Recruited Walk-on Obligation?

If a player is offered a roster spot as a recruited walk-on at a D1 college in the spring of his HS senior year, is he obligated legally and or ethically to show up on that school's campus in the fall of his freshman year of college? Also, are recruited walk-on's required to sign a national letter of intent or anything similar to it? I assume not since no athletic money is involved.

 

No...and no

 

Limit?

Is there a limit of how many players they can bring in for the fall? Or do they use the fall as sort of a tryout event?

 

They've assured us he's on the roster and would legitimately contend for significant playing time his freshman year. Though I'm not gullible enough to believe this is a guarantee of any sort. He can only have a maximum of 35 on the roster for next year. I quess if you're not on athletic scholarship, you're always trying out!

 

I think it is important to understand that there are different kind of walk ons, but regardless, all of them ae using the fall season as a tryout.

Recruited walk-on player: recruited by the coach to play for his team. Does not receive any scholarship money. Does not attend try-outs. Has a place on the fall rosters.

Invited walk-on player: player who has visited with the coach. Coach has some interest, but not enough to give him a spot on the roster. Invites him to try-out. Will look him over during try-outs. Must be selected during try-outs to have a spot on the roster.

Walk-on player: player who shows up at try-outs hoping to get a place on the roster. May or may not have ever spoken with the coach.

This is a good link to check out comments and observations about Walk ons

http://www.hsbaseballweb.com/walking_on.htm

 

Here's my son's situation: His "dream school" academically has put him on their admissions waiting list. He'll know by June 30 if he'll be accepted. The baseball coaches at this school have seen him play numerous times and said there's a chance he could walk-on there if they have room on their roster after they see what happens in the draft. They have been hit hard by the draft the last couple of years. He would go there whether baseball was involved or not. His number #2 school has offered him a walk-on roster spot with the realistic chance of him competing for significant playing time his freshman year. I know, there are no guarantees of any kind with a walk-on. My question is, how bad would it be if my son commits to the walk-on spot with his #2 school now, but changes his mind in June if he finds out he gets accepted at his "dream school" He knows the chances of him playing baseball at his #1 school are slim. I don't want to appear completely unethical about this but at the same time I want my son to be able to attend the school he's always wanted to attend since he was a little boy. Any sage advice out there?

 

Braves, he's definitely a recruited walk-on.

 

This is not an ethical situation. There is no "real' commitment from either parties. If the coach waanted a commitment, he should have offered a scholarship. In this situation, you are in the drivers seat. Choose to do what is best for your son and don't be concerned about anything else. There is no NLI, so there is nothing binding. You can have as many changes of the mind until your son attends his 1st class...that's the only obligation that your son has.

Although I strongly suggest he writes a thank you note to the coach at the school he is not attending. There will be no hurt feelings involved.

 

Braves, that's exactly how my wife feels about it and she's not a "baseball" person. She's only looking out for her son's best interest. I hope the other experienced folks on here have the same opinion as you. It would relieve a lot of stress on him if we were to tell him this. I guess the ethical question surfaced for me because in this scenario my son would tell this coach that he will come to school #2 to play for him. I guess in the world of walk-on baseball prospects the only commitment that matters is the one you sign your name to huh?