Transfer questions for college baseball coaches/recruiters

I can't speak for all the divisions....but as far as JUCO's...in most cases they are only 2 year schools....so those kids leave and move on to other schools for their final 2 seasons.  It's very, very common for a HS kid to go to a JUCO to work on their game with the hope of moving on by catching the attention of a D1 for their junior and senior years.  I would guess that other kids transfereing would be for any number of reasons.  D3's are expensive....if a kid improves enough to transfer from a D3 to a D1 (and maybe get some money) I would assume most D3 coaches would understand.

I'm not a coach or recruiter, but I'll give you my guess.  I would think that coaches/recruiters do scout JUCOs.  Almost all 4 year schools recruit from JUCOs.  My son is in a D2 school and they have a pretty high number of JUCO transfers every year. 

I would not think coaches actively recruit anyone from 4 year schools.  I believe that any players transferring from a 4 year to a 4 year school do that on their own.  At my son's school, we do get several D1 transfers each year.  These are usually guys that did not get the play time they wanted at the D1 they were at.  Or they weren't happy with the coaches or some other personal reason. 

Like I said, I'm not a coach or a recruiter, but that's what I think is happening.

Those sound like logical explanations.  Thanks for your time.

13LHPdad, DI coaches send scouts to JUCOs, and JUCOs alert the four-year schools about potential prospects.  However, the four-year schools don't scout players from each other, primarily because they're not allowed to.

Now, do the coaches at four-year colleges have their ears open for unhappy players at other schools through their friends in the business, such as the MLB scouts?  Sure they do.  But they're not permitted to actively or openly recruit from other four-year schools. 

Here's a couple of links to resources that you or other parents might be interested in regarding transfers:

http://www.informedathlete.com...ut-transfers?cid=191

http://www.informedathlete.com...ansfer-guide?cid=191

Rick

This is great information, thanks.  I've always wondered how that worked, especially with baseball being such a small world and most of the coaches are all connected.  I know I would be upset if one of my good players transferred to another team and I knew the coach.  One could easily conclude there was communication before-hand  On the other hand, I guess I couldn't turn down a quality player that wanted to transfer to my program!

A lot of times, one team will have a player or players that know the potential recruit.  For my daughter's team, this happens all of the time.  So, they contact the player that they know and see if there is any potential interest for the transfer.  Also, players often go through their TB coach.  I think that happens as lot as well. 

Per JUCOs, some schools have a "pipeline" through certain JUCOs.  Coaches at the JUCOs are up front with the higher level coaches and let them know when/if they have a player for that school. 

When a player transfers from one NCAA school to another, potential new schools must get permission to contact from the old school before they can talk to the player.  D3 players contemplating transfers to other D3 schools can issue their own release, but nearly everyone else needs permission.  

This process prevents poaching, but it also creates a bit of a catch-22.  A player who wants to transfer can't call or email other schools to advise them of his interest; and the schools can't request permission to contact unless they know a player wants to transfer.  Even players who have been cut or had their scholarships pulled have to respect this process.

A common way around this problem is to have a former travel coach serve as an intermediary to advise potential schools that so-and-so is transferring.  Sometimes, if the player has been a solid citizen who just isn't likely to get a chance to contribute on the field, his current college coach will offer outplacement assistance and call other schools on his behalf.  (The coach has an incentive:  if he can help the player land at another four-year school, the transfer doesn't hurt his program's academic progress rate).

In any case, the player (and his family) need to read the current edition of the NCAA transfer guide, figure out what kind of transfer they are considering, and follow the rules for that kind of transfer.

Best wishes,