college visits for athletes

College Visits as a Student Athlete: What You Need to Know about Official and Unofficial Visits

It can be hard to understand the rules around official and unofficial visits when it comes to choosing a college as a student-athlete. Throw in the NCAA recruiting calendar into the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for confusion! Let’s break it down by the basics.

Student athletes interested in playing sports in college at Division 1, 2, or 3 schools have two options when it comes to campus tours. Official visits are offers explicitly extended by coaches to tour the program and determine if the student and the school are a good fit for each other. Coaches may still play a role in organizing unofficial visits, but students and their parents largely set these up for the same reasons.

University visits, both official and unofficial, should place emphasis on the relationship between the athletics program and the prospective student-athlete to determine if it would truly be a strong fit.

The NCAA has rules and bylaws for official visits and unofficial visits. They also have concrete recruiting calendars that vary by sport. The recruiting calendars are made up of contact periods, evaluation periods, quiet periods, and dead periods.

The recruiting calendar also has an impact on when college visits are and aren’t allowed. For example, during the dead periods in Division 1 and Division 2, unofficial campus tours for athletics purposes and official visits are not permitted.

Student athletes looking to set themselves up for success in a university athletics program should prepare by learning the ins and outs of the NCAA recruitment standards as soon as possible.

Official Visits According to the NCAA for Division 1, 2, and 3 Schools

Official visits can be made beginning in August of an athlete’s junior year of high school. The rules and limitations for official visits are as follows:

Division 1 – The NCAA allows student athlete recruits to make five official visits to Division I schools, with only one visit per school.

Division 2 – Official recruiting visits for Division 2 schools are also limited to five visits with only one visit per school. It used to be that student athletes could visit as many Division 2 schools as they wanted. However, a rule change in 2018 limited the number of official visits to 5.

Division 3 – Student athletes can take as many official visits to Division 3 schools as they like. However, like D1 and D2, they can only visit the same school once. Recruiting for Division 3 schools does not have to follow the NCAA recruiting calendar, so more communication between an athletics coach and a student athlete recruit is common.

Invitations for official visits are extended by a university coach specifically for the purpose of recruiting. The biggest difference between official and unofficial visits is the way they are financed.

In an official visit, the college or university may pay for the transportation and lodging for a student athlete and their parents, three meals per day, and three tickets to a home sports event. Official visits can last for up to 48 hours or throughout one weekend, but no longer.

Each program may handle the financial aspect of an official visit differently, for example, paying for lodging but not transportation, providing an on-campus lunch rather than a stipend, etc. However, D1 universities in particular typically pay for all the expenses in an official visit.

Unofficial Visits According to the NCAA for Division 1,2, and 3 Schools

The student athlete and/or their family schedule unofficial visits themselves. There are two ways to go about an unofficial visit:

1. Schedule a campus tour as if the athlete were any other student

2. Reach out to the coach directly and try to schedule a campus tour or meeting with them. The regulations for unofficial visits are as follows:

Division 1 – University athletic departments, including coaches, are not permitted to be involved in a recruit’s unofficial visit before August first of their junior year of high school. Otherwise, there are no regulations involved in unofficial visits to D1 schools.

However, keeping the recruiting calendar in mind when organizing unofficial visits to Division 1 schools is essential. During dead periods, a coach can have absolutely no in-person contact with a prospective student athlete. It would be unwise to schedule an unofficial visit during that time.

Division 2 – Unofficial visits to Division 2 schools are unregulated by the NCAA. Prospective athletes can schedule unofficial visits with D2 athletics departments regardless of age and can speak with the coach on campus.

Division 3 – Unofficial visits to Division 3 schools are also unregulated by the NCAA. Additionally, coaches from Division 3 schools can give verbal scholarship offers at any age, regardless of the NCAA recruiting calendar.

Before reaching out to an athletics coach to arrange an unofficial visit, there are a few things to consider. The current relationship between the student-athlete and the coach is the first to consider. Unofficial visits, especially to D1 schools, are easier to arrange if the coach is already aware of who you are. The student-athlete should also have their academic and sports information readily available to be viewed by the coach.

What to Expect on a Campus Tour for College Athletics

While unofficial visits and official visits can mean very different things, the activities that take place during them are basically the same.

Both aim to determine whether the athlete and the program are a good fit for each other. However, it is more common for students to receive verbal offers and scholarship offers on official visits. Here are common activities that occur in both official and unofficial visits:

• A guided tour of the campus grounds and buildings, including department buildings, the mess hall, and the library
• An appointment with an academic advisor to discuss your major, academic goals, potential scholarship opportunities, and campus culture
• A tour of the housing options available to you as a student
• A meal on-campus at the dining hall
• Sitting in on a class and meeting some professors from your intended major(s)

The following activities are more likely on official visits but can also occur on unofficial visits with coaches:

• Meeting the training staff
• Attending a practice and meeting the team
• A behind-the-scenes tour of athletics facilities
• Attending a home sports game

These activities give prospective recruits an idea about what life is like on campus. Although the goal of every recruit is to play sports at their dream college or university, it’s important that it feels like home to them. Imagine yourself on the campus within the next year or two, and see how you feel!

Ana-Marcela joined the Colleges of Distinction team as an intern in 2018. Over the years, she has transitioned from intern to outreach associate, and now leads the team’s marketing and digital strategy efforts. Ana-Marcela coordinates social media and written content that helps students find the answers they need at every step of their college journey. She also led the research and development of the newest recognition, Military Support, which highlights institutions that dedicate resources to the service of service members and veterans of the military.  Ana -Marcela is a native Austinite and she earned her Bachelor’s in English Literature from St. Edward’s University. She spends her free time hiking the greenbelt, salsa dancing, cruising the aisles of half price books, and cuddling her cats.

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NCAA D1 Updates Official Visit Rules and Aims to Improve the Athlete Experience

The NCAA D1 Council met in April and approved several updates, including new official visit rules. The council also continues to support initiatives aimed at improving the D1 student-athlete experience overall. Here are the important updates you need to know:  

Recruits can now take unlimited official visits

Beginning July 1, 2023, recruits will no longer have a limit on the number of official visits they can make to NCAA D1 schools . Previously, recruits were only allowed to visit five D1 schools. This means D1 recruits will now have the opportunity to explore more schools before making their commitment decision.  

Recruits are, however, still limited to only one official visit per school. The only exception is if there’s a head coaching staff change; only then could an athlete revisit the same D1 school.  

In men’s basketball , recruits are still allowed a second official visit to the same school, as long as the second visit isn’t during the same academic year.  

Student-athletes will be involved in decision-making

The NCAA’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) successfully gained more student-athlete representation requirements. Moving forward, all D1 schools and conferences need to: 

• Appoint at least one senior staff member to be involved in their SAAC  
• Create a leadership team for their SAAC  
• Include at least one current college athlete in committees that are focused on student-athlete issues 

These new requirements signal the value that the NCAA is placing on their student-athletes’ perspectives and experiences. The hope is that the inclusion of athletes in these discussions will positively impact those most affected by NCAA rules and policies  – the athletes themselves. 

D1 Council also considers more holistic benefits for athlete

The D1 council is proposing ways to increase benefits for student-athletes during and after their careers. They proposed a model that the Board of Directors will review later this month. The recommendations to enhance support for student-athletes include: 

• Degree completion funds available for 10 years after being an athlete 
• Increased access to medical coverage for 2 years after being an athlete  
• Campus mental health services  
• Diversity, equity and inclusion programs 
• Career preparation and counseling 
• Strength and conditioning training, and more   

If approved, benefits would take effect in August 2024 to give schools time to put the benefits into place. We will update this post after the Board of Directors votes.  

New D1 football rules could take effect on August 1, 2023

The Football Oversight Committee recommended extensive updates to the D1 football recruiting model. If approved, the changes will take effect on August 1, 2023.  

Proposed changes range from simple calendar updates all the way to significant changes to how college coaches can contact and interact with prospects.  

Read the full list of proposed changes here .  

Related Reading: 

• Unofficial Visits  
• NCAA Name Image and Likeness Rule  
• NCAA Transfer Rules  
• All in Award
• Press and Media

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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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• #Division I
• #Division II

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Athletic Campus Visits: Unofficial Visits (part 1/2)

by Renee Lopez | Campus Visits , Recruiting tips

Understanding UNOFFICIAL Visits

If you are seriously interested in pursuing your sport in college, it is highly recommended to visit a lot of college campuses early in your high school career. It allows you to compare campus facilities, gain a better understanding of the admissions process, meet with various faculty in your potential academic major(s), and see up-close the demands of being a college student.

Being a student-athlete creates the need for a whole other level of perspective in evaluating a college. As a recruiting educator who regularly helps families with the college recruiting process through individual and group consulting, I am often approached after a seminar at a club or high school. Usually it is a family who is struggling to make a decision and they are looking for specific criteria to help them in differentiating between a vast amount of opportunities. I always ask if they have done a campus visit to compare and contrast. The majority who are so distraught in making a decision, have only looked at websites and financial numbers. I always recommend making a campus visit to as many schools possible.

In order to help them while on campus (and I get this question so often), I wrote a blog a few months back regarding The 13 Questions To Ask A College Coach to help during a campus visit. Also, if you have not already, I would highly recommend you read our 3 Part blog series on committing to a college. ( Part 1: Prior to Committing , Part 2: During Signing , and Part 3: Steps to Take After Signing ).

For this current 2 part series, I will address the two typical types of athletic campus visits: unofficial and official. This week, we will focus on the unofficial visit, as it is the most popular of the two, especially early on in the search process. Go here to read Part 2. I will primarily focus on NCAA rules for these visits at the DI and DII levels. (Please note that NCAA D3, NAIA, NCCAA, and NJCAA all have different rules when it comes to campus visits, so it is best to check with the governing body of the prospective college).

Who Pays for The Unofficial Visit?

An unofficial visit to a college by a prospective student-athlete is a visit made at the prospective student-athlete’s own expense.

How Many Unofficial Visits Can I Do To A Specific Campus?

Although there are some restrictions for some sports in terms of timing in your high school career for unofficial visits (such as men’s and women’s basketball, gymnastics, lacrosse, wrestling, and with some recent legislation changes, softball), typically you can do an unlimited number of unofficial visits. It is important to note that you cannot do an unofficial visit during any dead periods which vary in timing by sport. I would suggest checking the NCAA website for recruiting calendars that describe the specifics for each sport.

How Many Unofficial Visits Can I Do Overall?

There is no limit on the number of unofficial visits you can take to various campuses. Again, you may not do the visits during dead periods for your sport. It is also important to understand that most sports (with specific recruiting class restrictions on the sports mentioned above), allow you to speak with coaching staff while on campus. Again, there is some recent legislation which will be coming down for NCAA Division I specifically, that will impact this for SOME sports.

What Should I Bring With Me On An Unofficial Visit?

I would recommend that you print off a copy of the campus map. I would encourage you to ask admissions, prior to traveling to campus, of the best location for parking when you first arrive. Parking on many college campuses can be very difficult, especially when you are uncertain of your surroundings.

I would also recommend bringing a copy of your recent transcripts, test scores, a 1-page player profile/resume including your NCAA Eligibility Center ID number, any letters of recommendation, and other supporting materials demonstrating why they should consider you. It is imperative that you spend a lot of time on the college website PRIOR to your visit, to familiarize yourself with the college structure, campus layout, and offices you wish to meet with during your visit.

You should also have a list of questions with you to ask admissions, current students, faculty, and athletic staff. As I mentioned above, if you are able to meet with a coach within NCAA rules, I have prepared a set of 13 questions for you to ask a coach in our recent blog here .

What Should I Wear On An Unofficial Campus Visit?

I would encourage you to think “business casual”. I would recommend a nice button-down shirt (tucked-in) and dress pants for men. For women, I would recommend a casual skirt or dress pants and nice blouse or sweater. I would also encourage you to dress in layers, as many campus buildings have the air conditioning on high when it is summer and vice versa, during the winter months.

Will The School Pay For Anything While I Am On Campus?

The college is very limited in what they are allowed to do while you are on campus in terms of covering your expenses. They may be able to transport you to view practice facilities and their home competition facilities. They are allowed to pick up one meal in the on-campus dining facility or at a local restaurant for the prospective student-athlete and relatives/legal guardians of the student-athlete. I highly recommend that you do not have any expectations of them covering payments of anything for you while on campus.

Can I Stay Overnight in the Residence Halls On An Unofficial Campus Visit?

The prospective student-athlete may stay in an enrolled student-athlete’s dorm if they pay the going rate for regular (non-athletic) prospective students for such lodging. At a majority of colleges, this is complimentary, but some will charge, so it is important to ask. You should ask this when you are setting up the unofficial visit, not just the day of the visit.

What Will I Be Able to Do On An Unofficial Campus Visit?

On most colleges, you may take a campus tour, meet with the admissions and financial aid, tour residence halls, eat in the dining facilities, and meet with faculty in your desired academic major (s). Basically, anything that a “regular” prospective student would do in evaluating a college, is typically allowed.

What About Meeting With The Coaching Staff?

Again, it does depend on your sport. I would inquire, (but do not assume) that a coach has time to meet with you, especially on competition days and if it was not pre-planned. Insider tip: College coaches do NOT like it when you just show up unannounced in their office (Instead, try to arrange through admissions or your high school/club coach a week or two out from the visit) . With hundreds of recruits that email college coach each month, they also want to refresh their memory of which recruit you are in terms of talent, academics, and your social media prior to having a conversation with you. Also, they typically had a full day planned and you just altered their schedule. Trust me, setting something up (if the NCAA allows for your sport/graduation year) PRIOR to showing up is highly encouraged.

In addition, I always recommend letting a coach know you are going to be coming to a competition prior to just showing up, if you are looking to have any amount of time with them. Whether they love you as a recruit or do not know a thing about you, it is imperative to understand on competition days, that they may not have a lot of time to spend with you, no matter how far you traveled.

Having been a college coach for 14 years in NCAA DI and II, I will tell you the day of a game is some of the busiest days for a coach, especially the head coach. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes from media interviews, dealing with injuries, coaching staff meetings, and of course, interacting with their current players, administrators, and officials. I would always recommend coming in the day before a competition (versus just the day of a game) to hopefully get a little bit of time with some of the coaching staff.

Also, it is imperative to note that NCAA rules will allow for interactions with coaching staff and sometimes they will not. However, in most sports (other than men’s and women’s basketball, gymnastics, lacrosse, wrestling, and with some pending legislation a few other sports including softball), you most likely can interact with the coaching staff while on your campus visit provided it is not a dead period. In those specific sports for Division I, there are restrictions based off of the time of year as well as your graduation year, so be sure to check the NCAA website.

Can I Attend A Home Competition? Can I Get Complimentary Tickets?

It is possible, again, depending on your sport, for you to receive some complimentary admissions during an unofficial visit, depending on your graduation year. These are typically not handing over physical tickets, but instead via a pass list at the ticket gate that coaches will put you on. Typically, there are 3 complimentary admissions available for a prospective student-athlete and their parents. If it is a nontraditional family (stepparents, etc), two more complimentary tickets may be offered.

Can I Do A Try-Out or Play With The Team While I Am On Campus?

Try-outs are not allowed at the NCAA Division I level. However, some sports are allowed to do Identification (ID) Camps which would allow you to pay to participate for a camp held on the campus at various times during the year. NCAA Division II programs may do a try-out while you are there, or may not. There are also stipulations for doing try-outs in terms of timelines (when is your official high school season, etc). Tryouts will also require you having a copy of a recent sports physical, including a sickle-cell test. I would not assume you are or are not going to do a try-out when you are visiting a D2 campus. I would ask the coaches if they are looking to do this prior to your traveling.

How Do I Set-Up An Unofficial Visit?

It is recommended you set up an unofficial campus visit through admissions, especially if the college coach cannot directly contact you due to your graduation year recruiting regulations. If a college coach cannot contact you directly, you should utilize your high school or club coach to aid in communication. However, in some sports depending on your graduation year, this may not be permissible.  Depending on the college, they may also utilize their admissions staff to set-up athletic meetings.

However, I would copy the coach on all correspondence, even if they do not respond. Also, make sure that you have already sent the coaching staff a video link so they have seen you play in some capacity prior to the campus visit. Don’t know how to create a video? Check out our blog on creating a video for college coaches here . Finally, remember all of this correspondence should come from the student-athlete, and NOT the parent. Parents, we know you are just trying to help, but it really actually hurts the process. For more info on this, read our blog, “My Student-Athlete Is Soooooooooo Busy…I’ll Just Contact the College Coach For Them!: 3 Reasons Parents Should Not Contact A College Coach” .

I highly recommend you plan out multiple campus visits early on in your high school careers, even if the coaches are not available to meet with you. Being on different types of campuses will definitely give you a different perspective compared to the college brochures and websites. Want to know about Campus Visits? Read part 2 of our series here: OFFICIAL VISITS .

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Coach Renee Lopez

As a 17 year coaching veteran, Coach Renee Lopez is a recruiting expert for high school student-athletes. She uses her NCAA Division I, II, and NAIA Head Coaching experience to help families navigate the recruiting process to be identified by college coaches and help them find the right “fit” for playing at the next level. She has produced 3 All-Americans, over 30 All-Conference athletes and Her teams have been honored with awards for team academic accomplishments, sportsmanship, and sports ministry. In addition, Coach Renee Lopez has been named Coach of the Year by her peers.

She presents recruiting seminars across the country, has recently been featured in USA Weekly, with the National Alliance for Youth Sports, on SiriusXM Radio and ESPN Radio. She is the author of the book,   Looking For A FULL RIDE?: An Insider’s Recruiting Guide where she has interviewed over 65 college recruiters across all sports and college levels. In addition, she runs 9 Facebook groups to help facilitate conversations on college recruiting education, coaching education, leadership development, and sports ministry. She is also a certified speaker, trainer and coach for the John Maxwell Team, Jon Gordon Company, 3Dimensional Coaching, and the Positive Coaching Alliance.

She also does private consulting for student-athletes and their families to help in understanding the often daunting process of recruiting. (See one family’s testimonial.) If you are looking for help in the college recruiting process, please email Coach Renee Lopez at [email protected].

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For Athletes Recruiting 101 Recruiting Guidance

From a player to a recruit: what you should ask us on a college recruiting visit.

This is a guest post by Emily Finn. Emily Finn is the goalkeeper and senior captain for Bucknell University’s field hockey team. Now in her fourth year at a DI program, she has seen the recruiting process from the perspective of both the prospect and the athlete, and wants to use her experience to help others find the right school and program like she has.

Unofficial visits are stressful.

You have only a day or two to figure out if the school and team is right for you. This isn’t easy, especially considering that what you do with the team is often planned out by the coaching staff.

Beyond the Stats

As a recruit, I had tons of questions, and I remember being unsure on whether or not I should ask them. Now, as a student-athlete at a DI school, I find myself asking recruits if they have any questions, and seeing that same uncertainty on their faces.

School websites can give you information on classes, majors, and athletic departments. But, for me, the most important factors that went into finding my perfect school had to do the team dynamic and the relationships I would form at the school. I wanted to know how the team interacted with one another, with other athletes, and with professors.

I wanted to know how they handled being a student-athlete.

Don’t Leave it to Luck

I found the answers to some of my questions by hanging out with the team on my unofficial visit, but many of my questions were unanswered until I was actually on the team. Luckily, Bucknell turned out to be the perfect fit for me.

However, I know many athletes that also didn’t know the answers to important questions as recruits, and only after becoming student-athletes at a school did they find out it wasn’t the school for them.

Ask the Right Questions

My advice to recruits is to make a list of things you want in a school. Using this list for guidance, ask questions that you want to know the answers to, and don’t hold back. Yes, the players and coaches are judging you on your visit, but this is also the time for you to judge them.

To get you started, here are some questions to ask the players:

Academics →

  ➤ What kind of majors do the players have? Are there any majors that would be difficult for me to pursue with my sport?

➤ Do you find it easy or hard to balance classes with practice?

➤ What happens if you have a class that overlaps with practice time?

➤ How do professors react when you have to miss class due to traveling or games?

➤ Are online classes available? Would you recommend taking them for a more flexible schedule?

➤ Are you able to travel abroad for a semester?

➤ Do athletes stay on campus in the summer to take classes? If so, does this make in-season easier? Do the athletes do workouts together during the summer sessions?

➤ What can athletes do if they are struggling in a class? Are tutors or study groups available?

➤ Do teammates sign up for classes together?

Social Life →

  ➤ Would you say you are close with other athletic teams? Are there opportunities to meet other athletes?

➤ Who do you room with? Do you live with teammates, athletes in other sports, or is it random?

➤ If you don’t live with a teammate, are you close with your freshman year roommate?

➤ How are the meal plans? Do you eat with other athletes, or on your own?

➤ Do you know a lot of people in your major? Are you friends with people you meet in class?

➤ Would I be able to participate in Greek life? Are your teammates in a sorority/fraternity?

Athletics →

  ➤ What are the team goals for the season? For the year?

➤ Are there events for team bonding outside of practice and games? Do you hang out with each other outside of the sport events?

➤ Do you attend other sporting events together?

➤ What are the team expectations of each other?

Additional Resources

Here are some additional articles that may help prepare you for your college visits.

Campus Visit Dos and Don’ts →

5 Tips for Your Official or Unofficial Visit →

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Articles & Advice > College Athletics > Blog

Official College Visit Tips for Student-Athletes

If you end up one of the chosen athletes to attend an official college visit, make sure to prepare so you and the coach both get as much out of it as possible.

by Megan Gibbs Director of CollegeXpress

Last Updated: Mar 24, 2023

Originally Posted: Nov 27, 2012

For student-athletes in their senior year of high school, the official campus visit is one of the more exciting recruitment tactics used by college coaches to find the right athletes for their schools. Official college visits are not offered to just anyone; only the best of the best are invited personally by interested coaches. If you end up being one of the chosen athletes to be whisked away on an official visit, make sure you’re prepared and know the right questions to ask so you and the coach both get as much out of it as possible. Here’s what to know and what to expect before going off on your college visit journey and meeting with the coach of your preferred sport.

What is an "official visit"?

According to the NCAA, when you are invited on an official visit, "the college can pay for transportation to and from the college for you, lodging and meals...for you and your parents or guardians, as well as reasonable entertainment expenses, including three tickets to a home sports event." Before you can be invited, you need to submit a copy of your high school transcript (as well as standardized test scores for Division I schools) to the college, in addition to registering with the NCAA Eligibility Center . Per NCAA guidelines for most sports, you can only visit a college on an official visit once  and have only five total visits to all Division I schools; however, an unlimited number of official visits may be made to Division II schools. Unofficial visits—where travel, lodging, and meal expenses are paid for by you and your family—are also unlimited. 

What to expect

Colleges vary when it comes to hosting prospective athletes. Some may have you stay with one student who is on the team and it will be their job to show you around, while some will have you share your time with multiple people. With most visits, you will be on the campus for about (but no more than) 48 hours, and you will experience every aspect of college life , from checking out a practice, watching a game, and touring the campus to eating at the cafeteria , going to class, and joining in on the social atmosphere. It will be a jam-packed day or two where you will get to meet up with the coach and discuss your future at the college and on the team. Maybe you'll even get a scholarship offer while you're there! The school can also set up meetings with an academic counselor or professor in your desired major so you can get a better feel for the academics. All in all, it's an intense but potentially very enlightening experience.

Related:  Why You Shouldn't Expect a Full Ride for College Sports

Questions you should ask on the visit

Having questions prepared shows a huge level of interest in the college's athletic program and the coach. Here are a few to get you started:

• What is the team's travel schedule like? How does that factor into academics/school?
• How does the coach see you as a fit for the team? Would you be a starter? Walk on? Are there already many athletes in your position, i.e., four offensive wings so you would be the fifth—and would that be worth it?
• How many athletes are being recruited for the team?
• What is the practice schedule like/how many hours per week?
• Is there practice in the off season?

Write these and any other questions you may have down and bring them with you, along with extra paper and a pen.

How you should represent yourself

Grab your Sunday best, because you need to dress to impress. It shows you put time and thought into your trip and that you appreciate the coach extending him or herself to you. Dressing nicely is just the tip of the iceberg, though. In an interview with former  UMass Amherst  softball player Bridget Lemire and former Worcester State University  field hockey coach Susie Whelan, both expressed how important it is to represent yourself as best as possible off the field. "Most coaches will look at how you treat your parents, how you talk to other people, and how you talk to your teammates," said Lemire. "It may seem small, but it's a very important thing." Whelan added that it is crucially important to be polite. Finally, when your trip is over and you're back home, the first thing you need to do is write a thank-you note to the coach and your host player(s) to express your gratitude for their help and for sharing their time to make you feel at home.

Related: 6 Secrets You Need to Know For a Great Campus Visit

And why you need to behave

Let's face the facts here: you are a senior in high school who has been invited to a college campus for a night or two. Depending on who your lovely host is, it is very possible that you will be asked to join your new friends for some parties and fun. There is nothing wrong with following them out, but beware of doing everything they do. If a coach finds out that you were drinking or were out past curfew, your future at the college will be over. No exceptions. You know that scholarship you were given? You can kiss that goodbye as well. While it might seem like the "cool" thing to do because you want to fit in, it's not worth your athletic dreams and college future. And if you're still not convinced, check out this official visit horror story  that I'm sure will change your mind.

Related:  Take Your Campus Visit Experience Into Your Own Hands

An official college visit as a student is a heightened experience to the campus visits other students go on. As a student-athlete, you’ll get all the experience of visiting a college plus the added bonus of meeting and getting to know the coach of your desired college sport. Because of this, you want to make sure you’re truly prepare to reap the benefits of every second of your visit. While this may seem intimidating, in the long run, being prepared will mean you’ll enjoy it more. So have fun and make a good first impression—especially if it’s your dream school!

For more advice on making the most of college tours, check out our Campus Visits section, or for more tips on becoming a college athlete, check out our College Athletics section.

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Tags: athletic recruitment campus visits college athletes college athletics college recruitment student-athletes

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About Megan Gibbs

Megan Gibbs is the Director CollegeXpress. She has worked for Carnegie, CollegeXpress's parent company, since graduating from Merrimack College in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Communication. Megan is the glue that keeps CollegeXpress together and the push that keeps us moving forward.

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