I was on an AAU team website the other day and there was an announcement about a former player signing to play baseball at a university. The article even went on the say the % of money the player would receive. It also listed other universities that made offers and the % of money offered. I was suprised that this player revealed this information. When my son received offers the coaches consistently requested that the scholarship offer amount was between the school and our family. I thought this was a common practice? What have other experience?

TooOTwo - I agree with you. To me, its a private matter whether the coach asked me to keep it quiet or not. Wouldn't want my salary posted on the internet or shared with my neighbors - why would I want scholarship information public?

I have been told by college coaches (who have offered kids essentially nothing) that they don't care what the players tell people in terms of the offer. To each his own.

It is a personal thing IMO. Years ago when I first started playing, management said to not tell anyone what your bonus was. There reason was that they did not want players to start comparing bonus money. Today, you can just look at Baseball America and find out what a kid signed for. The college coaches are trying to do the same thing......they don't want players to compare scholarship amounts. If your guy signs for a 40% ride and is an everyday player, he will be hot if he finds out that a teammate got 80% and is warming the pine.

I also agree. As discussed many times on this site, there are many factors that go into choosing a school. % of scholaship plays into just a part of it and should be kept confidential. Also 50% at a Private school that cost $36k a year to go to is a lot different than 20% at a state school that cost $12k a year. My son had a very nice offer at a school that he did not choose, but they did not have his major so it was irrelevant.

On a related subject.....we just received a 'Tax Document' delineating the tuition amount and (separately) the (labeled) scholarship/grant amount from my son's school. It never occurred to me that any of this 'benefit' would be taxable. Anyone have experience with this?

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From 'Nice Guys Finish Last' by Leo Durocher:

Baseball lives at the center of a never-flagging whirl of irreconcilable opinions.

Orlando,

My understanding:

Generally speaking - to the extent that the scholarship is for tuition,fees and books - it is excludable from Federal income. (i.e it qualifies for the "scholarship/fellowship" exclusion.)

To the extent it is for room, board or travel - it is included in Federal income.

IRS Publications 920 (Tax Benefits for Education)and IRS Publication 4 (Students Guide to Federal Income Tax) address this in excruciating detail.

Hope this helps.

its,

Thanks, that was just what I needed to know.

So....there really is no such thing as a free lunch, eh?

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From 'Nice Guys Finish Last' by Leo Durocher:

Baseball lives at the center of a never-flagging whirl of irreconcilable opinions.

Unlike what happens sometimes on the baseball field, The IRS usually pretty good about covering all the bases.

I personally think it isn't anyone's business except the school,coach, and baseball players family. It should be private and stay private. All parties concerned should have a gag order on them. I also don't think you should scholarship offers against schools to hopefully drive up the offer. Just get all the offers, and weigh which one is best for you and your family.

one more thing, when they publish major league baseball players salaries i don't think it is anyone's business, except the player, team, and mlb. what a person makes really isn't indicative of his value to the team, look at manny ramirez.

Orlando ...

As I understand it, the "exclusion" is tough to qualify for. The scholarship money is NOT reported to the IRS ... even tho it may be taxable. Also, as we have applied in the past, anything in excess of the fees (tuition etc) and books was taxable.

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