Verbal Committment Questions

If it came in writing it would not be a verbal commitment. It would be an NLI...National Letter of Intent signed by both parties. There are very strict guidelines as to when and where and who is present during these signings. Best to check out the NCAA website.

Thanks. I thought the same thing. It was so funny that I was just reading your post about your son signing when you must have been answering this one. That was a great story about your son. Thank you for sharing it.

Actually schools did write down what they were offering to my son before he verbally agreed to one over the phone but we didn't sign anything until the NLI a few weeks later.

Many verbal commitments are based on an unsigned piece of paper that lays out what is being offered and what costs would remain for the players. It's not enforceable, but it ensures a common understanding.

I have heard of coaches showing this paper and taking it back when dealing with underclassmen, but our experience was that they give you this paper to take home while you consider the offer.

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Originally posted by Swampboy:
Many verbal commitments are based on an unsigned piece of paper that lays out what is being offered and what costs would remain for the players. It's not enforceable, but it ensures a common understanding.

I have heard of coaches showing this paper and taking it back when dealing with underclassmen, but our experience was that they give you this paper to take home while you consider the offer.

Well, you learn something new every day. I have never heard of this and can't even imagine a coach being willing to do this. All son's offers were verbal and his eventual commitment was verbal until the NLI came in the mail.

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Originally posted by BBB08:
Thanks. I thought the same thing. It was so funny that I was just reading your post about your son signing when you must have been answering this one. That was a great story about your son. Thank you for sharing it.

Never Give Up!

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Actually schools did write down what they were offering to my son before he verbally agreed to one over the phone but we didn't sign anything until the NLI a few weeks later.

Same with my son. However, you must understand it is all an unbinding agreement on both sides until the NLI is signed.

Interesting. I've learned something new as well. That is a great idea as I would expect the coach to explain what money the scholarship goes toward, and what your responsibility would be as well as the schools. It is kind of like a worksheet, so you have something to take back home to reference. As others have pointed out, it is not binding until NLI or an admission letter as the case may be.

Typically, you do something like this when you buy a car or house. It only makes sense to do it for college education and athletics as well.

My son actually received an email from the HC, stating what he received and verbally agreed to, as well as that he would be signing a NLI in November. I asked the coach to do this during the meeting when the offer was made. I don't know or think it would have been enforceable if either side backed out, but it gave me some peace of mind for my son. A pro scout suggest I do this.

We had a few coaches that put the offer in writing..like a proposal. We still have them. There were others that just gave the offer verbally. We had told our boys to write everything down when talking to the coach so there was no misunderstanding later.

I believe the NCAA instituted a new rule this summer that stated a player could not receive a written offer until September 1 of senior year. That does nothing to hold back the verbal offers.