Colleges used to not be allowed to contact track & field/cross country athletes until July 1st going into their senior year. They can now contact athletes in the summer before their junior year. For the first couple of years, schools took different approaches as they still had to figure out their whole incoming freshman class first (because they hadn't been allowed to talk to the juniors, they had no head start). Now that junior recruiting has been allowed for a while, schools have more of a sense of their next incoming freshman class already and can focus more on the juniors. It makes sense that a dialog between the juniors and the colleges would allow for juniors to commit. None of those commitments are binding however because athletes still can't sign NLIs until senior year.
It’s more common with the girls to commit as juniors vs the guys. Most girls have pretty much physically matured by the time they’re juniors. This really isn’t that new of a trend. Perhaps a little bit earlier but not much.
It’s more common with the girls to commit as juniors vs the guys. Most girls have pretty much physically matured by the time they’re juniors. This really isn’t that new of a trend. Perhaps a little bit earlier but not much.
Having said what I just did above, some sports like soccer it’s getting ridiculous. Girls committing when they’re freshmen & sophomores is quite common now, especially for those players deemed to be in the top 100 in the country.
Coaches can't contact them and they cant take visits which makes those very commitments not well thought through.
A freshman or sophomore can't actually make a "commitment". All they are saying is what school they are thinking about attending. There is no actual commitment.
It’s more common with the girls to commit as juniors vs the guys. Most girls have pretty much physically matured by the time they’re juniors. This really isn’t that new of a trend. Perhaps a little bit earlier but not much.
A lot of girls are uncomfortable with the recruiting process and they just want to pick a school and get it over with. Not my guess. Lots of girls have told me that. Which is there prerogative.
Fortunately for them it's getting easier every year to transfer. So even if they pick the wrong school because they didn't do their due diligence while in high school, they can just transfer. Choosing the wrong school isn't as bad as it used to be.
Coaches can't contact them and they cant take visits which makes those very commitments not well thought through.
A freshman or sophomore can't actually make a "commitment". All they are saying is what school they are thinking about attending. There is no actual commitment.
Coaches can offer them a scholarship early, and they can verbally commit. The old 'my word is good' does still have some meaning. 99% so far of these verbal commitments have been honored.
The only exception I am aware of is Stephens switching from FSU to NC St., but only after FSU coach left. (She also improved a lot as a senior)