Ok, so I know some of the reasons. Players are on teams where they don't get playing time, maybe they find themselves overmatched in higher D1, etc...
But why does a player find himself on a team where he, all of a sudden, feels he doesn't belong? He had to have been recruited by the coach. You just don't show up with your cleats and say you're ready to play.
So whose mistake is it when a player finds himself transferring? The coach or the player?
Replies sorted oldest to newest
NY;
Why not interview the players who transfer? Each year at SSU they have 10-12 "drop downs" from Division 1 schools.
Many will not play consistently at SSU [ranked 24 Nationally Division 2]. They are competing with talented Freshman, JC transfers and 10 "red shirts".
We have over 5,000 alumni from our 30 years of Goodwill Series and our scouts [pro scouts] can predict where the players should go to school.
"Interview and research"!
Bob
<www.goodwillseries.org>
A few that come to mind:
Thanks Consultant. I checked out their roster and you are very correct. A lot of transfers coming in.
Thanks BK. I can see a couple of those factors causing a big issue for players. Most of them a coach would not be able to predict.
I know some players are able to coast through HS and are not used to putting in the work that a high level university program demands.
The answers so far reflect the common perception that transfers are bad in and of themselves or reflective of poorly considered decisions. I don't think that's necessarily so.
The initial college commitment is the best step a player knows how to take toward his goals at the time he makes that decision, often before his senior year of high school. A transfer is often just a next best step he knows how to take toward his goals two or three years later, after his goals have undergone refinement and he deepens his own understanding of his needs, desires, and priorities.
In addition, there are outside variables beyond a player's control: coaching changes, injuries, a business model at many major conference schools consciously structured to bring in and sort through more recruits than less ruthless competitors, a coach whose job security so depends on winning now that he must nudge players out if they aren't already key contributors by sophomore year.
RJM sometimes mentions a stat whose source I don't know but whose substance I believe, that more than half of D1 baseball players transfer. He also reminds people that only 20 or so players get meaningful playing time out of a D1 roster of 35 or a lower division roster of who knows how many. These numbers tell us that the overwhelming majority of college players, no matter how carefully they researched their decision, do not get the experience they thought they would get when they committed, often through no fault of their own.
But that's okay, because the rest of their lives will be the same way. You make the best choices you can with the information you can gather and evaluate in the time available. Then life unfolds in ways you couldn't foresee. Then you re-evaluate everything and make the best choice to move on from wherever you find yourself to wherever you think you want to go.
Don't fear the transfer. Developing the confidence, courage and initiative to change one's surroundings when necessary to pursue success and happiness is an important life skill.
Excellent post swampboy, and a great thread starter NYDad2017.
I would only add that risk awareness has to be part of the recruits mindset and decision making. If the recruit does his research, and knows he is committing to a program that has a history or potential for transfers then the recruit is gong into the situation with eyes wide open. He understands the risk (and rewards) whether it is in his control or out of his control. Conversely, IMHO it is an entirely different matter if a recruit makes many assumptions and doesn't assess risk especially with today's NCAA transfer policies.
Brings up a great point...when is it considered OK to transfer? My son has a few teammates that have transferred. Some reasons seemed valid...some not so much.
Keep in mind this doesn't only refer to D1 schools. My son goes to a D2 school and kids have transferred in the past and I know of a couple of his freshman teammates that are considering transfering next year. Not exactly sure why, but I think some of it has to do with lack of play time.
Regardless of whether you go to a big D1 school or any college program, pretty much every kid was the best in their school or in their region. They were used to playing all the time and being seen as the "stud". I think when you get to college, you are not only competing against the best on the other teams you play, but you are competing for play time on your team with a bunch of the kids who were always the best. The kids who are seniors on a team are also usually the guys who have out competed everyone else and have lasted the full four years. If they weren't good, they probably wouldn't be there any more. So it is tough for a freshman to come in and beat out a senior. It is tough on the ego to sit the bench after being a star for your whole life.
When my son went to play college ball, I told him he was going to have to earn his way to play time. If you don't perform, you probably won't play. So work hard and do everything you can to make sure you are good when you get a chance.
Transfering can be a good thing, allowing a kid the opportunity to play more immediately. However, staying with your program and working for your opportunity to shine when the time comes can be a real character builder as well.
"Don't fear the transfer. Developing the confidence, courage and initiative to change one's surroundings when necessary to pursue success and happiness is an important life skill."
Very true in my son's case. Son played juco two years and signed with a DII school. I have to admit, he did not make the choice as much as I did for him. And before everyone gives me the it should have been his choice, need to do more research, etc. lecture, I know. I admit I was wrong and take responsibility for my actions. My decision was based on finances, location and his father having attended the school, among a few. If we had hindsight, life would be perfect. In any event, he was not happy with the town, the school or the baseball program. He had a very long, uncharacterist and unsuccessful season personally (he had plenty of playing time), but he had made his mind up early on that he would do everything he needed to do to be in a position to transfer the next season. After the season eneded, he initated contact with various NAIA schools and we went on several trips to work out. He made his decision to sign with a school, had the best year of his baseball career and was drafted.
My point in this post is there are soooo many reasons for transfers and that is because we all get to where we are going by different circumstances, choices and opportunities. Having looked back at his path, it all worked out for him and it is what it is, a journey of constant change, as is life.
I thank you all for posting your answers to my question. Although I've read some of these responses in different areas of this board in the past, I don't recall seeing them listed under one question. For that I am thankful.
I believe, based on what I'm reading here, that when the time arrives for a student-athlete to make a decision on where he will go to college, he really needs to examine his work ethic honestly. Both academically and athletically. But, as Swampboy stated, things can change and he has to be ready to examine himself and adapt from there.
Thank you also to fenwaysouth and bballman. A lot of good information for a kid to think about, and a parent to guide towards, as they make a decision.
And although I didn't mention it specifically, my original question was not restricted towards D1 only. We all know that transfers occur at all levels.
The article Swamp referenced was in Baseball America or Collegiate Baseball about three, four years ago.
Often both coaching staffs and prospects are taking a leap of faith. They are both working off limited exposure to each other. There are 35 roster spots. Only about 20 play. Everyone arrives believing they will be 1 of the 20. If a kid has pro aspirations and can't see himself getting on the field by soph year he needs to find a new home after frosh year. Unless he goes JuCo he has to sit out a year. He wants to be back on the field his draft (junior) year.
I know one kid who had a great freshman year and transferred because he didn't care for the southern lifestyle. I warned my son about a city kid going to college in a cornfield and he loves it. He's commented how much nicer midwestern people are than people in the northeast. His sister went to college in a southern city and loved it.
Thanks RJM. I'm happy to see that you are up to jumping online.
Interesting topic. Just for kicks I went back and looked at my son's roster from 2 years ago (he's a junior at a large D1). Of the 34 players on the 2011 roster, 9 are still with the team, 7 graduated and 3 were drafted. 15 of the players from the 2011 roster were not back for 2012; 5 players new to the roster in 2012 are not around this year. If I were to speculate as to the reason I would say #1 is competitive mismatch - i.e., lack of success and/or playing time (obviously related).
In Bum, Jr.'s case it was a pitching coach that tried to take his money pitch, his curveball, and force him to throw a slider which never worked. So he mostly sat for two years. He did a D1 to D1 transfer and went back to his curve. That curveball has served him well since and all but one of the pitchers that got mound time ahead of him are out of baseball. Many of them underwent surgery from throwing sliders, so in retrospect it was fortunate he didn't pitch much.
I just want to add if you are a solid D1 player it's a little easier to not let transferring ruin you provided you hook up with a good summer collegiate league to get games in.
Let's not forget the two most basic reasons why college students, athletes or not, switch colleges - money and academic fit. Looking at my own two kids and their friends:
Economic circumstance changes either on the parents part or via a change in scholarship funding (either athletic or academic) - and a college student can no longer afford to attend. Given that baseball scholarships are often far from 100%, players aren't immune.
Secondly, as a student attends classes, their interests evolve. At times the school is no longer a good academic fit - and the student transfers.
So it may have nothing to do with baseball - but rather life that results in the transfer.
The answers so far reflect the common perception that transfers are bad in and of themselves or reflective of poorly considered decisions. I don't think that's necessarily so.
The initial college commitment is the best step a player knows how to take toward his goals at the time he makes that decision, often before his senior year of high school. A transfer is often just a next best step he knows how to take toward his goals two or three years later, after his goals have undergone refinement and he deepens his own understanding of his needs, desires, and priorities.
In addition, there are outside variables beyond a player's control: coaching changes, injuries, a business model at many major conference schools consciously structured to bring in and sort through more recruits than less ruthless competitors, a coach whose job security so depends on winning now that he must nudge players out if they aren't already key contributors by sophomore year.
RJM sometimes mentions a stat whose source I don't know but whose substance I believe, that more than half of D1 baseball players transfer. He also reminds people that only 20 or so players get meaningful playing time out of a D1 roster of 35 or a lower division roster of who knows how many. These numbers tell us that the overwhelming majority of college players, no matter how carefully they researched their decision, do not get the experience they thought they would get when they committed, often through no fault of their own.
But that's okay, because the rest of their lives will be the same way. You make the best choices you can with the information you can gather and evaluate in the time available. Then life unfolds in ways you couldn't foresee. Then you re-evaluate everything and make the best choice to move on from wherever you find yourself to wherever you think you want to go.
Don't fear the transfer. Developing the confidence, courage and initiative to change one's surroundings when necessary to pursue success and happiness is an important life skill.
A great and as always a very inspired and accurate post by Swampboy. I always enjoy your insight. +1
My son transferred for a number of reasons. His biggest reason to stay was for his friends on the team. Ultimately, we strongly supported his decision for a number of reasons.
Reflecting back, it was for the best.
When can a player decide to transfer? If a coach has intentions to redshirt a player but havent specifically told him why, I suppose the player needs to approach the HC and clarify wouldnt ya think. If the HC seems unapproachable the player needs to step up and confront, dont ya think so he knows exactly why they are not playing him. Is it safe to guess as a parent that if you are not being played that the red shirt is the goal and that literally it could be only 2 possible outcomes....to get bigger/stronger/faster and to build around him the year after and more .....or.....to be "nice" and release him after the year is over and "saving" him a years eligibility.
OK, so I will readily admit that this is a plug for our website, since our ad is not on the General Items Forum, but is on the Recruiting Items Forum. Given that this topic is Transfers, some of you might find our website and Q&A's of interest, since transfer questions make up the majority of those that are posted to our website, whether 4-4 transfers, 2-4 transfers, or 4-2-4 transfers. Plus, we've been through the process both as a parent, and professionally as a Div. I compliance coordinator for many years.
