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Ok, so this is going to be a big summer for a lot of our kids, camps, tournaments, showcases. let's say we have the good fortune to attract the attention of a school and they want to make an offer. How is that typically handled? In person at the event they saw you at? Via phone or e-mail after the event (if not a rising senior then this would probably not be until after Sept 1, right?)

Would appreciate any info you all can share about your experiences here.

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Sons had them made in person at events (though that was rare) and in coaches offices and on the phone.  July 1st of my oldest's rising Senior summer was the biggest day.  I don't think there was ever an email offer, though coaches texted extensively.  Most of the time it was done verbally on campus during a visit or over the phone.

Some, but not all, offered scholarships, e.g., we are offering you 75% of tuition, room, and board....or 35% or zero or whatever.  None out of high school ever offered playing time guarantees.  With my oldest's recent transfer, several "guaranteed" his spot in the lineup...of which we were skeptical having lived a little bit...

Some were very clear where my sons were on their board.  All coaches have a board stack ranking recruits at each position.  For others, my boys had to work hard to extract the info.  It's good information to know...how much a player is wanted, where they're at in the pecking order, etc.

Some were very clear where my sons were on their board.  All coaches have a board stack ranking recruits at each position. 

I don't know  how common this is but at times the board is in clear view.  If your kid's name is, or is not, at the top of his category it sends a clear message.  Though I guess a coach could change the order depending on who was going to be in his office that day.

Son had been communicating via cell phone (texts, emails, conversations) with RC.  RC had already gotten a pre-read and green light from admissions prior to the camp.  Told son a week prior to camp what he wanted to see, specifically, as far as velo, secondary pitches, etc.  Strongly hinted that if he executed during the camp, hit the marks they wanted to see, they'd offer.  

Coaches must've huddled after camp for a couple hours and discussed what they saw and how they felt about at least one prospect.  May have simply been an up or down vote between the coaching staff? No idea. Two hours later, the phone call.  

Last edited by #1 Assistant Coach

Son had a visit on a Tuesday....his summer coach told him to expect an offer.  No offer, but coach drove 3 hours to watch him pitch the next day.  Texted him later that evening and said "call me tomorrow, we'll discuss your future".....son called the next morning and accepted an offer over the phone.  First offer and he took it, so that's all the info I have

 

All of sons offers came after an unofficial visit.  We had the definite sense that in each case the coaching staff was interviewing my son (and the parents!) to determine if son was the right fit for their program.  Offers were made very shortly after, usually by phone and in one case by email.  For the school my son committed to, the offer came the day after his unofficial visit.  

My 2017 RHP was behind the curve, having had TJ summer 2015.  Due to major, schools were limited, so we zeroed in on a small D3.  This past fall, he went to a school prospect camp, put on a great show, got invited back for an "official visit" (spent the night with the players, attended a hoops game, baseball practices), then they discussed the future, which included an verbal commitment from both sides.  Feeling seriously blessed that he landed somewhere since he missed most of 2015 summer, all of 2016 spring and summer.  Talk about a long road.  Best of luck!

It would offer better perspective if you guys can tell us "fall or Oct of junior year", or "June as rising senior" etc....  With 2018 going into spring of junior year and recently having UV's to a number of schools and camps this past weekend it would be helpful.

Thank you!

Last edited by Gov

Hi, new poster but I have been a lurker for a while.  I have learned a lot of valuable information for free on this site.  Most of all is to relax and enjoy watching your son play baseball.  I will try my hardest for that to happen with my 2020.

My 2017 was pretty much offered after his college Head Coach watched him play 2 games, no numbers but a real hard sell.  We went on an Official Visit and again it was pretty much we are going to going to offer you.  The board was a big part of the visit.  My son asked where the coach saw him fitting in and the coach went player by player on the board and explained how my son could fit.  Do not leave a visit without asking that question, you learn a lot about what your situation could be.  The final offer on paper came a week or two later.

Regarding D1s for 2015. First was spring of Junior baseball season. School was local had seen son play in 2-3 HS games, followed him in showcases, and verbal offer at one of them. This school too was in contact with HS coach in terms of preliminary $$ to feel out interest.

Second offer came in mid-July (pre senior year) from State U came at the tail end of son's unofficial visit. This was from the head coach. Same day after this unofficial visit, son played Legion DH where RC of college he would land, attended.  RC talked briefly to Legion coach who told son to expect call that evening. RC offered that night. Son had been in consistent contact with him for over a year.

As for "the board"..which really does exist... son didn't know he was #1 on the board of where he committed until about 2 days before offer.  In another instance son & I were in another recruiting office where the RC was going over the different needs of the program, positions, recruits, etc.. Saw "the board". After about 20 minutes discussion, we could tell that they thought son was in CURRENT recruiting class, and not a year younger. 

Welcome Ja'Crispy.

Ryan's experiences were usually over the phone, but sometimes on a visit.  (I am probably going to provide too much information, but I think it could be valuable.)  His is a little  convoluted, because he committed, and then decommitted from the AF Academy.  His offer there came on his visit there October of Jr. Year.  The Academy was electric during our visit, and honestly, I don't know if there is a better man to coach your son than Coach Kaz.  He was awesome throughout every step.  He committed prior to us leaving the Academy, and he was set on becoming a Falcon.  The one hang-up was his ACT Score.  He had only taken it once, and he got a 24.  In order to get admitted, he would need a 25.  (His offer was contingent on him having at least a 25.) 

If I am being completely honest, my boy has always been a good student, but his focus was always on baseball.  Obviously a 25 is not shabby, but it isn't really rocket science level either.  I don't believe he put enough preparation in, and he only scored a 25.  Therefore, he could get in, but it would put him at the lowest point of all accepted.  At that time, we started to question the fit.  We had never questioned the fit before, because we thought with a little effort, he could score a 27 or 28, and he probably could have.  Going to the Academy is so tough, and then playing baseball, just turned out to not be a good idea for Ryno. 

Since he had committed, he had removed himself from consideration at other schools.  This was a big problem.  When he decommited at the end of May (Jr. Year), it became important for him to showcase.  However, he decided to play football Sr. Year, after not playing his Jr. Year, so he had to juggle football and baseball in the summer before Sr. Yr.  Unfortunately, Ryan tore his meniscus at football camp, and that ended his summer.  After having the meniscus repaired, it was right into football.  Since he was battling for the QB spot, there was no way he could attend the showcases in the fall.  This was problematic, because he had not had the opportunity to get back on the radar. 

At that point, he had the JC that he is currently at ask him to commit to them, if he wasn't going D-1.  It was a full offer, so that was nice to have that in his pocket.  November came, and he didn't have any big offers, but he did have some DII & DIII schools asking him to come play QB, and come play baseball.

January rolled around, and he went to the UT camp in Austin, and although they didn't have a spot, they told some of the JC's down there about him. Several wanted him to come, but he did not want to go back on his word to his JC back home. 

In the spring of Sr. Yr., one of our fellow HS Baseball Web members made some really good contacts for Ryan.  One was a mid-major, and an outstanding institution of higher learning.  I wanted him to take this spot, but after his visit, he didn't feel like it was the place for him.

Once summer came around, he had a few DII offers, and a bunch of D1's were interested, but it was time to move on. At that point, he said that he wanted to just focus on his JC, and he believed strongly that he was making the right decision.

Fast forward to Fall of Soph. Yr. at the JC, and Ryan was getting a lot of attention from D-I's in the West.  However, he went on an official visit to Nevada with a couple teammates, and it appeared they were slow playing the boys.  (They new they didn't have anything concrete, and they were waiting to see what happened.  One of the boys was from there, and they were trying to get him to walk on.)  The very next week, Purdue asked son, and the boy that was offered a walk on to come out for an OV.  At the end of the visit, the boys were told that they had several boys they liked, but whoever took the offer first got it.  They both chose to accept, and they couldn't be happier.  Ryan had others asking him to visit, but the offer from Purdue was great, he loves the new staff, they have a great stadium.  When he called me to ask what he should do, since there were others that had asked him to visit, I told him to take the deal.  Why?  Many reasons:

1.  Good Offer

2.  Great Education

3.  Alumni Network

4.  Etc. Etc.

My main reason was that these other schools out West had known Ryan for a long time, so they had plenty of opportunity.  I told him that based on the offer, Purdue was the place for him, and he agreed.  

 So I know this was long, but there are just so many variables that can change how the journey will go.  He had a decommit, an injury, etc., but ultimately, he ended up where he belongs.  #BoilerUp

 

 

Whenever I read these stories I get confused.

First of all a lot depends on the grad class we are talking about and also the classification or division of the college.

If we are talking about the DI level there are extremely strict NCAA rules regarding contact before a certain date.  Typically underclassmen are never called or emailed with an offer.  Usually what happens is a recruiter will talk to the players coach or someone like us and give his number to tell the player to call him.  The recruiter cannot initiate the call.

Once the player calls the coach the coach can talk.  Offers are usually made when the player is on campus for any reason.  Emailing an offer to someone they aren't suppose to contact would be a big violation of the rules.  So are there that many coaches out there breaking the rules.  Especially when recruiters know how to play the game to get around the no off campus contact rules.

I am not talking about non athletic scholarship situations.  I would guess that academic scholarships and grants could be offered at any time, though I'm not really sure.  But I'm not sure why anyone would verbal if there isn't any baseball money offered.  Hopefully Rick Allen will get on here and explain a bit better.

PGStaff posted:

Whenever I read these stories I get confused.

First of all a lot depends on the grad class we are talking about and also the classification or division of the college.

If we are talking about the DI level there are extremely strict NCAA rules regarding contact before a certain date.  Typically underclassmen are never called or emailed with an offer.  Usually what happens is a recruiter will talk to the players coach or someone like us and give his number to tell the player to call him.  The recruiter cannot initiate the call.

Once the player calls the coach the coach can talk.  Offers are usually made when the player is on campus for any reason.  Emailing an offer to someone they aren't suppose to contact would be a big violation of the rules.  So are there that many coaches out there breaking the rules.  Especially when recruiters know how to play the game to get around the no off campus contact rules.

I am not talking about non athletic scholarship situations.  I would guess that academic scholarships and grants could be offered at any time, though I'm not really sure.  But I'm not sure why anyone would verbal if there isn't any baseball money offered.  Hopefully Rick Allen will get on here and explain a bit better.

I was under the impression that, in accordance with NCAA rules, coaches can talk to any player regardless of what year they are if they are on campus.

Ryno those guys are hilarious.

My 2017 was already a rising Senior when he was first approached about playing for the school.  This was in July at a tournament. The OV was in September Senior year.  He was not in on any early recruiting and was as many have said on here one of the kids you do not showcase until you have something to show.  He did keep grinding it out and found what seems like a nice fit.

Gov posted:

It would offer better perspective if you guys can tell us "fall or Oct of junior year", or "June as rising senior" etc....  Really would appreciate it....  With 2018 going into spring of junior year and recently having having recent UV's to a number of schools as well as camps this past weekend.

Thank you!

Gladly, as I believe that is an important component for some schools, others not so much.  My son's classification (as far as what year/grade he was when offered) is confusing, and I'm not going to get into it here now.  Suffice it to say, he was offered in October of his 7th semester of HS.  Each school year being 2-semesters. 

#1 Assistant Coach posted:
Gov posted:

It would offer better perspective if you guys can tell us "fall or Oct of junior year", or "June as rising senior" etc....  Really would appreciate it....  With 2018 going into spring of junior year and recently having having recent UV's to a number of schools as well as camps this past weekend.

Thank you!

Gladly, as I believe that is an important component for some schools, others not so much.  My son's classification (as far as what year/grade he was when offered) is confusing, and I'm not going to get into it here now.  Suffice it to say, he was offered in October of his 7th semester of HS.  Each school year being 2-semesters. 

I was considering putting my son on the 10 semester plan myself, making him do an extra year at a private school between Jr and Senior years...he might have a problem with that

SanDiegoRealist posted:

Ok, so this is going to be a big summer for a lot of our kids, camps, tournaments, showcases. let's say we have the good fortune to attract the attention of a school and they want to make an offer. How is that typically handled? In person at the event they saw you at? Via phone or e-mail after the event (if not a rising senior then this would probably not be until after Sept 1, right?)

Would appreciate any info you all can share about your experiences here.

First thing to remember, When a NCAA coach wants a player they make their intentions clear. There is no ambiguity or hesitation. So, whether it comes via email, in person, text . None of that matters.

My sons 1st offer came in the fall of his rising Jr year. He threw on NCAA D1 campus at a camp and about 5 min after he finished his last batter the pitching coach pulled him out of the dugout walked him down the line and asked the magic question " Tell me about your grades / Test scores" son answered then the pitching coach presented the offer.

Once again, when they want a kid they act quickly and do not mess around.

Also, one of the schools that recruited my son was an Ivy and Ivy recruiting is a whole other thing. It is it's own entity w/ different timelines and procedures. They talk to a lot of guys but only take a few. Stanford is the same. With the Ivy we eventually asked for a pre read thru admissions when son was close to decision . Son provided Ivy RC official HS transcripts and official SAT/ ACT scores . 48 hours later, The RC got the green light from admissions to move forward with son but in the end it just wasn't the right fit for him.

I type this because if anyone is talking with an Ivy request a pre read thru admissions . That cuts thru the crap. They talk to so many players that the only way you can really find out where you stand is to request the pre-read . If they grant the request than they are serious. And the results of the pre-read will dictate how to move forward.

Also, as has been mentioned players w/ interest ( not parents ) need to ask interested schools " Where am I at on the board?".........It's really important. My son was taught to ask that right away. He heard number 1 a couple of times . Number 3 twice and a number 2. ( Anywhere in the top 3 at your position is good) These coaches will honestly tell you but the kids have to ask.

Coaches can swing and miss in recruiting but the kids can't. They only get one shot at this and they gotta try and get it right.

 

*Anything I type is just my opinion based on personal experience

Last edited by StrainedOblique

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