HS Baseball Web    

 
Good Sport Gifts
Main Web Site    High School Baseball Web    High School Baseball Web  Hop To Forum Categories  General Items Forum    What is preferred walk on status?
Go
New
Find
Notify
Tools
Reply
  
What is preferred walk on status?
 Login/Join 
Member
Posted
Can this get you a baseball scholly?
 
Posts: 268 | Location: Midwest | Registered: March 19, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
HSBBWeb Old Timer
Picture of floridafan
Posted Hide Post
A player that is offered a "preferred walkon" means that there is no scholarship money available, but that the coach would like you to be part of the team. It usually indicated that you are expected to make the spring roster as well, although there are no guarantees.

It is possible that in your second year money may become available for you to be given a scholarship then.


Get a good pitch to hit!
 
Posts: 2949 | Location: Sunshine State | Registered: January 03, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
HSBBWeb Old Timer
Posted Hide Post
I think that a player who is being offered a "preferred walk-on" should question the coach closely to find out just what is meant. floridafan's description is reasonable, but there is no agreed upon definition of the term, and one coach's meaning may not be shared by others.
 
Posts: 1718 | Location: Belmont, CA | Registered: April 01, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
HSBBWeb Old Timer
Picture of justbaseball
Posted Hide Post
3FingeredGlove gives very good advice...as usual. Wink

As for "earning" scholarship money in Year-2 or -3? Possible, but from what I've seen, on average, you shouldn't count on it.
 
Posts: 5369 | Location: California | Registered: June 22, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Posted Hide Post
I've mentioned before on other posts that my nephew is a considered a "Preferred Walkon" for fall 2010 at a D1 school on the W. Coast of Florida.

He has been treated as a regular recruit from day one!. In their fall press release announcing the signing class, his name and bio was included. He was included in the recruiting weekend with all the other recruits and their parents. He was also told that if he plays they way they expect him to his freshmen year, that there will be $$$ for him his sophomore year.

For his family it is a win win situation. He wanted to play D1, the school is 2 hours from home, they have Fla Pre-paid had he qualified for Bright Futures Scholarship.

You have to go with your gut instincts, how much do you know about the coaching staff? What is the overall reputation of the program?

No one can tell my nephew that he was not recruited, they found him, wanted him and got him. Just like any other recruit.
 
Posts: 56 | Location: Miami | Registered: September 01, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
HSBBWeb Old Timer
Picture of CADad
Posted Hide Post
That's a little strange as I understood that D1 schools weren't allowed to announce signings unless there was a NLI for a scholarship. I could be wrong, wouldn't be the first time. Perhaps it has something to do with the "Bright Futures" money.
 
Posts: 6719 | Location: Southern CA, USA | Registered: January 02, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
HSBBWeb Old Timer
Picture of Holden Caulfield
Posted Hide Post
I would advise looking for press releases on who "signed" with a school the prior fall and then follow the rosters thereafter. You can also use PG's "committed" list and see if the players listed under a particular school ended up playing there. In fact, that might be a better source as the school's announcements would tend to cover only scholarship players whereas the PG list is compiled at least in part from information received from the player.


I'm not out of order! You're out of order! The whole freakin' system is out of order! You want the truth? You want the truth?! You can't HANDLE the truth!
 
Posts: 1581 | Location: Cambridge, MA | Registered: January 03, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Holden Caulfield:
I would advise looking for press releases on who "signed" with a school the prior fall and then follow the rosters thereafter. You can also use PG's "committed" list and see if the players listed under a particular school ended up playing there. In fact, that might be a better source as the school's announcements would tend to cover only scholarship players whereas the PG list is compiled at least in part from information received from the player.



Listed on PG since August as committed to FGCU and will appear on Fall roster
 
Posts: 56 | Location: Miami | Registered: September 01, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
HSBBWeb Old Timer
Picture of Infield08
Posted Hide Post
quote:
That's a little strange as I understood that D1 schools weren't allowed to announce signings unless there was a NLI for a scholarship.


That's my understanding as well.
 
Posts: 2978 | Location: San Antonio, TX | Registered: April 11, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
HSBBWeb Old Timer
Posted Hide Post
We discussed this about a year and a half ago.

Announcement without NLI?

The bottom line is that the college can announce without a NLI (after the early NLI date) provided the player has signed "an institution’s written offer of admission and/or financial aid". (13.10.2)

So a school could announce once a player has been admitted, and has provided a written committment to attend the school.
 
Posts: 1718 | Location: Belmont, CA | Registered: April 01, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by 3FingeredGlove:
We discussed this about a year and a half ago.

Announcement without NLI?

The bottom line is that the college can announce without a NLI (after the early NLI date) provided the player has signed "an institution’s written offer of admission and/or financial aid". (13.10.2)

So a school could announce once a player has been admitted, and has provided a written committment to attend the school.



Correct.. this was discussed back in November... btw, my nephew had already been admitted and registered
 
Posts: 56 | Location: Miami | Registered: September 01, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
HSBBWeb Old Timer
Picture of observer44
Posted Hide Post
.
We have had two "preferred walk on" years at DI and three at JC...

Would piggyback on most of what has been said...

The PWO process differs for every school. We have seen it play out many different ways. Some do their homework take a calculated risk, find real opportunity and make the most of that chance.

On the other hand, Some walk in completely blind and get lucky and it is all a dream come true. Others do NOT do their homework, find the situation much different than they thought, get dinged and then blame the program. Some are purposely or accidently misled…..having few rules, the murky world of PWO leaves lots/everything to interpretation. Some teams bring in 35 guys for 35 spots…some bring in 50-70. And the numbers alone are only part of what you need to know.

As many have said here, baseball $ can be a real measure of worth. Lack of money can, in many programs mean less commitment, you need to know how that work’s and what that means.

Bottom line....nail it all down as much as possible…assume nothing…If you are going to take this route you had better do your research and find out exactly where you stand and how that specific program handles PWO’s.

Some of the questions to ask...

Is this a guaranteed roster spot for the spring?

What is the fall try out process?

How many people returning? How many How many people in fall camp? Preferred walk ons? Walk ons?

How many at my position? With my role?

How many cuts? When? December so I might go elsewhere? Or February when my options are limited?

Have preferred walk ons been cut? How often? What about in their second year? Do preferred walk ons stick and how do they do?

Have preferred walk ons earned scholarships in your program? How often?

Have preferred walk ons earned significant playing time?

Why me? What need do you see me filling in the program? Where have you seen me? (meaning in part… do you really know me well enough to answer all the questions intelligently)

Cool 44
.
 
Posts: 2952 | Location: CA | Registered: May 15, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
HSBBWeb Old Timer
Posted Hide Post
Looking back my views on WO preferred or not has gotten stronger.
NOT a Chance.
4 years of college ball, degree in hand and no debt is priceless. Glad we held out for a scholarship. Preferred is a word used to talk a player into showing up with no money involved.
 
Posts: 6328 | Location: Canada | Registered: October 13, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
HSBBWeb Old Timer
Picture of justbaseball
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:
Looking back my views on WO preferred or not has gotten stronger.
NOT a Chance.
4 years of college ball, degree in hand and no debt is priceless. Glad we held out for a scholarship. Preferred is a word used to talk a player into showing up with no money involved.


So its all about the money?

There are many things to think about here. We consistently preach on here to make the college itself a big part of your decision. There are some colleges in which I'd be willing to spend my money on in order for my son (or daughter) to get the best possible education for their situation. It might be due to the academic reputation of the school, a unique program (e.g. architecture, performing arts, etc...) in which my son/daughter has a keen talent and interest, it might be based on location...or it might even be based on the best dang baseball program around (for him) and one in which I was confident he would flourish.

There used to be a well-respected poster on here...not sure where he's gone(?)...whose son took either nothing or almost nothing to attend what many would consider a "dream school." I know from talking with his father that is was this young player's dream school...he hopes to coach there someday. Good academics, good location, good coaching, good baseball. By the time that young man left the program (4 years later), he had played in three College World Series, graduated, upped his scholarship, become the Friday pitcher and was given the highest praise any of us could imagine for our sons by the coach.

Does he have any debt? I have no idea. But I am quite certain he has no regrets.

To me, its like anything else...there are some things you're willing to pay for, some thing you're willing to pay more for...and some that need to be free (or nearly free) before you'll take 'em. Figure out where a given school fits in those categories and you'll have a good part of your answer.
 
Posts: 5369 | Location: California | Registered: June 22, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by observer44:
.
We have had two "preferred walk on" years at DI and three at JC...

Would piggyback on most of what has been said...

The PWO process differs for every school. We have seen it play out many different ways. Some do their homework take a calculated risk, find real opportunity and make the most of that chance.

On the other hand, Some walk in completely blind and get lucky and it is all a dream come true. Others do NOT do their homework, find the situation much different than they thought, get dinged and then blame the program. Some are purposely or accidently misled…..having few rules, the murky world of PWO leaves lots/everything to interpretation. Some teams bring in 35 guys for 35 spots…some bring in 50-70. And the numbers alone are only part of what you need to know.

As many have said here, baseball $ can be a real measure of worth. Lack of money can, in many programs mean less commitment, you need to know how that work’s and what that means.

Bottom line....nail it all down as much as possible…assume nothing…If you are going to take this route you had better do your research and find out exactly where you stand and how that specific program handles PWO’s.

Some of the questions to ask...

Is this a guaranteed roster spot for the spring?

What is the fall try out process?

How many people returning? How many How many people in fall camp? Preferred walk ons? Walk ons?

How many at my position? With my role?

How many cuts? When? December so I might go elsewhere? Or February when my options are limited?

Have preferred walk ons been cut? How often? What about in their second year? Do preferred walk ons stick and how do they do?

Have preferred walk ons earned scholarships in your program? How often?

Have preferred walk ons earned significant playing time?

Why me? What need do you see me filling in the program? Where have you seen me? (meaning in part… do you really know me well enough to answer all the questions intelligently)

Cool 44
.


Excellent post and in our case all of the above were asked over and over again before the decision was made. Both the Coach and school have a great reputation. The reception and attention my nephew has been given is exactly the same (if not more) than scholarship recipients.

Not necessarily the case of a teammate who is walking on at a big ACC school where he was told he could come out in the fall and "see what happens". Was told "no promises". No way my nephew would have gone that route,the cost of tuition alone is $37K and even with a 50% academic scholly x's fours years.... At some point the kids have to learn that their dream might not be able to come true or it has to be altered. Mine did.
 
Posts: 56 | Location: Miami | Registered: September 01, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
HSBBWeb Old Timer
Posted Hide Post
JB it is always about money. He also got the great experience and loved all 4 years in one of the great cities. He is coming home to start a job with the Toronto Blue Jays organization after turning down 3 Fortune 500 job offers. He just spent last year selling computers in Wilmington NC and was so successful the company was willing to spend the money to get him a green card. Their Lawyer said it would cost $12,000.
I am not real happy he is taking the Blue Jay job but it is his life.
Dream school means zip to me. You can go to a dream school and have a nightmare.
 
Posts: 6328 | Location: Canada | Registered: October 13, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
HSBBWeb Old Timer
Picture of CollegeParentNoMore
Posted Hide Post
In terms of a "preferred walk on" you are in a favorable position if the coaches have come out to see you play and have followed you. Preferred walkons that haven't been "scouted" run the risk of never really getting the same chance to play or make the team as a "recruited/scouted" player.
i.e. When the coach is working out live hitting schedules in the fall, which players get the opportunity to hit against the good pitchers? Which guys are scheduled against the walkons? Which session is the HC taking the time to watch....

If you are serious about playing baseball and all you have are walkon offer(s) seriously consider your other options (JC, D2.....). Often times you can transfer to that dream school from a JC.
 
Posts: 884 | Location: Northern California | Registered: August 04, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
HSBBWeb Old Timer
Picture of justbaseball
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:
JB it is always about money.


Got it! Glad we've established that in your case for future reference. Wink
 
Posts: 5369 | Location: California | Registered: June 22, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
HSBBWeb Old Timer
Picture of CADad
Posted Hide Post
Just don't assume that you've got a position locked up by heading to a JC. There can be a big difference between being a proven D1 player who drops down to play a year at a JC and a player who would be a "preferred walk-on" at a D1 who heads for a JC instead.
 
Posts: 6719 | Location: Southern CA, USA | Registered: January 02, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
  Powered by Social Strata  
 

Main Web Site    High School Baseball Web    High School Baseball Web  Hop To Forum Categories  General Items Forum    What is preferred walk on status?

Copyright 1998-2008 High School Baseball Web