Sophmores making college commitments???

According to one D1 headcoach, it is the parents and players making these announcements - not the schools because, as you said, the schools cannot make the committment so early. It's sad that the parents seem to be so competitive that they find it necessary to put the pressure on the kids when high school is supposed to be the time of their lives.

I'm pretty sure that it's the parents who bring this on. You can also verbal commitment at any camp that a player attends. If not mis-taken, that's why you go to a school's camp because you or your son wants to go there. If that school wants him at that time, well you met your goal? I think every parent wants their son in a school prior to his senior year. Also, it is the time of their life if they are commented to a school early in the process. And, I'm not saying that this is good or bad, but hey, it is what it is. Look at football or basketball, they are committing in the 6th grade?????

Idiotic...on so many fronts.

Ace, Don’t always think it is the parents. Have met a number of parents who wanted to slow down the process but the players wanted to know where they would be going. The recruiting process can take a lot of time away from other pursuits (e.g., academics and generally enjoying high school). I remember one young man complaining he was on the phone 2-3 hours a night talking with recruiters and could not apply quality time to his school work. Of course, he could have refused requests that he place calls to the coaches but he did want to play baseball at a top program and will be doing so next year. If he had waited until this his senior year, he would not have had the wide variety of choices he had.

No way, you said “not worry about who going where before they have even graduated.” If a player waits until he has graduated, he usually won’t be going anywhere unless he is draft material. Even non-athletes make school decisions before that point. And nonathletes who are academically talented are “recruited” by institutions with strong academics long before their senior year, generally starting late in their sophomore year.

As for the number of players committing as sophomores, not really that many percentage wise.

No way, This topic was hashed and rehashed at great length in threads within the past few months, including some discussion of the recruiting rules.

It's become a player /parent thing, and appears to be trending more toward dreams/goals than reality.

I've seen several early announcements take another path over the next two-three years prior to the NCAA rules for colleges to announce their committment.

Well, it's also a college thing. I know of several instances of the player going to a college's camp, playing very well and leaving with a promise of an offer for a scholarship (and all the details worked out). Unfortunately, this is becoming more commonplace and it's NOT just a parent thing.

It's a non-binding committment!

Should this become more, and the Conference or NCAA gets involved, then the penalty is as severe to the recruit as the AD.

Wanna purchase a bridge?

Yes, I am fully aware that it is non-binding. It's not good business for a coach to offer and then rescind it.

WB - sure would like to meet those parents who really wanted to slow down the process? And what does a early commitment have to do with having fun and enjoying high school? And on the phone 2-3 hours a night?? Was he applying for a CEO job? Really....

Redbird - How many coach's do you really know that offered a chance to play and then rescined their offer after?? If true, put their name out here to warn the parents and players to be carefull of that school.

quote:

Originally posted by Ace 45:
Redbird - How many coach's do you really know that offered a chance to play and then rescined their offer after?? If true, put their name out here to warn the parents and players to be carefull of that school.

That is my point. Although it is non-binding, a coach would be crazy to offer and then not honor it. Word spreads very quickly.

I will bet that many of the "assumed" committments are misinterpretations of the coaches words by the player/parents.

the coach may well say to the player "I like what I see. You continue to progress as we expect you will have a scholarship here."

Now when the NLI time comes it may be that he did b not progress as they expected and he may not meet the academic requirements----the coach did not rescind the offer--the player simply did not meet the original stipulations

It n is not much different than a player getting an invite to a college camp and his parents interpreting that as as a recruiting sign--it is not

TR - I second this motion - spot on. Oh and don't forget the letters in the mail. They must mean that the player is going to that college

I don't want this to seem contentious. The process as it has been explained to me can go one of several ways. Typically, players are seen at various events by a potential suitor. Through an intermediary (player's coach), the player is invited to a camp at the school. While on campus (I believe), the school's coaches can communicate with minimal or no restrictions to the player. They state their intention to recruit and offer the player and recommend an unofficial visit. The unofficial visit (with no finacial outlay by the school except limited game tickets and such) is simply a means to put the offer on the table. The manner it has been explained to me would make it difficult for the player and parents to misinterpret an offer. When the player's financial responsibility during his/her time in school is discussed, it would seem an offer has been made.

As redbird5 stated and to my best knowledge, it is frowned upon to rescind an offer from a player that has committed for performance reasons. Academics, legal trouble, etc. are without a doubt viable reasons to pull the offer. However, I would imagine the players making early commitments have plus tools and other intangibles that exceed other players at the moment and ultimately with no progress would still make them very desirable in a year or so. Let's try to remember, not every player at LSU and South Carolina are Top 50 prospects.

As a former D1 athlete with 4 immediate family members who played D1 sports, I wish the opportunity to commit early was available to me. I firmly believe there is more pressure emotionally and financially sifting through schools to get down to the 4-5 a player can officially visit. If a player wishes to play at a certain level and the opportunity is put on the table, why are we right to criticize a family for making the best decision for them -- in the short-term and the long-term?

I find the pressure on the player is external. Namely, parents who use a committed player's name as fodder for comparisons and criticism. I don't believe an early commitment is an ego boost for the overzealous parents of the player. I find egos are more inflated when folks want to solicit how many offers their son or daughter has received and from schools such offers derived. And the egos are often bruised are those classmates and teammates and other individuals because a particular young man or woman has achieved something remarkable.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ace 45:
And what does a early commitment have to do with having fun and enjoying high school?
[QUOTE] I think osfan may have addressed that well and hit a few thoughts right on. The recruiting process was behind for the young man I referenced. The father of the young man, however, later stated he wished his son had not committed so early, not because of any second thoughts regarding the institution but because of the negative treatment he received from his high school teammates.


[QUOTE]And on the phone 2-3 hours a night?? Was he applying for a CEO job? Really....[QUOTE] No, but the baseball scholarship, which is binding for at least one year because the young man has signed an NLI, will be worth over $65,000. Considering that those are after-tax dollars, might match a year's salary for some lower level CEOs.

If you search "early commitments" and similar verbiage, you'll find that this topic has been flogged to death over the years.

There are many ways to communicate without running afoul of NCAA rules. Camps offer one opportunity, likewise "junior days" and other unofficial visits. E-mailing is the medium of choice. Arranging times for the player to call to talk to the coach also happens.

As for reneging on commitments, it is very rare but it does happen. In Virginia, I know of one instance of Longwood's head coach offering a deal in December and then pulling it by the end of January for no reason other than he found someone else he liked more and needed the money back in his budget. The player dumped on, BTW, is now doing just fine and dandy at an A-10 school, Longwood's loss.

It is more common, though still infrequent, for the player to be the one changing his mind.

It is true that nothing is firm until the ink is dry on the NLI come November of senior year (or later). It is also true that most NLI's are just the paper confirmation of deals struck often long, long before.

While commitments as early as soph year are relatively new to baseball (and yes, I agree with those who find them unwise in the main, though I'm sure there are exceptions), they've been going on in other sports, notably basketball, for many years now. I realize the NCAA seems to have it in for baseball, but I don't see how they can hammer baseball on this without also going after basketball. And if they do that, Coach K & Co. will all go ape on them. So, I don't see that happening.

I do not understand why we are banging on the parents and players. The baseball coaches make the offers, not the parents and players. If the coaches do not offer scholarships to sophomores or juniors, you will not have early commitments.

As far as whether or not an offer is made, that seems incomprehensible to me. Either the coach says 25%, 50%, 75% or he does not. Marketing letters and questionnaires do not count.

Third, it should seem fairly obvious that the schools that are recruiting "early" are trying to get some of the better talent before other schools. How can you blame the parents and players for accepting a good offer (provided they have done their homework, visited the school, talked to other players and parents, etc.). My biggest concerns would be cutting off other schools that may recruit later, having the coaches that recruited you leave or seeing a lot of other subsequent recruits (other than pitchers) who play the position that you want to play in college.

Instead of criticizing them, let's congratulate them and pray their baseball dreams come true. And, yes, don't forget to study. Your college degree will probably be more beneficial in the long run.

I can't understand why it's a big deal at all. What is the down side? If the kid is happy and the parents are happy, good for them. Much ado about nothing.

2 points.
1) Wish it were my kid.
2) Glad it's not.

I think there is too much pressure to perform. What if he doesn't? and they yank the offer? What if he gets injured? or What if he is better than expected and he took the first offer?

quote:

Originally posted by Ace 45:
How many coach's do you really know that offered a chance to play and then rescined their offer after?? If true, put their name out here to warn the parents and players to be carefull of that school.

The list is long.

LSU has won this award many years.
UTex may be runners up

Bear,
That's not a long list, and to be honest I think you are wrong with naming them without any evidence. If they player wants to commit early then they put the pressure on themselves. If a NLI is not signed along with a scholarship letter detailing dollar amount then it means NOTHING!!! I am tired of hearing about a that kid commits as a Freshman after a monster summer ball season and then the schools recinds on the commitment when they find out the kid hits .650 against Manny, Moe and Larry and the can't hit his weight against a quality team. Core GPA,Sat,ACT tests are what determine eligibilty to even commit so why do they do it? They do it so the can brag to everyone that they have committed to LSU or UNC big deal. GRADES AND GAME determine where you play college ball nothing else. Remember this is chess not checkers!

DC,

I'm with you 100%. To me, it doesn't make logical or business sense. I think it is teaching the young man the wrong lesson. I would never do it, and my advice to anyone considering committing as a sophomore is...don't do it. But for those people who insist on making a splash, and limiting future choices and options....I say have at it.

While some of us may not like early commitments, it is a free country, and I can't see the NCAA or anyone being able to tell anyone that they can't make a non-binding verbal commitment, even if they are only in the first grade. Doesn't really mean anything in the grand scheme of things....

are you an idiot? false promises affects the player and family. Virginiapreps.com, I dont know who you are but please take your opinions somewhre else, you have no clue, trust me, you shouldnt be posting.

odubaseball - Not sure what your vendetta is here, but VirginiaPreps is pretty much spot on. There is no way an organized body such as the NCAA can say anything about a player committing at such an early age. A verbal agreement is a non-binding agreement and nothing can be done.

Having had players go through this, when they make a verbal, trust me the coach wants them there. There may be the rare occasion when a player/parent misreads some type of communication from a coach and says "I'm going to play ball at UVA" (or other school) but for the most part, between college coaches, parents, players, hs coaches, summer coaches, they get it right.

As the years pass, verbals are being made earlier and earlier. I would tend to counsel patience to anyone committing before, say, winter of their junior year, because I just don't see anything to be gained from making a commitment that early.

The reality is, it's easier for a player to break a verbal than for a school to do so, because the college coaches have to worry about the resulting damage to their reputations and the impact it could have on their recruiting, while the players can move on without a lot of consequences. On the other hand, if you make it known you've committed, you're like a woman wearing an engagement ring. Some might still hit on you, but lots will have the sense of honor to leave you alone. So you could be missing out on opportunities you may not have fully considered.

The post by ODUbaseball is as incorrect as it was abusive. Nobody said anything about "false promises". In the years I've been following this, I've known of maybe two verbals to have been pulled by schools for reasons other than academic collapse or breaches of conduct standards by players. It has happened and is always possible, but in reality it happens very infrequently indeed.

I do think the NCAA has it in its power to ban early verbal offers, which would have the effect of banning verbal agreements. The NCAA has not done so yet, however. Even if it did, given the November NLI signing period, I don't think the system could function if verbals weren't permitted starting at least as early as, say, July 1 of the summer between junior and senior year. I actually think a rule like that might not be a bad idea.

Which is precisely why the NCAA won't do it. When it comes to all things generally, but especially when it comes to baseball, the NCAA has done everything it can to muck everything up in recent years, so I'm not looking for anything reasonable to come down the pike anytime soon.

BTW, to ODUbaseball, the fact that you don't know who VirginiaPreps is lets us all know who the idiot in this discussion is.

As Ben Franklin, said, "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt."

At the risk of breaking Ben's rule, I will say this, my point was mainly the fact that prospects (and parents) are able to change their minds after a non-binding verbal commitment. Schools and programs that make a continual pattern of doing it will develop a reputation that even us idiots will know to stay away from.

Good luck to the Monarchs and their baseball program, love to see the in-state programs, and their inclusion of in-state prospects do well....

Clueless over @ VirginiaPreps.com.....