To many independent educational consultants (IECs), the athletic recruiting world can be both opaque and intimidating.

The NCAA and college coaches alike have done nothing in recent decades to mitigate the confusion surrounding the process. In fact, it seems to get more and more complex every year. However, one aspect of college recruiting can be especially frustrating for families, counselors, and student-athletes: the introduction of the “verbal commitment.”

A verbal commitment is a spoken agreement between a student-athlete and a college coach in which the coach offers a roster spot, admissions support, and sometimes athletics aid to a student-athlete in exchange for the student-athlete’s commitment to join the team. This type of commitment is technically a declaration of intent rather than a formal contract, but it is still a serious pledge that should not be made lightly. Since nearly every collegiate student-athlete will verbally commit to a college coach prior to signing any type of formal agreement, it is important for IECs to have a base understanding of the process in order to ethically counsel their clients about the nuances of making such a decision.

The guiding principle for making a verbal commitment is that the student-athlete must have a full and sincere intention to play for that program. This approach fosters a culture of respect and reliability in the recruiting process, ensuring that both parties—the student-athlete and the coach—can trust that their respective expectations will come to fruition. Once a student-athlete verbally commits, it effectively ends their recruiting process; they shouldn’t talk to other coaches without telling them they have already verbally committed elsewhere. Additionally, they shouldn’t continue to entertain other offers: a commitment is a commitment after all, and by definition entails a duty to fulfill a promised obligation.

Unfortunately, because verbal commitments aren’t contractually binding, it is common practice for student-athletes to use them as placeholders, securing a spot in a program while keeping options open for better opportunities. This tactic is particularly prevalent in sports with high visibility and recruitment competition like football and basketball. The counseling an IEC can provide here is similar to the guidance one might provide a job seeker through their process. In the early stages of a job search, a candidate is seeking and evaluating offers. Then there’s the stage when the candidate has committed to a job, but hasn’t yet started work. If the candidate continues to interview elsewhere at that commitment stage, they could hurt their professional reputation. In both cases, there are bridges burned when a commitment is reneged, as well as a negative impact on other prospective employees—or student-athletes—whose search is either paused or terminated because of the top candidate’s verbal commitment to move forward. Those who initially accept a job—or spot on a team—and then take a “better offer” are demonstrating a lack of integrity.

Conversely, IECs also have the responsibility to educate student-athletes about the potential pitfalls and changes that can affect verbal commitments. Events out of a student-athlete’s control, such as coaching changes, injuries, changes in team composition, and other unforeseen circumstances, can alter their verbal commitment drastically. For example, a coach who offered the spot might leave, or a current player might gain an extra year of eligibility, thus filling the spot intended for the recruit. In both cases, the new or current coach can withdraw their verbal commitment to the student-athlete at any time for any reason with no penalty. IECs must prepare student-athletes for these eventualities, advising them to have contingency plans, such as applying to more than one school. There is also no obligation for a student-athlete to outright accept or deny a verbal offer from a coach if a deadline is not given. Thanking a coach for a verbal commitment is NOT the same thing as accepting a verbal commitment, and the former option keeps the recruiting window open for student-athletes. This guidance helps student-athletes navigate the uncertainties inherent in verbal commitments, ensuring they are not left without options should their initial plans fall through.

It is also important for IECs to understand when a student-athlete’s commitment becomes binding. Student-athletes receiving athletics aid in NCAA Division I and II will sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI) agreeing to attend the institution for at least one academic year in exchange for the institution’s promise of athletic financial aid. The NLI signing period opens in November of senior year and lasts throughout the year (with exact periods dependent on the sport). There are penalties for not fulfilling the terms of an NLI agreement, which include losing a year of eligibility. On the other hand, NCAA Division III athletes—along with Division I and II athletes not receiving athletic aid—enter into a formalized agreement when they pay their enrollment deposit for college or apply Early Decision. This agreement also applies to all other governing bodies. The penalties for reneging on an Early Decision agreement or housing/enrollment deposit include financial forfeiture and damaged reputation.

In conclusion, IECs play a pivotal role in guiding student-athletes through the landscape of verbal commitments in college athletics. Specifically, IECs should emphasize the weight and significance of making a verbal commitment while pointing out the potential consequences of breaking that agreement. IECs should also prepare student-athletes for the possibility that the verbal agreement may fall through. It is a delicate balance to maneuver, but we encourage clients to act with integrity while remaining vigilant so they can navigate this fundamental piece of the recruiting process responsibly. Good ethical counseling not only benefits the student-athletes in their immediate decisions, but also instills values of honor and responsibility that transcend the realm of sports to impact their broader lives.

By Amy Bryant, MS, IECA (GA), Bryant College Coaching; Reid Meyer, CEP, IECA (TX), Athletes to Athletes; Katie Andersen, IECA Associate (CA), Slater Admissions Advising; and Joe Slater, MA, IECA Associate (CA), College Fit

Amy Bryant, Reid Meyer, Katie Andersen, and Joe Slater team together as the Student-Athlete Advisors to help IECs better support their student-athletes. For information on the Student-Athlete Advisors, visit TheStudentAthleteAdvisors.com.