Verbals

[AlwaysImprove]

As for scholarships being reduced, they've always been renewable on a yearly basis. Some coaches have reputations for reducing based on performance, and others not so much. Good question for the coach during recruiting: "Under what circumstances have you reduced scholarship offers?" But this is likely true for all sports.

Back to the OP ... Right. We don't live in a cave. Issues should be discussed. My apologies. I was just confused as to why there is a perceived problem with honoring verbals when there's no evidence of it.

As far as data, coaches often ask to keep specifics private, so as not to cause issues with other teammates. Doubtful you'll get the stats you're requesting. Other than everyone on HB saying they've never had a problem nor do they know anyone who has.

Yes, verbals are unfortunately occurring earlier. Most of us agree...it's not good. But it's reality for the big schools. Still no evidence of them being honored any differently.

Anon and Always state that IF it doesn't work out, players are screwed. Fair enough. But it IS working out! I suppose you could play the "What If" game about anything.

My concern is that verbals have now pushed forward past some key development that kid really needs to go through before making this type of a decision.

My kid at 14 was my kid, she really lived to do anything with the family. Now at 17 she is a very different person. I look at some of the early stuff we easily considered, and would have been a horrible fit when we got to 18.

I know of one girl that verballed early sophmore year to a school that is not friendly towards same sex view of relationships. Well guess what by Senior year, she was definitely hanging with a crowd that was way more open to that view. I know she felt very pressured to sign something she was committed to by her parents as a sophomore.

I think schools can and will be able to sustain their side of the agreement. Seems wholly unrealistic for a kid to keep 'their' end of the agreement.

The last 6-8 month push forward is to far forward, and that will greatly increase these types of issues.

[watchtonsofsoftball]

I think for the most part you see kids excited about verballing early whether freshman/soph/junior. I think thats why you dont see to many decommits. The kids verballing freshman/sophomore, my guess is they are getting great offers that they probably couldnt afford otherwise. It makes the decision a whole lot easier for everyone. I doubt kids are accepting offers of 65% and below their freshman/sophomore year. With most colleges you can find a group or movement you can be a part of. Part of the college experience. As far as communities and schools, just stay away from the south. They're weird

[Fredegar]

Anon: I'm not saying no one has ever gotten screwed. Just saying that verbals have shown to work for the vast majority of HB members and the vast majority of people they know. Unfortunately, the vocal shiny happy people on HB are the only data points we have.

Sure there's mention of isolated incidents, but they're rare and at times, due to the player, as opposed to the school simply choosing not to honoring the verbal.

Always: I think we all share your concern about verbals occurring too early for many young kids to make informed decisions. But that wasn't what the OP was asking. OP was asking the situation "now", and all empirical evidence points to verbals being honored at a very high percentage.

But yes, this could potentially evolve into more of an issue as verbals occur earlier and earlier.

[UMassFan]

The instances where verbals change for one reason or another are definitely an exception not a rule. I have been compiling the list of verbals here http://robocoach.websitetoolbox.com/pos ... am-2772456 for a few years now and out of the hundreds of commitments each year, I'd venture to guess I've only had to change 10-20 of them at most per year

[AM Softball]

Should the NCAA prohibit verbals. or at least put more restrictions on them?

YESSSSSS!

[Fredegar]

Should the NCAA prohibit verbals. or at least put more restrictions on them?

YESSSSSS!

Given the official NCAA signing period, it seems short-sighted to wish for verbals being prohibited or limited. Verbals have helped countless student-athletes. No one is saying the current trend of early verbals is ideal. But do you really want to begrudge those students who are benefitting?

[jonriv]

Should the NCAA prohibit verbals. or at least put more restrictions on them?

YESSSSSS!

Given the official NCAA signing period, it seems short-sighted to wish for verbals being prohibited or limited. Verbals have helped countless student-athletes. No one is saying the current trend of early verbals is ideal. But do you really want to begrudge those students who are benefitting?

No one begrudges them- I just think there is a concern that some may be taken advantage of and forced to make a decision too early. The concern is that as the verbals get earlier and earlier, the greater the time span from verbal to NLI and therefore a greater chance of something happening. The NCAA discussed setting up rules, but decided it was too difficult to enforce. I fully agree that with the limited information we have, there does not seem to be a problem, but I do think that it should be watched. Other sports(not just football and basketball) have started to see some issues arise. It is just proper due diligence to be aware.

[Fredegar]

Sorry, but when people are saying "YESSSS" when asked if verbals should be prohibited, there's some begruding going on.

It's just confusing to hear you say that people are being "taken advantage of". Seriously? Most of the early verbals (frosh-junior) are for 50-100% over a 4-5 year span. Over $100,000 in scholarship money per student. If anyone's "taking advantage of the system", it's our student-athletes! No one is "forced to make decisions" as you suggest. If you're not comfortable, wait for the right school and the right time. If you're serious about the sport, there's almost always a fit somewhere.

To be clear, I'm not suggesting sticking my head in the sand pretending there isn't a serious downside to early verbals. As you said, it's an issue that should be watched. Fair enough. But the overwhelming answer to your original question is: Honoring verbals does NOT seem to be an issue at this time. Whereas "prohibiting them" could severely impact many high school hopefuls looking to get recruited.

[jonriv]

IMO the NCAA should put the whole verbal thing above board. By "not recognizing" that verbals exist it makes the NCAA look like they have their head in the sand. From the few court cases out there, the NCAA may not recognize them, but the law sees them as verbal contracts. If nothing else- the NCAA should make a blanket statement- Schools that make a verbal offer better honor it. They won't, since the recruiting process and rules are designed to protect competitiveness among schools, not to protect the student/athlete.

[AlwaysImprove]

Certainly some kids are benefiting from early verbals, my kid was one of them.

Still, watching my daughters class as the recruiting played out in knows about 50% of those that committed during her sophmore year would do things differently by thier senior year. While they are not fully screwed as some I have described, they are now locked into a decision that sucks for them.

MHO , NCAA should create an early nli opportunity around January of the junior year and get rid of early verbals.

To me sophmore year commits are too early. While they provide those few kids a chance to lock in their plans, moving them out to jan of their junior year would not hurt anything, it's not like the money just disappears. This would get the kid out of her 14u season, where many players decide the sport is not for them. It gets the kid to an age when they are making a lot more if their own decisions. It also gets the kid to an age where they will be on a 16u team or 18g team and around kids and other families that understand recruiting.

In the meantime, I would encourage parents to take a step back. If you are talking to a college in your daughters sophomore year, make sure you understand your kid, allow them to grow up and participate in this decision. Yes, there are a few select young women, that are way more mature, and ready to make this decision, but that kid is rare. Ignore the pressure from the college coach and the select coach and do what is right for your kid. The money will be there long term.