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VERBAL COMMIT RIGHT NOW?- WHERE'S MY INSURANCE???

C coolhand3030Member
I am a sophomore pitcher at a Junior College. Through speaking with many college coaches out of high school, I feel like I have many experiences which have helped me learn about the recruiting process. However, right now I’m in a situation that I did not previously confront in high school.
Currently, I have multiple options of where to play next season. And all the schools that are talking to me know that I will sign my NLI this April.
Right now, I definitely know which school is my top choice of where I want to attend. As of yesterday (because I told them), those coaches also know that they are #1 on my list (which is a good thing). In addition, they now know that I want to commit much sooner than April, and that I want to make that decision final as soon as I feel that it is right.
So, when they soon make their offer to me, what am I supposed to do? I already know that I will accept their offer, so my question is not whether I should accept or decline what they propose.
Rather, my real question is this: Since I won’t actually sign my NLI until April, do I need something from them right now in writing, confirming their offer? And is there anything I can do to assure the deal? I just want to cover all the bases with this. I want to be sure that when I commit (verbally) and they also “commit” (by giving me their offer), that I will definitely still have that same offer when April comes around and when it’s time to officially “sign”.
If I am going to verbally commit to them, I then will also have to tell the other schools that I will not be attending their university....And I will be left without anymore options after that.
So, what can I do to ensure that when I verbally commit right now, that nothing will change and that I will actually seal the deal 3 months from now in April?

PS- I trust the coaches, but I'm just trying to see is there is anything more that I can do.
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TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
coolhand,
Welcome!
Verbally commiting to a school as a JUCO player is just like committing as a HS player. You do have to let the other schools know your intentions.

If this is where you want to go, a verbal handshake is enough to seal the deal until you sign yuor NLI. You can ask the coaches to send you the particulars in an email after you agree to the terms.
Good luck!
YoungGunDadYoungGunDadHSBaseballWeb member since 2005
quote:
Originally posted by coolhand3030:

So, what can I do to ensure that when I verbally commit right now, that nothing will change and that I will actually seal the deal 3 months from now in April?

PS- I trust the coaches, but I'm just trying to see is there is anything more that I can do.



Sounds to me that you need to trust just a little more than you confess in your post. Make sure that trust goes both ways!

I've never heard of a "verbal handshake" as TPM suggested, but a verbal commitment or a handshake is usually a Man's bond/word.
R redstormdad10+ posts
Coolhand,

There is nothing guaranteed unless its in writing. Until you sign your Nat'l Letter of Intent you are not committed officially to any institution. If there is a financial offer, it also is not guaranteed until you sign the Financial Aid Agreement spelling out exactly what the institution is assisting you with in terms of financial aid that you don't have to repay.

You have to weigh your gut feelings that you both agree in verbal terms what they want to invest in you and that you have had enough conversations (face to face and phone calls) to build that trust. Be careful about your contacts during the period that they cannot contact you in until its open for recruiting, especially if its a D1.

Have you been to the university? Have you spoken directly to the head coach about this offer? Have you spoken to some of the current players? Have you looked at their roster and seen where and what holes you will fill for them? Does this school have the programs you're interested in? Is it a place you would be comfortable being away from home at? Have the coaches spoken to you about your transcripts and GPA? How serious are they if they truly want you on their roster?

These are questions I would be asking if they were recruiting me! Just remember that verbal commitments can be broken at any time from either side.

Good Luck! Cool
Last edited by redstormdad
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
quote:
Originally posted by TPM:
coolhand,
Welcome!
Verbally commiting to a school as a JUCO player is just like committing as a HS player. You do have to let the other schools know your intentions.

If this is where you want to go, a verbal handshake is enough to seal the deal until you sign your NLI. You can ask the coaches to send you the particulars in an email after you agree to the terms.
Good luck!


Big Grin
CADadCADad5,000+ posts
My guess, and that is all that it is, is that verbals though seldom broken, are far more often broken by the player than the school, as the school has much more to lose. If the player breaks the commitment he probably already has something lined up, while a school that reneges on a verbal will most likely suffer in their future recruiting.
Midlo DadMidlo Dad10,000+ posts
CADad is exactly right.

There is too much talk on this board about the risk of an offer being pulled. It just doesn't happen very often, and I think the way we talk about it here can create unjustified anxiety.

I know my own son got his offers via e-mail from the head coach, with a printable document attachment, so that there was absolutely no miscommunication about what the terms of the offer were.

My son's reply e-mail was along the lines of "I am really excited and I accept!"

The best thing to do with other schools you've been talking to is to be very gracious when advising them of your decision to take the offer. Compliment the other schools as you do so. It costs you nothing, and heaven forbid you should actually be one of the rare birds whose verbal gets revoked, you would profit from not having burned your bridges.
Last edited by Midlo Dad
R redstormdad10+ posts
I most definitely don't want to cause anxiety in coolhand or anyone else. Yes, its very rare for a school to withdraw an offer after a verbal has been given. I just want to post the fact that it can happen, but very unlikely. The rest of the contributors are very well experienced in this forum and their valuable information is worth more then you know.

Coolhand, if they want you and you want them, then by all means jump for joy that you are fortunate to be in your position. It doesn't hurt anything to verbally commit, but if the other schools determine you have verbally committed to this school and you haven't informed them while they are actively pursuing you, it might not go over too well with these other recruiters.

Just something to consider!
YoungGunDadYoungGunDadHSBaseballWeb member since 2005
quote:
Originally posted by CADad:

My guess, and that is all that it is, is that verbals though seldom broken, are far more often broken by the player than the school



I would agree with that statement CADad. We especially see this happen at this time of year from high school football players where they had committed a while back to a certain school to only change their mind in the 11th hour.

I certainly don't want to hijack this young man's post though it sounds like so far he is getting sound advice. But let's look at that other side of the coin for a moment...

What if a player has already committed..i.e. signed NLI with a particular school to have a larger program come in later unbeknownst to anyone that they were interested, make a deal of a lifetime and cause the young man to renege on his former commitment. Is there a right or wrong to this? I'm not talking about breaking a verbal commitment, but has already signed.

Anyone's thoughts on this? Just curious as to how others feel. Personally I have/am teaching my son to honor commitments to those he has made them to. It shows integrity and character, and teaches a very good life lesson. But do some parents not see integrity and character as important if it means a better deal comes along?
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
Hey people,
this is the time coaches are offering for the spring signing, which is the official signing date for baseball (november is just the early signing period).

If you were a sophmore in HS than it might be a different situation. Roll Eyes

Go for it, if this is what you really want and good luck!
CM Coach May1,000+ posts
Midlo is absolutely right. And the fact is I would let it be known to everyone that I had accepted an offer to *$^#%$ University. These schools ie coaches word is very important to them. Once they get a reputation for not honoring their word , they are done. And the fact is they know that.

I would accept the offer and be happy about it. And I would make sure everyone knows that they made me an offer and I had accepted it. If they go back on their word they will be cutting their own throat with every kid that ever hears about this happening. Quite frankly they just are not going to do it unless you do something that breaks that bond. IE go out and get a DUI and run over someone ETC etc.

I dont know where all this talk about coaches breaking their word comes from. Ive been at this a long time and I have never seen it done. The only times it has been done is when the player has not taken care of their end of the bargain.
C coolhand3030Member
Thank you to everyone that is responding. I wanted to hear of other people's experiences with situations like this. I feel that yall have some great advice.
I remember that out of high school, there were several new universities which contacted me for the first time, after I had already made my verbal commitment to another program. However, they had not previously been actively recruiting me. So, there was no side-swiping or under-cutting done on their parts. So, when they called I simply told them that I had just committed the previous week, and that was the end of that. Overall, I have had some very positive experiences working with coaches.
And right now, I am not having any "trust-issues" about certain coaching staffs or anything negative like that. I simply was curiously looking for advice from people that may have better insights on such circumstances.
gonyardgonyard10+ posts
Hi,

My hs son just received his second offer and wants to verbal to one of the D1 schools now. He is a SS and P.

After reading this thread of great info what do you experienced folks advise when the recruiter says a handshake/verbal is fine, we do not put things in an e mail?

I would like to e mail them the basic offer and quote him on the "we do not reduce scholarships based on performance or injury" only on behavior, grades, and improvement work ethic, like weightlifting.

Your thoughts please.
Infield08Infield081,000+ posts
quote:
After reading this thread of great info what do you experienced folks advise when the recruiter says a handshake/verbal is fine, we do not put things in an e mail?

I would like to e mail them the basic offer and quote him on the "we do not reduce scholarships based on performance or injury" only on behavior, grades, and improvement work ethic, like weightlifting.


gonyard, first of all, congratulations on your son's two offers!

I can understand your concern. If I were you, I would quietly ask around and learn more about the coach's integrity, or lack thereof. If you know former or current players or players' parents, ask them about their experience with the coach and program.

"Did Coach A follow through on what he promised you during recruiting?"

"Do you know of any instances where scholarships have been reduced or revoked?"

Their answers should help you determine whether he is a man of his word.

If you need help in locating people to ask, send me a private message (PM) and I'll be happy to help.

Regarding the comment, "Your son is not a SS, P he is being recruited as one of those at most schools," he may indeed be a two-way prospect. I know of several two-way players on the college level, including the SS/P at my son's school.

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