Time is money, as the old saying goes, and this is especially true during the recruiting process. After all, your scholarship could be on the line! Coaches are also often in a hurry to solidify their roster and snag star recruits. But what about the recruit who is weighing options and wants time to think? Today, a former college athlete tackles a key question that arises when coaches are in a rush.

Q: Do I have to rush a decision if a coach tells me they need to know right away?

Many coaches put pressure on athletes by giving them an offer, but telling them they have limited time to accept that offer or it will go to another recruit. If a coach gives you an offer you need to think about it and the recommended length of time you have to decide and think about that offer is around 2 weeks. Fast, I know! Welcome to life as a college athlete!

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Although these college coaches should not pressure you to accept offers on the spot, you do have to be mindful that these coaches have rosters they are trying to fill. That is why we suggest a two week timeline.You can find many recruiting horror stories on our website where a coach offers an athlete a scholarship with limited time to decide. A perfect example is when a young high school basketball player's scholarship was ripped away because she was taking too long to decide. 

When I was a high school athlete going through the recruiting process I was given an offer and had till the end of the week to decide…or so I thought. The coach knew the cost of school was an issue for me, so on my official visit he told me I would receive close to a full scholarship, financial aid would cover the difference, and I would essentially be getting a full ride. I told the coach I needed some time to think about it and he seemed like he was okay with that. I knew it was a great offer, but I was not sure if I was completely in love with the school. 

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The next day at practice my club coach told me the coach called him and I had 4 days to decide or the offer was gone. At the time I did not know what else was out there and I did not want to lose the opportunity so I verbally committed the next day. I was never truly happy with my decision and I only took the offer because I felt like I had to. In the end, financial aid did not cover the rest of my tuition and I was mortified. I took the offer because I thought the financial opportunity was too good to pass up, not because I was in love with the school. 

I could have explored other opportunities and maybe if I had some time to think about the offer I would have made a different decision. So my advice to you is, do not rush into making a decision just because a coach tells you they need to know right away. Make sure you are 100% confident with your decision. If a coach pressures you into committing to their school it is a red flag and there are plenty of other schools out there! 

The bottom line: Take the two weeks to think about the offer, be mindful these coaches are looking for a roster, and make a decision based on what is best for you. 

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* Originally published on July 1, 2022, by Jaileen Goncalves