<p>So this weekend I am going on my 3rd OV (I have one more scheduled after, but I'm not really that interested in the school). I've visited this school lots of times and I am absolutely in love with all of it--with the atmosphere, culture, community (obviously athletics) and academic and social opportunities. I know that this is the school that I want to call home for the next 4 years. From what the coach has told me, they like me a lot. I know that I'm not THE top recruit looking at the school, but if I could, I'd still consider myself absolutely in striking distance of getting a spot. I've expressed my love for the school already to the coach and we've had very exciting talks about what I would contribute to the school if I were to go there. Essentially, I have made it clear that I'm not just interested in playing the sport at a prestigious school, but instead that I want to go to this school because I feel like I have a lot to contribute and I absolutely know that it is my top choice.</p>
<p>A few questions:</p>
<p>Will my perceived love for the school make a difference on the coach? (Like if I make it clear that it's the top choice and that I have no intentions of going elsewhere?)</p>
<p>Can I commit on the visit itself during my interview with the coaches? How do I bring it up? How does that process work?</p>
<p>If they make you an offer, you can commit - if you are financially ready! My daughter wanted to commit on her OV, but I hadn’t figured out the money yet. The coach did make an offer, and I had to tell her that we weren’t ready, that there was too big of a gap between the offer and my bank account. We were in a little bit of a shock because the coach had a figure for the merit money but it wasn’t what the NPC was giving me (turns out the admissions dept was using old test scores so offered a lower merit amount through the coach).</p>
<p>Once we had everything worked out, my daughter could commit. She was a little sad because she wasn’t the first to commit (and would have been if she’d done it on the OV), but in the end she is there, the awards were all straightened out, and all is well.</p>
<p>At some point during the visit, usually at the end, the coach will have a sit-down with you to gauge your interest and let you know where you stand, There’s a chance an offer will be made right there, there’s also a pretty good chance he’ll say “you’re in our top __, we have another group coming out next weekend and will have a better idea by such-and-such date”.</p>
<p>When my dd went on her OV, the coach did make an offer to her at the end of the weekend during “our meeting.” He basically would not let her commit right then and there and told her to go home and discuss everything with her parents and then get back to her. She was ready to commit during the meeting, but didn’t. She did call him back later than evening and told the coach this was where she wanted to be. Deal was done.</p>
<p>Curious if this is for D1 or D3. My child is being recruited for D3 schools, and has been offered OVs at quite a few. She only wants to take one or maybe two OVs, since the schools are all a long way from California where we live. </p>
<p>My daughter would love to “commit” to one school, but my understanding is that in D3, it’s still all about the admissions office, not the coach. So maybe she needs to take more OVs to keep as many doors open as long as possible?</p>
<p>Our nightmare is that she will commit to one school, apply ED, not get in, and then all the other schools will have moved on or the coaches will have no leverage with admissions anymore. Is this a realistic fear?</p>
<p>If you have already been on 2 OVs you should know a little about what to expect. Different coaches handle them different ways, some want a commitment at the time, others won’t take a commitment and want you to go back and talk to your parents and make sure its the right place for you. Not a big fan of those wanting a commitment at the time, kind of like a saleman who knows he has less of a chance closing the deal if you walk out of the store.</p>
<p>You sound really excited and you should be. I don’t want to put a damper on it but I would temper it some. I’m not saying play hard to get, but just take the experience all in and don’t give the impression you have already made your mind up. First, you may pick up on things (positive or negative) that you didn’t already know. And second, you don’t want the coach to think he has you in the bag - which could cause some coaches to offer less, play you along slower, etc. </p>
<p>As far as committing goes, that discussion (and offer) are really up to the coach. I wouldn’t bring it up. Every visit I took with my S and D ended with some kind of a wrap up by the coach. Most were a one on one sit down and an offer. Two visits ended with the coach telling us that he would talk to the other coaches and player hosts and would be in touch within 7-10 days with an offer. Both followed through and one ended up being the offer my D accepted. Point being there are many different ways different coaches handle things.</p>
<p>For D1 & DII (but not service academies or Ivy) it is all about the NLI. While an offer can be discussed at the close of an OV, the only thing that can be happen on the spot is for the athlete to give a verbal commit. An NLI cannot be signed with a coach present, and the NLI is the real binding commitment to the school. The NLI document also requires a parent signature, so there is really no way to commit without your parent’s knowledge regardless of how excited you are! However, if no athletic money is offered, there is no NLI. </p>
<p>Signing periods are usually well before admission notifications are sent out, but since not being admitted by the school is one of the few conditions that voids the NLI, it is unlikely that the coach will offer one if he/she is not sure you will get in. If you don’t sign anything, give a verbal commit to the school and don’t get in, you will be able to contact other schools later, but the situation will have changed. It is best to be up front with second and third choices in case things don’t work out the way you would like, it happens. </p>
<p>And ThankYouForHelp – your fear is justified, but our experience has been that if the coach wants you, admission deadlines are irrelevant. </p>
<p>I concur with varska about what could happen, especially if you are not at the top of their list. Wait until the coach sits down with you and gives you an indication of where you stand to express your strong interest. This is a two way street. It IS good to let them know how much you love the school, but that needs to be done at the right time and preferably in response to their wanting you back. My daughter went on an OV at an Ivy with a friend of hers. The friend happily exclaimed to the coach that she definitely wanted to attend, and was embarrassed when he did not return the same affection! She was not that strong athletically and by then he may have had better options, or he may not have liked what he saw on the visit. This doesn’t happen often, but sometimes the recruit doesn’t mesh well with the current team; the team members do have a small degree of input. </p>