When is it ok to decommit?

The only situation I'm familiar with is a coaching staff change. He told the players they could decommit if they wish. A kid I know did. His post commit development put him in a far better situation. He decommitted to an ACC bottom feeder and committed to a SEC powerhouse.

Coaching change for sure... Not all players will match every coach's personal preferences. No need to stay if you know you aren't the right type of player for your incoming position coach or head coach. 

If you are getting no money from School A, and School B offers 25%, no NLI was, nor will be, signed and player is free to go to follow the money and love.  

Sometimes when this happens, money magically appears from School A.  

I know of situations where people have made these de-committing decisions in real life or have been told their services are no longer needed.  There is typically more to it, than just the one reason.   From my perspective, people make their choice based on a primary reason of athletics, academics or financial.  Sometimes there are strong secondary reasons as well.   Most coaches make their decisions based on an athletic profile. 

There are different requirements for so many schools that to make a blanket statement is nearly impossible.  However, if a school is not able to deliver either the athletic, academic, or financial promises then I think that is grounds for decommitting.   In my son's case, if he would have NOT been accepted ED into the College of Engineering (after being told unofficially he would be accepted by Admissions), he probably would have decommitted and gone to Plan B which was another school in his conference.   People have their own reasons, but I think it has to be something that has been promised but can no longer be delivered by the school.

JCG posted:

A lot of people in the non-digital world talk about verbal commitments being worthless, but it's surprising to me how rarely one hears about them not being honored by both sides.

For players who have verballed to D1 schools is it ever ok to decommit?

What if the coaching staff has totally changed?

What if you committed a soph and your skillset has advanced so greatly that you're no longer a match for the conference?  

What if your skills have stagnated and you know you can't compete for playing time at that level?

What if you've committed to school A for 25% and school B offers 75%?

What if you're getting no money at school A and school B offers $25%?

What if you've committed to a D2 and you get a D1 offer?

Rhetorical question only, but I'm curious to hear what people think.

 

 

One thing to remember always, baseball is a small, small world.

With that being said, answers to your questions are as follows:

IMO no one knows any coach until they set foot on campus and begin to work with players.  There should be much more as to why one committs to a program other than the coach. If he is willing to give you a chance, you should do the same. It could turn out to be a better situation. If the coaching staff changes, they will contact you and this concern can be a part of the discussion, they understand.

Don't committ so early. Things change.

One can always decommit to play at a D2 program, but usually its because of GPA not ERA or BA. Make sure that you realize being a big fish in a little pond is much better than the other was around.

Make sure that you weigh the money factor heavily in your decision. If you take 25% and someone offers you more, you didnt commit for the right reason in the first place. But remember, technically you go off the market.

If you are getting no money, you are essentially a walk on, is there really a commitment to be broken if there will be no NLI?

If you committed to a program, no one should be recruiting you, commitment means you have been taken off the market. Exception would be to a Juco.

The commitment process should be taken seriously, your commitment is your word, and remember about that small world.