What exactly does an "offer" mean?

[OrangeAl]

During winter and spring there are dozens of kids that post how blessed they are to receive an "offer" from schools like Syracuse. You would think that means they can say yes and have a scholarship waiting for them on signing day. Clearly this isn't the case.
Does an "offer" just mean that the school has told them they're somewhere on a priority list? Or does it just mean that the school will start scouting them in person? Do the kids and their families and coaches understand what they have when they've been "offered" by P5, G5 and FCS schools?
Recruiting experts, please fill us in.

 

[bcubs9497]

During winter and spring there are dozens of kids that post how blessed they are to receive an "offer" from schools like Syracuse. You would think that means they can say yes and have a scholarship waiting for them on signing day. Clearly this isn't the case.
Does an "offer" just mean that the school has told them they're somewhere on a priority list? Or does it just mean that the school will start scouting them in person? Do the kids and their families and coaches understand what they have when they've been "offered" by P5, G5 and FCS schools?
Recruiting experts, please fill us in.

An "offer" is so situational that there's no way to fully answer that question.

 

[bnoro]

An offer is whatever you want it to be based on the situation. Maybe sometimes it's a "we have a scholarship open and we want you to take it" and sometimes it's a "we have a scholarship if so and so doesn't commit". Sometimes it's "accept now or you don't have a scholarship".

 

[Toga]

Seems to me that one thing that can be said almost definitively is if a kid gets an offer - wants to accept - checks with the coaches that it is OK to publicly announce they are committing - Publicly announces - Now that's an offer!

 

[OrangeAl]

It sounds like the word "offer" has no real definition. It's probably a misnomer for the majority of the kids who tweet it to the world.

 

[Ish88888]

An "offer" has been watered down to a ...I have recieved a hello, a text from a girl I am interested in, thus she might be interested in me. Seriously, it isn't much more both sides can change their mind on their level of interest. Its a circus from there.

 

[care taker]

An offer is offer . The ? The kid must ask is is it a commit able offer . If the team says yes it's commit able then it's a true offer , if they say not yet it means they are waiting on other offeries they like better and are waiting on . That's the key for kids to ask

 

[CuseLegacy]

An offer is offer . The ? The kid must ask is is it a commit able offer . If the team says yes it's commit able then it's a true offer , if they say not yet it means they are waiting on other offeries they like better and are waiting on . That's the key for kids to ask

But there are so many kids that don't understand the difference. They don't know to ask those questions. And lot of parents don't have a clue about the recruiting process and high school coaches don't always do a good job of preparing these kids for process.

 

[care taker]

The internet is a huge tool , Also a lot of high end youth camps give you access to former players and coaches to ask . These camps also offer parent seminars . The best youth run camps are FBU camps