Another DIII recruiting question

[Anonymous]

What determines how many 'supported admissions slots' are given to a DIII coach? In other words, how is it determined how many athletes Admissions lets the coach give 'hard support' to? Does it change evey year or is it set in stone? Can a coach lobby for an 'extra' spot if s/he feels it's needed?

[Anonymous]

It varies by school, but on average, each sport gets 2 "slots." A D3 school with football would get around 14 slots for that sport. Assuming 23 total sports across women and men - plus football for men - you're talking about 58 total admissions slots, which are pretty firm admissions support.

The process is fluid, and I think coaches can exchange slots. Again, each school and/or conference ( i.e. NESCAC) has its own slot determination/ distribution methodology.

D3 coaches will use the slots for recruited athletes they REALLY want. Other recruits will get "soft" admissions support or "tips." Nothing is guaranteed since admissions make the final call, but if the coach is reputable in what he/she is telling the recruit, you can almost take a slot to the bank. Tips have no admissions advantage. There are more recruits than slots, so there will be some management by the coaches there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It varies by school, but on average, each sport gets 2 "slots." A D3 school with football would get around 14 slots for that sport. Assuming 23 total sports across women and men - plus football for men - you're talking about 58 total admissions slots, which are pretty firm admissions support.

The process is fluid, and I think coaches can exchange slots. Again, each school and/or conference ( i.e. NESCAC) has its own slot determination/ distribution methodology.

D3 coaches will use the slots for recruited athletes they REALLY want. Other recruits will get "soft" admissions support or "tips." Nothing is guaranteed since admissions make the final call, but if the coach is reputable in what he/she is telling the recruit, you can almost take a slot to the bank. Tips have no admissions advantage. There are more recruits than slots, so there will be some management by the coaches there.

Thank you for this explanation. Is 'soft admissions support' and 'tips' the same?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What determines how many 'supported admissions slots' are given to a DIII coach? In other words, how is it determined how many athletes Admissions lets the coach give 'hard support' to? Does it change evey year or is it set in stone? Can a coach lobby for an 'extra' spot if s/he feels it's needed?

My understanding: current and upcoming position vacancies. If your DC is a goalie and the team has a senior and a junior in that spot, then the coach, if they like your DC and see them as a fit, may use that slot. But if the goalie is a junior and there is also a freshmen goalie on the bench, then probably not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It varies by school, but on average, each sport gets 2 "slots." A D3 school with football would get around 14 slots for that sport. Assuming 23 total sports across women and men - plus football for men - you're talking about 58 total admissions slots, which are pretty firm admissions support.

The process is fluid, and I think coaches can exchange slots. Again, each school and/or conference ( i.e. NESCAC) has its own slot determination/ distribution methodology.

D3 coaches will use the slots for recruited athletes they REALLY want. Other recruits will get "soft" admissions support or "tips." Nothing is guaranteed since admissions make the final call, but if the coach is reputable in what he/she is telling the recruit, you can almost take a slot to the bank. Tips have no admissions advantage. There are more recruits than slots, so there will be some management by the coaches there.

Thank you for this explanation. Is 'soft admissions support' and 'tips' the same?

You're welcome.

Yes they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It varies by school, but on average, each sport gets 2 "slots." A D3 school with football would get around 14 slots for that sport. Assuming 23 total sports across women and men - plus football for men - you're talking about 58 total admissions slots, which are pretty firm admissions support.

The process is fluid, and I think coaches can exchange slots. Again, each school and/or conference ( i.e. NESCAC) has its own slot determination/ distribution methodology.

D3 coaches will use the slots for recruited athletes they REALLY want. Other recruits will get "soft" admissions support or "tips." Nothing is guaranteed since admissions make the final call, but if the coach is reputable in what he/she is telling the recruit, you can almost take a slot to the bank. Tips have no admissions advantage. There are more recruits than slots, so there will be some management by the coaches there.

Thank you for this explanation. Is 'soft admissions support' and 'tips' the same?

You're welcome.

Yes they are.

So soft admissions support doesn't give any admissions advantage?

[Anonymous]

Is it common for HS and Club coaches to advocate to D3 coaches on behalf of players?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It varies by school, but on average, each sport gets 2 "slots." A D3 school with football would get around 14 slots for that sport. Assuming 23 total sports across women and men - plus football for men - you're talking about 58 total admissions slots, which are pretty firm admissions support.

The process is fluid, and I think coaches can exchange slots. Again, each school and/or conference ( i.e. NESCAC) has its own slot determination/ distribution methodology.

D3 coaches will use the slots for recruited athletes they REALLY want. Other recruits will get "soft" admissions support or "tips." Nothing is guaranteed since admissions make the final call, but if the coach is reputable in what he/she is telling the recruit, you can almost take a slot to the bank. Tips have no admissions advantage. There are more recruits than slots, so there will be some management by the coaches there.

Thank you for this explanation. Is 'soft admissions support' and 'tips' the same?

You're welcome.

Yes they are.

So soft admissions support doesn't give any admissions advantage?

Soft support doesn't provide much / if any advantage relative to the general non recruited athlete applicants, especially if one is interested in the highly selective D3 colleges. This is where it is very important to have clear communication with the coach to know where your DC stands in the recruiting pecking order. If your DC is a strong student on par with the applicant pool and the coach thinks s/he can get in on academic profile, the coach might offer the tip / soft support. In this case, IMO your DC is better of applying Regular Decision to keep options open and/or try to secure a slot with another college: Early Decision commitment normally comes with the afforded slot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it common for HS and Club coaches to advocate to D3 coaches on behalf of players?

IIt depends on the HS / club, but yes - it's fairly common. However, in D3 recruiting the DC has to self initiate the contact with the coaches and self advocate. The club ( mostly) and HS is the platform used for coaches to evaluate your DC (as your DC initiates contact), not necessarily the communication arm. Don't depend on the club / HS coach to do this for your DC: your DC - with background family help - should do the vast majority of the outreach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it common for HS and Club coaches to advocate to D3 coaches on behalf of players?

IIt depends on the HS / club, but yes - it's fairly common. However, in D3 recruiting the DC has to self initiate the contact with the coaches and self advocate. The club ( mostly) and HS is the platform used for coaches to evaluate your DC (as your DC initiates contact), not necessarily the communication arm. Don't depend on the club / HS coach to do this for your DC: your DC - with background family help - should do the vast majority of the outreach.

It also depends on the sport. Recruitment of some HS sports may involve more high school evaluation but others, it is almost a negative to play high school. If there is club level (and beyond) of your child's sport than college coaches will not care one bit about high school team participation.

[Anonymous]

When my kid was going through this, college coaches said it was often really hard to get HS coaches to answer the phone. So your kid should definitely give the HS coach a heads up and make sure they pick up the phone.

[Anonymous]

NP here. This is my oldest child so we have never gone through college recruiting. DC is going through preread at 3 nescac colleges, and all coaches have been positive throughout the process but one in particular (the one at the college with highest admit rate of the 3) already has expressed confidence in the preread outcome and a desire for DC to visit in the fall and stay with team members, go to practice, etc. That coach just reached back out to set up a call to discuss preread results. It is possible that the coach may extend an “offer” (not sure if that term is used), or express desire to use “supported slot” or whatever the term is to my child, and I want my child to be prepared what to say in response. DC likes all 3 colleges (and greatly desires to go to a college where they can play their sport), but is not close to decided among the 3 colleges so would not be prepared to tell the coach they are committed back. Of course the coaches must be used to this, but I’d love advice for how DC can respectfully say to the coach to express appreciation, strong interest in the college but not commit to attend said college at least at this point (at a minimum DC will want to hear back from the other 2 colleges they are in discussions with). Thanks very much for all advice here! DC has been navigating this all solo but I think this is the time for a little
advice from parents.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the sport/conference/college - bc it's all different.

[Anonymous]

I also think it depends on the athlete - how much does the coach want the athlete? My DS seriously entertained two "offers." The school he ultimately chose gave him as much time to decide as he wanted - he's pretty sure he was their #1 recruit so the coach was willing to wait. He told the coach he had an offer from another school and was waiting to hear back on the pre-read before he made his decision. The coach told him to take his time, just keep him updated. DS had a friend who was also offered by the coach but he was only given 48 hours to decide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. This is my oldest child so we have never gone through college recruiting. DC is going through preread at 3 nescac colleges, and all coaches have been positive throughout the process but one in particular (the one at the college with highest admit rate of the 3) already has expressed confidence in the preread outcome and a desire for DC to visit in the fall and stay with team members, go to practice, etc. That coach just reached back out to set up a call to discuss preread results. It is possible that the coach may extend an “offer” (not sure if that term is used), or express desire to use “supported slot” or whatever the term is to my child, and I want my child to be prepared what to say in response. DC likes all 3 colleges (and greatly desires to go to a college where they can play their sport), but is not close to decided among the 3 colleges so would not be prepared to tell the coach they are committed back. Of course the coaches must be used to this, but I’d love advice for how DC can respectfully say to the coach to express appreciation, strong interest in the college but not commit to attend said college at least at this point (at a minimum DC will want to hear back from the other 2 colleges they are in discussions with). Thanks very much for all advice here! DC has been navigating this all solo but I think this is the time for a little
advice from parents.

When DD went through this, she was honest and straight forward with the coach. “I appreciate the offer and am very interested in playing at school x, but I have also been in touch with school’s y and z. This early on, the coach will most likely not give a time restriction. They also understand that the visit is huge in the decision process so most likely will give your DC until after that to commit