HaverSon took this route. As ED lists are relatively short, such invitations are at a bit of a premium, don't include all baseball recruits and clearly indicate heightened interest/expectations.

Some colleges have Early Acceptance. This is different from Early Decision. Early Acceptance does not have the "finality" of Early Decision. It gives your son a chance to see what academic aid he might be receiving at the college early on and might make the baseball decision more informed from the money point of view.

TW344

Our experience:

ED is definitely non-binding. We're on school #3

"You can make an immediate impact" means a lot of things, especially for a catcher. For example, you can make an "immediate impact" by catching endless bullpens so that the starter doesn't have to.

Having said that, it sounds like your son has a terrific opportunity. Good luck to him!

HoldenCaulfied,

You have a PM.

When looking at fit look at the whole picture and not just the coach.

Son and a number of local kids committed early last year and heard all the same comments. During this past summer coach(s) leaves for a bigger more prstegious program. This was at 2 different schools. While the coach is a plus make sure that you would select the university if the coach wasn't there when you show up.

quote:

Originally posted by home builder:
During this past summer coach(s) leaves for a bigger more prstegious program.

During one of our visits, Coach stated that he and his wife (also an employee of the college) had just finished building a new home 10 minutes from the campus. We figure that's probably good for 4-5 years anyway.

HomeBuilder - That's very good advice. The school my son originally committed to in HS didn't give him the best offer and the school was facing some accreditation issues. Son went ahead and signed because of the awesome coach there. Well, guess what?!?! Yeah, he left the end of July before son was to start. With his leaving, son decided that the other factors were just too big to stay there.

Like most other things in life, there are no guarantees. It's ALWAYS a possibility that the coach may leave at any time.

I pretty much think all recruiting is "buyer beware". Your son, ultimately has to make the decision, and live with it. It has to be the "best fit" for him. What exactly does that mean? Academically will he succeed? Does he have a chance to compete for playing time as a freshman? etc. These are questions he will have to answer, and not the parents. It doesn't mean necessarily the most scholly dollars, or Top-25 program, but what is the best fit for your son! I think every coach would tell a potential recruit "that he has a chance to be an impact player, and move right in for a job". Hence the term recruiting! If he was to tell you, "I have 25 returning juniors, and there is absolutely no chance you will play as a freshman or soph, how many would come to his school? Be realistic, they are selling their program, and you are buying. So again, it is buyer beware. It is ultimately your son's decision. Our son last year was recruited by many of the Top schools in the nation, and he signed a letter of intent with one particular school. During our recruiting trip, the Coach answered my question, looked me right in the eye and said, he loved the college and was not going anywhere. It was important to us, because we feel it is a committment between both the player and coach. Well following the off-season, coach left and was hired by another program. That is no way to run an airline! Just my opinion.