Visits, both unofficial and official, are a very important part of your recruiting process. There is only so much you can tell from a college website or from talking to the coach. In order to get a real sense of the institution you need to see the campus with your own eyes.
First, you need to understand the difference between unofficial and official visits. An official visit will be paid for by the college/university. Typically, covered expenses will include lodging, transportation, meals and entertainment. You are not allowed to take official visits until the first day of classes your senior year and the NCAA allows you to take up to five visits to Division I and II schools combined and you can take an unlimited number of official visits to Division III and NAIA schools. At all levels you can only take one official visit per school and can not exceed 48 hours on campus. Make sure you choose these schools wisely and make the most out of each visit.
When you take unofficial visits you will be responsible for paying for everything that is involved with the visit. If you have to drive to campus you will be paying for gas. If you have to take an airplane there you will be expected to purchase your ticket. The only paid benefit a school may provide are tickets to no more than three sporting events that cost under $100. You are allowed to take an unlimited number of unofficial visits to all divisions, but again, it will be at your expense.
If you are seriously interested in a college/university a campus visit is a critical step. You need to meet the coach face-to-face, meet some of the players, see the facilities and the campus – all of these must be done before you make any final decisions. You are going to be the one living on the campus and playing for the coach for four years so you should make sure that the people and environment are what you are looking for in a school and team.
Before you plan an unofficial visit you must let the coach know you are coming ahead of time. Call the coach and ask if they have some time to meet with you the day of your visit so they can plan accordingly. This will give the coach a chance to arrange a schedule of events for that day such as a tour of campus with a member of the team, interview with an admissions representative or lunch with the team. Take as many unofficial visits as possible to get a solid sense of what you like and dislike in a college/university. The more campuses you visit the more you will have to compare against!
When you are invited on an official visit the coach is telling you that you are a top recruit and that you are being seriously considered for a roster spot on their team. The official visit is their opportunity to convince you why their school is the best for you.
You should never make a college commitment unless you have stepped foot on campus. Every athlete has a different situation and every family differs financially. You must find a way to make visits happen and you should start by gauging the interest from the coach and then going to your top schools first.
This entry was posted
on Friday, October 31st, 2008 at 4:03 pm and is filed under Visits.
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