Class of 2008 commitments

How does this verbal commitment work? Since money could not have been talked about yet..what good does it do her to verbally commit? Doesn't that hurt her bargaining power?

 

VERBAL

I believe it really doen't mean a lot until you sign the NLI,Several verbal's,coaches and players have changed their minds over the years and gone other directions,But it sorta takes yourself off the market so to speak.

 

EARLY

From SPY Softball

EARLY COMMITMENTS

Heard today that a major school has completed its recruiting of 2009 players, and that another major is telling 2009 grads they should commit now (to them of course) or there won’t be roster spots available.



This has got to stop! SPY has editorialized for years about early commitments, and, as far as we know, has not published 09’s and lists 08’s with reluctance. To say they’re non-binding is true but beside the point. Schools are pressuring 15-16 year old girls to make a decision which will affect them the rest of their lives – not just where they will play softball but where they will get their college education. During one caucus at the NFCA Convention, a few coaches broached the subject; I said we don’t need NCAA action – if some of the schools sitting around that room stopped this pressure tactic, it would go away. Instead, girls and anxious parents write to SPY wondering why their 08, 09. even 2010 player is not being actively recruited and offered an early commitment.



We note that the number of players writing to us, inquiring about how to break that early commitment, or, even how to transfer from a school they no longer want to attend, has grown exponentially with the increase in early commitments.



Ideally, college coaches should be role models – and that includes setting good examples of responsible, adult-style decision-making

 

Verbals

I have never had a problem with a verbal commitment on either end by the junior class. In fact over the last 3 years, I have had 5 Division 1 players coming out of Central commit their junior year. (all 92% paid or more)

7 others have signed in their senior season or later, 4 to D1 and 3 to D2 or Jr colleges. Only one of these players have gone on a full athletic ride, but the others have had awesome packages (some full) with softball money, financial aid and academic money.

I am sure some players may change their minds over the years, but if the players and their parents are 100% sure that this is the college or university that they want to attend and play for, then everyone is better off for it.

Verbals and offers can happen very early based on the talent of the kid. I remember Chris Leak at Indy's summer passing league being offered between his 8 and 9 grade year .

I am not saying it is for everyone. But it has been positive on my end.

 

So So Proud of you Morgan

Morgan, Lisa is going to love having you on her mound. She is going to love seeing you pitch just like I do ( aggressive). You make pitching look like an art. You are so smooth and pretty to watch. Your also are a GREAT student and I have enjoyed teaching you pitching since you was nine. Morgan you deserve it you have worked hard. Every time you came to pitching you gave me everything you had and I know you will give it to Lisa. When it comes that day for you to leave me and go to NC State I will miss you and Lisa will continue to help you grow.

Love Ya Sharon
P.S I will get to see you for 2 more years at pitching Lessons and then games at State
Congrats:newsmile42:

GOOOOO WOLFPACK

 

Go Morgan!

Morgan is a great pitcher and also a great hitter. Good luck at NC State. Congratulations from the Hensleys.:congrats:

Bryan

 

Maleah Cousineau to Wisconsin

Maleah Cousineau, future '08 grad from Franklin High, has committed to play at the University of Wisconsin and Badger Head Coach, Chandelle Schulte who formerly spearheaded the College of Charleston program. Most people in NC know very little about this 5'9", 165 pound catcher because in the fall of her sophomore year at Franklin, she elected to play travel ball in Atlanta for the Georgia Elite Gold and coach Chenita Rogers-Edwards. This experience led her to forego high school ball for the opportunity to play at a consistently higher level through year-round travel ball for the Elite Gold organization. From her home in Otto which is a hop and skip from the GA state line, driving to Atlanta to practice and play for a top-notch team was actually more convenient than traveling to Charlotte, Greensboro or Raleigh, although she did play one spring/summer season for the NC Dominators following her freshman high school year. Since Georgia high school softball is a fall sport, travel teams can start practicing and playing tournaments before the end of the calendar year and then play straight through until school starts again in late summer and early fall. Of course, many teams thereabouts continue playing fall travel tournaments as well. While we promoted Maleah since the ninth grade, it was Coach Rogers who deserves the credit for making the Wisconsin connection and developing her into a legitimate DI talent. Maleah wanted badly to play at the DI level and her parents did whatever it took to help her acheive that dream. Maleah has a 4.0 GPA, by the way, and is the daughter of Troy and Sonja Cousineau. For those curious about this extraordinary student-athlete, you can see Maleah's Web page at http://www.nsr-inc.com/profile.idc?id=102908.

 

This post in its entirety brings up many points...and bewilderment as well. Is college softball and its coaches polar opposites in their integrity than their counterparts in baseball?

First, one must understand that a college coach can have no personal contact with a player or parent until July of their rising senior year, unless you are on their campus. For this to happen, one has attended their camps, participated in a showcase event on their campus or took an unofficial visit. Obviously, if this is the case the underclassman has shown interest in their program and the coach has shown interest as well.

Advantages Many that signed early make their decision because they will be attending the school of their dreams. They put the stress of the recruiting process behind them and can concentrate solely on improving their skills and devoting their focus on their teams. For a college coach to make an early commitment to an underclassman, they must feel that the player is very talented and will make their best offers. It is very rare that an offer made to an underclassman would have improved by waiting until their senior year.

Disadvantages Those that have committed early have not had the experience of being recruited by other schools. You have not been able to compare offers nor find out if another coach is better suited for your talents and personality (I minimize this point because there is no guarantee that this coach will stay at the program for your 4 years). You have no control in how many players committing to your school that will be competing for your position.

Which brings us to the bottom line in making your decision. One should make their decision based on the school. Is this the school that you would select if an injury prevented you from ever playing again? Does this school offer the degree and environment that you want? It's been my experience that early commitments are players going to the school of their dreams.

Which brings me to the next point. College coaching is a very small community. For a college coach to renege on a commitment spreads like a wildfire. Their integrity and character will be tarnished throughout the coaching fraternity and ultimately that coach will be replaced with no avenues to continue their employment. Fortunately, those cases are very rare, at least on the baseball side.

And where do you place responsibility with the parent(s)? Shouldn't the parents play a major role in guiding their child in making the right decision? The biggest decision they will have to make in their young lives. If a player is considering reneging on their decision,who's fault is that? What does it say about their "character"?

Which brings me to this point. A commitment is a commitment. If a coach reneges be thankful. You absolutely would not want to play for someone like that. If a player reneges be thankful. You don't want to play with a teammate like that.

As a parent of a recruited college player, I can't imagine allowing my child making this important decision without doing our homework, exploring all of the options and arriving at a well informed decision. One will never know how it will turn out until it plays out...but the commitment should be made by the player with their parents advice and well thought reasoning. If that was not done... you have only yourself to blame.

 

in football

Talking about a completely different sport, but it seems now in football that breaking verbal commitments is getting to be quite commonplace.

didn't Butch Davis at UNC just get 3-4 signings that had committed to other universities?

 

I remember when Maleah came to the Dominators. She was a good player when she got there and had a lot to tools. I remember the last fall she played with the Dominators and really saw a star being born. I am proud of her and the Dominators are proud of her...she is a great softball player and a great person. She will succeed in Softball and life..great job!!