the site Jakethesnake14.  I sent you a Dialog.  Look for it in upper right hand corner of the frame.  Click on the button to receive + read.

About 40 minutes from me and I don't know if it has the strongest academics.

My 2016 met with a DIII coach earlier this week. He brings in 30 freshman in a class said by their senior year only about 7 to 8 are left. Kids drop because they are not really interested in playing ball, its too hard to balance school and sports, or they realize they just aren't good enough.