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Your Guide to Unofficial Visits

Unofficial visits are a great way for student-athletes to get a feel for different college campuses.

What is an unofficial visit?

Unofficial visits are college visits which are not paid for by the school. These visits are entirely financed by the recruit’s family. Unofficial visits are unlimited, but some rules do apply.

Athletes in most sports and their families are not allowed to arrange unofficial visits with a school’s athletic department (including the coach) until August 1 of the athlete’s junior year.

Families can still go on unofficial visits before August 1 before junior year, but they aren’t allowed to have any recruiting conversations with the coach while on campus. Stay current with the 2023-2024 NCAA recruiting calendar .

Insider Tip : Check the school calendar and steer clear of homecoming weekend and other busy dates to avoid paying premium hotel rates.

A key reason to go on unofficial visits is to evaluate if a college is the right fit for you, especially if you’re not yet a junior in high school. Get a campus tour, check out the dorms and get a feel for if you could live there for four years. The best part: Unofficial visits are unlimited and can be taken at any age and at most times throughout the year.

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Unofficial visits will be a little different based on your age, desired division level and recruiting journey.

There’s a lot to consider  before you start planning your unofficial visits. How you plan your unofficial visits will be different depending on your goals for the visit, your age and the division level of the school. If you’re visiting DII, DIII and NAIA schools, you won’t be impacted by recent NCAA recruiting rule changes—they are only applicable for DI schools. This means that, no matter your age, you can arrange the unofficial visit with the athletic department or coach, and you can speak with the coach while you’re on campus.

If you’re interested in visiting DI schools, you can’t arrange the visit with the athletic department—or talk about recruiting with the coach while you’re there—until August 1 of your junior year of high school. Men’s hockey can begin scheduling unofficial visits as early as January 1 of sophomore year.

If you’re an upperclassman visiting D1 schools, or a recruit visiting schools at the other division levels, you can use your unofficial visit as a chance to advance your recruiting with the coach at that school. To do so, you need to make sure that the schools you’re visiting offer real recruiting opportunities. Ask yourself each of the following questions before you set up the visit:

• Have you already been communicating with the coach?
• Has the coach approached you or your high school/club coach about setting up an unofficial visit?
• Has the coach reviewed your academic information?
• Has the coach seen your highlight video?
• Have you reviewed the school’s information and determined that it might be the right fit for you?

If you answered “yes” to most of these questions, you’re in a great position. Most importantly, you want to ensure that you have been in communication with the college coach. You don’t want to waste your time visiting a school that may not be a realistic recruiting opportunity for you. To set up your visit, call the coach and let them know you’re interested in seeing the campus. Ask them what dates they would be available to meet you and your family. Some recruits lean heavily on their high school or club coach to help them set up unofficial visits with college coaches.

If you’re an underclassman interested in D1 schools, there are a few different routes you can go. First, you can take unofficial visits to those D1 schools as if you were a regular student. Tour the library and the campus at large. Check out the town. Ask questions, take notes and determine what you like about the campus. This can help you better understand what you’re looking for in a school, so you can refine your target list. Don’t forget to check out some DII, DIII and NAIA schools—you never know what your best fit will be until you explore the different options available!

Insider Tip : There are a few different ways unofficial visits can “pay for themselves.” First, schedule back-to-back visits with schools that are located close to each other. Second, set up visits with schools in cities you’re already visiting. For example, if you have a tournament in the Kansas City area, consider visiting the University of Kansas in Lawrence if you have been in communication with that coach.

Read more: How to Maximize Your Summer Visits

What happens on an unofficial visit

While every school is a little bit different, most coaches will take some time to speak with you and your parents/guardians about the school and their athletic program. Come prepared with questions for the coach and use this opportunity to get them answered. Then, the coach may take you on a tour of the athletic facilities. The rest of the time will be up to you to arrange a tour of the campus and possibly meet with an academic adviser. You and your family may also be invited to attend a home sporting event.

While unofficial visits are a great way to get to know a coach and the athletic program better, they also give you a chance to really experience the college campus. Can you picture yourself living there for four years? Here are a few ways to familiarize yourself with the college campus during your visit:

• Check out the library and sit in on a class.
• Visit the different housing options, both on and off campus.
• Meet your future training staff.
• Eat in the school cafeteria or food court.
• Set up a meeting with an academic adviser.
• Hang out on the campus grounds.

As you’re checking each of these spots off your list, take a couple minutes to write down your thoughts. It might seem trivial in the moment, but as you visit schools throughout the year, they can all start to blend to together. You can always refer to your notes later on when you’re working on narrowing down your target list of schools.

How to schedule unofficial visits

To schedule unofficial visits, you will want to choose which campuses you would like to visit most, pick out free days to make your visits, and then contact coaches directly to schedule your unofficial visits.

Below we expand on our tips for how to schedule unofficial visits with college coaches: 

• Brainstorm which campuses you would like to visit most. Most athletes cannot afford to go on multiple unofficial visits across the country. Therefore, think about 2-3 campuses that you would like to visit that are either within driving distance or a quick flight away. 
• Look at your calendar and pick out some free days. Once you have picked out some free days that you and your guardian(s) are able to go on unofficial visits, try to pair visits together. For example, if you are going to visit the University of San Francisco, then it is also wise to pair that visit with the University of California, Berkeley and see both campuses in one day or in the same weekend. 
• Contact the coaches and schedule unofficial visits. If NCAA rules prohibit coaches from emailing you back or calling you back, then it is time to pick up the phone. Call coaches on the phone and speak to them directly about scheduling an unofficial visit. Remember, if they do not pick up then keep calling back! Notify coaches that you will be near the campus on XYZ dates (the dates you have already picked out) and would like to visit then. Once you have locked down a time to visit one campus, you can move onto the next campus and see if you can schedule two campuses for the same day or for the same weekend. 

Although the recruiting process becomes more serious for juniors and seniors in high school, it is never too early to tour campuses and meet coaches in person.

The more unofficial visits you take, the more likely you will be able to get a sense of the school, team, and coaches. Unofficial visits are a free pass to gain insight into how you feel about coaches and their program as well as how coaches feel about you. View this video to learn more about how to schedule your visits. 

What are the NCAA unofficial visit rules?

According to the NCAA unofficial visit rules, you are allowed to stay on campus with an enrolled student, but there are some specific rules the institution must follow based on its division level. For DI and DII schools, recruits can stay in an enrolled student’s dorm; however, the athlete must pay the regular institutional rate for that lodging. DIII recruits can stay with currently enrolled students in their dorm if that housing option is available to all students who visit the school, athletes and non-athletes alike. DIII schools can also pay for a student-athlete’s housing during an unofficial visit if they provide housing for every prospective student. Your parents/guardians will still need to find their own accommodations.

Questions to ask the coach during your unofficial visit

When you go on your unofficial visit, one of your top priorities should be to ask the coach any questions you have about the school and the program. Before you go, write down your questions and keep adding to the list throughout your visit. When it’s time to talk to the coach, you’ll have your list ready to go, rather than trying to come up with questions on the spot. Here some examples of questions you might want to ask:

• What are the athletic and academic requirements?  You’re probably well-versed in eligibility requirements—if not, read more about  NCAA eligibility requirements . But each coach will have slightly different criteria that they look for in their athletes.
• What kind of academic support does the athletic program offer?  Being a successful student is the most important part of your college career. Make sure that you’ll be set up with the tools you need.
• What commitments do you expect from athletes in the off-season or during holidays?  If going home over the holidays and for summer break is important to you, then you need to know what commitment level is expected during these times.
• What is your coaching and training style?  By this point, you’ve probably played for a few different coaches with various coaching styles. And you probably know what kind of approach works best for you. Remember: The coach has to want you on their team, but you also can choose a team that best fits what you’re looking for.
• Will I be able to meet any current athletes?  It’s important to see the team dynamics, if possible. Do they joke around or are they more serious? Do they hang out on the weekend or do they have separate friend groups?
• What are the training facilities like?  To stay healthy and in shape throughout your tenure as a college athlete, you’ll need access to the right facilities and people.
• What are you looking for in a recruit?  This is your opportunity to find out what spots the coach is trying to fill and ultimately who they want on their team to fill these positions.

What to wear on an unofficial visit

A lot of recruits ask us what to wear, and our best piece of advice is to err on the side of overdressing, rather than underdressing. You want to look neat and clean throughout your entire trip. For men, bring a collared shirt with nice jeans or khakis. For women, skirt, dress, nice slacks or jeans are acceptable. Avoid wearing sweatshirts, sweatpants, hats, flip flops and ripped jeans.

Bring athletic clothes and shoes in case you get invited to work out with the team. For all D1 sports—minus men’s basketball—athletes are not allowed to try out for a team during a visit; however, the team captain can organize a team workout, which recruits can join if the coach is not present. Similarly, at DIII schools, recruits can join in an unofficial team workout. For Division I men’s basketball and all DII sports, recruits can take part in tryouts during visits.

After your unofficial visit: The coach follow-up

When you get home, write the coach a “thank you” note. Tell the coach what you liked about the school and thank them for their time. You can also include a brief list of where you’ll be playing next so they can watch you in person. Not only does this show the coach that you are a thoughtful, courteous athlete, but it will keep you top-of-mind as the coach works on creating their roster.

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What Does It Mean When You Get An Unofficial Visit?

As a prospect hoping to gain traction with college coaches, or the parent of such a prospect, I am sure you are wondering what it means when you go on an unofficial visit to a college’s campus.

In short, it is a very good sign! It means that the coach at the program has interest in you becoming a part of their program, and wants to meet you in person. However, receiving an unofficial visit does not guarantee you a scholarship or a place on the team. An unofficial visit is simply a step along the path to securing an offer from that program.

Recruits and their families often struggle to fully understand the meaning of unofficial visits, official visits, and other recruiting jargon. In order to ace the recruiting process, and give yourself the best possible chance of receiving scholarship offers, it is important that you understand the implications of unofficial and official visits. For this reason, we’ve given a more detailed explanation of what an unofficial visit means, what to expect, and how best to prepare below.

The Meaning Behind An Unofficial Visit

College coaches will use unofficial visits as an opportunity to get to know you on a more personal level - making it very important that you arrive with your best foot forward. While you are on campus, the coaching staff will be evaluating your fit with their program. Additionally, it is the perfect time for you to evaluate your own fit with their program.

It’s Most Important For You: While it is important that you leave the program’s coach with a good impression of you, the ultimate purpose of an unofficial visit is for you to learn more about schools of your choosing. Remember this on your visit, and place as much of an emphasis as you can on learning about the school and evaluating your fit into both their specific sports program and the broader institution.

It’s An Opportunity, Not A Test: For a lot of prospects, visiting a school unofficially is the first time they meet that program’s coach in person. This can be incredibly intimidating, and can cause prospects to be nervous. It is important that you do your best to relax and recognize the opportunity that is in front of you. There is no better way to determine your interest in a college than interacting with that college’s athletic and academic programs in person.

Don’t Just Focus On The Sports: Throughout the recruiting process, you will learn plenty about the specific sports program you are considering. On the other hand, information about the college as a whole may be harder to come by. An unofficial visit is a great way to gather this information. Learning about the college as a whole is one of the most valuable parts of an unofficial visit.

Unofficial visits, while not a guarantee of a scholarship or place on the team, are an important part of the recruiting process. They are one of the best ways to both learn about the college and evaluate your fit with the specific sports program you are interested in. It is important that you take advantage of the opportunity an unofficial visit presents!

What To Expect During An Unofficial Visit

An unofficial visit is a great way to get to know a school and their program before committing or taking an official visit, and there are no limits to the number of unofficial visits you can take.

Official Vs. Unofficial Visits: Unofficial visits are not the same thing as official visits. The main difference is financial. On official visits, colleges are allowed to pay for transportation, housing, and meals. However, on unofficial visits, colleges cannot pay for these expenses. The prospect and their family are responsible for the cost of an unofficial visit.

Home Sporting Event: During the unofficial visit, the college can reserve tickets for you at a home sporting event. This is often the most exciting part of the visit for prospects. Attending a game is a great way to see the environment that you would be playing in for the next four years if you chose to commit. You will also typically sit with other visiting prospects, so it is a great time to get to know your potential future teammates.

Athletic And Academic Tour: During the unofficial visit, one of the program’s coaches will take you on a comprehensive athletic tour. While this is obviously important, it is equally important that you go on an academic tour. These are often led by students and are a great way to learn more background information about the school.

An unofficial visit should be a fun experience! You get to go to a game, meet your potential future teammates and coaches, and learn more about the college you are considering attending. Remember to enjoy yourself throughout the process.

Acing Your Unofficial Visit

Preparing for your unofficial visit in the right way will make a big impact on how valuable your experience is. Additionally, an unofficial visit is an opportunity to enjoy yourself and learn about the school, the program’s coaches will also be evaluating you.

Impress The Coaches: Showing up prepared and ready to learn will leave a good impression and greatly improve the chances that the program’s coaches think you are a good fit with their team. The best ways to prepare are to do general background research on the school and the specific sports team you are interested in, and create a list of questions to ask the coaches.

Maximize Your Experience: During the visit, you should experience as much of the college as you can. Visit the school’s library or student union, eat lunch at a popular local restaurant, or even walk around campus by yourself. While doing these things, it is important that you visualize yourself at the college as an actual student. This is one of the best ways to evaluate your interest in the program, and is something you should do at every school you visit.

Following Up Is Key: After an unofficial visit, make sure you email the program’s coach to follow up with them. College coaches are incredibly busy people and will appreciate a thoughtful email thanking them for their time. It can be as simple as thanking them for the experience and wishing them the best of luck in their season.

Following the tips above will help you and your family have the best possible unofficial visit experience. Ultimately, remember that an unofficial visit is just an opportunity for you to learn more about a college and their sports program - not something to be nervous about.

Things To Keep In Mind

Visit A Dorm: At most colleges, athletes live in the on-campus dorms for at least two years. You can learn more about the environment you would be living in if you committed by visiting an athlete’s dorm during your visit.

Go To Class: Attending a class with an athlete is one of the best ways of learning more about the academic side of the college. If this is not possible, ask the admissions office if there is a class you can attend.

Develop Personal Relationships: It is easiest to build a personal relationship with someone if you are face-to-face. Take the time during your visit to talk to, and develop a relationship with the program’s players and coaches.

Not Everyone Can Afford Unofficial Visits: Paying to visit a college is expensive, and sadly, not everyone can afford it. If you cannot afford to visit a school unofficially, consider asking the coach about an official visit - where the majority of expenses are covered by the college.

There Are No Restrictions On Unofficial Visits: Unlike official visits, the number of unofficial visits you can take is unlimited. Additionally, there is no age restriction on an unofficial visit- although coaches typically are more interested in older prospects.

Keep Reading?

NCAA member schools have adopted rules to create an equitable recruiting environment that promotes student-athlete well-being. The rules define who may be involved in the recruiting process, when recruiting may occur and the conditions under which recruiting may be conducted. Recruiting rules seek, as much as possible, to control intrusions into the lives of student-athletes.

The NCAA defines recruiting as “any solicitation of prospective student-athletes or their parents by an institutional staff member or by a representative of the institution’s athletics interests for the purpose of securing a prospective student-athlete’s enrollment and ultimate participation in the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a contact.

A contact occurs any time a college coach says more than hello during a face-to-face contact with a college-bound student-athlete or his or her parents off the college’s campus.

What is a contact period?

During a contact period a college coach may have face-to-face contact with college-bound student-athletes or their parents, watch student-athletes compete and visit their high schools, and write or telephone student-athletes or their parents.

What is an evaluation period?

During an evaluation period a college coach may watch college-bound student-athletes compete, visit their high schools, and write or telephone student-athletes or their parents. However, a college coach may not have face-to-face contact with college-bound student-athletes or their parents off the college’s campus during an evaluation period.

What is a quiet period?

During a quiet period, a college coach may only have face-to-face contact with college-bound student-athletes or their parents on the college’s campus. A coach may not watch student-athletes compete or visit their high schools. Coaches may write or telephone college-bound student-athletes or their parents during this time.

What is a dead period?

During a dead period a college coach may not have face-to-face contact with college-bound student-athletes or their parents, and may not watch student-athletes compete or visit their high schools. Coaches may write and telephone student-athletes or their parents during a dead period.

What is the difference between an official visit and an unofficial visit?

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.

What is a National Letter of Intent?

A National Letter of Intent is signed by a college-bound student-athlete when the student-athlete agrees to attend a Division I or II college or university for one academic year. Participating institutions agree to provide financial aid for one academic year to the student-athlete as long as the student-athlete is admitted to the school and is eligible for financial aid under NCAA rules. Other forms of financial aid do not guarantee the student-athlete financial aid.

The National Letter of Intent is voluntary and not required for a student-athlete to receive financial aid or participate in sports.

Signing an National Letter of Intent ends the recruiting process since participating schools are prohibited from recruiting student-athletes who have already signed letters with other participating schools.

A student-athlete who has signed a National Letter of Intent may request a release from his or her contract with the school. If a student-athlete signs a National Letter of Intent with one school but attends a different school, he or she will lose one full year of eligibility and must complete a full academic year at their new school before being eligible to compete.

What are recruiting calendars?

Recruiting calendars help promote the well-being prospective student-athletes and coaches and ensure competitive equity by defining certain time periods in which recruiting may or may not occur in a particular sport.

Recruiting Resources

• Division I and II Recruiting Calendars
• National Letter of Intent
• Division III Permission to Contact: Self-Release Form
• Recruiting Fact Sheet
• Search for a School

Bylaw Article 13: NCAA Recruiting Rules:

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How to Ace Your College Visit – Mastering the Official and Unofficial Visit

Updated on Aug 8, 2023

For prospective college athletes, choosing a college can be similar to buying a car… you first begin with a list of options, do research to narrow down the list, and visit in person to find the best fit. 

For student-athletes looking to play college sports at an NCAA school, completing virtual campus tours and visiting campuses close to home can help narrow down the list of colleges before deciding on which campuses to put on your visit list.

The NCAA allows high school student-athletes to meet with the coaches and teams on campus, but there are limitations. In some cases, college coaches will pay for your transportation to the campus, as well as accommodations for an overnight stay (known as an official recruiting visit), while other times your family pays (unofficial visit). 

The timing of allowable unofficial and official visits varies based on the sport played, your year in high school, whether the school is NCAA Division I (DI) or Division II (DII), and the specific time period for your sport’s recruiting calendar. The recruiting calendar generally allows unofficial visits to occur earlier than official visits. 

Failure to follow the rules could result in a violation of the coach (and you!) receiving penalties, and it is important for recruits to familiarize themselves with the NCAA’s sport and division-specific recruiting calendars .

Whether you are a high school female basketball player (who is eligible to take an unofficial visit the moment you enter the 9th grade) or a high school male baseball player (who must wait until September of your junior year to visit a college campus) — you want to be ready. 

Let’s plan ahead and get you ready for your visit long before you pack your bags and jump in the car. Buckle up!

The first thing we need to do is set expectations. Most college programs have small recruiting budgets and may not be able to pay for official visits, cutting-edge athletic facilities, or expensive recruit photo shoots. You must look past the superficial expectations and consider the most important factors when choosing a college: academic fit, campus fit, and athletic fit . 

What is the Difference Between Official and Unofficial Visits?

What is an official visit.

Any visit to a college campus by a college-bound student-athlete or their parents that is paid for by the school. Before taking an official visit, a recruit must provide the college with their high school transcript and complete registration for a Certification Account with the NCAA Eligibility Center .

Beginning July 1st, 2023, student-athletes looking to compete at an NCAA Division I school are now allowed to take an unlimited number of official visits to NCAA institutions. It’s important to note that each school allows only one official visit per student-athlete, unless there’s a change in head coach after their first visit, allowing them to go on a second official visit. However, in the case of men’s basketball, a second visit is only permissible if it falls in a different academic year.

Additionally, all prospective DI and DII recruits must be placed on each school’s Institutional Request List (IRL) in order to take their official campus visit, receive an athletic scholarship, or sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI) .

What is an Unofficial Visit?

College campus visit paid for by student-athletes or their parents is considered an unofficial visit and an unlimited number of unofficial visits are allowed regardless of division level or sport.

Let’s dive deeper into the visit details…

Unofficial visits can be initiated by a prospective student-athlete, as well as the college coaching staff who can suggest dates and times to visit the campus – taking into account the NCAA rules regarding quiet and dead periods . Taking an unofficial visit is best when a college coach is able to meet with you on campus and high school student-athletes are allowed to take as many unofficial visits as they wish.

Official visits are typically more structured and coaches may have a list of dates reserved for official recruit visits. Scheduling and expenses (including travel, meals, and lodging) for official visits are always arranged by the college coaches. During your visit, you will either stay with your family at a hotel or in a dorm with a student-athlete host while your family stays in a hotel.

Official visits may not last longer than a two-night stay.

Honest Insight : If allowed, choose visit dates that overlap weekdays with weekends. Weekday visits typically allow you to attend a class and give you the chance to see how student-athletes balance their weekday routine of class, practice, study hall, and strength workouts – while also allowing you to experience the campus on a weekend.

Regardless of the visit type you choose to take, it is important to plan ahead and give yourself (and the college coach) ample time to create the best college visit. Take into consideration that the team may be traveling during your (unofficial) visit, or the coach may only have a small window of time to meet with you. Having an organized plan for visits and communicating clearly will help in the recruiting process. 

Now that you understand the difference between official and unofficial visits, let’s start planning your trip!

What to Know Before Your College Visit

As you narrow down the list of potential schools, you should research each school using free online resources, such as virtual campus tours and online tuition calculators. You don’t want to waste invaluable time during your visit seeking answers that you can find online. Make sure to research the following questions in advance of your visit:

• Research the athletic department – what conference do they compete in? Are their other sports programs successful?
• Research the team – do they compete nationally or regionally? Where are the players from? What are the team members majoring in? How long has the coach been there and do they have a contract with an expiration date?
• Research the school – have they cut sports recently? Are they adding sports? 

Your campus visit should serve to strengthen your interest in the school and provide you with a sense of campus life. It will also give an insight into the team atmosphere and what it is like to be a student-athlete at that school.

Before your visit, you should think through the conversations you might have at the school to how to prepare for your visits and show your best self when talking with a school’s coaching staff.

You should also prioritize and plan out your visits by listening to each response from a coach during your pre-visit conversations. Do they have a recruiting timeline in mind? Are they hoping you will commit during your visit or shortly after? How many scholarships are available? Do they only have one scholarship, but are having multiple recruits visit the campus? All of these are things that you should pay attention to. Waiting too long to schedule a visit or delaying your final decision after you’ve visited the campus can result in missed opportunities.

Whether you’re traveling to campus during an unofficial or official visit, you should request an itinerary and ask if you’d like something to be added. If you want to do undergraduate research while in college, ask to see a lab. If you are curious about the surrounding community, ask for meal options off-campus. If you have specific physical, learning, or social/emotional needs, ask to meet with professionals on campus while you are there. These are all items that are difficult to schedule once you’re on campus, but if you request them ahead of time, a school should be able to accommodate your needs.

Some sports have recruiting cultures where students will verbally commit after an unofficial visit, long before they are able to schedule an official visit or sign a National Letter of Intent .

Honest Insight : Make sure you are 100% confident in your school choice! The more research you’ve done before your visit, the more prepared you’ll be to decide.

What to Pack for Your College Visit

With an itinerary in hand, you’ll be able to plan what you will need to pack for your recruiting visit. Comfortable walking shoes are key as you will likely be walking the campus for hours and you want to be comfortable. Are you joining the coaches at a nice restaurant? Pack restaurant-appropriate clothes. Are you meeting with the Athletic Director or Dean of Admissions? Make sure to pack business casual clothes for a professional impression. Will you be invited to train with the team? Add athletic training clothes and shoes to your bag.

What to Expect During Your College Visit

You’re on campus! Now is the time to open your eyes and ears to take it all in! Remember, you are recruiting the coaches and college just as much as they are recruiting you. Can you see yourself on campus? Are you ready for the climate? Is it close enough to home or a nearby airport or train station? While you are checking all of these things out, the Athletic Department and coaching staff will also be evaluating if you will provide value to their campus/program. Conduct yourself in a way that would make your family and high school coaches proud.

Your official visit should ALWAYS include one-on-one time with the coaching staff where the coaches should be honest about their commitment to you. Are you expected to make a decision by a certain date? Is an athletic scholarship offer on the table? Would a scholarship be a dollar amount or will it be a percentage of your total bill?

During your visit, make sure to speak about your academic needs and make sure you meet with an Academic Advisor to further understand the expectations for the student-athletes at the school.

Academic preparedness carries a lot of weight in the recruiting process – the academic advisor’s professional opinion of your academic ability could weigh heavily in a coach’s recruiting decision. Even if you only have a short time with the academic advisor, make it count! It’s important for the academic advisor to see how you answer questions and speak about your own academic needs and goals. 

Honest Insight : The best recruiting visit, from an academic advisor’s perspective, is one in which the parent or coach allows the student and advisor to get to know each other. This time is crucial in two ways – first, the academic advisor must learn how to best support the student-athlete, and second, this is a crucial time for the student-athlete to learn about the academic expectations of that school. Is study hall mandatory? Do they check attendance at class and what are the repercussions for missing class? Will tutoring be required or is it optional, or even offered at all?

Be sure to have your Honest Game CARE® (College Athletic Report on Eligibility) or a high school transcript on hand during your visit. Having a plan will show that you are aware of what you will need to complete in your final semesters of high school and that you take your academic eligibility seriously .

While you’re busy picturing yourself as a student-athlete on the team, remember you will also be a member of the campus community one day. What would it be like if you couldn’t play sports? Eat in the cafeteria, stay in the dorms (or at least visit the dorms if the official visit has you staying in a hotel near campus), and look for events happening on campus to get a good understanding of campus life. 

You also want to observe coach/player interactions. 

If you are lucky enough to stay longer than a morning or afternoon, you’ll get a good sense of how the team interacts with each other, and how they feel about their coaching staff. These moments with the “host” athletes will help solidify your awareness of the culture and can often be one of the most important factors when deciding on schools. It is important to consider how the team interacts with each other, their coaches and with professors.

Wondering what you should ask current players during your visit? To get you started, here are a few sample questions to ask your host or players on the team:

• What does a typical day look like?
• How do you manage balancing classes with practice?
• How do professors react when you have to miss class due to traveling or games?
• Do the athletes do workouts together during the offseason?
• Are you close with other athletic teams? Are there opportunities to meet other athletes?
• Do you live with teammates, with athletes in other sports, or is it randomly selected?
• What is your favorite thing about the school?
• If you could do it all over again, would you choose this university?
• Any advice for me?

Coaches try to incorporate social activities into a recruiting visit, away from the athletic department and sports facilities, to give you a chance to get to know the team, and for them to get to know you. Remember, you only have one chance to make a first impression, and making good choices while on your recruiting visit is a wise decision. Follow the rules set forth by the NCAA   and hold yourself accountable to team and campus rules. One bad choice on a recruiting visit could cost you your collegiate athletic opportunities – not only at the school but at other schools. Coaches and players talk, and news can travel quickly. 

What to Do After Your College Visit

Once you leave campus and are able to sit back and reflect, make a pros and cons list while it’s fresh in your mind. Did you like the team? What if you couldn’t play sports anymore – would you want to stay at the school? Did the coaching staff talk about you using a redshirt year and how did that make you feel? 

What you need to remember is a visit is just that, a visit. It’s a moment in time when you get to experience all that the team and school want to show you. However, that may not be the case every day for the next four years. Think about life on campus outside of the recruiting dinner with coaches – that won’t be an everyday occurrence once you’re a member of the team. Maybe you visited on a warm summer day but winter in the region is typically snowy and very cold. Think about life on campus the other 363 days of the year.

Choosing a college may be a family decision for you. Have open and honest conversations with those in your support circle to help you make your college decision. If you are used to your family being at every game, will you be upset if you are going to a college far from home? Do you have the financial ability to fly home or take the train during breaks if your sport allows, or will you remain on campus? Are others on the team in the same situation? Do they go to teammates’ homes for holidays?

Honest Insight: One of the most important steps you can take after your visit is to thank the coaching staff with an email or a handwritten note, as they took time out of their schedule and possibly money out of their budget to host your visit. 

If you have decided to cross the school off your list of possibilities, make sure to tell the coaching staff as soon as possible. They most certainly have other recruits waiting on your decision and telling them your plans early is the right thing to do. 

Once you have committed to a school, you should email and/or call the programs that have scheduled future visits letting them know you’ve made your decision.

Do not have your family or high school coach do this for you. These are hard conversations but it’s always best to be upfront and open about your plan. You never want to burn bridges on the recruiting trail… one day you may decide to transfer to one of the schools you previously visited.

Have more questions about the recruiting visit process? Honest Game Counselors are available to provide one-on-one assistance to support student-athletes in navigating post-secondary opportunities athletically and academically. Schedule a time to meet virtually with our experts .

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Unofficial vs. Official College Visits

Are you interested in learning more about the difference between an unofficial visit and official visit?

Let’s take a deep dive into this topic!

UNOFFICIAL VISIT

• Unofficial visits can take place at any time on the athletes OWN time (with no athletic department contact)
• Visits can begin August 1st before the recruits junior year of high school (D1 only) if the athlete wants to communicate with the athletic department and coaching staff
• Unofficial visits vary per university
• What do typical practices look like?
• How many spots are the coaching staff trying to fill?
• How strenuous is the life of a student-athlete?
• What does the coaching staff expect academically from the student-athlete?
• Is there an academic support team?
• How does the coaching staff handle qualifying?
• Information about facilities the golf team has access to
• Tour campus and get a feel for student life
• View athletic facilities
• Explore educational buildings and get a sneak peek at a class
• Check out university housing
• Meet an academic advisor and discuss future academic plans
• Explore the bookstore and look at merchandise
• First time impressions are everything
• The way you dress is important to the coaching staff
• DO NOT wear opposing schools gear – you’d be surprised at the comical stories coaches have about these situations
• Your relationship with your parents/guardians tells the coach a lot about what type of teammate and student-athlete they will be getting
• Look people in the eyes and shake hands when the situation presents itself (people remember these things)
• Always write a handwritten thank you note after the visit concludes – whether you end up choosing this university or not – these notes go a long way with the coaching staff

OFFICIAL VISIT

• Visits can begin August 1st before the recruits junior year of high school
• NCAA allows for a student-athlete to make five visits to a Division I school with one visit being allowed per university
• NCAA also limits DII and DIII to one visit per university, but the student athlete can make unlimited amounts of visits
• Each official visit can only be 48 hours – don’t worry, the coaches will make sure each hour is filled
• Transportation to and from campus
• Hotel/lodging for the official visit
• Three meals per day
• Three tickets to a home sporting event
• Official visits are an opportunity for the recruit to stay with a current student-athlete on campus to get a feel for campus/dorm life
• Future potential teammates – meet with team and get an idea of how you fit in
• Athletic academic advisor meeting
• Meet athletic support staff
• Check out campus again (assuming an unofficial visit was taken)
• Where do we rank on your list?
• Can you commit soon or do you still have reservations?
• What are some questions you or your parents/guardians still have regarding our program and university?
• Dress appropriately for each event – never wear opposing university gear (this goes for your parents, too!)
• Be yourself with the team and ask them lots of questions – this is an ideal opportunity to get an inside look at how the life of a student-athlete looks like at this particular school

And that is the difference between an unofficial and official visit! We hope that you were able to learn something from this valuable information. For more posts like this one, check out our blog here:  Path Fore Success Blog . You can also follow us on  Instagram  &  Twitter  for more!

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NCAA Announces Significant Change to Official Visit Rules for Recruits

• Author: Mike McDaniel

The NCAA’s Division I Council met this week and tackled a host of topics, including one wide-sweeping change that affects recruiting across college athletics.

Effective July 1, there will be new recruiting rules for official and unofficial visits. Prospects will no longer have a limit on the number of schools they can visit on official visits. However, prospects will be limited to one official visit per school. The only time that prospects will be allowed a second official visit is if there is a coaching change that takes place after the first official visit has been taken.

In men’s basketball, prospects will still be able to take a second official visit as they usually have, but the visits can not occur within the same academic year.

In addition, official visits may last “no longer than a two-night stay” per the updated rules. Schools are permitted to cover travel costs, transportation and meals, as well as “reasonable entertainment” for up to two family members who accompany the prospect on a visit.

“For young people considering where to go to college, visits to campus - both official and unofficial - are an integral part of the decision-making process,” said Lynda Tealer, the chair of the Division I Council. “This was an opportunity to modernize NCAA rules in a way that provides greater and more meaningful opportunities for prospects going through the recruitment process.”

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• Oct 11, 2018

The Ultimate Guide to Football Visits, Official and Unofficial

Who should you call? Ask for the individual in charge of recruiting (Usually the Recruiting Coordinator). Ask them what would be the best time to visit campus on an unofficial visit for a kicker or a punter. How do I get their number? GOOGLE IT! How do you do anything in life? Usually go to the athletic page and find an email and send an email to the coach or find a phone number to the athletic department. Chances are, you will get a secretary who can connect you to the correct person. If they are rude and unhelpful, be polite, and then call every single day or week and hope that your kindness and effort pays off.

What Questions should you already have answers for?

What position you play

What's your grade point average

What town are you from

What school do you go to

What are your stats

What do you want to major in

What to Know and Expect when taking a college visit

Unofficial Vs. Official Visits

Unofficial Visits:

Unofficial Visit - is any visit prior to your senior year.

You are more scouting out the school than the football program: Make sure that you are comfortable with the campus, class size, distance from home, etc.

You have unlimited unofficial visits.

You are entirely responsible for all costs: i.e. Travel, lodging, food, etc.

Coaches can coordinate travel but cannot pay.

Athletes may stay with a player/member of the team or with any other student or family.

You may be invited to a practice.

You cannot tryout or participate in practice.

Official Visits:

You are limited to only 5 Official Visits your senior year.

You are in the market to find your home for the next 4 years of your life or more. Make sure that: you are comfortable with the campus, class size, distance from home, etc.

You are comfortable with the facilities and try to get to know your teammates as they will be your family for a big chunk of your life.

You cannot take more than 1 official visit to a single school, make it count and learn as much as you can about life as a student athlete on that campus.

You will be given a host to show you around and introduce you to the team. This host will be a player on the team. Ask them questions! Everything and anything.

Do not do drugs or get into any kind of trouble or do anything to hurt your chances of being on this team. Your host is responsible for you and will be asked to give a full report to the head coach and position coaches about your Character and if you are a good fit for their team.

Official Visits do not last longer than 48 hours.

You will usually get one free ticket to a game on an official visit (often times sideline passes).

You will be invited to see practice or a walk through practice.

You cannot tryout or practice with the team.

Meeting with a Coach

You may meet with a coach on either type of visit (Unofficial and Official)

This is your chance to get to know this coaching staff and learn what to expect when you report. Take everything with a grain of salt as coaches are in sales mode. Go with your gut feeling.

Be confident, humble, respectful, and grateful.

Look the coach in the eye, shake hands firm, and remember that coaches want Confidence when looking for a kicker (different than cocky).

What to look for on Official Visits:

Try to stay in a dorm. This is where and how you will be living for the first few ears. Try not to stay in off campus housing with one of the players.

Do NOT be too cool for school! This is an interview of you! Coaches will ask your host and other players about rather or not you will be a good fir for the program.

Try and sit through a class. It is easy to view this as a vacation, but you are there making a decision on the next 4+ years of your life. Make sure that the classes area good fit for you and your academic needs. (No sense in going to a great football team only to flunk and not be eligible to play.)

Try to eat in the dinning hall during your stay. (It ain't mama's cookin' no more).

Take a campus tour to meet other people and ask questions to those who aren't on the football team.

Go out with the boys, see how the football team spends their off-time. Don't be a wet blanket but also, Do Not try to become a legend either.

What Not To Do:

Do not ask the coaches information you should have already looked up. i.e: What conference are you in? What division is this, etc.

Do Not Lie about offers from other schools. Coaches talk to each other, EVEN THE RIVALS. This is a big No, NO and can lead to a lot of bad issues. If you do have scholarships however, feel free to let schools know, if they ask.

Do not lie about stats or measurements. They will check and it is a big RED FLAG when you lie.

Focus on yourself and don't talk about other recruits that you are competing against.

Do NOT POST alcohol, drinking, smoking, cussing, using racial slurs, talk politics, etc. Schools check and have teams dedicated to checking SOCIAL MEDIA for recruiting and during your duration on the team. Even if it's set to private, DELETE ALL NEGATIVE OR HARMFUL CONTENT ACROSS ALL PLATFORMS! Your life is bigger than your likes and your goals and plans are more important that what your high school buddies thought was funny months ago. Move on!

Finally Remember , Have fun! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity so enjoy this process. It will be stressful but remember that life is good, you've earned these opportunities, and most of all you get to play the game you love on a stage you have been dreaming of since you've been a little kid around the yard. ENJOY and BEST OF LUCK! -Trinity Kicking

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Understanding the difference between official and unofficial visits and what they signify with regards to college recruiting interest.

College coaches will likely ask if you'd like to visit the campus if they are seriously interested in recruiting you. You can make two types of visits to colleges: Unofficial and Official Visits. There are some important differences between the two and both signify different levels of interest, so be sure to communicate about visits with your coaches to develop a game-plan.

Unofficial Visits

An unofficial visit is one that's paid for by you and your parents, not the school. You can take as many unofficial visits to college campuses as you'd like and the only thing the school can provide you and your family are three free tickets to a home sports event.

Unofficial visits are a great way for you to see the campus on your own terms and get a feel for what it's like to be a student at that particular school. Be sure to let college coaches know when you're planning to be on campus during your unofficial visits.

Official Visits

Making an official visit is a major milestone in the recruiting journey. If college coaches invite you for an official visit, it's a great sign they want you on their team. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind with regards to official visits:

An official visit is defined as any visit made by a student-athlete and his/her parents that's paid for by the college.

During official visits, colleges can pay for transportation to and from campus, lodging, three meals a day for you and your parents, and entertainment expenses including three tickets to a home sporting event.

For NCAA DI and DII schools, you're allowed up to 5 official visits and can only take one visit per school.

For NCAA DIII and NAIA schools, there is no limit on the number of official visits you can take, but you can only take one visit per school.

Again, talk to your coaches about where you'd like to visit and develop a game-plan for before, during, and after your visits.

Next Suggested Article:  Receiving and Handling Offers

Additional Guidance Videos and Blogs:

Recruiting Calendar 101

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4 Tips for communicating with colleges

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What coaches look for on official and unofficial visits, share this article.

USA TODAY High School Sports has a weekly column on the college recruiting process. Here, you’ll find practical tips and real-world advice on becoming a better recruit to maximize your opportunities to play at the college level. Jason Smith is a former NCAA DIII athlete and college coach at all three division levels. Jason is just one of many former college and professional athletes, college coaches, and parents who are part of the  Next College Student Athlete  team. Their knowledge, experience, and dedication along with NCSA’s history of digital innovation, and long-standing relationship with the college coaching community have made NCSA the largest and most successful athletic recruiting network in the country.

For many student-athletes, setting foot on campus is the moment everything clicks. They take in the culture, meet with college-athletes in person, walk through the dorms, and then they just know—this is where I want to go to school.

That’s why official and unofficial visits play such an important part in the recruiting process. It helps families picture the next four years, and gives them a sense of clarity—good or bad—on whether they want to pursue that college. Plus, it’s an opportunity to get some one-on-one time with the coach and team and tour the athletic facilities.

Read more: How official and unofficial visits work

That being said, the coach is also evaluating your athlete— and even you —by essentially bringing your family onto their turf. Recruiting is a two-way street, and they want to make sure that your athlete is a fit for them just as much as the school is for your child.

And now, with the NCAA rules that went into effect this year , D1 college coaches can invite student-athletes on official visits starting Sept. 1 of their junior year. Previously, recruits had to wait until their senior year to go on official visits.

So as you prepare for visits this fall, here’s what college coaches look for—and how your family can make a great impression.

Does your child have real interest in the program?

It seems like a no-brainer, but it’s worth pointing out that coaches can spot pretty quickly when the student-athlete has no interest in the school, especially smaller schools or D3 programs. In most of these scenarios, the parents thought it was a great opportunity, helped set up the visit and pressured the athlete to attend. So, begrudgingly their child obliges, but doesn’t put any effort forward once there.

Make a great impression : Before you visit any school, make sure your whole family is on the same page, and help your child do their research on the program. The best way to show coaches they have genuine interest is by asking good questions. For example, what are the most common majors on the team, and what is the team’s average GPA? What do the offseason and holiday commitments look like? What does a typical week of practice look like?

You want to fully understand what your child’s experience would be like if they attended that school, and the coach will respond positively to these questions as they show your athlete did their research and has real interest in the program.

Read more: Questions to ask college coaches

How are you behaving?

Don’t forget: coaches are actually observing you, too. They know this is a family decision, which means not only are they bringing your athlete onto the team, but you’re also a part of the deal. So, they like to see how you blend into their culture as well. Plus, they want to see how independent recruits are around their parents. For example, if you’re answering every question for your athlete, it signals to coaches your child may need some hand-holding once they’re on their own.

Read more: How college coaches recommend parents help with recruiting

Make a great impression : Let your child lead. When you think of an official or unofficial visit, think of it this way—the coach is walking side-by-side with the athlete, talking to them about the program and the school, and the parents are just behind them, supporting and adding to the experience. You never want to answer the questions for your child and be the only one asking them. Instead, think of this as an opportunity for your athlete to show the college coach that when they leave the comfort of home and go off to school for the first time, they are mature enough and independent enough to handle the transition.

Read more: Questions college coaches ask

What does your child’s body language say?

There are far too many stories about coaches really looking forward to a prospect visiting and then being completely turned off by the athlete’s attitude and body language. Whether they’re on their phone the entire time, looking down or not answering questions, they’re signaling to coaches that they’re uncomfortable or don’t want to be there.

Make a great impression : College coaches realize that high schoolers may be shy around authority figures. They don’t expect every recruit to be super outgoing, but they do want to get to know your child on this visit, and they can’t really do that when your athlete is displaying negative body language. This is a chance for your student-athlete to show the coach they are independent and have leadership qualities. So, to help your athlete prepare for this visit, remind them to answer questions directly and confidently, shake the coach’s hand, and keep their phones in their pocket at all times.

Does your child bond with the team?

Whether it’s a team dinner or an overnight visit, if the coach has serious interest in your athlete, they will make sure they meet with the team. After all, most of your child’s time will be spent with these players. They’ll travel with them, train with them, take classes with them, and even live with them. So it’s really important for the college coach to analyze a recruit’s personality and see how they vibe with other players.

Make a great impression : Relax! Remind your child that a visit isn’t an interview—it’s an opportunity to picture what life would be like on campus and being a college-athlete. If it isn’t meant to be, it isn’t meant to be. That’s why you go on them—to discover your best fit and find the right program for your family. Bonding with the team and talking with the coach can seem overwhelming, but if you’re prepared, have done your research, and know what factors matter to you when selecting a college, you’ll surely have that “aha” moment.

Read more: How to get recruited

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What Are Official and Unofficial Visits?

by Claire Richardson | Feb 3, 2017 | Recruiting Process | 0 comments

What are Official and Unofficial Visits?

Official visits….

Can only occur after August 1st before to a PSA’s junior year and are often paid for by the college. They usually include an overnight stay, attending a class and practice, and meeting with the coach. Official visits are limited to 48 hours and a prospect cannot take more than five official visits, with a maximum of one visit per institution.

Unofficial Visits…

Occur anytime a PSA visits a college campus at his or her own expense. Some visits might include a meeting with a coach or current team member, an overnight stay, and/or attending a class and/or practice. A prospect can make as many unofficial visits as he or she desires.

Why visits are important

Spending time on campus, whether in a formal or informal setting, is the best way to get a sense of a school. Even if you visit schools are you aren’t seriously interested in, you will likely learn a lot about what general qualities you do or don’t like.

Most PSAs begin visiting campuses during their sophomore or junior year. You should let a coach know when you plan to visit a school and, if appropriate, ask to meet and attend a class or meet with a team member. It never hurts to ask, just be sure to ask politely (see my post on Requesting a Meeting and Visiting Campus !).

Some NCAA rules might make it difficult to arrange for a meeting.  For example, coaches are not allowed to communicate via email (beyond explaining the rules) with PSAs prior to the start of their junior year. However, the PSA can call coaches and coaches are allowed to talk on the phone provided the call was initiated by the PSA. For more on all the rules and the ideal timing for different visits, check out my post covering everything you need to know about The Recruiting Process Timeline .

The official visit is really the best opportunity to spend time on campus. As a junior or senior in high school, you will have a much better sense of what you are looking for in a school and you will be able to connect with your peers on campus in a different way than you would on an unofficial visit as a sophomore. If possible, try to wait until after your official visit to make your final decision.

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Tennis Recruiting: Official vs. Unofficial Visits

If you’re a high school tennis player, senior year is the time to evaluate your college choices and decide which is best. You should not make a final decision until you’ve visited the schools you’re interested in.

The NCAA recognizes two types of college visits, official and unofficial, and there are are some pretty strict rules about both, which you need to be aware of—or risk disqualifying yourself from playing in college. Here’s a brief look at the key points of difference.

Official Visits

If a college tennis coach invites you on an official visit, it is a very good indicator that he or she is considering offering you a scholarship. The school pays for your transportation, sets you up to stay in a dorm (probably with a player from the team) and assigns someone to take you around campus.

An official visit may include tickets to a football game or a concert on campus. All expenses paid by the school for an official visit must be “reasonable.”

You are allowed five official visits to NCAA Division I or II schools, but you cannot visit a school more than once. If you are looking at NCAA Division III, NAIA or junior colleges, the number of schools you can visit is unlimited, but official visits are rarely offered.

Unofficial Visits

You (or your parents) foot the bill for unofficial visits. You may decide to take a family road trip to visit a few colleges, or schedule a visit if you plan to be in the area of a school that interests you. During an unofficial visit, you can arrange to meet with academic counselors, coaches and financial aid counselors.

You may take as many unofficial visits to as many schools as you wish. A school may provide you with tickets to a home sporting event, but not transportation, food or housing. Unofficial visits are opportunities for you to check out schools and programs, but most of them lack a recruiting component.

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