Early Commitments
Jay Clark, associate head coach of LSU,
shares his opinion on the issue
The age to verbally commit to a University continues to get earlier every year. Schools verbally committing kids in 8th-9th grade are becoming the newest trend in the sport of gymnastics. While some see nothing wrong with making a verbal commitment at such a young age, others see it as harmful to the future of Women’s Gymnastics at the NCAA level.
Clark began the interview by emphasizing the fact that he is in no way pointing fingers at any particular gymnastics program, coach, or group, “I am not against college coaches or the individual who has always wanted to go to a certain school because that is where their parents went; I'm not for eliminating that. What we
shouldn’t have are 8th and 9th graders feeling as though if they don’t make a quick decision on where they want to go to school, they will be left with nothing or miss out on an opportunity.