This happened at our local high school, so yes, I suppose it can be done, but that was Class of 2019 so may be different now. If the student is not getting scholarship $$ the coach isn't going to be totally screwed if they back out b/c they're not a star player. The coach probably also expects some of these no-$$ kids to quit after their first year. Depending on the sport, right now there are plenty of 5th-years around so the freshman aren't even getting playing time. Also what if they get injured this year, do they still want to go to UDelaware or whatever if they're not playing the sport? I think it's morally wrong, but I could see how it's not the most morally wrong thing to do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the only D1 offer he would get would have athletic scholarship money included -- that's what the National Letter of Intent is. More info at nationalletter.org, including consequences of breaking the contract.

Not true. Not every player on a D1 team is a scholarship athlete.

Generally the term "offer" is reserved for athletes receiving a scholarship (the ones who sign on NLI day).

I think you’ll find plenty of D1 commits don’t receive athletic scholarships.

I know, I was one -- I received a few (partial) scholarship offers, but ended up playing/attending an Ivy. I know this is all just semantic nonsense, but I never received an "offer" from my school because they don't give athletic money.

Yes, semantic nonsense and likely varies by sport. In basketball, when kids say “offer”, in my experience they mean scholarship. They would distinguish that from a preferred walk on. YMMV.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the only D1 offer he would get would have athletic scholarship money included -- that's what the National Letter of Intent is. More info at nationalletter.org, including consequences of breaking the contract.

Not true. Not every player on a D1 team is a scholarship athlete.

Generally the term "offer" is reserved for athletes receiving a scholarship (the ones who sign on NLI day).

I think you’ll find plenty of D1 commits don’t receive athletic scholarships.

I know, I was one -- I received a few (partial) scholarship offers, but ended up playing/attending an Ivy. I know this is all just semantic nonsense, but I never received an "offer" from my school because they don't give athletic money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the only D1 offer he would get would have athletic scholarship money included -- that's what the National Letter of Intent is. More info at nationalletter.org, including consequences of breaking the contract.

Not true. Not every player on a D1 team is a scholarship athlete.

Generally the term "offer" is reserved for athletes receiving a scholarship (the ones who sign on NLI day).

No, formal scholarship offers with NLI are a subset of the commitments you can make as a recruit. Like PPs said, a D1 commitment for a an offer for a non-scholarship spot is the same as a D3 or Ivy commitment, and it would be pretty crappy for OP’s kid to commit if he intends to apply to other schools, because that screws over both the coach and the kids who would have loved to honor a commitment to play for that coach and team.

Maybe, but never forget that coaches are always looking out for #1 and drop (even ghost) recruits in a heartbeat when a better player comes along.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the only D1 offer he would get would have athletic scholarship money included -- that's what the National Letter of Intent is. More info at nationalletter.org, including consequences of breaking the contract.

Not true. Not every player on a D1 team is a scholarship athlete.

Generally the term "offer" is reserved for athletes receiving a scholarship (the ones who sign on NLI day).

I think you’ll find plenty of D1 commits don’t receive athletic scholarships.

They also don’t get an “offer” and don’t sign a NLI. If you see the sign a NLI it’s a blank piece of paper for the photo op.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the only D1 offer he would get would have athletic scholarship money included -- that's what the National Letter of Intent is. More info at nationalletter.org, including consequences of breaking the contract.

Not true. Not every player on a D1 team is a scholarship athlete.

Generally the term "offer" is reserved for athletes receiving a scholarship (the ones who sign on NLI day).

No, formal scholarship offers with NLI are a subset of the commitments you can make as a recruit. Like PPs said, a D1 commitment for a an offer for a non-scholarship spot is the same as a D3 or Ivy commitment, and it would be pretty crappy for OP’s kid to commit if he intends to apply to other schools, because that screws over both the coach and the kids who would have loved to honor a commitment to play for that coach and team.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the only D1 offer he would get would have athletic scholarship money included -- that's what the National Letter of Intent is. More info at nationalletter.org, including consequences of breaking the contract.

Not true. Not every player on a D1 team is a scholarship athlete.

Generally the term "offer" is reserved for athletes receiving a scholarship (the ones who sign on NLI day).

I think you’ll find plenty of D1 commits don’t receive athletic scholarships.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the only D1 offer he would get would have athletic scholarship money included -- that's what the National Letter of Intent is. More info at nationalletter.org, including consequences of breaking the contract.

Not true. Not every player on a D1 team is a scholarship athlete.

Generally the term "offer" is reserved for athletes receiving a scholarship (the ones who sign on NLI day).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the only D1 offer he would get would have athletic scholarship money included -- that's what the National Letter of Intent is. More info at nationalletter.org, including consequences of breaking the contract.

Not true. Not every player on a D1 team is a scholarship athlete.

+1

100% of the Ivy League (D1) athletic recruits are non-scholarship.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the only D1 offer he would get would have athletic scholarship money included -- that's what the National Letter of Intent is. More info at nationalletter.org, including consequences of breaking the contract.

Not true. Not every player on a D1 team is a scholarship athlete.

+1

Anonymous wrote:the only D1 offer he would get would have athletic scholarship money included -- that's what the National Letter of Intent is. More info at nationalletter.org, including consequences of breaking the contract.

Not true. Not every player on a D1 team is a scholarship athlete.

DS was recruited at a D1 school that didn’t offer scholarships in his sport. My understanding is that when no scholarships are involved it is similar to D3 recruitment. There is nothing in writing, but if a coach offers you a spot and you accept, it’s on the honor system. There is nothing legally binding, but you would be completely screwing over the coach if you backed out. When DS was offered the spot at the non-scholarship school, the coach gave us a “financial pre-read”. This included expected merit aid from school so we knew what it would cost. Talk to the coach about what it would cost. Do not commit and apply to other schools

the only D1 offer he would get would have athletic scholarship money included -- that's what the National Letter of Intent is. More info at nationalletter.org, including consequences of breaking the contract.

What year is he? Is he already receiving interest from D1 coaches/programs? Making a commitment is not what it used to be but D1 is a whole different level than D2/3, you need to add much more context.

If DS gets an offer to play D1 at an out of state school without an athletic scholarship and he commits, can he still apply to in-state schools during the regular admissions process his senior year since those schools would be much more affordable? Note that he likely cannot play his sport in-state because those team are much more competitive and he likely would not get a spot. We are new to all of this so trying to figure out the best path for him and us (we are fully supportive of him playing, but are also paying the bills!)