Be Careful When Signing

[schoolcomesfirst]

READ before you sign
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/ ... f6878.html

[overath]

too many prestige-seeking parents and players are making big mistake by committing too soon!

[practicehard]

too many prestige-seeking parents and players are making big mistake by committing too soon!

You are EXACTLY right !!!!!

[minime]

too many prestige-seeking parents and players are making big mistake by committing too soon!

How true. I learned the hard way the first time. Second boy waited until after the winter of his Senior year and was a much better experience maybe because of the two different schools, coaches involved was the main reason but yes be very carful. Most... not all will say anything to get your son or daughter to go to their school then when they are there things they said seem to change big time.

[give and go]

in some sports like basketball and football, the high school star player is hounded so much by many recruiters that it becomes a distraction, thus signing early is a good thing. soccer rarely sees that scenario to that extent. IMO

[in the air]

too many prestige-seeking parents and players are making big mistake by committing too soon!

How true. I learned the hard way the first time. Second boy waited until after the winter of his Senior year and was a much better experience maybe because of the two different schools, coaches involved was the main reason but yes be very carful. Most... not all will say anything to get your son or daughter to go to their school then when they are there things they said seem to change big time.

Talk to players and parents in the program already. This is a big help. If there are unhappy parents and players then beware. We had this at one of the schools my daughter was looking at.

[Huskies]

Yes, you need to talk to the players and ask them how the soccer program is. I'm not sure the parents will really know the answer to that though. Many coaches will say anything you want to hear just to get you to sign. Sad but true!

[in the air]

Yes, you need to talk to the players and ask them how the soccer program is. I'm not sure the parents will really know the answer to that though. Many coaches will say anything you want to hear just to get you to sign. Sad but true!

The parents gave feedback on the process and if the numbers are real, any suprises and things like that.

[tv4]

Every program will have players and parents who are unhappy. There's always someone who thinks they or their kid should play more, be getting more money, etc. whkle its good to talk with them, try to find out their.situation. If its the parent of a kid who plays all the team I'd take more stock in that.

[Sneauman]

making big mistake by committing too soon!

Your committing not signing, you can still research the program and change your mind, and you have peace of mind knowing you have a backup plan.
Essentially it is your 1st job and 1st step into adult life. I would say a very large percentage of college players are not happy with their deal in some way be it teammates, playing time, coaches, promises not kept, or just plain dealing with the added responsibility of being away from home. I remember thinking that doing my own laundry was cruel and unusual punishment until I had to wear shorts and a T-shirt to classes on a cold day because everything else was dirty.

[overath]

public knowledge of committment shuts out other possible options and possible recruiting efforts made from other schools become nullified...there is no peace of mind; just a false sense of security!

[Sneauman]

We have been to 4 college showcases, the 4 kids they were looking at the most have all committed, none of them filled out their profile as a committed player(2 didn't care, 2 intentionally) and they got a lot of interest even after telling them they committed, if your good you have the hammer not them, you just have to use it.

[overath]

in a world of instant social media messaging profile relevance is limited in scope...

[madetheswitch]

public knowledge of committment shuts out other possible options and possible recruiting efforts made from other schools become nullified...there is no peace of mind; just a false sense of security!

I would not agree with that. Other schools still contact and probe. That verbal is nothing these days!!!

[keepersrule]

haven't been on in a while, but definitely glad i checked back in! my son (a senior) and i are going thru the recruiting process with some limited success. we've contacted coaches at as many as 10-12 schools that he's expressed interest in based on his anticipated major. a couple of the coaches have returned e-mails suggesting that they don't need a player at his position for next year, and thanks to them for not further wasting either of our time. some have not replied at all, so we're taking that to mean that they really aren't interested either. and the other 2-3 that we have had continued correspondence with have suggested that they are interested, but would like to get another look this spring after we've completed and filed all the admissions stuff (application, FAFSA, ACT, transcript,.....) before they'll talk $. we've completed all of this, and are hopeful that it will ultimately bear some fruit.

i certainly don't consider myself a pie-in-the-sky parent, as we've focused on D2 schools and below, but i have become a bit concerned that in waiting until later this spring, that by then all of the program $ will have been committed, leaving us holding the bag, and having him try to walk on and earn something for next year.

anyone have any further thoughts on this?