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 if they are inviting several players from your team or if your coach has asked if they can bring a group of prospects to a game. At times, college coaches may invite a group of team that is connected to one of their top prospects as a way of luring a great talent to their game.
But, in most cases, it’s you they want to get to know better.
The best sign is if a coach is calling or personally inviting you to games, if they are emailing or mailing you, that’s also a good sign but most likely part of a bulk mailing. The amount of personal attention that they are showing you is a sign of their interest level. A personal invite over the phone or in person is always the best sign! Gamedays are a good platform for coaches and programs to show off their program, town, community and the buzz on campus. Gamedays are the most exciting type of Unofficial/Official Visits you can make, but they also cut down on the amount of personal time they can spend with you.
Some colleges invite hundreds of prospects to gamedays, and others are more selective. It varies. Regardless, it’s a good first sign!
The amount of personal attention that they show you, and the amount of time you get to spend with the head coach, is an indicator of how interested they are in you. Sometimes they invite players in groups, give tours in groups—these are more informal. If it’s a one-on-one with an assistant coach or even better—the head coach— you’re off to a great start!
If this is early communication with the coaches, it’s most likely an Unofficial Visit. Whether Official or Unofficial, colleges can offer prospects up to three complementary admissions (you and two guests) for home competitions.
