A: Yes, if a coach is trying to get you to visit campus, they’ve heard something and have some level of early interest. They’ve heard or seen something about you that interests them and they want to get to know you better, meet you in person and show you a little bit about their program. The only exception is …
Campus Visits (Official & Unofficial)
Q: A school is sending mail, coming to see me play or has invited me to camp—how do I go about asking for an Unofficial Visit?
A: As coaches are evaluating prospects and prioritizing their recruits, they want you to do your research and be just as proactive and involved with the process as they are. While college coaches first must be interested in your athletic and academic abilities they love recruits who show a passion for their program. If you have a scholarship offer or …
Q: Will colleges give you free tickets to a game for an Unofficial Visit?
A: Yes, during an Unofficial Visit, the institution may offer a maximum of three complimentary admissions (issued only through a pass list) to a home athletics event at any facility within a 30-mile radius of a member institution’s main campus, in which the institution’s intercollegiate team practices or competes. The three admissions allowed are for the prospective student-athlete and …
Q: Are Junior Days invitation only?
A: Yes, coaches have been putting together their preliminary ‘Watch Lists’ of prospects for each class, even if players are too young to contact or recruit. These are just their base lists, their early lists—used to get the process going for the next recruitable class. These lists change DRASTICALLY during the first few months of these evaluation periods. Coaches …
Q: I have never been on an Official Visit, what should I expect?
A: On both Official and Unofficial visits, coaches are trying to both get to know you better and want you get a better understanding of them, what they have to offer and to get to know their coaching staff and players. It’s a two-way street and coaches are often trying to impress you as much as you are trying …
Q: What exactly should I be looking for on visits?
A: Whether choosing a school as a blue-chip prospect with 50 scholarship offers or as a Division III non-scholarship athlete, the process of choosing a school can be time consuming and overwhelming. It’s important to develop your personal selection criteria that will help you through the process – and prioritize it on your non-negotiables. Before the process becomes overwhelming, …
Q: What’s the difference between an Official Visit and Unofficial Visit?
A: Any visit to a college campus by a college-bound student-athlete or his or her parents paid for by the college is an “Official Visit.” Visits paid for by college-bound student-athletes or their parents are “Unofficial Visits.” During an Official Visit the college can pay for transportation to and from the college for the prospect, lodging and three meals …
Q: If I have committed to one school, can I attend a game of another? Will this affect my relationship with the team I’ve committed to?
A: Yes, it’s not a good look! If your boyfriend/girlfriend went on a date to the movies with someone else, how would you feel? Unless the other school has invited a group of your teammates, and you’re going along with the group, it’s definitely not a good idea if you plan on staying committed to this first team. And …
Q: If a coach invites you to camp, will they cover the cost? Does that count as an Official Visit?
A: No, all campers – regardless if invited or offered scholarships already or not – must pay the same price for camp. The NCAA mandates that it’s… “Impermissible to provide a reduced or free admission to an athletics award winner or any individual being recruited by the institution.” All camp participants must pay the same fees. Camps are a great …
Q: How can I evaluate the coaches who are recruiting me? What separates a good coach from a great one?
A: During the recruiting process, college coaches are evaluating hundreds of thousands of athletes across the country. Your job as prospects and families of prospective student-athletes is to also do your research and evaluations of the coaches and programs who are recruiting you! Not every school is created equal, and not ever coach is a great role model, teacher or …