I’m a hs senior Commited to a school that can be described as underachieving in distance with a few bright spots. I was ok with not going to an “elite” or “good” distance school until I found out I’m supposed to be walking on when I was lead to believe I would be offered a partial scholarship, and now I’m considering changing my commitment if I have a really good senior track season. If anyone has any advice or thoughts they could give me before I make a choice that would be awesome.
Commited in late November after the November signing day assuming I would sign on the feb 1st national signing day and yes I took an unofficial and official visit
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Commitments mean nothing I’m pretty sure. If you get good go somewhere else if you have worries. If you break the commitment don’t ever expect a roster spot at that school though
It's OK to have a change of heart on attending college before you enroll in classes or pay any tuition/fees. If you tell the coach that scholarship money was a factor in your decision, that's OK too. Having said that, you need to think of a plan B and C. It's likely too late to be be considered for scholarship money at another school for next Fall. At best, you could get help with admissions and a walk-on invitation. You may want to consider attending a community college that has a track/XC program and then transfer to a 4-year school that you want to finish at. Talk to your HS coach about anything related to recruiting and scholarship offers, and talk to your HS counselor about the college search process (outside of running).
Commitment can only come with a scholarship. If they are expecting you to walk on, then there is no commitment and you should feel free to go wherever you want.
Commited in late November after the November signing day assuming I would sign on the feb 1st national signing day and yes I took an unofficial and official visit
When you say you committed... what do you mean?
It doesn't sound like you signed anything so what exactly did you commit to?
If you do well in track you certainly can go somewhere else if you get a better offer. A verbal commit doesn't mean too much... people change those all the time.
Or you can tell the coach... gee, since I am not getting any financial help (and I need it) I am thinking of going elsewhere if I get an offer. Maybe he/she will offer you some money and actually have you sign something... (and that's probably why they didn't give you something to sign in the first place... so they could give it someone else.... happens a lot.)
Absolutely not. Committed is the common term. Walkons in football commit. Most athletes commit before signing and every athlete commits before getting a roster spot regardless if they receive a scholarship or not. Likely less than 1/3 of distance runners are on a scholarship.
Absolutely not. Committed is the common term. Walkons in football commit. Most athletes commit before signing and every athlete commits before getting a roster spot regardless if they receive a scholarship or not. Likely less than 1/3 of distance runners are on a scholarship.
Since you are a coach and you seem to be saying if a person commits verbally then they are committed to something specific even though they didn't sign something.
Have you ever heard of a coach who backs away from a verbal commit? Meaning they decide they didn't want them for some reason and since there isn't a written contract they are free to do so with no ramifications? (other than looking like a jerk)
Most people have integrity. If I commit to pick you up at noon tomorrow, I will be there. It us rare that coaches back away from commitments but kids do it. I assume this kid went on a visit and shook the coaches hand and committed to run there next year. The coach then stopped recruiting to fill that roster spot. If he backs away now, the coach may try to find somebody else or may have one fewer guy than planned. Betting the kid tweeted the commitment and the team did also.
Most people have integrity. If I commit to pick you up at noon tomorrow, I will be there. It us rare that coaches back away from commitments but kids do it. I assume this kid went on a visit and shook the coaches hand and committed to run there next year. The coach then stopped recruiting to fill that roster spot. If he backs away now, the coach may try to find somebody else or may have one fewer guy than planned. Betting the kid tweeted the commitment and the team did also.
I've read enough from you over the years to believe that you have integrity and perhaps I'm jaded but there is no way I'd agree that most people have integrity.
I have seen too many folks in this world make decisions that are best for them regardless of what 'the right thing' to do is.
The OP could be making it up but he did say he was lead to believe he would be getting a partial but subsequently discovered he's not. If this is true then perhaps the coach he is dealing with manipulated things for his gain.
I too am a coach and my take is if the kid doesn't really want to be on my team then he should probably go elsewhere... his unhappiness would likely lead to poor team chemistry anyway.
I am with you though ... everyone should act with integrity. And I do my best to always do so.
Most people have integrity. If I commit to pick you up at noon tomorrow, I will be there. It us rare that coaches back away from commitments but kids do it. I assume this kid went on a visit and shook the coaches hand and committed to run there next year. The coach then stopped recruiting to fill that roster spot. If he backs away now, the coach may try to find somebody else or may have one fewer guy than planned. Betting the kid tweeted the commitment and the team did also.
I've read enough from you over the years to believe that you have integrity and perhaps I'm jaded but there is no way I'd agree that most people have integrity.
I have seen too many folks in this world make decisions that are best for them regardless of what 'the right thing' to do is.
The OP could be making it up but he did say he was lead to believe he would be getting a partial but subsequently discovered he's not. If this is true then perhaps the coach he is dealing with manipulated things for his gain.
I too am a coach and my take is if the kid doesn't really want to be on my team then he should probably go elsewhere... his unhappiness would likely lead to poor team chemistry anyway.
I am with you though ... everyone should act with integrity. And I do my best to always do so.
If an athlete is dissatisfied with teamwork and his presence negatively affects team chemistry, it may be better for him to find another team that better suits his goals and needs. So it's important to explore all the advantages and disadvantages the OP will face. In college, I researched this topic and used the examples from https://graduateway.com/essay-type/advantages-and-disadvantages/ to understand the problem better. My opinion is that the OP should judge everything with the coach and make the best decision for himself that will allow him to move on.
Completely agree with you. People tend to act in their own interests, and few are ready to follow moral principles. It is obvious to me that when working with children, you need to be integrity. Otherwise, you do not belong in this. If the OP is doing well on the track, he might leave, but I think it's worth discussing with the coach because he can offer something worthwhile.