The Coach's Offer

Does the HS coach honestly and truly what your son wants/needs in terms of a scholarship to attend the college?

What level is the school (D1, D2, NAIA)?

It is a competitive NAIA.
Gave up a D3 postion & academic offer.
Very High interest from small D2 and other NAIA's
Interest from smaller D1's but son wants to play and stay in CA.

TRHit,My son's hs coach is also a local college
coach too. To answer your question,I can honestly say I'm not sure.

I was going to say that I know that several D2s do not have a lot to spend. One school that we visited only had 1.5 scholarships for the entire team. With NAIA, it really depends on the school. It just might not be in their budget. They still might really want him there but have their hands tied.

Do you think my son should talk with his hs coach and let him know $$$ would really help us out.Maybe he can let the college coach know?
(Also, I think this college might have some $$. Another college coach told my nephew, a pitcher,to go check this school recently because they have $$ available.But that might of been for pitching positions.)
I just thought if a coach shows this much interest, wants my son... and knows he gave up another college offer,he would have something.This school has rigorous academics and my son didn't make the cut w/academic scholarships.
Am I being fair?

quote:

Originally posted by baseballfam4:
Do you think my son should talk with his hs coach and let him know $$$ would really help us out.Maybe he can let the college coach know?
(Also, I think this college might have some $$. Another college coach told my nephew, a pitcher,to go check this school recently because they have $$ available.But that might of been for pitching positions.)
I just thought if a coach shows this much interest, wants my son... and knows he gave up another college offer,he would have something.This school has rigorous academics and my son didn't make the cut w/academic scholarships.
Am I being fair?

Most coaches understand that player's have more than one choice, so I don't think that is going to help. They have to realize that everyone is hoping for some financial assistance. I do agree that they may be holding the limited amount that they have for certain positions, i.e. pitching.

In our search, we did have a coach that told us that once a player tries to negotiate, he withdraws the offer. With that being said, if you cannot afford to send him there without the financial assistance, you really have nothing to lose by asking. I would just put in a way where you emphasize, "I really want to play for you but I have some limitations financially. Is there something that could be applied that could assist us in any way?" or something like that.

If you and your son are set on the school regardless, you may just want to accept the offer and work on getting a scholarship as his role/impact on the team gets defined.

Why don't you just let the College Coach know yourself?

From what I've learned on this Forum so far, I doubt he cares if your son gave up another offer, but if he is really interested and knowing that money could be a barrier to your son attending his school maybe he would try to do something to help out.

quote:

Originally posted by Brickhouse:
In our search, we did have a coach that told us that once a player tries to negotiate, he withdraws the offer.

and I know parents who've turned around and walked out for what they consider low-balling.

Yep,I agree.
I guess as parents, maybe we were reading too much into what the HS coach told us...concerning the college coach wanting to know what it would take to get my son there.He does have some academic scholarships for nice amounts from other colleges.
They are in the same conference.I realize now exactly how fast things can change.

Call the conference office and ask for funding information for each school. They should give you last year's numbers. It can vary, widely. Of course, it helps to know this before you go in there.

Here's a novel ideal.

Have son go out this spring and just blow it out so that by the end of the year he'll have many, many schools drooling over him. Then this coach who supposively didn't have any money just MIGHT all of a sudden be able to scrap up a little dinero afterall.

I have always found that if they wanted a player they found the money, regardless of the time of the year

Yup TR.

I think Brick's advice is very realistic. We negotiated and got more. Coach asked for a few days and called with a new higher offer.
Many of my son's teammates graduated with debts in excess of 70 grand. That is a huge burden to carry especially with the unemployment.
Negotiate , be honest and be frank. I saw several players who ran out of funds and had to drop out. When all the hoorays are over you don't want to face a cruel reality.

bbfam4,
this is a very tough situation and is more difficult because your son wants to stay in CA.
Personally, I tend to view CA college recruiting and scholarship issues in baseball to be pretty unique to CA.
The reason is that there are probably 10 quality HS players wanting to play college baseball for every scholarship available. It is probably even more players in Southern, CA.
Certainly, not all 10 of those players are equal. Those at the top get the early and firm offers. That is about 2 of the 10. If you look at the number of programs in CA that offer baseball scholarships, look at the number of slots open in those schools each year, you will see it isn't many when you put DI, DII and NAIA all together.
After you take off the 9's and 9.5 type players, there are still 8 or so players who are very high quality players competing for each scholarship opening, but there is not a huge distinction in that quality. Again, in Southern CA, it may be more than 8 quality players competing for one scholarship opening. That is why a DIII school like Chapman gets so many top players and beats many NAIA schools.
So, you have that many players competing for far less scholarship dollars, and college coaches know this.
For those 8 players, unless your son really stands out, the coach feels there are not huge differences in what he sees. The coach uses the numbers and has the leverage, not the player.
Supply of quality players far outstrips scholarship dollars and slots in CA. It is just a hard and difficult fact.
That the coach called the HS coach and asked what it would take indicates he had $$$ available at that time. Whether he used that money on another player and is still trying to get your son to come, or whether he still has the $$$ but is trying to get a quality player at no scholarship cost is one none of us know.
To me, since your son has been guided by the HS coach, I would be looking to the HS coach on this issue. If the HS coach has that type of relationship with your son and the college coach, I think he could make the call and convey the financial message you would like conveyed.
If that college coach has $$$ and really wants and values your son, the coach may well make a move.
If he used all his $$$, he should tell the HS coach.
I would bet just about anything that college coach has a sense of what baseball options exist for your son outside of his program, with staying in CA being a limitation. Right now he is positioned accordingly and only he knows where your son is slotted on their recruit list.
If this seems to be the perfect "fit" for your son other than $$$, and you want to know more and minimize the risk the coach just walks, I would seek the continued involvement of the HS coach on these issues.
You need to find out if your son is viewed as a unique talent that is separated from a lot of quality potential recruits or is one of the high quality group in CA for which there just are not enough openings and slots with scholarship dollars.

And speaking of the "unique-ness" of CA recruiting- make sure that the school is really a fit for your son. Have seen so many players this year transfer to other colleges. I'm sure there's a wide variety of reasons, but it's amazing to me how many transfer after a year or two. Does this mean it wasn't a good fit? Were the academics too hard for the player? Did the player not perform up to expectations of the coaching staff? I don't know why so many players have transferred (and to non-D1 colleges so they don't lose a year of eligibility) but IMO do as much research you can before committing. Don't rely on your hs coach or summer team coach to tell you this will be a good fit for your son. Do the research yourself and read those past rosters to see how long players stay in the program.

To all the posters...thank you.
infielddad-I think that says it all.A much needed reminder for myself and my son,of yet another eye opener in the reality of the recruiting process.
CaBB-yes,my son has done about as much research
as he could and it really met all areas for him.
He really likes the coach,his ideas,expectations,goals and the school-- he really likes as well,he feels comfortable,great location,great people,,has his major etc.The funny thing is his high school said to make sure to apply to all schools,don't worry too much about the price, because usually private schools have more to $$ offer.(oh well,so much for that idea)Still waiting for the FAFSA.I like the idea of checking the rosters for seniors or those who have stayed on and how long.I will make sure he checks that.

Sounds like things will work out fine! Good luck and keep us posted.

bbfam4,
Best of luck to you and your son.
I wish I could say I was smart, intuitive, or heard this happened to others.
Nope, just like you, we learned by experience.
It sounds like your son is a really good player, is motivated and is doing the right things.