Scholarship Dilemma

Here's a tough situation for a coworkers son. The young man is just a junior and plays ball for the high school and local legion teams. In mid January the kid went on an unofficial visit to a southern conference school in NC and was given a formal scholarship offer by the school. The offer is a very good one, especially for him not being a pitcher.

The school and coach have done everything right all along and the young man likes the coach and school. However the problem is the coach has placed a June 1 deadline on the offer. If the kid does not accept the offer and verbally commits by June 1, then the offer is off the table. The coach said he will continue to recruit the kid, but he can't guarantee the same amount of scholarship if the commitment comes after June 1. The kid knows a verbal offer is not binding, but he is just not that kind of kid to back out once he gives his word. (he gets that from his Mom.)

The young man lives with his mother and the Dad is really no help. The high school coach has recommended he take the offer and if something better comes along, then back out of this offer and take the one he feels is best for him. Along with one SEC school a couple of ACC schools have shown some interest as well as a good number of southern conference schools. With this kid's talent and grades, he will be recruited by plenty of other schools, especially after July 1st this summer. However if he does verbally commit, other schools will back off and the kid will never know what else was out there. Plus, I seriously doubt any other school would match the scholarship offer on the table and there is no guarantee these other schools are as interested as the one that has offered. It is really early IMO.

I don't think the high school coach's suggestion is is the right thing to do. It is not fair to the college coach as he has done everything right and really wants this young man. Plus if the kid backs out, then the coach and his program suffer because based on the kid's verbal, the coach would not have recruited any longer for 2007. (in 2007, the coach only has 1 scholarship available.)

I told the Mom to post this dilemma on tbr, but she wasn't comfortable doing so, but she gave me permission to. What are everyone's thoughts about what this young man should do? Also, what do you think about the coach who made the very nice offer put put a deadline on accepting? I think the coach has every right to do that, because he knows he wants to beat the other schools to this kid, plus he is doing what is best for his program.

What do you think?

 

Take it!

i agree with the HS coach! Go with your heart!

 

I thought that official offers could not be made until after their junior year of high school... maybe I am wrong here (wouldn't be the first time)... He could verbally commit right now then back out, but I advise my players to honor their word... JMHO

 

Where does he want to go to school? Where does he feel comfortable. The best scholarship offer does not mean it is the best place for him to go to school.

We had several offers to choose from with my son....he knew when he made his decision it was the place he wanted to be....not just to play ball but where he thought he would enjoy going to school and fit in.

Recommend to the player and his mom that they visit all the schools he is interested in....even if they are unofficial visits. Beware of "we are going to take the offer off the table" ....if they want the player bad enough the offer will still be there.

 

I'll relay the good suggestion about taking other unofficial visits. But with the college season starting, what is the likely of he getting many coaches to set up an unofficial?

The boy likes the school and knows one player from legion. He has said he could see himself playing there before any other southern conference school. But, he knows the socon is not the ACC. But, no ACC schools have made an offer and most likely won't until after 6/1. If he does visit these other schools, is it a good thing to tell the other coaches the offer he has from the socon school? He and his Mom are really stressed.

 

If the schools have interest the coaches will be glad to do it...we took several "unofficial visits" once the season started. The coach would usually have my son come early and watch pre-game and meet some of the players.

Just tell them not to panic or feel like they have to rush the decision process. Make sure they enjoy the process....

 

I certainly don't recommend any player to accept an offer then try to parlay that offer to get another offer from other schools. College baseball is a small community and that type of business dealing usually have side effects. In fact, virtually all schools will back off if they hear that a player verbally committed.

Based on the information given, the school that made the offer is very fair in leaving their offer on the table that long. They have to make plans; if plan A is not available they have to go to Plan B before plan B player is scooped up.

There are many issues to consider and each person has different requirements, but if money is the major issue and this family considers the offer the best they will receive...all things being even...it's a no-brainer

But keep in mind that scholarships are year to year..some are raised, some are lowered and some are taken away. Coaches move..coaches fired...but the school remains. I wouldn't get too caught up in the SoCon vs ACC conf ego. Go where you believe you will play. It's much better to be a weekend starter or everyday position player for a mid major Dl or Dll school then riding the bench or not making the travel squad of a strong ACC school. I assume all kids want to play, not to be concerned about what the unform name is.

Finally, if there are other schools interested in this player, tell them the truth. Let them know what the offer is. They will quickly tell you their interest or move on. Waiting beyond the June 1st deadline will be a crapshoot. It depends if you are a gambler. Good luck with whatever decisions he and his family make.

Oh...and if what the HS coach said is true...I wouldn't ask for any more advice from him. He is totally wrong!!!!!

 

This advice is totally wrong on so many levels. At the age of 17/18, the only commodity you have as a ball player is your skills, your classroom ability and your word. This coach is telling you that your integrity is meaningless. No, this isn't the way to go.

Fit is everything. You need to have this young man visit the schools he is interested in. He needs to choose a school based on not on a good baseball fit, but also choose a school based on where he believes he would be happy if baseball wasn't in the equation.

What if he gets injured and can't play again. Where would he be happy?? What school offers the major he is interested in??

No one else can give an answer for you. It's not just about baseball, it's about his life at this point. Everyone is hunting for different things.

If he likes the school that made the offer, if he feels he would be happy there (without baseball) and if he feels like he would get a lot of playing time, then, by all means, it is a good fit and there isn't any reason to keep "shopping".

 

First let me say, I hope that was a momentary lapse in judgement on part of his coach. Never, ever deal unethically!!! My son is an 06 grad and I can sympathize with this young man. As most young kids he probably doesn't know the differences in the schools, locations, sizes, requirements, majors, etc. - In some ways you're in a great position, but he and his Mom have their work cut out for them. It sounds like he has a great offer in hand, now get out there and work to find out if it would be a good fit for him, or not.

Assuming the kid is that good, schools that have a need for his type of player are eager to have players come on unoffical visits. Don't give it a moments thought, and if they do hesitate that is certainly a strong clue to cross that school of your list. One of the best things I think I've done is to take my son around to a wide variety of schools and let him get a feel for each one. If he visits a place he likes it wouldn't be in-appropriate to explain the deadline you're under without getting into specifics of money. That way that school will either make an effort to get out and see him if they have some interest and make an offer.

Between now and June 1st he should be able to see each of the schools he's interested in, play or practice. He should as part of his visit talk with the admissions department and get a feel for the academic strengths and requirements of the school. What he should be able to do after this is have a small gut feeling for how he would fit in academically, atheletically and scocially. We're touring the different schools my son is talking to now just trying to view the styles of the different coaches, how the teams play and conduct themselves, etc., I think he'll be able to make a comfortable, educated decision in March as to where he'll commit to.

Saturday and Sunday afternoons weather permitting we'll be somewhere watching college baseball. Gosh, the sacrifices I make for my son, while the Honeydo list grows - God bless my wife.

I can't quarantee the same for you, but one of the schools wanted him to sign in the early signing period and explained that they couldn't quarantee the money after the early signing period, but my son wasn't quite sure he wanted to, so we called the coach up and explained that we were really interested, but not ready to commit yet. My son asked that they keep the offer open and the coach said they would. But we understood it was a gamble, he could have said no and we would have potentially had to pass on a good offer. The more the money in the offer understandably the harder it is to gamble, and if my son was head over heels in love with the school, the program, etc. we may signed.

Good luck to him, get to work and educate him about his options.:bananalam

 

Excellent responses here... It is easy to see both sides of the issue here, to me the bottom line is your word and personal honor, without it, you are nothing... Once yuo commit, top me that's it, unless there is a change in coaches and the fit isnt the same...