Dreaming of that athletic scholarship letter? Before you sign away your future based on a handshake, you need to know the reality of the recruiting process. Some things aren’t what they seem, and learning the truth now could save you thousands.

College is unbelievably expensive. So, when a student-athlete and their parents hear a university coach say a sports scholarship is waiting, the whole family usually thinks it’s the full-ride, all-expenses-paid variety. However, students being fully funded isn’t a typical scenario, and it’s not necessarily a bald-faced lie, either. Instead, it’s a matter of nuance that confuses families and leads them to believe their college tuition, housing, meals, and supplies are completely covered by the university. When in reality, this simply isn’t the case.

The Dangerous Game of Verbal Commitments

First of all, student-athletes and their parents must understand that college coaches (particularly those who are not in charge of football, Division 1 basketball, and women’s volleyball) have a big job when it comes to filling rosters. Consequently, these coaches reach out to many student-athletes with verbal pitches. And verbal pitches aren’t written contracts, which means they aren’t binding. 

So, just like commercial airlines overbook flights knowing some passengers won’t show up, college coaches routinely over-recruit. A coach might extend verbal “commitments” to six or seven athletes for only three available scholarship spots, assuming some will get injured, choose a different school, or fail to meet academic admissions standards. If all of those athletes want to sign, the coach is forced to walk back verbal offers or dilute the financial amounts originally promised.

Unfortunately, some student-athletes still make their choices based on these verbal commitments, only to learn late in the process they won’t receive much—if any—university funding. Often, these student-athletes will find out they and their parents are on the hook for most of the Cost of Attendance.

How Families Can Protect Themselves from Broken Verbal Recruiting Promises

Treat the recruiting process like a business transaction. Families should:

• Request a financial pre-read. Ask the coach to arrange an early formal pre-read with the financial aid office. This delivers a realistic estimate of out-of-pocket costs after combining athletic, academic, and need-based aid.
• Get it in writing via official email. Have the coach specify exact terms (e.g., “70% tuition plus standard meal plan”) in a university email. While not a formal contract, it creates a paper trail for escalation to the athletic director if needed.
• Keep other options open. Continue communicating with other programs. Leverage evaporates the moment you pause recruitment based solely on a verbal offer.

The strongest defense is transparency. If a coach resists putting clear details on tuition, housing, and fees in writing, it’s often a red flag that the offer isn’t as solid as promised.

Parents, what have your experiences been, and what would you add?