2017 Boys Soccer Verbal Commitments

[Unregistered]

How can you verbally commit to a D3 school. Commit to apply and go there without any financial aid guarantee?

Been discussed many times on t-s. A verbal commitment to a D3 school is nothing more than a commitment by the player to go to that school and player soccer. The school commits that the player has a spot on the roster, usually for freshman year. Both are contingent upon the player being accepted to that school. A D3 commitment can be broken by either party with no consequences. Yes, the player can get cut during pre-season. Yes, the player can decide to attend and play for another school with no loss of eligibility.

There is no such thing as athletic scholarships at the D3 level. The only way to tell if a D1 or D2 player is getting an athletic scholarship is if they sign an NLI, which is a contract between the school and player.

If you see a D3 player signing something during their senior year of HS, it's just a ceremonial memo acknowledging that the player is planning to go to that school. Nothing more.

[Unregistered]

Been discussed many times on t-s. A verbal commitment to a D3 school is nothing more than a commitment by the player to go to that school and player soccer. The school commits that the player has a spot on the roster, usually for freshman year. Both are contingent upon the player being accepted to that school. A D3 commitment can be broken by either party with no consequences. Yes, the player can get cut during pre-season. Yes, the player can decide to attend and play for another school with no loss of eligibility.

There is no such thing as athletic scholarships at the D3 level. The only way to tell if a D1 or D2 player is getting an athletic scholarship is if they sign an NLI, which is a contract between the school and player.

If you see a D3 player signing something during their senior year of HS, it's just a ceremonial memo acknowledging that the player is planning to go to that school. Nothing more.

Add to it that even at the D3 level coaches won't often yank offers because, just like other programs, those coaches still need to recruit players. Developing a poor reputation won't help them. So while nothing is "set in stone" it's a verbal agreement that tends to stick. Key difference is the coach won't hold much of any sway with admissions so the player has to meet regular admissions criteria.

[Unregistered]

How can you verbally commit to a D3 school. Commit to apply and go there without any financial aid guarantee?

That's what you do with ED decisions; even EA. FA offers don't go out until later, although now with the new FAFSA timeline hopefully that will improve

[Unregistered]

Add to it that even at the D3 level coaches won't often yank offers because, just like other programs, those coaches still need to recruit players. Developing a poor reputation won't help them. So while nothing is "set in stone" it's a verbal agreement that tends to stick. Key difference is the coach won't hold much of any sway with admissions so the player has to meet regular admissions criteria.

The last sentence is not necessarily true. The amount of "sway" varies from school to school; conferences such as NESCAC also have conference rules regarding "sway".

In the NESCAC, coaches have different levels of "sway" they can provide. There can be some last minute adjustment made based on the sudden availability of a superior player.

[Unregistered]

The last sentence is not necessarily true. The amount of "sway" varies from school to school; conferences such as NESCAC also have conference rules regarding "sway".

In the NESCAC, coaches have different levels of "sway" they can provide. There can be some last minute adjustment made based on the sudden availability of a superior player.

The op was speaking in generalities. There's always exceptions to just about any rule

[Unregistered]

Yes, the amount of "sway" differs and people were speaking in generalities. But with the NESCAC schools we've dealt with: 1. the coaches pre-screened the grades and scores, and then got them to Admissions, and 2. called and offered a spot at the school on or about July 1 (the first date they can give official feedback from Admissions). What #2 means- if you apply ED (and commit to doing so now), the coach will support you with Admissions, and unless you screw up your grades senior year, you'll be accepted. Financial aid is the tricky part (although these schools commit to make it work for all students). We didn't ask for commitments about making the roster with my kids- the coach isn't going to waste a spot on a kid he doesn't think can't play there, and if you're not good enough when the time comes, of course you're not going to play anyways.

[Unregistered]

Yes, the amount of "sway" differs and people were speaking in generalities. But with the NESCAC schools we've dealt with: 1. the coaches pre-screened the grades and scores, and then got them to Admissions, and 2. called and offered a spot at the school on or about July 1 (the first date they can give official feedback from Admissions). What #2 means- if you apply ED (and commit to doing so now), the coach will support you with Admissions, and unless you screw up your grades senior year, you'll be accepted. Financial aid is the tricky part (although these schools commit to make it work for all students). We didn't ask for commitments about making the roster with my kids- the coach isn't going to waste a spot on a kid he doesn't think can't play there, and if you're not good enough when the time comes, of course you're not going to play anyways.

Ok that covers 11 schools....there's many others out there that don't operate in quite the same way

[Unregistered]

new to this

How do these coaches find these players? What's key to getting a look?

1) Going to their camps (which can be expensive as they add up pretty fast and takes a toll on the player especially after a hard Spring season playing high level Club or DAP)?

2) Emailing them? If so when? I imagine they get lots of emails.

3) Calling them- would they even be available?

4) ?

[Unregistered]

How do these coaches find these players? What's key to getting a look?

1) Going to their camps (which can be expensive as they add up pretty fast and takes a toll on the player especially after a hard Spring season playing high level Club or DAP)?

2) Emailing them? If so when? I imagine they get lots of emails.

3) Calling them- would they even be available?

4) ?

First, get your kid on the very best team in the very best league they can make. College coaches give greater credibility to the kids that play with and against the very best competition available. College coaches watch the top teams play more often than lower tiered teams. Top teams play in the highest brackets of the very best showcases on the main tournament venues. That's where you want to be to be seen.

Pick out the schools that your kid is legitimately interested in attending and go to those camps.

Keep your grades and SAT/ACT scores up. The first thing a legitimately interested coach will ask is to look at grades and scores to do an early read. An early read is done by admissions to determine if your kid can get accepted and will receive academic money.

Yes, email coaches. Your kid needs to show interest in the schools he is emailing.

Yes, call the coaches. Same as above.

Good luck in the process. And don't be discouraged. A lot of good offers for boys don't come until midway through senior year.

[Unregistered]

First, get your kid on the very best team in the very best league they can make. College coaches give greater credibility to the kids that play with and against the very best competition available. College coaches watch the top teams play more often than lower tiered teams. Top teams play in the highest brackets of the very best showcases on the main tournament venues. That's where you want to be to be seen.

Pick out the schools that your kid is legitimately interested in attending and go to those camps.

Keep your grades and SAT/ACT scores up. The first thing a legitimately interested coach will ask is to look at grades and scores to do an early read. An early read is done by admissions to determine if your kid can get accepted and will receive academic money.

Yes, email coaches. Your kid needs to show interest in the schools he is emailing.

Yes, call the coaches. Same as above.

Good luck in the process. And don't be discouraged. A lot of good offers for boys don't come until midway through senior year.

Add to this that while a kid can call a coach any time, a coach cannot technically contact a player until they are a junior. There are ways around that but that is the general rule. Often times when you email a coach they will email back saying we can't talk but here's information about our program and upcoming camps

HOWEVER, before the poster goes running full tilt it would behoove them to have a frank discussion with his player's coach(es) about the player's potential and what is the best fit. Don't aim for top D1 if it's never going to happen. Then the student should make a list of target schools that are a good fit in terms of academics (first and foremost), size location etc and see where the soccer piece overlaps with that. Once he/she has a list then start contacting coaches, see if they'll be at showcases their team will be playing, what camps they have. Don't waste either side's time if it isn't a school of interest.

There's also camps out there for multiple schools at once. Like with showcases, contact coaches ahead of time so they know to look for you. Some of these events are better than others so ask around.

[Unregistered]

First, get your kid on the very best team in the very best league they can make. College coaches give greater credibility to the kids that play with and against the very best competition available. College coaches watch the top teams play more often than lower tiered teams. Top teams play in the highest brackets of the very best showcases on the main tournament venues. That's where you want to be to be seen.

Pick out the schools that your kid is legitimately interested in attending and go to those camps.

Keep your grades and SAT/ACT scores up. The first thing a legitimately interested coach will ask is to look at grades and scores to do an early read. An early read is done by admissions to determine if your kid can get accepted and will receive academic money.

Yes, email coaches. Your kid needs to show interest in the schools he is emailing.

Yes, call the coaches. Same as above.

Good luck in the process. And don't be discouraged. A lot of good offers for boys don't come until midway through senior year.

The only thing I'd caution against is the suggestions that "a lot of good offers for boys don't come until midway through senior year." In our experience, junior spring and summer are when offers are made, and then your son can apply early to the school of choice.

[Unregistered]

First, get your kid on the very best team in the very best league they can make. College coaches give greater credibility to the kids that play with and against the very best competition available. College coaches watch the top teams play more often than lower tiered teams. Top teams play in the highest brackets of the very best showcases on the main tournament venues. That's where you want to be to be seen.

Pick out the schools that your kid is legitimately interested in attending and go to those camps.

Keep your grades and SAT/ACT scores up. The first thing a legitimately interested coach will ask is to look at grades and scores to do an early read. An early read is done by admissions to determine if your kid can get accepted and will receive academic money.

Yes, email coaches. Your kid needs to show interest in the schools he is emailing.

Yes, call the coaches. Same as above.

Good luck in the process. And don't be discouraged. A lot of good offers for boys don't come until midway through senior year.

Thank you!!! This is very helpful.

[Unregistered]

D1

The only thing I'd caution against is the suggestions that "a lot of good offers for boys don't come until midway through senior year." In our experience, junior spring and summer are when offers are made, and then your son can apply early to the school of choice.

But most D1 college coaches are very busy in the Fall and usually can't make it to games to watch specific players. So is it a Showcase event in December of their junior year ( DAP or Disney) where the player is first "seen"?

To make an early offer, a coach should be very sure that that player is a good fit - with D1 schools especially Ivy league, they must have a lot to choose from, right? Granted they need to meet the admissions criteria (or at least be on the low end of it). So what is it that a coach sees in a local player that he won't get from a player from Europe or Africa where the talent pool is much greater.

Cases in point:
NP (Bolts NPL, Reading HS) Brown
CA (Seacoast) Brown
SLL (Seacoast) - Harvard - got offer late Junior year
MR (Nobles, Revs) Dartmouth - got offer late Junior year
SH (Worcester Academy, FC Stars) Columbia

[Unregistered]

First, get your kid on the very best team in the very best league they can make. College coaches give greater credibility to the kids that play with and against the very best competition available. College coaches watch the top teams play more often than lower tiered teams. Top teams play in the highest brackets of the very best showcases on the main tournament venues. That's where you want to be to be seen.

Pick out the schools that your kid is legitimately interested in attending and go to those camps.

Keep your grades and SAT/ACT scores up. The first thing a legitimately interested coach will ask is to look at grades and scores to do an early read. An early read is done by admissions to determine if your kid can get accepted and will receive academic money.

Yes, email coaches. Your kid needs to show interest in the schools he is emailing.

Yes, call the coaches. Same as above.

Good luck in the process. And don't be discouraged. A lot of good offers for boys don't come until midway through senior year.

What about recommendations from their HS coach (assuming he plays for a top HS team- prep or public) and NPL/DAP in the Spring. If a HS or club coach recommends a player isn't he putting his reputation on the line? i.e. if the player doesn't pan out then the college coach may think twice when he gets another recommendation from this coach. So I imagine these coaches are very reluctant to make recommendations unless they are very sure. Right?

[Unregistered]

What about recommendations from their HS coach (assuming he plays for a top HS team- prep or public) and NPL/DAP in the Spring. If a HS or club coach recommends a player isn't he putting his reputation on the line? i.e. if the player doesn't pan out then the college coach may think twice when he gets another recommendation from this coach. So I imagine these coaches are very reluctant to make recommendations unless they are very sure. Right?

Club coach recommendations carry more weight than HS coaches (although not universally true). Yes coaches will only recommend players they have faith in. That's why as someone said the first key step is to talk with your club and HS coaches (HS coach may have no clue but some are quite savvy) to see what is an appropriate fit for a player. However coach conversations come further down the line - first you have to get through the first screening round with a coach at a showcase or two.