@Jethro11 That’s a great position to be in. I’m always a fan of taking the visits and then deciding. But knowing that at least one coach is willing to support the application should help reduce anxiety during the other visits.
Yes, but the coach who said ‘we can wrap this up now’ may want an answer before Sept/Oct, IME many coaches will give only a certain amount of time for a decision (because they will risk losing other recruits)…this is a common situation and the recruit may be faced with letting an offer go from a school down the list, yet not having another offer in hand.
@Jethro11 , congrats. Don’t be shy after the OV’s to get a “commitment” from the coach and to get his/her probability of success. Don’t assume anything. There is a lot of musical chairs in the early fall.
Agree with @Mwfan1921, you need to be clear with the other coach on the time you have. Usually, they will hold spots longer for top recruits, especially A Band (likely more slots to play around with there and perhaps some more negotiating room with the AO).
You guys are both correct imo - definitely feel there is a shelf life to offer, and that this coach goes through positive pre reads and tries to get several commits immediately. I’ve also been told by my kid’s club/travel coach - who knows 2 of the three college coaches well - that coach who typically offers in fall will 100% accelerate process if he finds out other school is offering now. And often turns a lukewarm recruit into a hot one since schools are huge rivals. Not our style however to basically use one offer to obtain another, especially since coaches have all acted above board to date.
@Mwfan1921 @circuitrider thank you!
@Jethro11 I hope coaches would agree and wait for all OVs are done before asking recruits to make any decisions.
No one is suggesting you play coaches off each other, BUT if your kid would take the first offer from the school lower on the list IF no other offers materialized, then it is appropriate to tell the other coach(es) that you received an offer. Then the coaches that haven’t offered yet can decide what to do. This is all common, happens every year.
It would be playing the coaches if your kid would never consider taking the first offer from the school lower on the list…and IF that is the case, cut that coach loose sooner rather than later so they can move on to the next recruit…it is common courtesy.
Although in many sports/conferences coaches do talk, they have to be careful about these communications. Many NESCAC coaches/sports don’t even offer OVs, so there is no consideration like this that I know of, certainly not any formal agreement…again it is appropriate to tell other coaches if and when there is a legitimate offer on the table. Kids have already started committing and it will go until Nov 15 ED application deadline…at which point all spots still won’t be spoken for and those will go RD.
You also have to make a decision on whether you (recruit) are willing to ED to the school. Many coaches want that commitment.
Great insight and advice. Club coach said often college coach would rather use a tip and have kid sit on bench than pass and have kid competing against him for 4 years. So good amt of jockeying - and each of three has asked him where respective school falls in his ranking. Not sure how to answer that at this stage of the game lol
And how would your child feel about sitting on the bench for 4 years just so that coach can ‘win’ a recruit from another school?
It’s hyperbole - not meant to be taken literally, as you did. Sure every kid on the team has an equal opportunity to crack the lineup. No need to make sure scholarship kids are starting, which is often an issue in D1
Being upfront is usually the best policy. We told all the coaches that had offered OV’s that their schools were being seriously considered but that he had “X” OV’s still scheduled. He had it narrowed down to 6 schools with 5 OV’s. He did not say which other schools he was considering, but the coaches had a pretty good idea based on who were pursuing him at the camps. He finished all his OV’s by early Oct and made his decision within a couple of days and called each coach with his decision. A couple called him back mid December after EA announcements of the school he applied to to see where he was. I think being upfront and making a decision quickly left a good impression and no hard feelings with anyone. In your case, I think telling the coaches that your son is down to his final three, without necessarily ranking them, would give the coaches the info they can reasonably expect at this time.
No, but playing and not sitting on the bench was more important to my daughter than going to a higher ranked school, or even a higher ranked team. She wanted to play, so took the spot on the team that would let her do that.= (and at the school she really liked).
I don’t agree that D1 scholarship players always get to play over a walk on or someone with a smaller scholarship. That money has been spent, so the coach can only look forward and put the best team on the field.
tough thing to gauge is how messaging that school is not #1 on a list will impact coach’s interest, and ultimately support. These guys want - and need to a certain extent - to focus their energies on kids who will likely apply ED. As so often is advised on CC, cast a wide net as things are fluid essentially until kid receives acceptance. And providing a vague non committal answer to “where do we fall on your list” could potentially be a death knell. They want to hear #1 unless kid is a complete stud and coach is willing to ride out process. Coaches move on quickly, often to the surprise of many kids. It’s nice being courted, but decisions have to eventually be made…
The reason some NESCAC coaches may wait until Labor Day or later to make “offers” is that they might be waiting on some recruits waiting to hear back from Ivy League school coaches making their final list. Track recruits at the Ivy’s are usually told by early Sept to get their apps in for academic review so they can get likely letters in Oct.
If the recruit isn’t being pursued by the Ivy coach late in the summer they may choose to look at Nescac schools.
So @Jethro11 just a word of caution; when a coach says they can wrap things up now they are looking to secure you as a recruit right now and finalize their recruiting plans. If you decide not to accept their offer to wrap things up now, there should be no expectation that the coach will still have the spot for you on the Nov 1 ED deadline. They might move on and fill your “slot” with someone ready to commit. There are only so many slots to go around.
If you pass pre-read and receive an offer from the coach (which typically occurs in Aug), you are basically in. And in fact, the coach will likely push you to apply ED. Best of luck.
We had a NESCAC coach specifically tell us they do not make their final list until the Ivies have finalized theirs.
My Ds experience was a game of musical chairs from her #1 D3 choice. She got a positive preread from several schools (including #1) over the summer. Come Sept. her #1 is giving her full support. End of Sept, #1 says D is no longer on list and she is not sure she can support her app. D really wanted this school and coach. She was in contact weekly with same results, until mid Oct when she got full support from coach. At that point, other coaches told her if you do not get in and we still have spots, we will support you ED2. She got in her 1st choice, but coach is trying to get best possible players and everything is in motion til it isn’t. Made me very anxious.
@mamom What your D (and you) experienced sounds tortuous and I wish you nothing but smooth sailing with her college athletically and academically.
Congratulations on step #1. A pre read at NESCAC does not mean the coach is using a chit on you however. You need to ask “Will you fully support my application with Admissions ED”. If they hedge, you are not being actively recruited. Ask.
And yes NESCAC schools follow band system but you may never k ow what band you are in or how many chits your coach has or is using. It can all work out. But they cannot say “ you are guaranteed acceptance”. I have seen it backfire once for another athlete.
Just went through this with my D; pre-read was positive, Coach committed support, and she was accepted ED1 into NESCAC school. Overnight recruiting visit helped make decision. Other coaches from other leagues used stronger language in making offers/commitments but all NESCAC coaches were very transparent.