Why do college coaches ask?

It's shouldn't be a secret and it helps both sides with the process. But after you answer make sure you tell the coach you are still very interested in his program. Keep the doors open.

Who am I competing against for this kid?
This validates our own feelings about this kid- good or bad.

The money issue to me is something that should not be asked of a player but thats just me. If I was going to offer that information I would be totally honest in doing so. Remember these coaches talk about the same players all the time to each other.

Coaches like to know that if they like player X that the coaches from their competition also like player X. It makes them feel good about their evaluation of the player.

IMHO - I think it is fine to let them know who is recruiting you. It is none of their business what you have been offered imho. I would politely tell them that you have acceptable offers on the table if that is in fact the case. I would not share the details of those offers. If these are D1 offers, they will know for a fact that you have at least been offered a 25% scholarship. Do not tell them you have a scholarship offer if in fact all you have is an offer to walk on.

I don't see how honestly answering the coach's question is a problem. It may or may not be to your advantage. HOwever, if you are interested in a particular school and they "underbid" because they are assuming a 25% offer is competitive, the situation will be a little more then awkward if you now feel you have to tell them you getting 30% from instate U, "can you raise your offer".......after you have told him its not his business.....

Just be honest, if you don't like their offer, even if its similiar to the competition, just tell them so.

Personally, if I am interviewing a canidate for a job in my office and they don't answer the question "how much is company A offering you" my first thought is that I don't want to waste my time talking to the canidate who I feel is trying to game me and company A.

Well being a person who negotiates for part of his job, I can tell you that I was answer the first part of the inquiry about the identity of the schools but I would not on the second part. I cannot fathom how revealing the % of scholarship will work to the player's advantage. I can see how a coach is trying to decide what to offer you might be able to reduce what he might offer before if he knows you are getting 25%. He might have been willing to offer a higher % but will reconsider. I also do not see how refusing to reveal the % offered from other colleges would chill a coach from making an offer if he really desired the player.

I would think if you are going to answer the second part of the question, the coach would be open to answering this following queston:

Coach what other players are you recruiting that play the same position I do and how much $$ are you offering them?

OA5II, good point. I would never answer the second question. After all, these coaches do such a good job of stringing kids along, why help them?

If we didn't answer that question asked (how much was teh othr schools offer) son may not have had almost a full scholarship to where he attended. it is to your players advantage to let them know who has called and what they are offering.

As far as stringing along, this is just a wrong perception on the player and parents part. The coaches call and do their fact finding asking for schedules and transcripts. If you find this is a place where son has intrest he should tell the coach he is very interested in their program and to please keep him in the loop if they are interested. No phone call means start looking elsewhere. I am not sure why this is so hard to figure out.

JMO.

I always felt as though the less people that knew the scholarship amount the better. You'd hate for teammates and opposing players to know confidential information like that, and if you never discuss it, it never has a chance to infect a clubhouse or team.

I liked CD's approach and I also wouldn't have a problem telling the coach, "I'm not comfortable talking scholarship dollars, I had a sense those offers were made in confidence and I want to respect that."

quote:

Originally posted by TPM:
If we didn't answer that question asked (how much was teh othr schools offer) son may not have had almost a full scholarship to where he attended. it is to your players advantage to let them know who has called and what they are offering.

As far as stringing along, this is just a wrong perception on the player and parents part. The coaches call and do their fact finding asking for schedules and transcripts. If you find this is a place where son has intrest he should tell the coach he is very interested in their program and to please keep him in the loop if they are interested. No phone call means start looking elsewhere. I am not sure why this is so hard to figure out.

JMO.

Interesting. On Both fronts. I would think the coaches would place a value on a player and make an offer based on available scolly money and need. It's a business, they are buying a commodity. If the commodity is known than it's easier to drive the value up by the seller, by divulging offers. I find it difficult to believe there would be any advantage to any player other than a blue chipper.

My son and I attended a junior day recently. 65 kids had expressed an interest in the program. The coaching staff had expressed an interest in them by inviting them for a closer look. When does the clock start ticking on that call from the coaching staff. 2 weeks, 2 months another year. Or does this count? I know nothing about recruiting. However I would imagine that it might go something like this. The program needs a shortstop for 2010. They are not going to limit their recruiting to 1 player. More than likely they'll have 4-5 players possibly more. If they are waiting for their #1 guy, is it a stretch to think 2-4 are being strung along.

I believe a school would cast a wide net pursuing as many prospects to fill future needs in the event of the inevitable fall-out. Therefore it's incumbent on the prospect not be enamored over this "1st kiss " and become complacent.Again for the highly touted prospect this probably is of little concern ... As it should be.

If your waiting for a call your taking the wrong approach. Email or call the coach every few weeks. They may be looking at 10 kids like yours. 2 may get recruited early by another school,4 won't have the academics, 2 may be a bust. Of course a coach needs to string along a few. I've seen some get strung along right onto the roster. If you get a good dialog going with the coach and keep your name in his head things will go a lot smoother.

quote:

Originally posted by Ozone:
If your waiting for a call your taking the wrong approach. Email or call the coach every few weeks.......

Personally I don't think calling the coach every few weeks at a D1 or D2 is going to help. A player that has to constantly sell himself and reaffirm his interest to a coach is involved in a one way conversation and should look elsewhere.

That's one of the reasons to continue a dialog with the 50 to 60 coaches on your target list (not just D1 or 2). Eliminating schools is just as important as adding new ones.