Softball verbals don't matter to SEC Schools

flarays

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When you get to this level, softball is a business. (Unfortunately)

As with any business deal, "A verbal agreement is as good as the paper it's written on".

I hear you, and it makes sense - but I do wonder what would happen if a big time contract lawyer's kid has this happen to them? Joe any thoughts?
 

SoCal_Dad

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Academics and coaching changes account for the overwhelming majority of verbals being voided. Academics are totally the players' responsibility and they're generally too embarassed to admit it when it happens.

Verbals are with a coach, not the school. Legally, a lawsuit would probably prevail, but the cost and time required make it an unattractive option. However, I wonder whether schools have quietly settled when faced with a credible lawsuit to avoid having a precedent set.

I expect UGA will have some fallout from this because the head coach is still there. A local mid-major out here suffered greatly after the HC reneged on a verbal without just cause. They're on the rebound now after the HC was replaced a couple years ago.
 

brownsfan

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Not the case. Sounds like the new asst coaches had a group of recruits from their old schools that they wanted. At least 2 of the recruits were asked in the summer to stay committed while the new coaches got their feet wet.

If I didn't reply, sorry. Thanks, I was guestimating on potential things that could happen.
 

fastpitchdad

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Academics and coaching changes account for the overwhelming majority of verbals being voided. Academics are totally the players' responsibility and they're generally too embarassed to admit it when it happens.

Verbals are with a coach, not the school. Legally, a lawsuit would probably prevail, but the cost and time required make it an unattractive option. However, I wonder whether schools have quietly settled when faced with a credible lawsuit to avoid having a precedent set.

I expect UGA will have some fallout from this because the head coach is still there. A local mid-major out here suffered greatly after the HC reneged on a verbal without just cause. They're on the rebound now after the HC was replaced a couple years ago.

I am not sure why a lawsuit would prevail on a non binding verbal promise. I would imagine universities would not want that precedent ..
 

JoeA1010

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I can easily see a successful lawsuit here. The public has the mistaken notion that a verbal agreement is never binding. In fact, under the right circumstances a verbal agreement can bind the parties.

I'm not going to pretend to remember the law to the letter here when it's probably been 10 years since I've dealt with it, but generally, if one party relies on the verbal promise of another and acts upon it, then that is a huge factor. In these cases, girls took themselves off the market for years, and if they don't end up with the same financial package or even the same level of softball school as Georgia, that would be a big factor in their favor. Another factor is whether one side goes into the deal at a decided disadvantage. When one side is a kid and the other is a huge university, the kid is getting the break in court every single time. But... the lawsuit won't be worth anything unless these kids end up not getting the financial package and level of softball school that they would have received from Georgia. If they sign with Florida for the same money, then there really isn't much lost.

I would love to see a lawsuit on these early verbals that do not go honored. The NCAA and its member schools deserve it for treating kids like pawns on a chessboard.
 

SoCal_Dad

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Thanks Joe for providing a great response. I'm not a lawyer - I've only stayed at a Holiday Inn Express - so my reply was based on what I've seen posted by knowledgeable people like yourself.

... the lawsuit won't be worth anything unless these kids end up not getting the financial package and level of softball school that they would have received from Georgia. If they sign with Florida for the same money, then there really isn't much lost.
In fact,, doesn't the player actually have a responsibility to mitigate their damages by pursuing another deal? They can't just sit on their thumbs and pout about it.
 

spartansd

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I have been saying for quite some time.

Why would a girl want to put that she is committed before the LOI?

That just minimizes her exposure to other coaches.
 

SoCal_Dad

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I have been saying for quite some time.

Why would a girl want to put that she is committed before the LOI?

That just minimizes her exposure to other coaches.
You can get away with that until the college coach asks about it and/or hears you're still talking to other schools. They'll move on if they think you're not truly committed to them.

Be careful you don't outsmart yourself.
 

Hilliarddad3

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But in A court of law a handshake can be construed as a legal binding document, if a family wanted to pursue the issue which could cost more than the education.... then theyd sit the bench as well ......
 

JoeA1010

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In fact,, doesn't the player actually have a responsibility to mitigate their damages by pursuing another deal? They can't just sit on their thumbs and pout about it.

Yes, they do. From the time they find out their verbal was not honored, they do have a duty to mitigate.
 

AkronCarPro

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All of this nonsense is why my DD has switched to Badminton. The recruiting process is much simpler (it doesn't exist), and although she's not tall, she is very agile, and her Badminton trainer (only $60 an hour 3 days a week) assures me that one day she'll be a Hall of Famer.
 

WalkOffHR

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For those advocating a legal remedy to force the school to honor the verbal commitment, can you imagine winning and sending your daughter to a program that you just publicly humiliated?

It's probably in the best interest of the player to just learn a life lesson and go where she is wanted.
 

SoCal_Dad

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A legal remedy would be just to collect money, not to get on the team. I don't think the court can't force the coach to take and keep the player.

If the college was their dream school for academics, they're not likely to sue if they still want to attend - with or without playing. Otherwise, they'd likely go to another school and use the money to help pay for it.
 

JoeA1010

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I doubt whether punitives would ever come into play. You can always ask for them, but the behavior of the school and coach would have to be so bad. It would probably take something like proving that a school verballed a girl with the intention of turning her away at the last minute just so that another school in the league wouldn't get her.
 

BouldersDad

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Ga has always been low in player retention. Colleges are graded on that. It should be on the list of questions to the coach at a visit. If their grade is one of the lowest in player retention in the sec why would anyone think their verbal commitment would be any better.
 

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