College showcase question

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I have a physical late bloomer who is hurt by the early commitment race. However, I don't think the timetable would have been different if the new rules were in effect three years ago. I just think that kids would be accepting offers brokered through club coaches without ever having a direct conversation with the college coach. Scary, but I believe likely to be true.

Kids can talk with coaches via phone, Skype etc as long as they initiate the conversations. It's just they can't talk about "recruitment". Whatever that means or includes or is even verifiable is unclear. The actual deal itself can then be brokered through the club. Families can still visit the schools, just not meet with coaching staff. Some may not feel comfortable making any decisions without those face to face meetings, so fall of junior year will be the busy season for official visits (when college coaches are their busiest as well). But many will feel ok with it and are more interested in the school anyway. They'll be happy to wrap up recruiting early to get the school and deal they want.

But can excited teens refrain from announcing their "commitments" on social media? Many cannot.

[Unregistered]

When players initially reach out to coaches and invite them to come watch play them play at a showcase, do coaches reply to the email? If a coach doesn't reply does this imply zero interest? Or do coaches show up to games without replying to emails? Sorry, we are new to this. My dd is sophmore and plays on an ECNL team and plays 50% of the game.

[Unregistered]

When players initially reach out to coaches and invite them to come watch play them play at a showcase, do coaches reply to the email? If a coach doesn't reply does this imply zero interest? Or do coaches show up to games without replying to emails? Sorry, we are new to this. My dd is sophmore and plays on an ECNL team and plays 50% of the game.

Some coaches email back, some just show up. Some don't even register until the last minute. D can always email back to see about "feedback" but college coaches cannot engage in that type of information until before junior year - depending on D1 (September), D2 (June), or D3 (no restrictions).

[Unregistered]

When players initially reach out to coaches and invite them to come watch play them play at a showcase, do coaches reply to the email? If a coach doesn't reply does this imply zero interest? Or do coaches show up to games without replying to emails? Sorry, we are new to this. My dd is sophmore and plays on an ECNL team and plays 50% of the game.

Some will but the email will just say "thanks for your interest" along with info on any camps they are doing or showcases they are going to. Very generic, non player specific. If they're interested they will come and watch your player, even if they never responded.

[Unregistered]

Some will but the email will just say "thanks for your interest" along with info on any camps they are doing or showcases they are going to. Very generic, non player specific. If they're interested they will come and watch your player, even if they never responded.

They cannot engage you in an email, so the typical response is a camp invite and often times a recitation of the contact rules, so that they are completely covered if ever there's an investigation.

This is why your email to the coach must contain your club coach's contact info. You should also copy your club coach on the letters you send so that he/she is aware that they might get a phone call from a college recruiter about your player.

In several instances with my D, the email went to the school/coach, the school/coach called the club coach, club coach texted my D with directions to call the school at a certain #/time, and they had a phone conversation --- all in one evening. The key is to use the club coach as the go-between.

[Unregistered]

What happened after the Showcases? Seems like a lot of players just get camp invites from being on the list of attendees from the scouting software tournaments and showcases use.

[Unregistered]

How does the D3 commitment process work? I know D3s can’t give sports scholarships but can they give a verbal commitment to a sophomore? We know a rising junior that wasn’t getting any offers so they jumped at a verbal offer from a private D3 that no one commits to that young since it isn’t even a competitive school in soccer or academics(over 80% admittance level). The player was an early bloomer but has been on a downhill slide since puberty despite privates & living & breathing soccer every day. The girl obviously loves soccer so I understand why she would jump at any offer but what’s in it for the college? How can the college coach of a D3 even make a verbal sports commitment to a sophomore? Can any talk about merit money be had or can it only be a verbal offer to be put on the roster? What happens if the D3 coach realizes the player is fading more & more? Must they stand by their offer?

[Unregistered]

How does the D3 commitment process work? I know D3s can’t give sports scholarships but can they give a verbal commitment to a sophomore? We know a rising junior that wasn’t getting any offers so they jumped at a verbal offer from a private D3 that no one commits to that young since it isn’t even a competitive school in soccer or academics(over 80% admittance level). The player was an early bloomer but has been on a downhill slide since puberty despite privates & living & breathing soccer every day. The girl obviously loves soccer so I understand why she would jump at any offer but what’s in it for the college? How can the college coach of a D3 even make a verbal sports commitment to a sophomore? Can any talk about merit money be had or can it only be a verbal offer to be put on the roster? What happens if the D3 coach realizes the player is fading more & more? Must they stand by their offer?

What they say is "assuming you get admitted and you keep developing we'd like to have you on the team." All commitments are verbal - even D1 is verbal until you sign your LOI in Feb 1 of senior year. But with D3 it's all verbal all the way and definitely he could back away by senior year. However if the program is that poor he probably won't because it's not a desired program; it may even get walkons. Carrying a large roster doesn't make a big impact on his budget as there's no scholarships and teams only travel with so many players. There's no money involved unless the school decides to grant merit $ or they qualify for financial aid. The admissions office can give an early pre read on that but nothing is guaranteed until you apply, including actually getting admitted.

[Unregistered]

What they say is "assuming you get admitted and you keep developing we'd like to have you on the team." All commitments are verbal - even D1 is verbal until you sign your LOI in Feb 1 of senior year. But with D3 it's all verbal all the way and definitely he could back away by senior year. However if the program is that poor he probably won't because it's not a desired program; it may even get walkons. Carrying a large roster doesn't make a big impact on his budget as there's no scholarships and teams only travel with so many players. There's no money involved unless the school decides to grant merit $ or they qualify for financial aid. The admissions office can give an early pre read on that but nothing is guaranteed until you apply, including actually getting admitted.

Thank you. This makes sense but I wasn’t sure since the parents are bragging it all over social media and Top Drawer (where every other player her year in the state listed is D1) as if the girl was offered a full ride to Princeton. Other parents snicker behind their backs but I thought there must be more to it.

[Unregistered]

Let them be happy for their daughter and don't let it get under your skin.

[Unregistered]

Let them be happy for their daughter and don't let it get under your skin.

Yes. And offer sympathy if it doesn't work out

[Unregistered]

What they say is "assuming you get admitted and you keep developing we'd like to have you on the team." All commitments are verbal - even D1 is verbal until you sign your LOI in Feb 1 of senior year. But with D3 it's all verbal all the way and definitely he could back away by senior year. However if the program is that poor he probably won't because it's not a desired program; it may even get walkons. Carrying a large roster doesn't make a big impact on his budget as there's no scholarships and teams only travel with so many players. There's no money involved unless the school decides to grant merit $ or they qualify for financial aid. The admissions office can give an early pre read on that but nothing is guaranteed until you apply, including actually getting admitted.

This is correct. There are no sports scholarships for D3. No NLI to sign. It’s all about admissions. If it’s a non-competitive school then most players wait until senior year to settle for that. Nothing gained for the player unless she thinks she’ll get even worse.

[Unregistered]

This is correct. There are no sports scholarships for D3. No NLI to sign. It’s all about admissions. If it’s a non-competitive school then most players wait until senior year to settle for that. Nothing gained for the player unless she thinks she’ll get even worse.

Or she and her family want to keep up with the Jones'. It can be hard to watch all the kids excited about better placements when you haven't been invited to the party.

[Unregistered]

Or she and her family want to keep up with the Jones'. It can be hard to watch all the kids excited about better placements when you haven't been invited to the party.

I know a case like this too. The mother is an overbearing manager trying to live life through her dd. Poor kid has looked miserable playing soccer the last couple years. It’s no wonder she’s getting worse. Feel sorry for the girl.

[Unregistered]

What they say is "assuming you get admitted and you keep developing we'd like to have you on the team." All commitments are verbal - even D1 is verbal until you sign your LOI in Feb 1 of senior year. But with D3 it's all verbal all the way and definitely he could back away by senior year. However if the program is that poor he probably won't because it's not a desired program; it may even get walkons. Carrying a large roster doesn't make a big impact on his budget as there's no scholarships and teams only travel with so many players. There's no money involved unless the school decides to grant merit $ or they qualify for financial aid. The admissions office can give an early pre read on that but nothing is guaranteed until you apply, including actually getting admitted.

While an offer of admission to a highly selective D3 is indeed an "offer" - any scarce desirable resource can be currency - no self-respecting D3 would offer admission to a rising Junior. They need to see 3 years of grades and test scores.

An "offer" from a non-selective D3 to a rising junior is a gimmick. Snicker away, add ROFL to their social media posts, and tell your D to publicly mock theirs at practice. It's the right thing to do. We can't simply let families be proud of their kids, especially when their kids don't meet our standards.