Flippin' Switches?

[intelligenthoodlum]

Is it the IH, or does it seem like an inordinate number of 2012-, and 2013-class girls and their parents are committing to these major-D-1 schools early, out of fear that these scholarships ain't gonna be on the table next week, sports fans?
The IH wonders what this board's pundits, discriminating sports fans, and "to remain anonymous" college coaches think about what the IH feels is a disturbing phenomenon...

[intelligenthoodlum]

..., and most of these girls and parents have done nothing more than attend some individual or team camp, or do an unofficial visit when no real students, professors, or administrators were on campus during a school year...

[intelligenthoodlum]

Is this a disturbing and dangerous trend, sports fans; or is this nothing more than a sign of the times, and the current climate we now live in?

[CoachLewis]

With those early commitments...keep an eye on the already escalating number of transfers

[NC Ballin]

College? Or Players? The colleges offer early to a kid that's not at that level, because of hype. They get that player and she never gets to play as much as she thought? That coach may lose their job because they committed to a player that maybe they never should have offered in the first place, all because of fear, and pride. Fear on both ends scholarship not there later for the player so they except, or another college offers a player and college lose out on a player. PRIDE!!! Player X on my team or in my city went to ACC, so I need to go big too. Well player X maybe at that level, and the other player may not be at that level. Coach, players, moms and dads, it ok to go DII, DIII if that’s your level. Get the education and become productive citizens. Good rule to use: you’re a rising Sr. the summer before your Sr. year start whatever schools that are contacting you can give you a good idea of the level you are. If Big time DI schools are there you should look at that level, and If only DII are calling you should start to look at that level. Just one way to look at it, there are always exceptions to the rule. I’ll say this try and go to school that is the best FIT for you, and parents help your child decide not do it for them.

[intelligenthoodlum]

It really does blow the IH that these girls and parents are committing to the colleges off of:

no college visit to a high school open-gym these recruits' junior and senior years;

no home visit from a college coach these recruits' senior years;

no recruit or parent visits to three to five to ten colleges, WHILE SCHOOL IS IN SESSION--with students, and professors, and administrators, and football/basketball boys, and physical plant people around...

What fascinates the IH, discriminating sports fans, is that 2/3's of these early commits to major-D-1 could have been easily gotten by these colleges if the colleges would've waited another year, or two--AND these scholarships would've still been on the table if these girls had waited another year, or two...

[glenn]

Let's not forget colleges play a role by pressuring kids into commitments by saying, "well, we're looking at so-and-so, too."

[tinkb]

Is it the IH, or does it seem like an inordinate number of 2012-, and 2013-class girls and their parents are committing to these major-D-1 schools early, out of fear that these scholarships ain't gonna be on the table next week, sports fans?
The IH wonders what this board's pundits, discriminating sports fans, and "to remain anonymous" college coaches think about what the IH feels is a disturbing phenomenon...

OR... could it possibly be the rumors of the NCAA banning early verbals all together after January 1, 2011 because too many people have been whining?

[dtrain34]

A lot of it is the "dream school" syndrome, too. IH makes vital points about showing up for regular school days, meeting academic people, etc. How the "dream school" syndrome can kick in is if you live in the area, idolized the team growing, go to the games, watch on TV all the time, been to the camps. You -- parent and kid -- think you "know" the place as well as you need to when you don't.

Of course that doesn't apply to the seventh grade quarterback from the East Coast commiting to Southern Cal. Or a rising junior hoop player who has yet to set foot on the campus in question.

Additionally, It can almost be a relief to some parents if the "dream school" doesn't offer so the rising junior will finally agree to open her eyes to the other schools also still evaluating.

[ldlbfn]

lots of good thoughts. one I have, especially now with a stepdaughter being recruited for another sport, is official visits. Schools want commits early, but NCAA does not allow for official visits to be in the same timeframe. Can be expensive trying to check out schools when they are wanting commits before the school pays for the visit.

[CoachLewis]

Expensive yes...but an investment into getting it right...Don't let schools push you into their time frame...Take whatever time is necessary for her to be completely comfortable and well informed before making a decision...Schools pushing or playing hard ball with timelines do not have the athlete's best interests in mind...If they don't understand your desire to wait and take an official visit then schedule a visit with another school