Today's Recruiting

College coaches are beginning their recruiting process earlier than previous years. Many baseball players are verballing their freshman and sophomore years versus their senior years due to increased levels of competition across the playing field. By the time you have reached your senior year in high school, colleges have reserved spots on the roster for the next two years.

College coaches have short periods of time to recruit their athletes. This is known as the contact or evaluation period. These are the times you want to be in front of college coaches displaying your talents.

Things To Consider

According to ncaa.org, only 7% of high school baseball players will move from high school to college. It is imperative for young baseball players to develop a strong work ethic early in their careers. By developing these habits they are not only prepared for baseball for the real world as well.

National Letter of Intent

A National Letter of Intent is an official document indicating a student-athlete's decision to attend a Division I or II College for the purpose of participating in the school's athletics program. The agreement is valid for one academic year, provided that the student is admitted to the school. This program is under the direction of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Eligibility Center. 

Although signing a National Letter of Intent is voluntary, many students choose to sign the letter as a ceremonial gesture. Because other schools are not allowed to contact student-athletes who have signed their National Letter of Intent, the official signing of this document effectively concludes the recruitment of the athlete. 

Individual sports designate specific days as the official signing day for the athletes to commit to participation at a school. If the student-athlete changes their mind after signing their letter, they will need to request a release from the obligation in order to attend a different school. Without an appeal, they may lose one full year of eligibility. 

Division III schools are not allowed to use National Letter of Intents as part of the recruiting process.

Recruiting Terms

There is a myriad of sports scholarship terms used to describe the courtship of a college recruit to play college sports. Although the terms used to describe playing collegiate level sports are often used interchangeably, they actually have distinct meanings. 

A contact is when a coach or administrator reaches out officially to meet with a prospective student-athlete in an off-campus meeting.

When the coach or recruiter observes the athlete in competition or in a practice situation, it is called an evaluation.

A verbal commitment is when the student-athlete informs the coaching staff of a school that they intend to play college sports with them. This commitment is not binding, as it precedes the official National Letter of Intent. A verbal commitment often happens before the student-athlete is eligible to sign the official letter and it signifies that they want a sports scholarship offer from that college. 

Playing collegiate level sports is an immense commitment. When the college recruit wants to make their commitment to a Division I or II school official and binding, they sign the National Letter of Intent. This contract is good for one academic year. 

Official And Unofficial Campus Visits by Student Athletes

The official college campus visit is an integral part of the recruiting process. An official campus visit is defined as a trip in which a student-athlete tours a prospective school. During an official visit, the school is allowed to pay for the lodging, transportation, entertainment, and three meals per day for the student-athlete and their parents or guardians. A student-athlete can make up to five total official visits to Division I schools but only one to each location. During these trips, the student-athlete may be able to attend a game or practice, tour campus housing facilities, and meet with academic advisors about majors. 

A student-athlete can participate in an unlimited amount of unofficial visits. However, during these visits, the only thing that the school can pay for or provide is up to three tickets to a home athletics event.

Financial Aid Options

Not all scholarships are created equal. A full-ride scholarship will cover all of your tuition, fees, and room and board, while partial athletic scholarships will only cover part of the total cost of attending school. While a partial ride is still an amazing accomplishment and a significant amount of money, you are going to need to come up with the funds to make up the difference. Here are five primary ways that you can help to bridge the gap: