NCAA DIII and NAIA - Responding to Offers/Interests

NCAA DIII - There are no written athletic offers.  You apply, get accepted and are forwarded any potential awards (which can be grants, non-athletic scholarships and loans).  The coach lets you know if you have a roster spot on the JV (if they have one) or Varsity team or if you may have to try-out.

NAIA – each school has its own signing and own letter of intent policy/procedure

Potential questions to ask coaches when on the phone:

For DIII or potentially NAIA:

What is the process to securing a roster spot on the varsity team?  Do you have official tryouts or do I have a roster spot guaranteed for me?

What is the deadline to apply to your school?

For NAIA (if offer is made):

      Can you forward me a written summary that outlines the offer you mentioned to me the last time we spoke?

      Does that written offer constitute a contractual agreement, like an NLI, on my attending (name of school).

      Once I accept, will that roster spot and offer be guaranteed?  For how long?

      Please explain the parameters of the offer and scholarship award?

      How are scholarships renewed?

      What are the ways a scholarship can be revoked?  Have you revoked any in the last 3 years? For what reasons?

      How many or what types of scholarships are available for my class?

      What are your redshirt policies? Will scholarship cover a fifth year?

      What medical expenses does the college cover?

      Are there any summer obligations?

Some other questions to ask in case you forgot and want to know:

      What is the season/off-season practice schedule?

      What would a typical schedule look like?

      Is there a separate conditioning schedule?

      Are there unofficial/captain practices?

      Do freshman play?

      What percentage of freshman remain on the team all four years?

      What is the travel schedule like?

      Are tutors available for members of the team?

      How does classwork get done or turned in during road trips

NAIA School Email

Dear Coach_______,

Thank you again for your interest in recruiting me.  I’m very excited about the opportunity to be a part of your team and to become a student-athlete at (Name of School).

The things that excite me most (list 3-5) about attending and playing basketball for (name of school) include:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

When you get a moment, I’d like to get on call together to discuss the offer to play basketball at (name of school) as we previously discussed.  I’m being contacted by several colleges and need to make my final college decision soon.

Coach (name), the best way to reach me is by phone or email.  I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Sincerely,

Name

School, Grad Year

Email

Phone

DIII School Email

Dear Coach_______,

Thank you again for your interest in recruiting me.  I’m very excited about the opportunity to be a part of your team and to become a student-athlete at (Name of School).

The things that excite me most (list 3-5) about attending and playing basketball for (name of school) include:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

When you get a moment, I’d like to get on call together to discuss the opportunity to play basketball at (name of school) as we previously discussed.  I’m being contacted by several colleges and need to make my final college decision soon.

Coach (name), the best way to reach me is by phone or email.  I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Sincerely,

Name

School, Grad Year

Email

Phone