<p>On sports related sites, they give a list of athletes who have made verbal comittment to a school. This includes 2010 &11's. It is my understanding that a school could not make a financial offer before end of Student;s Jr year (July)
What info are these athletes committing on? Can a coach say we are going to offer you a full ride, half ride whatever, but we can't do it officially until July? Do they imply it?" In the past we have a given a student like you 10,000 dollars in aid"
I can't see a student committing to a school unless they know for sure that some kind of aid will definitely be there, but according to my understanding of NCAA rulles, i do not understand how that message is being given out.</p>
<p>Great question. I’ve wondered that myself. A friend of my daughter’s committed at least 6 months ago and she’s only finishing up her junior year. Why would someone decide so early without waiting to see first what other opportunities present themselves? And even if the student is absolutely sure the college is her first choice, by commiting this early she effectively removes any motivation that said college would have had to woo her and give her a good package, right? After all, they’ve already snagged her.</p>
<p>These are generally athletes who know they will get a full ride. I know it is particularly common in gymnastics to verbal early. There are not that many DI schools (65 I think), and if you are good enough that a top school is going after you early, chances are other top schools are as well. It’s not like anything else would come along as most of the schools recruit quite early.</p>
<p>What you are saying is that Coaches are making offers to students before the end of their Jr. year?</p>
<p>In ice hockey, kids as young as freshmen in hs “verbally commit” to D1 colleges</p>
<p>I think what happens is the athlete goes on an “unofficial visit” to the school where it is legal to speak with the coaches. everyone knows (including the athlete) whether or not they have the ability to be on that school’s team. I am speaking strictly gymnastics here as that is where my experience lies. It is also no secret how many scholarships are for upcoming years. I don’t know the exact rules, but evidently you can verbal because it is quite common and not kept secret.</p>
<p>A ‘verbal commitment’ in actuality has no merit or value until somebody puts their John Hancock on a legit document. </p>
<p>That’s how I see it because I’ve heard of 8th graders who verbally commit and the schools without a doubt contact the kids illegally because that player may bring in publicity and money to the university during their time there. </p>
<p>Can’t coaches text players and not get into trouble for it? By verbally committing, nobody gets into trouble because verbal agreements are very easy to break.</p>
<p>while verbals are easy to break, it is unprofessional/unethical to do so, and is not the norm. Texting was a gray area/under the radar because it was a new technology; now it is specifically disallowed until the legal recruiting period for your specific sport and considered the same as a telephone call.</p>