Define Recruiting - Active vs Passing Interest

Braves,

Thanks for the information and the link to the other thread. Very insightful comments - some of which are probably putting a lot of parent's mind to rest as the early signing period approaches.

 

the HS coach

if any of you have watched the reality tv show about Hoover HS football team in Alabama.............the head coach holds his influence on college recruiting "over the players heads" in order to motivate them to play better. in other words he tells his players that he will not recommend them for scholarships unless they play better.

how do you feel about this philosophy?? I know it's a reality show; don't know how "real" the portrayal of this specific philosophy is??

 

First of all there are very few HS coaches who can hold a scholarship over a kids head anymore, especially in baseball where more than half of the college recruiters don't even talk to the hs coaches anymore. So don't scare yourself with some crazy reality show that is all about shock value anyways.

Braves is right on almost all acounts. And there is really no confusion or contradictions in what he posted. the trend is for kids to sign earlier and earlier. Most colleges would love to have their needs filled in the fall and it seems the bigger name schools are doing this. So it's a win-win for the kids who want to sign early and the schools who want to have their needs filled earlier.

for the first time ever I saw junior colleges sign kids early last year. ten years ago kids didn't sign with junior colleges until the twelth hour in july. So it's a trend that is affecting all levels.

in my honest and professional opinion I do not believe you will recieve more or less money by signing early or waiting it out. Schools have a certain amount of money to spend and that is it. you may be signing for books come May because there is no money left. Or you may be offered books in october because the coaches have figured you out and know you will sign for anything.

I am a bit biased but still I will throw this out there...

Parents-the final cost of school at most D1 schools will not include academic scholarship money, 1,800$ in state private money, or school incentive money which I have seen be a smuch as 8,000$. There are many if not most kids going to private D2 schools that are 25,000-30k for a cheaper final package than to alot of mid level d1 public schools. There is so much more money available besides just the flat out scholarship dollar.

if you are dying to go somewhere go for whatever they offer. If you are truly wanting to see how much you are worth make sure you get a "full package" offer from a few different schools.

 

Olefty,

Good information! I have a couple of questions for you, if you or Braves will answer them.

1. So, what if a D1 coach offers books or a small offer in the fall? In your opinion, does he really want the player and is trying to get him for as little as possible? Or, does he basically see the guy as mediocre player that he'll take or pass on either one. Also, if the guy doesn't take the small amount, is it likely the coach would offer more later. Or, is the first offer usually the final offer?

2. Does "book money" count against the school's official scholarship money?

3. Does anyone really sign in the fall "book money"? Without naming any names, has this happened in North Carolina this fall?

4. Do division 2 coaches generally wait until after the November signing period for division 1 to really push for kids to commit? Or, are they already making their push?

Thanks!

 

I want you to know before anything I say affects you or the situaion you and your son may be in, this is only my opinion. I do not know without a doubt what each school's recruiting process is or how they percieve spending their money. This is only my experience over ten years and with a little influence of how we recruit and offer.

Here are some factors that affect every school and how they spend their scholarship money. (1)How much available money they have for this recruiting year will affect an offer. the more money they have to spend the more risk they can take with a kid who may not pan out. (2)each coaching staff designates how much money a certain position is worth. Pictchers get the most money. average running OUtfielders and second baseman who can't play shortstop are a dime a dozen. (3)DO they have a need that the kid will fill early or are they just wanting to sign a quality player for depth or to keep him from going to another school.

One thing parents and players should realize is a scholarship is not a reward for what you have already accomplished. It is an incentive to become something at the next level. in our program I will admit we have some of our best players on less scholarship money than some players who we expected more progression from. it is a very imperfect process.

to answer your question:

1. after taking into account all the factors I mentioned earlier, I would say this is a coach who would very much like to get this player but is not willing to spend much money for whatever reason. he will make this same offer to anywhere from 5-25 people this year. it depends on how many needs he has to fill. in most cases if the kid doesn't take the offer enough of the other ones will that the offer may not be there later. but ask yourself, "do you want to be one of fifty?" maybe you aren't losing an oppritunity but instead you opening up other doors by waiting.

2. every school has a certain way of taking scholarship money out of "book vouchers" . every school has a different way to pay for books. App state costs 80$ a semester to rent your books. So a book scholarship to ASU is 160$ and you have to give them back or lose you voucher. Many private schools cost 500$ or more a semester. my only question is does that really matter? if you are goiung to sign for books then you should worship this school. It should be your dream school since five years old.

3. many people sign in the fall for book money. Several of the kids mentioned in TBR's 2006 and 2007 commitments signed for "books" or whatever the schools equivalent to that is. It's just the way it is.

4. most div 2 coaches are hard at work right now on their list of recruits. Most D2 schools will make a few early offers. We have three players we will offer early. If they sign, then our needs are met and we will slow down our recruiting process looking for one or two guys who can really help us. there really is no difference between d2 and d1's recruiting process or schedule.

 

We are getting more detailed information about the recruiting process from the college's standpoint from olefty and Andro then we have the previous 6 years of TBR combined.

Thank you, gentlemen, for taking your valuable time from a very hectic schedule to participate on TBR

 

Thank you for the outstanding insights and information, Olefty. Your responses help to put a lot of parents' dilemmas at this point into a better perspective.

 

landon powell an all-american and first round draft pick at s. car. was on 1/2 scholarship. tanner said they never give more than 1/2. btw tanner usually signs about 20 guys every year so some of the guys they sign get zero money and it's not unusal for a scholarship player to not make the team. also coaches often need to give some of their current players raises

 

oK

so players like this with no athletic sch. money can be getting academic schollies, right? at USC they also have a legitimate shot each year of going to the CWS, which is a good recruiting tool probably.
Saw where the Gamecocks' newest recruiting class was rated # 1 in nation again by one of the major publications.

 

Yes, but states like SC and Ga offer Hope Scholarships, money derived from state lotteries. So, an in state recruit can receive $5,000 for a public college tuition and Tanner can save his athletic money to spend on out of state recruits, plus waive the out of state tuition. I think in the business world they call it "creative financing".

And moesyslak is correct. At the end of each year, coaches sit down with some players and adjust their athletic monies.