The recruiting process and offers

If your son gets an offer before september and accepts, you are still entitled to an official visit.
Keep the dialogues open between all schools. Keep all level of interests high on your son's part, do homework on the schools. My son was asked to commit during the summer but he would not do it, telling them that his parents had not seen the schools yet (which we had not). He wanted to take all of his visits first, however, he only took two before he made up his mind. The offers given in the summer, in his case stood until his official visit, as they knew pressuring him would just turn him away. A few days after my son visited a school, the coach was there in his face at a game telling him to make up his mind. Not good. You might have a coach pressure your son that they will not hold the offer, you have to just see how it goes, expect it. If they really want him they will wait. My son wouldn't give into that game. I remember Head Coach Leggett telling Dave he would wait until Dave was ready, because once he went somewhere else he knew that he would choose Clemson. Pretty presumptuous on his part, but a smart man, he was right!

There are many, many coaches who want to wrap up the process during the summer. They are eager to get back to their programs and begin working with their players. Official visits can be very stressful, for them as well. They want the pressure off, just so that they can show you a good time, tell you more about the program and let your son spend time with the players.
Official visits serve purposes for our sons as well. What if your son decides to accept, gets there and doesn't like what he sees, or feels like he doesn't "gel" with the team. Or doesn't like the campus, other coaches, etc. By accepting early before his visit, he has shut the door to other opportunities.
If you have any questions, please feel free to pm.
Good luck.

Our instance..We were a C or a D option...

Coach made offer,
gave us time to visit,
gave us time to research the school,
told us that he wanted us to be sure it was the right fit and figured if we researched we would realize that.

For weeks we hit him,
the academic advisor,
the financial aid department,
and players we dug up who had left the school early, with questions.

Then right before the signing period the coach called to say that he needed some feedback, that he had done everything we asked and if we were not coming that he needed to have a few days to shift the offer to another player.

Figured that was more than fair after the hoops we put him through. No games. No bogus pressure. Lots of honest communication. This was the kind of communication my son wanted out of a coach and the kind of environment my son wanted to play in.

FloridaDad,
If your son received 10-12 calls from D-1s on or around July 1 you are in the driver's seat. Some schools might try to pressure your son for an early verbal commitment but explain you have too many options on the table to commit this early. Ask for the coach’s timetable and explain you will keep him informed of your activity. You don’t have to name schools...he already knows what’s going on. Remember, he makes his living doing this. He’ll probably read this post on the HSBBW tonight.
Fungo

Observer44 - Good to see you on the "other" side (from your buddy atcshrk ).

Floridadad - You're getting good advice from some of the best.

I would add one thing. If your son has a dream school and that school makes a reasonable offer and your son feels its the right place, take it...don't wait. I know of a very top player who had his dream school offer and waited and lost and severely regretted it.

One thing that we did is that when a school contacted us we posted on the "Ask About Colleges" thread. I was very impressed with the information that we received, not only did we get specific information, we were able to find people who had experiences with specific schools. We kept in touch with them and they were able to give us insights that were truly invaluable.

It seems like many schools made offers to my son last summer before the time for official visits. Although I wanted him to take a few visits, he knew where he wanted to go and made his commitment in August. He signed last November and is enrolled in school this summer. He is thrilled to be there and, so far, has no regrets.

We'll see how his first season goes.

Justbaseball...Thanks, knew you were here and always lookin' out for my best interests...finally took this plunge...couldn't get enough of your solid advice and perspective on Brand X message boards...As always more great advice from you: If your dream date wants to go to the prom don't hesitate.

By the way, the older had a couple at bats against Stimpson today in the California Collegiate League. What a thrill!

observer44,
Welcome, Justbaseball has given you good advice!

FloridaDad
Schools have different methods of recruiting. Some are very agressive. These are usually D1 top 50 programs and usually it is based on how much they need and want a player. One of my son's teammates was recruited heavily by a top independent school. When he went for his official visit they put a very good offer on the table(about 50% of all costs). They told him that if he committed then and there that's what he would get. If he wanted to wait, he could and they would still want him in April but they couldn't guarantee that kind of money in April. So he committed right there. It was a good decision for him.
Most D2 and D3 schools wait after the D1's get their commitments and then really go after those that are left. Most D3's begin heavy recruiting in late Aug. or early Sept.
From what I've learned over the last 2 years, it is rare to see a 100% full ride in baseball. Mostly pitchers get that kind of money. Anything over 50% your son is considered an impact player. This ofcourse depends on the school and the amount of scholarships and/or academic money available. Just because the NCAA says a school can give up to 11.7 scholarships doesn't mean the school actually does it. In fact most schools don't, even in D1. Obviously the top programs do.
D3 schools have no athletic money to give so they must rely on academic money and financial aid.
If your son gets a good financial package to a school he likes and it is also a good fit for baseball then he should seriously consider taking it. The money doesn't get better in April. I hope this helps a little.

Observer44 - What team is K. playing for?

Monterey Bay Sox. DH'ing. Having a ball. Got some local kids which is really fun...Parigi...Bugary...Howell...Britton
just picked up local Rocky Russo from Hawaii/Sonoma State, and WCAL Spraker of Cal. (Might get another visit from TL!) Too bad Stanford is not represented! Finished 3rd in the tourn in Santa Barbara last weekend. How's ED faring?