Take a minute and gather your thoughts...

....please, and tell us at TBR what you would do as a parent, or the player.

D1 player at a school many miles from home, ie NC, soph., has the DH role but would like to play more, and is missing home. 85% scholly $.

Player tells her folks that she'd be happier if she was on a team nearer to home, even if she was sitting the bench for the next 2 years.

True gig here folks, hows the best way to handle moving on, transferring, when do you go to your coach, can you as a player contact another coach? How about timing of telling your coach that you want to leave, do you wait til the end of the season or do you give your coach the heads up early and let him/her know that she'll have an 85% scholly to use for her future team? Would you ask your current coach to contact the possible new coaches?

I know this is next level stuff but I think that the folks in preps have smarts and I'd appreciate your input.

Thanks folks.

Marlin

 

I think the best thing to do in that situation is to talk directly with the coach as soon as practical. Let the coach know up front what the issue is. That gives the coach an opportunity to possibly help the player get through it (possibly change the player's outlook, for example.) It also makes the coach aware so that the coach can be prepared to do what is necessary to make the impact on the team as positive as possible.

Bottom line is to communicate honestly and be prepared to deal with the consequences.

 

College sports are a business, In this context are you going to tell your boss that you are leaving without another job offer? Do you think your boss is going to be all warm and fuzzy and help you find a new job? In some circumstances the relationship between player and coach after explaining the situation may help in trying to rectify the current attitude of the player, while others will take it personally.

There are ways to let other coaches that you are interested in playing for to know you are back in the recruiting landscape. But they will not talk to you until you have your release.

My suggestion is if you are absolutely sure that you will be leaving, find another job first....then inform.

Do you believe a coach that is going to take back or reduce your DD's scholly is going to inform you during the season? No, they will wait until the end of the season and inform you during the end of season interview. I suggest you do the same.

 

+1

A "Permission to Contact" release should let you talk to other coaches for 30 days. I know this applies to D3 but not sure if it applies to D1 or 2.

 

... what Braves said

 

There are no athletic scholarships involved at D3 and I'm not aware of a "permission to contact" at the other levels--never heard of it. But I know you must have your release from current school in order to discuss a possible scholly at another.

A close relationship between player and coach would lend itself to discussing the situation beforehand, but that is rarely the relationship at the D1 level. If you perform "you're my girl". If you are not performing, you are taking up a uniform and using someone else's scholarship. If you're performing and want to transfer--for any reason short of health-- they will not be very understanding.

Certainly there are exceptions, but it's certainly not the rule. If you are sure you want to leave the program, be proactive. This ain't high school anymore!

 

This scenario is played out at most D1 schools across the country.

Recruiting process

" Brittany, we love the way you play the game. We believe you could start with us as a freshman. You're our #1 catching prospect and if you sign with us, we will not be recruiting any more catchers in your class"

At College

"Coach, I see you've brought in 2 more catchers in my class. I thought I was the only one?"

"What? Are you saying you can't compete against them?"

End of Season

A letter to the parents:

"I'm sorry to inform you that your daughter is no longer on athletic scholarship at our school. We wish her success in her future."

This situation is played out over and over each year. It's a business folks...jobs are on the line.

 

Self Release

Only at D3.....
Coach can't block......

 

Another good way to learn about how it should be done is to question some who have done it. There are several in the area that have transferred from one program to another and it went smoothly. I know of at least 1 case where the athlete had to sit out a year also. Some coaches seem to give the release and some seem not to do so. I would say each case is different, but there are a few in the area that probably mirror your example.