{"id":8373,"date":"2015-11-09T04:30:40","date_gmt":"2015-11-09T10:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nsr-inc.com\/scouting-news\/?p=8373"},"modified":"2025-05-09T12:16:03","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T17:16:03","slug":"prospects-should-do-their-homework-before-signing-early","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nsr-inc.com\/scouting-news\/prospects-should-do-their-homework-before-signing-early\/","title":{"rendered":"Prospects should do their homework before signing early"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Signing<\/a>
Prospects should sign early only after thorough examination of the schools under consideration.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How many times have you read about it, seen it on TV or heard about it?\u00a0 A local high school prospect signs a National Letter of Intent during the NCAA early signing period only to later have a change of heart, quits during their first semester of college or transfers to another college because their chosen school was not what they anticipated or were promised.\u00a0 It happens far too often and National Scouting Report scouts around the globe are taking the subject seriously with their prospects.<\/p>\n

College recruiting is the most hectic approaching the NCAA\u00a0early signing period.\u00a0 Compared to the more relaxed regular-signing period the following spring, the earlier period is like Black Friday at Walmart.<\/p>\n

Prospects who receive offers to sign early are cornered into making a decision which will affect their lives at least through the next academic year and can have far reaching consequences.\u00a0 With verbal scholarship offers from college coaches coming sooner than ever, prospects are under the intense heat of a spotlight to decide sooner than later.\u00a0 It’s\u00a0a spotlight which can blind them to do what is best for them and their families.\u00a0 So, naturally,\u00a0avoidable mistakes happen in the haste of the moment.<\/p>\n

“If the school which has offered is the student-athlete\u2019s No. 1 choice then, yes, they should sign,” said an NSR area director.\u00a0 “Let me qualify this by adding it assumes the scholarship dollars and financial aid package are acceptable.\u00a0 If the school is not the No. 1 choice, and if the NSR scout and the student-athlete feels other offers will come after the early signing period, then I would recommend waiting.\u00a0 Remember, this is a huge life decision.”<\/p>\n

Someone\u00a0once famously\u00a0said: “Peer pressure and social norms are powerful influences on behavior, and they are classic excuses.”<\/p>\n

It’s enormously difficult for most 17- or 18-year-olds to make a flawless decision regarding which college and athletic program is an absolute best fit for them.\u00a0 Yet, these youngsters are put in that position by being asked to sign a legally binding contract to seal their decisions.<\/p>\n

“Some coaches make them think if they don’t sign\u00a0[during the early signing period]\u00a0that the scholarship opportunity won’t be there in the spring signing period,” said Stacey Harris, NSR area director in the California Bay Area.<\/p>\n

But, historically, if a coach really wants to sign a prospect, odds are the program will wait for the prospect’s final decision.\u00a0 Sometimes stepping away from the pressure of signing early helps a prospect to clear his or her mind and look at their situation more reasonably.<\/p>\n

Yes, it’s a nice problem to have. No one will argue that point. But what can a high school athlete do within the NCAA rules to reduce the chances of making the wrong\u00a0decision?<\/p>\n

“Pressure generally comes from hearing others have signed who our [NSR] student-athlete feels is not as good as they are,” Nadel said.\u00a0 “Another pressure factor is fear — fear that no other school will want them.\u00a0 The student-athlete needs to involve their NSR scout\u00a0because we\u2019ve been around the block several times.\u00a0 We need to know the financial promises made by the coach, the student athlete\u2019s \u201cfeel\u201d for the program, the teammates, freshman year playing time (red-shirting included), etc.\u00a0 We all need to fully understand the impression gained from the official visit when speaking with the coaching staff, players, and others on the campus.\u00a0 With all that information, we can offer the athlete and family our overall perspective while presenting what we believe are their alternatives.”<\/p>\n

This advice normally comes from a less myopic view than the athlete’s. If the athlete continues to teeter\u00a0about the decision,\u00a0NSR scouts typically\u00a0ask the prospect and family to consider these\u00a0key points:<\/p>\n