What Official Visits Really Mean
October 16th, 2008 - byOver the last few weeks I have discussed unofficial visits. The tips I provided should help 
you build relationships with college coaches and experience different types of college campuses. Unofficial visits are a great way to jump-start the recruiting process.
For seniors who are actively being recruited the next step is an official visit.
What do you do if you are getting asked to take official visits? What does that mean? How should you approach the situation so that you can maximize this once in a lifetime chance to play college sports?
First, you need to understand the advantages that come with being invited to take an official visit to a college:
- It means that you are high on that school’s recruiting list. You are, without a doubt, being seriously recruited. Not every athlete receives an official visit invitation. In the world of college recruiting, an official visit invitation should be viewed as an honor.
- It means that the college is most likely going to pay for your travel to their campus. This is a huge difference compared to the unofficial visit, where you are required to pay for your own travel and accommodations.
- It means that the coaching staff is looking for indications that you are interested in their program. The coaches are bringing you in for a reason: They want you to seriously consider what they have to offer you. In return for that visit, be prepared to make some decisions as to your interest in their school and program.
Let me focus on that last point in detail for a moment. On the one hand, an official visit offer is something that you should get excited about. It’s one of the rewards for all of your hard work as a high school athlete!
On the other hand, look at the situation from the coach’s point of view. The coach is trying to make some important, and difficult, decisions. They are bringing you to their campus to judge two things: Whether you are a good fit for their program, and whether their program is a good fit for you.
They want to see how you interact with the team and if you connect with the players at the college. They want to give you the chance to see what their campus offers student-athletes, and if it’s a good match for you.
When you take an unofficial visit, as we’ve discussed the past few weeks, your visit to a college is more about you selling your abilities to the coaches and taking an initial glimpse of the campus. When you take an official visit the tables are turned…the coaching staff is anxious, and focused, on selling you on their program. You also will need to examine the school, the team and the coaches very closely to figure out whether or not it might be a place you want to call home for the next four years.
Most NCSA student-athletes receive more official visit opportunities than the average high school athlete. While that’s something that we’re proud of, it also means there’s an extra burden placed on the shoulders of our athletes. They must understand exactly how to make the most of their forty eight hours on campus.
Next week we will review recommended steps for setting-up official visits, and what you can expect once you step foot on campus.
