<p>pafather,</p>
<p>I suspect that they could estimate the need-based award early if they had the family's tax info.</p>
<p>pafather,</p>
<pre><code> My S was a recruited GK last year so I can only speak from his experience. The D1 (or top D3 for that matter) coach will not allow you to wait until spring if the kid is his top choice recruit. He needs to move on down his board as quickly as possible to get a firm commitment before all the quality catches are gone. It is a game, pure and simple.
</code></pre>
<p>Each school handles the need aid estimations different, if there is serious mutual interest the coach needs to know the decision is based on the overall bottom line cost. They deal with this all the time. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that money isn't necessarily given in fractions of full scholarships, my S was offered direct round $'s ($1000, $2000, etc.) even offered such things not related to tuition such as room wavier. They need to spread the love around a team of ~30 players. The impact players get paid more, freshman (especially GK's expected to sit for the next 2 years) will get a token amount until they prove themselves. It is a job and you are paid for the job. Also the amount can change from year to year, up or down!</p>
<p>Also, wanted to note that if he is considering Penn St., they brought in an All-everything, National player of the year GK last year, and he played. This kid should know if he is considering this school, he should be prepared to be a practice keeper for a few years. He really needs to get a good look at the players on the roster in front of him, what were their prep-school stats, how much did they play, etc. Does he want to play or does he want to just be part of the team? The relative scholarship amount should not be the deciding factor. He should look at the school first and answer, would I be happy here and could I afford it, if I wasn't playing?</p>
<p>BTW, in the end, my S decided he wanted to actually play not sit, and went the top D3 route to a school that is tops for his major. Some D3 schools give significant "academic" $, some give less. As a parent, I could not be happier, he did not choose the best offer nor lowest priced school. He got the thrill of having a National Letter of Intent to sign and he knows he could have played at that level. He picked the college that was best overall for all the right reasons.</p>
<p>All I know is that there should be a solid offer, in writing, in December. Don't trust a coach's verbal assurances. A friend's child was strung along by a coach at a NE LAC until spring, when she was waitlisted by the college! She trusted him too much to apply to other schools, and wound up with very diminished options. Friend heard later that the coach was notorious for pulling the same trick on other students to keep them away from competing schools.</p>
<p>or before December. I know D1 kids who are juniors who have signed letters of intent.</p>
<p>The Collegiate Commissioners Association (CCA) administers the National Letter of Intent program. Started in 1964 with seven conferences and eight independent institutions, the program now includes more than 50 leagues with over 500 participating institutions. </p>
<p>While not ALL institutions use the LOI, National LOI do have very precise guidelines that vary by sport:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.national-letter.org/dates/%5B/url%5D">http://www.national-letter.org/dates/</a></p>
<p>Signing Dates for the 2006-2007 Academic Year </p>
<p>Sport Initial Signing Date Final Signing Date
Basketball (Early Period) November 9, 2005 November 16, 2005
Basketball (Late Period) April 12, 2006 May 17, 2006
Football (Midyear JC Transfer) December 21, 2005 January 15, 2006
Football (Regular Period) February 1, 2006 April 1, 2006
Field Hockey, Soccer, Men's Water Polo* February 1, 2006 August 1, 2006
All Other Sports(Early Period) November 9, 2005 November 16, 2005
All Other Sports(Late Period) April 12, 2006 August 1, 2006 </p>
<ul>
<li>- These sports do not have an early signing period.</li>
</ul>
<p>xiggi, you are amazing. I nominate you for Supermoderator.</p>
<p>I am a keen rugby player but i know that the sport definately falls under the shadow of American football. I was wondering if anyone knows of any funding available for rugby players?</p>