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Official vs. Unofficial Visits: What’s the Difference?

Whether you’re an aspiring college athlete or not, one of the most effective parts of the college application process is visiting a campus. It’s the best way to find out if you like or don’t like a campus and why.

Every college admissions office puts together a laundry list of visit opportunities for prospective students on a yearly basis, but there is an extra wrinkle for prospective student-athletes. That comes in the form of official and unofficial visits. While everyone understands that one is official and the other isn’t, what are the differences and how do they apply to those impacted?

Official Visit vs. Unofficial Visit

Official visits are any trips to college campuses by a prospective student-athlete that’s paid for by the college they’re visiting.

Unofficial visits are completely paid for by the prospective student-athlete or their family.

The benefit of official visits is that they allow a college to really “wine and dine” a recruit. When hosting someone for an official visit, college programs can pay for the transportation needed by the recruit to get to and from campus, their housing and three meals per day for both the athlete and a parent. Colleges can also include tickets to a home sports event.

There is no flexibility for college athletic programs to pay for anything when it comes to an unofficial visit, but they’re still able to reserve tickets for the recruit and their family to a home sports event.

As one can imagine, the NCAA enforces some regulations on official visits. At the Division I and II level, student-athletes are allowed just one official visit per school, and five total. So if you find yourself being asked to go on several official visits, you need to be thoughtful of how you spend them.

There is no limit at Division III or NAIA schools with regard to total official visits made by a recruit, but they can only make one visit per school. If you’re taking unofficial visits, though, recruits and/or their families can visit as many colleges as many times as they want.

What Doesn’t Change

The big, overarching concept that’s the same between both official and unofficial visits is how one evaluates the school itself. Don’t forget, it’s important to like more things about a school than solely the athletics program. Asking yourself the same questions regardless of what type of visit you’re on is crucial to making an informed decision when the time comes.

• How are the dorms?
• Is the food any good? Hey, this is important! You have to eat least three times a day for four years, ya know.
• What are the academic buildings like? Are you a fan of the campus layout? What about the surrounding area? Would you be excited to attend this school even if sports weren’t a factor?
• Don’t forget about academics. What majors, advising programs, and internship opportunities are available? What resources are available to help you succeed?

This is just the start. Head over to the bookstore, ask current students (both athletes and non-athletes) as many questions as you can, and try to research any unanswered questions after you get home.

A Secret Tip: Act Natural

Here’s the thing—you’ll probably feel like a high school student during these visits. That’s OK because, well, you are a high school student. But I have a secret to tell you: as long as you’re not walking around with your parents or a bunch of other recruits and aren’t on an official tour of the campus, you’ll look just like just all the other college students there. It’s true. Nobody will know the difference.

This is an awesome opportunity to wander around campus by yourself and get a sense of what your experience as a student could be like.

You might be thinking, “But that’s weird! I don’t want to do that!” I get it—I would’ve thought the same thing as a high school junior or senior. However, you’re going to have to do this for real (like meet other students and speak to campus administration) sooner than you think, so there’s no better time than now to give it a try.

When you go on official visits or do admissions-sponsored tours/programs, you’re going to see the best and most wonderful things about that school. That’s literally their job. There are plenty of awesome colleges out there, but no place is all sunshine and rainbows. Exploring the campus by yourself is an opportunity to get a sense of what potential downfalls there are, and it’ll give you a chance to decide whether any of them are deal-breakers or not.

See if people hold doors open for you. Are students walking around campus with a smile on their face? If you get something to eat in the cafeteria, can you sit down with a random person to eat without feeling like an outcast? Is it easy to set up a meeting with the dean of students? Whether your experiences are positive or negative, it’s a decent indicator of what your experience at that college/university could be like.

Visits are an integral part of the college admissions process, regardless of whether you’re a recruited athlete or not. When you get the opportunity to visit a campus you’re potentially interested in, take full advantage of the time you have there.

Photo Credit: Andrei Stanescu/iStock

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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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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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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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Everything You Need to Know About Official Visits

Going on official visits is one of the most exciting parts of the recruiting process. Not only do you have the opportunity to see a college campus in person but being invited also signifies that the coach is very interested in you as a recruit. This is your opportunity to get to know the campus, the culture, the team and the dorms and then decide if you would feel comfortable living there for the next four years.

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What is an official visit.

So, what makes a visit official? Any visit to a college campus in which any part is financed by the school is considered an official visit. Coaches usually save invitations for their top recruits and getting asked is a huge step on your recruiting journey. It’s important to prepare in advance for this crucial part of the recruiting process. We’ve put together everything you need to know to ace your next official visit.

NCAA official visit rules

Each division level has its own set of rules surrounding official college visits. Division I has the strictest regulations. The following are the rules you need to know:

• The NCAA allows recruits an unlimited number of official visits to Division I schools. Recruits are limited to one per school, unless there is a head coaching change after their visit, in which they are permitted a second visit. Visits to Division II and Division III schools are unlimited.
• The school can pay for the following for you and your parents/guardians: transportation to and from the campus, lodging throughout your visit, three meals per day and three tickets to a home sports event.
• Schools may pay for a recruit’s transportation to and from campus. However, they can only provide transportation for parent/guardians if they travel in the same car as the recruit. Flights and separate bus or train tickets may not be purchased for parents.
• At all levels, recruits can take only one official visit per school.
• Each official visit may be up to 48 hours long, or the span of one weekend.
• D1 men’s ice hockey recruits can begin taking official visits as early as August 1 of their junior year in high school.
• D1 football recruits can begin taking official visits starting April 1 of their junior year of high school.
• D1 women’s basketball recruits may begin taking official visits in April of their junior year of high school, beginning the Thursday following the Women’s Final Four tournament.
• D1 lacrosse, softball and baseball recruits may begin taking official visits September 1 of their junior year of high school.
• For all other DI sports, recruits can begin taking official visits starting August 1 before the athlete’s junior year of high school.
• Official visits are not allowed to occur during recruiting dead periods.

Within these official rules, each school will have a slightly different way in which they conduct visits. Some schools will be able to finance your whole trip, paying for transportation, meals, lodging and tickets to a home game. But this is the maximum of what colleges can provide for their recruits. Some programs simply may not have the money to pay for your entire visit, opting to finance just a small portion of your visit. An official visit can also include having an on-campus lunch or dinner that is purchased by the coach. It doesn’t have to last the full 48 hours—again, that’s the maximum amount but not a requirement.

Generally speaking, the more money a coach spends on your official visit, the higher up on their list you are as a recruit. However, that’s not a reason to discount a program that’s trying to recruit on a budget. If you’re interested in a school, official visits can be the last piece of the puzzle to help you understand if it’s your best college fit.

What are the new recruiting rules around official visits?

Effective on April 13, 2023, the NCAA Division I Council announced that they will no longer limit the number of official visits recruits can make to NCAA member schools. Starting July 1, 2023, recruits are permitted an unlimited number of official visits to Division I schools, unless there is a head coaching change post-visit, in which case recruit is allowed to complete a second official visit to the same school. For men’s basketball, prospects still will be able to complete a second official visit to the same school, as long as it do not occur in the same academic year.

Effective May 1, 2019, the NCAA created a series of updated recruiting rules to slow down the recruiting process and cut back on the number of recruits getting verbal offers as eighth graders, freshmen and sophomores in high school. Athletes will now have more time to research colleges and focus on developing athletically and academically. Then, as juniors and seniors in high school, they will be better equipped to decide which college or university is right for them.

According to the new rules, DI recruits in most sports can now start taking official and unofficial visits starting August 1 before their junior year of high school. In the past, official visits weren’t permitted until the athlete’s senior year of high school and there were no restrictions on unofficial visits. While this is exciting news for recruits eager to visit campuses, these rule changes will also likely put more emphasis on athletes and families needing to be proactive early in the recruiting process. With top prospects being offered official visits their junior year, this means even more schools can lock down their recruiting classes early. As a recruit, you need to start the recruiting process as early as possible so you’re ready for official visit invites August 1 before junior year.

How does an official visit work?

Depending on the sport and division level, athletes can begin taking official visits junior year. A coach may extend an official visit offer to recruits during a phone call, email, text or direct message. Once a coach invites you, grab your family schedule and work out a weekend to take the trip.

While receiving an invite does indicate you are at the top of a coach’s recruiting list, it doesn’t mean you’ve locked in your spot just yet. This means the coach will be evaluating you during your entire official visit. Most importantly, visits are a great way for coaches to get a better understanding of your personality and character. They want to see if you are a recruit who will be a positive asset to their team and the school.

To learn more, check out our video on  how to schedule your visits , where NCSA recruiting experts share what you can expect. This includes what travel expenses might be covered by the program, activities that coaches use to introduce you to the team and campus, and what coaches expect from recruits during a visit. 

Insider Tip : Coaches will look at how you interact with your parents—are you respectful, courteous and kind? Or, do you brush them off and behave rudely? Do you answer the coaches’ questions thoughtfully or do you give one-word responses? While it may be intimidating to visit a college campus and get evaluated by the coaches throughout, it’s important to make an effort to put your best foot forward.

How to prepare for your official visit

Because official visits are more formal than unofficial visits, there’s a bit more prep work required from athletes before the visit takes place. Follow this checklist to make sure you’ve covered all your bases:

• Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center . Before your visit, the coach needs to know that you are eligible to actually compete at their school. If you’re visiting Division I and Division II schools, you need to get a Certification Account . Make sure that your parent/guardian is with you as you sign up, because there is a fee involved. This is a good step to take your sophomore year of high school, so you’re ready to start taking official visits your junior year. If you’re visiting a Division III school, sign up for an NCAA Profile page, which is the free version of the Certification Account. You only need a Certification Account if you’re actively getting recruited by Division I and/or Division II colleges. When you register with the NCAA Eligibility Center , you will receive your NCAA ID number. Many coaches will ask for your NCAA ID number before your official visit.
• Have the coach add you to the Institutional Request List. This is another formality to ensure that you are eligible to compete at an NCAA school. Request that the coach add you to the IRL list, which will put your Eligibility Center application on a fast track to get cleared. Because the NCAA receives so many requests through its Eligibility Center, the Institutional Request List serves to make sure athletes who need to be cleared quickly will be.
• Send the admissions office your transcript and a standardized test score. If you’ve already registered with the Eligibility Center, the school should be able to access your transcript and test scores. However, this step helps the admissions office ensure that your academic criteria are up to the standards of that school, while the NCAA Eligibility Center ensures that you’ve met the academic requirements mandated by the NCAA to compete in college sports.
• Know how you will respond if you receive an offer. As mentioned earlier, offers are not guaranteed during official visits, but they do happen. To avoid freezing on the spot, go into your official visit with a game plan for how you will respond. If this is your top school and you’ve visited the other colleges you’re interested in, it might make sense to say yes as soon as possible. However, if you have other schools on your list, you can ask the coach when the offer will expire.

• Put together your list of questions for the coach. During your official visit, you will have a chance to get all your questions answered, so take advantage of this opportunity. Sit down with your parents before the visit and brainstorm all your questions. Write down your questions for the coach and bring the list with you. This way, you don’t forget an important topic and you can impress the coach with your preparedness.

Read more: How to Maximize Your Summer Visits

Do parents go on official visits?

Parents are invited to go on official visits. The school can pay for three meals per day and tickets to a home sports match. However, the school is only allowed to pay for their transportation to and from campus if the parents are traveling in the same car as the recruit. Flights and separate bus or train tickets may not be purchased for parents. Parents have a very specific role throughout the official visit: Let the athlete be the focus of the experience.

For some parents, it might be hard to let go and allow their student-athlete to take center stage during this visit. However, parents should let their athlete ask questions and take control of the conversation. Give them an opportunity to hold a candid, uninterrupted conversation with the coach. Allow them to make their own opinions about the school before injecting your point of view. When the conversation turns to finances, scholarships and paying for college, this is where coaches typically expect parents to jump in .

For more on the topic, check out the video below featuring former sports broadcaster David Kmiecik and D1 and D3 swim coach Danny Koenig.

Read more:   Recruiting Tips for Parents

What happens on an official visit?

While every official visit will be slightly different, recruits can expect that the trip will include a campus tour. This is your chance to familiarize yourself with the campus and ask yourself if you would enjoy living there for four years. As you tour the campus, take notes. When you’re trying to remember what you liked—and didn’t like—about each of the schools you visited, you can refer back to your notes to help jog your memory about the trip. Use the following checklist to make sure you hit all the key spots on campus:

• 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.
• Stay off your phone and experience the campus.

Coaches typically will want you to meet a few members of the team—or the whole team—to see how your chemistry checks out. You may also be invited to participate in a workout or another team activity. According to NCAA rules, however, any kind of workout you attend on an official visit cannot be organized by the coach or coaching staff. Typically, the workout will be led by the team’s captains. Take this opportunity to see if you connect with your potential teammates.

Questions to expect from the coach on your official visit

You will also likely get some one-on-one time with the coach. This is a chance for you to ask any final questions that you have. Before your visit, write down some questions and keep adding to the list so you have something to go off of when you sit down with the coach. The coach will also probably have some questions for you, too. Here are just a few examples of questions to expect from a coach during your visit:

• “What other schools are recruiting you?” Be honest here and tell the coach other schools you’re actively talking to. If it’s true, list schools that are rivals with or comparable to the school you’re visiting. This will make the coach want you on their team even more.
• “What other colleges are you visiting?” Again, it’s important to be honest. If you have—or haven’t—visited any other schools yet, let them know.
• “When can you commit?” While getting invited on an official visit doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get an offer, it certainly does happen. If this is your number one school and you have a good feeling about it, this might be the right time to lock down a commitment. If you have any other schools to visit before you make your decision, that’s OK, too. Simply make an educated guess when you think you will know. Ask the coach how long the offer stands and when they would like to know your answer.

Some coaches will arrange for you and your parents to attend a home sporting event. They might also have a teammate take you to dinner or walk you around campus again. Plus, you’ll get some free time to explore the area and learn more about the school.

What to bring on an official visit

A lot of recruits ask us what to wear on an official visit, 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, a 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.

As mentioned before, it’s a great idea to come with some questions for the coach. When the moment comes to ask your questions, it’s easy to freeze up and forget them all. Having them written down will ensure you get the answers you need, plus it will show the coach that you are organized and responsible. Make sure you do your homework and read up on the school, too.

Your follow-up after the visit

Have you ever heard that the follow-up is the most important part? After each visit, make sure you follow up with the coach. Send them a “thank you” note, thanking them for their time and telling them some of your favorite parts of the visit. You can also let the coach know where you’ll be competing next if they’d like to watch you in person. The follow-up shows the coach you’re a thoughtful, courteous athlete, and it also keeps you top-of-mind as they assemble their roster.

Overall, enjoy your visit! This is your chance to get the “red carpet” treatment and get a taste of what life at that college will be like.

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The Difference Between Official and Unofficial Visits

As the recruiting process becomes more serious and both the recruit and college coach share a vested interest, it is time to take a visit. Here are the general differences between official and unofficial visits and what to expect.

Unofficial Visits

Unofficial visits are visits to colleges that are completely funded by the visiting recruit and family. With the new NCAA legislation, unofficial visits cannot occur before September 1 st of junior year of high school. However, they can be taken as often as the athlete desires as there is no limit to unofficial visits. A freshman or sophomore may schedule an academic visit to an institution, but they are not allowed to engage in conversation with the coaching staff while on campus. Unofficial visits are being de-emphasized in today’s recruiting world, but generally, you can expect to see coaches lay out itineraries for the day and show you everything they can about their program and campus.

A college coach will invite you to pay a visit to campus where you will be able to evaluate the college and see if it is a right fit for you. On unofficial visits, you will meet the coaching staff, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, players, and other faculty. You will tour athletic facilities, classes, dorms, library, cafeteria, and other campus amenities. You may also meet with a faculty member of your intended area of study where you will be given general guidelines of the coursework required for your potential major.

Prepare for these visits by coming on campus with questions for the coaching staff and players regarding the volleyball program, academics, and college lifestyle. Another factor to be prepared for is honesty by the coaching staff as they will be up-front about where they see you fitting into their program. Whether they offer you a full-ride scholarship or walk-on offer, do not feel pressured to commit while on campus. Take a few days to weigh your options before giving the program your decision.

Official Visits

Official visits are different from unofficial visits as the university pays for all visit expenses (i.e. travel, meals, hotel). Unlike unofficial visits, official visits are restricted to 5 official visits to NCAA DI and DII schools combined per athlete, with only 1 visit per school. NCAA DIII and NAIA schools are allotted unlimited official visits, but still sanctioned to 1 per school. Official visits can be taken after September 1 st of junior year of high school.

Official visits are reserved for top recruits or commitments. With the new proposals by NCAA, more emphasis is being placed on official visits in an attempt to end early recruiting ages and commitments. In regards to what to expect on official visits, the information is going to be the same as your unofficial visit as the two visits do not differ much in content.

Overall, visits are the time to relax and enjoy the recruiting process! This will be your chance to get the “red carpet” treatment and a taste of what college life and volleyball will be like at the next level. Take notes while on and immediately following your visit to specify your likes and dislikes so you can refer back and refresh your memory while making your final college decision.

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Explaining Officials vs Unofficial Visits

Deciding on a school is a lot like dating. Would you start dating someone without ever seeing them in person? Without ever going on a… date? Okay possibly? But this is what a visit is,  a date.  You want to meet the coaches and take an evening stroll through the campus, picturing yourself living there. They want to decide if you are going to be a good fit for their family… AKA their program.

Setting up a school visit will give you an opportunity to get to know the staff on a deeper level, check out the campus, the athletic department, and attend a game or a practice. Really immerse yourself in the experience in the little time you have while you are there. Try the campus food, check out the rec center, the local amenities, the library, and possibly try attending a class. Beyond athletics, see if you can picture yourself living there. Is it a big city and you are a wide open space type? Is it in the middle of farmland and you are allergic to hay and need fast access to a Chipotle? Ask yourself these tough questions now.

While planning your visits, you need to be familiar with each type:  Unofficial vs Official.  Let’s go over the main differences between the two and which ones might be the best fit for you.

Unofficial Visit: 

Unofficial visits are the most common form of visits. The term means that you will be responsible to cover the cost of your visit (traveling, accommodations, food, etc.). Unless you are visiting a Division I school, you will be able to plan your visit with the athletic department, schedule a meeting with the coach, and possibly watch a practice as well. 

On May 1, 2019, the NCAA changed the recruiting rules for Division I and made it more difficult for schools to organize visits. 

If you plan to visit a school you are interested in before August 1st of your Junior Year, you will not be able to have any form of communication with the coach while on campus and will need to also plan and pay for your visit, out of your pocket.

What should your goals be during your Unofficial Visit?

• Attend a class
• Check out the library
• Visit the different housing options
• Meet the training staff (DI excluded)
• Eat in the school cafeteria or food court
• Set up a meeting with an academic adviser
• Hang out on the campus grounds
• Meet the team (DI excluded)
• Stay on campus with one of your future teammate (DI excluded)
• Meet the coaching staff and ask them as many questions as possible (DI excluded)
• Follow-up! After your visit, make sure to send a “thank you” email to show that you appreciate and value their time. Include your schedule and invite them to attend one of your future games.  

Official Visit: 

Going on an official visit is one of the most exciting parts of the recruiting process. Any visit that is fully or partially financed by the school can be considered an official visit. It means that the coach spent valuable money from his program’s budget on you as a promising prospect. Great news! That alone, shows that the coach is more than interested in you as a future player. Unfortunately, these types of visits are getting harder and harder to come by as coaches’ budgets become thinner each year. Generally speaking, the more money a coach spends on your official visit, the higher up on their list you are as a recruit. They are serious about you, and are now willing to invest and begin selling their program to you.

Important rules:

• For DI, athletes are limited to a maximum of five (5) official visits, only one (1) per school. For any other division, athletes are still limited to one visit per school but can visit an unlimited amount of programs.
• A visit can be up to 48 hours long or over the span of a weekend.
• A school can cover the following for you and your parents/guardians: transportation to and from the campus, lodging throughout your visit, three meals per day, and three tickets to a home sporting event.

Pro Tip: 

Do not think  that just because you are a talented athlete,  you  deserve  an official visit . As mentioned earlier, due to increasingly limited budgets, coaches seldom offer official visits anymore. 

It goes without saying, but if you do get invited, make sure that  you are legitimately interested  in that school. Do not use this offer as your leisurely weekend entertainment. Pay respect to coaches’ time and schools’ finances. 

Preparing for your official visit:

• Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and purchase your  “Certification Account”.
• Have the coach add you to the  Institutional Request List.  It will allow you to gain priority in the  NCAA clearance process.
• Send the admissions office your  transcript and a standardized test score. 
• Be prepared to potentially receive and offer and think in advance about what your response would be. If you still are not sure,  you can politely ask for some time and ask when the offer will expire. 
• Put together a list of questions to ask the coach.

Dealing with a verbal/unofficial offer:

Coaches like to give their verbal offer to players by the end of their visit. This happened to me and I was definitely not prepared for it at the time.

If this happens, here is how to handle it:

– Say  “thank you”  and show appreciation/enthusiasm for the offer.

– Ask,  “What are our next steps?”  

– Ask,  “What is my timeframe to commit?”.  Some coaches will give you more or less time to make a decision, the most common timeframe being up to 2 weeks. As always, each coach and school is different, so  ASK  questions. For my verbal offer, I was given 24 hours to either accept or turn down a “full-ride” scholarship. Not ideal when you were not prepared to receive an offer on the spot. 

–  Do not make any assumptions or leave anything up to interpretation.  

Example of questions to ask:

• What does a normal day look like for an athlete?
• Will I live with my teammates and what does the housing look like?
• Does the school SuperScore tests?
• Does your school stack academic/athletic scholarships?
• How many internationals do guys have and why do you choose to recruit them?
• What are the athletic and academic requirements to maintain my scholarship?
• Do you expect players to be on campus during the off-season or holidays?

For parents/guardians:  You are invited and encouraged to attend visits. However, as hard as it is, you need to  let your athlete run the show.  Let them ask questions and lead conversations. Try to intervene as little as possible.

For athletes:  Coaches are scrutinizing you and feeling you out to see if you are the right fit for their program. The main indicator, how you interact/communicate with authority as well as how you behave/talk to your parents.  Be respectful, grateful, and courteous but mainly BE YOURSELF.  Take time to answer questions thoughtfully.

Let them see the real YOU, not someone you think they want. Coaches look for genuine people for their program and they pick up on phony behavior easily. Being yourself and showing them who you really are will help them picture you being a part of the team.

If you are able, ask the current players for their thoughts about the program. Players will often times give you a straight and honest idea of what to expect. They were once in the same situation, and have nothing to gain or lose by being honest, so do not be afraid to ask them questions (about team camaraderie, campus life, living situation, team schedule, rituals, etc…)

Note:  Players that do not play may lean towards making more negative comments. Players that have more playing time and receive recognition are more likely to have good things to say.  Make sure to ask questions to everyone to get a well-rounded picture,  from the seniors captains to the redshirt freshmen. Take things with a grain of salt and use your own judgment to decide which comments you will put more weight to.

My Personal Experience:

After graduating from Iowa Western Community College, I received a lot of intrigue from various DI schools. As I previously suggested, I used these visits to see if the program would be a good fit for  ME.

One of the first schools I toured, I had a negative experience while attending a few practices and a game. The practices had no intensity, lacked a competitive edge, and coaches were not involved or prepared for each session. As a player, I feed off of my coaches’ energy and I need to compete, even at practice. A coach that does not care translates into a lackluster, dispassionate team. I did not see this being a good fit and knew before I left that they did not have coaching staff I would like to play for. If it were not for properly preparing my visit and arranging time so that I could attend practices, I could have said yes to a huge mistake.

Another negative experience I had was at a smaller DI school where housing was a complete mess. The coaching staff was brand new and they were still figuring out how to do things but still not something I was eager to be a part of. The school accepted too many students above their quota, and had essentially ran out of dorms on campus to house any transfers. This meant I would have had to live off-campus, most likely paying my way for food and rent, which as an international student without a budget, was not what I was looking for.

Before planning a visit, see if you can do a  virtual tour.  A lot of schools offer online tours for you to get an initial feeling of what the school looks like. This will help you feel comfortable about spending money on travel if you already have an idea of what to expect. 

Do your best to plan your visit while students are on campus.  You would be surprised how differently a campus looks/feels when students are walking to class, games are happening, cafeterias are busy, coffee shops are packed, and traffic is buzzing.

– Matt

The College Recruiting Guide is a simple & proven, detailed step-by-step guide to land the scholarship of your dreams! The course will help you go from just another overwhelmed and confused high school player or parent trying to get recruited, to a college commit simply by following this guide. For more info: https://www.thecollegerecruitingguide.com/

For Athletes

Unofficial & official visits: an overview.

While these days are great, however, they are not necessarily an indication of a school’s interest in you. A better gauge of interest is a school inviting you on campus for visit.

A big part of deciding where to pursue a college education is visiting a school, meeting the people there and getting a feel for the campus. Similarly, a big part of the recruiting process is taking an “Official” or “Unofficial” visit, where you meet the coaches and potential future teammates.

But what are the differences between an “Official” and “Unofficial” visit?

UNOFFICIAL VISITS

• Pertains to DI, DII and DIII
• All visits before senior year are by definition unofficial.
• Prospective student athletes pay all travel expenses associated with the visit.
• Prospective student athletes can stay on campus with a member of the team or another student.
• Prospective student athletes can take as many unofficial visits as they like to any number of colleges at any time.
• Prospective student athletes can meet with the college coach while on campus.
• Coaches can help prospective athletes coordinate NCAA unofficial visits.

Digging Deeper

How does a coach know who is really interested? How does a player know who is really interested?

The answer to both questions is the unofficial visit. After a player receives a letter or email from a coach, it is up to the player to contact the coach and provide a highlight reel and a letter or email alerting the coach that he/she is interested in the program. Of note: A large majority of the letters sent to recruits on September 1st are simply to see who comes back with video and expressing interest.

If the coach considers the player a real prospect, they will go out of their way to invite the player on campus for an unofficial visit. If the player accepts the invitation, then the coach knows that the player is truly interested in their school.

If you have not heard from a number of programs you are interested in, you must put a highlight reel and your information in front of them ASAP before the coach runs out of weekends in the Fall to have you up for a visit.

If the coach has not invited you up for a visit, you must show him a highlight that displays your talent. ______________________ HOW SPORTSRECRUITS CAN HELP

SportsRecruits.com helps you contact a coach with your video and transcript in just one click with the Built In Messaging system. Every DI, DII and DIII coach is a registered user, Click here to learn how SportsRecruits.com can help you through the recruiting process . ______________________

OFFICIAL VISITS

• Pertains to DI and DII programs
• Prospective student athletes can only make one official visit to any given college.
• Prospective student athletes can only make official visits during their senior year of high school.
• Prospective student athletes can make no more than 5 total official visits.
• Official visits can only last 48 hours.
• The college team can pay for your travel and lodging. This is the main distinction between an official and unofficial visit.
• Prospective student athletes may receive free admission to the team’s games, but can only sit in the general seating area.
• Your host can be a player on the team, who receives a set amount of money to cover your expenses while you are on campus.
• Prospective student athletes cannot use this allotment to buy souvenirs or other merchandise.

Official visits are becoming more of a formality with the acceleration of the recruiting process, as many prospects commit well before their senior year even begins.

At Division I programs and top-tier Division III programs, most players will have verbally committed before their senior year. The official visit has become an opportunity for a player to visit campus on the school’s dime while meeting other recruits and current team members. For players who have not verbally committed, we suggest taking all 5 of your official visits.

The best tip we can offer for an unofficial/official visit is to take a Friday off from school and spend the day and night with players on the team. Meeting with the coaches and getting a tour of the athletic facilities is a good start, but you want to spend time on campus with current players and the general student body.

• Take a standard admissions tour of campus. Outside of the tour, this will enable you to see what other types of students are considering the school.
• Go to classes with a player on the team. Are classes what you expected? Can you see yourself in only small classes? Are large lecture classes suitable?
• See where players eat meals. You get a great idea of who they socialize with. Do they only eat with other players? Do they have friends outside the team? Are they in fraternities or other clubs?
• Go to practice. Is there mandatory practice or conditioning? Are there captain’s practices?
• Go out and see what a Friday night on campus is like. Are there lots of school-run activities? Do students go to campus parties? Do students go into a nearby town or city?
• Stay in underclassmen dorms. Do most students live on campus? Can you see yourself living in a 2 person double or a 4 person suite? Are there coed dorms? Is campus housing close to the academic buildings?

Doing all of these things will enable a player to see if they are a good academic, athletic and social fit.

Remember, you NEVER want to go to a school just because you can play a sport there. You want to choose a school that is a good fit for you academically and socially. Use sports as a vehicle to get into the best school possible. Over the course of your life, your degree is going to shape a lot of the options you have after your playing days are long gone.

HOW SPORTSRECRUITS CAN HELP

There are a number of ways SportsRecruits.com can assist its members. Aside from the quick access to college coaches – every DI, DII and DIII coach is a registered user – our staff can look at a member’s profile, transcripts and highlight reel to help guide the player in the recruiting process. Staffers are former collegiate athletes who can help give a member an idea of the 20-30 schools to focus on.

SportsRecruits.com members have had amazing success getting into their target schools. Click here to see a list of some recently committed members.

SportsRecruits.com was started by two former Wesleyan lacrosse players and is staffed by former athletes who played at every level – from Virginia to Monmouth to Wesleyan. Members deal with former college players when issues arise – players who have dealt with many of those same issues themselves.

The Fall is a great time to connect with your target list of programs after a crazy Summer. Call 212-414-8417 or email [email protected] if you have questions about how to become a member.

_______________________

Follow us on Twitter: @SpikeMal @Sports_Recruits

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SportsRecruitsNYC

Softball Factory Blog

Visiting Campuses: Unofficial vs. Official Visits

There are a number of different examples of unofficial versus official visits when going to campuses of prospective schools that interest you. Here is a guide to understanding the definitions for both when you begin to visit your schools of choice.

Definition for Visits

Official:  A visit financed in whole or in part by an institution

Unofficial:  A visit financed entirely by the prospect

Number Permitted

Official:  A prospect may take a maximum of five expense-paid visits, with no more than one permitted to any single institution

Unofficial:  A prospect may take an unlimited number of unofficial visits to an institution

First Opportunity to Visit

Official:  First day of classes of the prospect’s senior year in high school for Division I

Unofficial:  Unofficial visits may take place at any time (except for dead period)

Before a Prospect Makes a Visit

Official:  Before a prospect can make an official visit to an institution, the institution must receive the following documentation:

• A valid score from a PSAT, SAT, PLAN or ACT test.
• A high school transcript.
• Verification that the prospect has registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center.

Unofficial:  No documentation is required

Length of the Visit

Official:  An official visit cannot exceed 48 hours. The 48-hour time period begins once the prospect arrives on campus.

Unofficial:  Unlimited

Transportation

Official:  An institution may pay the prospect’s round-trip transportation costs. An institution may pay a prospect’s actual costs for reasonable expenses incurred while traveling to and from campus on the official visit.

An institution may NOT provide transportation expenses for the prospect’s parents except for the following:

• The parents or legal guardians of a prospect may receive cost-free transportation to campus by accompanying the prospect at the time the prospect travels in an automobile to campus.

An institution may provide transportation between its campus and a bus or train station or airport for the parents or legal guardians of the prospect.

Unofficial:  An institution may NOT provide transportation expenses to a prospect except for the following:

• Transportation to view practice and competition sites.
• Local transportation to attend a home athletics event.

Official:  May be provided to a prospect, the prospect’s parents or legal guardian(s) within a 30-mile radius of campus.

Unofficial:  A prospect may not receive cost-free housing.

Official:  A prospect, the prospect’s parents or legal guardian(s) may receive three meals per day in addition to a snack. Meals must take place within a 30-mile radius of campus. The prospect and his/her family must incur the cost of meals for additional persons accompanying the prospect (e.g., brother, sister, grandparents, etc.).

Unofficial:  A prospect may not receive free meals

Other information to remember when visiting campuses:

Take a look at the athletic facilities.  You will be surprised to see that some schools at the Division II, III, NAIA have better facilities than Division 1 Programs.

Take a look at the dorms on where you will be living your first year or two or longer. What types of unique amenities will it have? Study rooms, pool and more.

Off-Campus  – What type of neighborhood is the campus in? You will certainly spend some time off campus, going to the grocery store, convenience store, movies, etc., will you feel safe and comfortable in the surrounding environment?

Spend time by yourself – At the end of the day, you (student athlete) will not have your parents with you, coaches, etc. Take 10-15 minutes and walk around trying to envision being on that campus doing something you would do when you are in college. When you have a lot of voices (parents, college athletes, coaches) it is hard to concentrate sometimes and get a real feel if this is somewhere you would attend college.

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Official Look At Unofficial Visits

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DawgNation: A Look at Unofficial Visits

Unofficials mean -- and cost -- more than ever.

A father can't put a price on getting to watch his son play college football, but he can put a price on all that it cost to get him there.

For Maurice Smith Sr., that cost has been worth every penny. His son, Sugar Land (Texas) Dulles ESPN 150 cornerback Maurice Smith , is committed to reigning national champion Alabama.

But by the time the four-star prospect made that decision in June, his father was out more than a few pennies.

The Cost Of Unofficial Visits

The Smith family knows first hand how expensive unofficials are. After traveling from their Houston home to visit Alabama (twice), LSU (three times), Texas (twice), Baylor (once), Texas A&M (four times), Oklahoma (once), Nebraska (once) and Utah (once), the bill adds up. Quickly. Here is what the Smith family spent on visits:

Flights : $6,092.40 Hotels : $2,516.55 Rental cars : $940.97 Food : $3,151.25 Gas : $1,810.70 Total : $14,511.87

-- Max Olson, HornsNation

"With planes, gas, hotels and rental cars, it's cost at least $14,500," Smith Sr. said. "So yeah, it was a little bit."

Dad has unofficial recruiting visits to thank for all that missing money.

Unofficial visits have become the currency of today's college football recruiting world. They keep the modern recruiting machine running all year long.

They give recruits and their families a way to bypass the NCAA's rigid recruiting visit rules. Prospects can, with few exceptions, visit a college campus at any time of the year. They can stay as long as they'd like and can see and do whatever they please.

There's only one catch: The school can't pay for any of it.

These days, that doesn't seem to be a problem for the parents of top recruits. This is the new norm, a necessary means to landing scholarship offers and securing their sons' future. So the nation's best and brightest are racking up unofficial visits at prolific rates.

Smith made multiple trips to Texas, Texas A&M and LSU. He checked out Baylor and nearly committed during his Oklahoma visit. He even flew out to Nebraska and Utah.

"We were just willing to do it," his father said. "The sacrifice we made for him to really know where he wanted to go was worth it."

In the end, two trips to Tuscaloosa sealed the deal. By then, Smith had taken a total of 15 unofficial visits.

The nation's top recruit, Loganville (Ga.) Grayson defensive end Robert Nkemdiche , took at least that many visits before picking Clemson. Reuben Foster (Auburn, Ala./Auburn), No. 2 in the ESPN 150, has taken more than 20 unofficial visits since the start of his junior season.

"That's just how it is," said Vernon Hargreaves III , the nation's top cornerback. "You've got to narrow your choices down."

Long gone are the days when recruits waited for their five all-expenses-paid official visits, permitted at the start of their senior season, to start checking out college campuses.

Through the middle of August, 225 recruits ranked in the ESPN 300 have committed, including 107 members of the ESPN 150.

That's 75 percent of the nation's top recruits, and they're not the only ones who value unpaid trips. Lightly recruited prospects need as much face time with college coaching staffs as they can get. For them, relationships can lead to scholarships.

The ever-increasing speed of the recruiting cycle is raising the stakes for college coaches and has made early unofficial visits more of an expectation than ever before.

First there are junior days in February and March, then trips to spring games in April and May. Add in camps, combines and extra campus visits and you get an offseason that's not getting any cheaper and doesn't give recruits -- or their recruiters -- much time off.

And college coaches are beginning to take notice. In June, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer publicly criticized the NCAA's visit policies during a high school camp in Detroit.

"It is one of the problems I have now with collegiate athletics. It's almost anti-student-athlete where they have to come to us for camp," Meyer told ESPN.com. "How many kids can afford to fly or drive that far?"

Cooper Bateman is grateful he's one of the few who can. The Alabama quarterback commit and his parents embarked on a seven-day road trip in April from their home in Salt Lake City into SEC country.

Bateman took unofficial visits to LSU, Alabama, Auburn and Florida during his spring break. The tour required a total of four flights but proved invaluable for the No. 6 ranked signal caller.

"With all the money that it takes to get out there and see those places," Bateman said, "my parents looked at it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we were going to take full advantage of.

"But there was a lot of money spent. I have to thank my parents from the bottom of my heart."

Hargreaves III waited until July for the bulk of his unofficial visits. The five-star Tampa (Fla.) Wharton standout took trips to 10 schools in the span of 11 days.

He started with Oregon, Stanford and USC. Then Hargreaves made his way across the country, hitting Notre Dame, Ohio State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Clemson and Alabama along the way.

"I have about 45 offers, and all of them want me to come visit," Hargreaves said. "You have to make some of them, just to see what you like and don't like. If you don't go at all, you'll probably pick the wrong school."

By the time he finally got home, Hargreaves knew he had no need for his official visits. He committed to Florida on July 26.

There are many reasons why recruits like unofficial visits, but one of the biggest ones is official visits can't last any longer than 48 hours, and thus their itineraries are meticulously planned. It's not that way on unofficial visits.

"On official ones, they just show you all the good stuff that they want you to see," Hargreaves said. "With unofficials, you see everything. Anything you want to do, you just have to ask."

Visits Have NCAA's Attention

The NCAA isn't sleeping on the issue of visits.

Impermissible benefits given during unofficial visits have led to sanctions from the organization against Miami, Florida and South Carolina in the past year. Concerns about who exactly is paying for these unpaid visits has helped make the NCAA take interest in the topic.

To address the modern flaws in college recruiting, the NCAA started a specialized football group within its national enforcement office last year.

The group is comprised of six investigators focused on researching recruiting and agent issues. Their mission is to develop relationships with a wide range of players in the recruiting world to get a better pulse on today's problems.

"The unofficial visit issue is one that has definitely been identified as a problem," said Rachel Newman Baker, an NCAA managing director of enforcement. "Not just how are prospective student-athletes funding multiple unofficial visits all over the country, but who's going with them? And what are the interests of those people who are going with them?"

Does a top recruit taking a high number of unpaid visits raise the NCAA's suspicions? Not necessarily.

"I don't think you can just say, 'If you're taking 20 unofficial visits, the enforcement staff is going to be looking at you,'" Newman Baker said. "It's more based on if there's information that a booster is funding those unofficial visits."

To Newman Baker, the issue of unofficial visits is one of many needs to be addressed. College football is ever-changing and many of today's problems flat-out didn't exist when the NCAA first drafted its recruiting manual.

The organization is reviewing how its bylaws meet the needs of the overall recruiting landscape. That includes visits, yes, but also the rules on calling and texting between coaches and recruits and the overall calendar by which the system is run.

Or, as Kenny Bigelow , who's No. 9 in the ESPN 150, put it: "On official visits, there's going to be a whole lot of sucking up from people wanting you to commit. On unofficials, people are just doing their own thing."

The nation's No. 2 defensive tackle is glad he avoided it all by committing to the Trojans last November. The way Bigelow sees it, waiting to take official visits before deciding would've led to a long, taxing recruiting process.

"I could've waited, but why have such a distraction on your senior year?" said the Elkton (Md.) Eastern Christian Academy star. "You've got to take the SAT, the ACT, take all your classes, get through the season, prom. It's all a distraction. To get it out of the way was a big problem off my back."

There may be one way for the NCAA to aid the modern recruit: Open up the visit calendar.

Permit the use of official visits in the spring and summer. Or allow five officials in the spring and five more in the fall.

Or, to take things a more practical step further, let recruits use some or all of their official visits during their junior season.

Bateman said he feels that's the most feasible solution. He and the rest of the nation's quarterbacks feel pressure to commit long before their senior season -- 119 have already made pledges, including 47 of the top 50.

Nearly all of them now have no need for four of their paid visits.

The early-decision expectations once placed only on quarterbacks has spread to the rest of the recruiting world, and the NCAA rulebook has yet to catch up.

Rachel Newman Baker, an NCAA managing director for enforcement, said the issue of unofficial visits has been identified as a problem by the NCAA and discussions are ongoing about ways to adjust the official and unofficial visit system.

"Trying to get those [recruiting] rules up to speed, and at a place that works with what's going on in the real world, is something that is going on right now," Newman Baker said.

Newly implemented renovations to the NCAA's basketball recruiting rulebook offer a hint at what could be on the way for football. Basketball recruits can now begin taking official visits on Jan. 1 of their junior year.

"Those coaches seem to be overall very pleased with where they ended up," Newman Baker said. "I think you very much can expect the same thing to happen with football here in the near future."

Still, it's hard to envision changes that would curb the trend of early commitments or the rampant use of unofficial visits. Many elite recruits have already started taking them before they've even played their junior season.

"That, to me, is a little overboard," Maurice Smith Sr. said. "Once you get an offer from a school now, they really want you to go spend money."

But he'll keep spending, because the opportunity to get recruited is a rare and incomparable experience. Just don't call it priceless.

The art of wowing a prospect

LOS ANGELES -- The John McKay Center has added a much-needed wrinkle to USC's on-campus recruiting, and prospects are noticing the shiny new toy.

The early returns should bring a smile to coach Lane Kiffin's face. A pair of Trojans commits who recently visited campus, including Mission Hills (Calif.) Alemany receiver Steven Mitchell , are downright giddy about USC's new $70 million athletic facility.

"The inside," Mitchell said, "is like heaven."

Recruiting pitches, as well as the program's use of the unofficial visit, are being updated. USC has always used its vast football tradition, private-school education and favorable locale as selling points. Now there is another appealing factor.

During an ever-evolving era, when having a state-of-the-art facility is not only important but necessary, the 110,000-square-foot McKay Center has become the Trojans' wild card, leaving some recruits wide-eyed.

"There's iPads in the lockers," offensive line commit Nico Falah said, grinning. "It's top-notch."

The unofficial visit is no longer just a brief meet-and-greet, but a serious pitch. Being a guest at one of USC's patented practices have been an integral part of unofficial visits, with recruits often left astonished at the intensity level and tempo of it all.

"We got to see all the receivers and their practices are pretty live," Mitchell said. "That's what I like about it."

USC has made good use of unofficial visits, and that only figures to improve with the emergence of the McKay Center.

Added importance at Penn State

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Unofficial visits have taken on a whole new level of importance at Penn State.

Recruits no longer have to reflect on just academics, playing time and the coaching staff. They have to look at the sanctions -- and look past any stain this program might have.

The Nittany Lions' staff has to overcome this handicap some way, and unofficial visits are one way it can combat that.

The staff wants prospects to look at the team as a family, so it wants those potential players to feel right at home. On unofficial visits, recruits are treated like part of the team. They watch practice, attend team meetings and chat with coaches. The sooner they feel like part of the team, the sooner they might commit to be part of that team.

"Recruiting's about relationships," coach Bill O'Brien said recently. "It's about making sure there's a trusting relationship between ourself and the person we're recruiting. It's about fit."

Four-star tight end Adam Breneman (Camp Hill, Pa./Cedar Cliff) wasn't certain about heading to Happy Valley until speaking with O'Brien face-to-face. He said he's traveled to Penn State "double-digit" times on unofficial visits, and he's already taken on a leadership role by broadcasting his love of Penn State through the media and on his Twitter account.

"It just helps get more comfortable with things," Breneman told ESPN about the visits.

Penn State will have an uphill climb for at least the next six years when it comes to reeling in prospects. So, if a recruit wants to come to Penn State on an unofficial visit, the Lions likely won't turn him away.

"I've been there three times," said three-star linebacker Brandon Bell (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest). "And it got better each time."

That's exactly what Penn State's counting on.

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Need an account, already have an account, official vs. unofficial.

By Max Olson, HornsNation

The NCAA addresses official and unofficial visits in bylaws 13.6 and 13.7 of the Division I Manual. Here's a look at the significant differences between the two types of campus visits.

Official visits • Five official visits permitted. Each school may only receive one. • Visit can't be taken until opening day of classes in senior year of high school. • Football program permitted maximum of 56 official visits. • Official visit can't exceed 48 hours starting when recruit arrives on campus. • Transportation, lodging, meals, entertainment expenses for recruit and parent or legal guardian paid for by school. • Test score, high school transcript and NCAA eligibility center verification required before visit. Unofficial visits • Recruits are permitted unlimited visits at their own expense. • Can be taken at any time of the year except during dead periods. • No limits to length of visit. • School may not provide or pay for transportation to and from campus. • No permissible entertainment except three passes to a home game. • No test scores, transcript or eligibility center verification required.

Florida: The key to it all

By Derek Tyson, GatorNation

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Some colleges emphasize the importance of receiving official visits from prospects they are recruiting, but for the University of Florida, nothing is more important than getting prospects on campus for unofficial visits.

Just how important are unofficial visits to the Gators? Consider that 17 of Florida's 20 2013 verbal commitments committed to the Gators within a week of unofficially visiting the school.

For the full story, check out GatorNation .

FSU: Noles know what they mean

By Corey Dowlar, NoleNation

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Seminoles' coaching staff is known to be personable, and so is head coach Jimbo Fisher. That evidence may lie in the top-five recruiting classes they've landed recently according to ESPN's rankings.

Because the NCAA restricts head coaches from going out on the road, save for their one allotted in-home visit down the stretch, these unofficials give Fisher a rare chance to make an impression on a face-to-face basis. And it gives him a chance to see if he will make an offer or not, he has said before.

In this new, sped-up atmosphere of recruiting that FSU lives in, unofficial visits and getting their top targets on campus could be arguably the most important facet of the process.

For the full story, check out NoleNation .

Georgia: Coaches keeping busy

By Radi Nabulsi, DawgNation

ATHENS, Ga. -- With slightly less than six months to go until national signing day, the University of Georgia has 26 verbal commitments for the 2013 class. By next week the Bulldogs could be looking at 30. Of course, not one of those committed players has taken an official visit to Georgia -- but all have been to Athens, Ga., at some point during their recruitment. Georgia's director of recruiting and assistant head coach Rodney Garner knows the value of those unofficial visits.

"Unofficial visits now are just so critical," Garner said. "When I first got in it there weren't many unofficial visits in the summer. You may have had four or five kids come in at some point in the summertime but it wasn't anything like it is today. Since signing day here in February, there have only been two or three weekends where we did not have kids on our campus. It has just totally changed to where it is 365 days a year."

For the full story, check out DawgNation .

LSU: Setting the tone

By David Helman, GeauxTigerNation

BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU is in the midst of fall camp, and the season still sits two weeks away. But while the current team has yet to take a live snap, the next batch of signees is already almost complete. The Tigers' 2013 class is currently sitting pretty with 22 of a possible 25 commitments already on board.

Whatever the time table, there's one common denominator: LSU has landed 22 verbal commitments without the aid of an official visit to a home football game. The explanation, like so many others in the digital age, is the increased speed of communication.

"With social media and technology and YouTube and the different videos, kids are able to show off their highlights and game tapes. The accessibility is more available and frequent than ever before," said Frank Wilson, the Tigers' running backs coach and recruiting coordinator.

For the full story, check out GeauxTigerNation .

Michigan: Getting creative

By Tom VanHaaren, WolverineNation

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Since recruits aren't allowed to take official visits before their senior season starts, programs like Michigan have gotten a lot more creative with unofficial visits and getting families on campus.

The Big House BBQ is probably the most notable event the Michigan coaching staff holds. There is no camp involved; it's simply a BBQ and a fun event for prospects and their families to get to know the coaching staff.

The event has no pressure to compete and gives one-on-one time for the parents and coaches to interact. It also gives the prospects time to interact with committed players and find out why they chose Michigan. It's an easy way for the Wolverines to accelerate how comfortable a prospect feels about their program.

For the full story, check out WolverineNation .

Ohio State: The U word

By Scott Kendrick, BuckeyeNation

COLUMBUS, Ohio --Say the words "unofficial visit" to Ohio State coach Urban Meyer and you might be in for a long conversation on what is wrong with the recruiting process.

Meyer isn't against them per se, as he's picked up his fair share of commitments from unofficial visits. He just doesn't like the dent they put in the wallets of families with prospective athletes.

Athletes have to pay for unofficial visits themselves as the NCAA allows only five official visits -- paid for by the institution -- during the athlete's senior year.

"It is one of the problems I have now with collegiate athletics," Meyer told WolverineNation's Michael Rothstein when he was at The Sound Mind Sound Body Academy camp in Detroit in June. "It's almost anti-student-athlete where they have to come to us for camp. How many kids can afford to fly or drive that far? This is so unusual. I can't believe we're allowed to do this [the camp]."

For the full story, check out BuckeyeNation .

Oklahoma: Why fight it?

By Bob Pryzbylo, SoonerNation

NORMAN, Okla. -- The Oklahoma coaches know football recruiting has changed. It's no longer seasonal; it's a 365-day per year process. They know it, and they're not fighting it. Because if they did, they would be left behind, especially as it pertains to unofficial visits.

It's still common to rack up commitments on official visits during the fall, but the unofficial visit is threatening to replace that. OU has been getting commitments on unofficial visits, and the official visit is now more about solidifying those commitments.

"Unofficial visits are everything now," said OU offensive coordinator Josh Heupel. "You look at all the kids committed before their senior year. They're doing everything on their own. Recruiting has become year-round. Kids are committed before September."

For the full story, check out SoonerNation .

Oregon: Proof is in the visit

EUGENE, Ore. -- For a school like Oregon, it is often either a deal-maker or a deal-breaker.

If a prospect visits Oregon from across the country on his own dime, it usually means the interest is more than sincere. In recent years, that interest has turned into a commitment quite a few times.

In 2010, the Ducks signed three prospects from across the country, due in large part to their ability to visit the campus over the summer.

Dior Mathis from Michigan, James Scales from North Carolina and Issac Dixon from Florida each made it out to Oregon before their senior seasons had begun. All three followed up with official visits and eventually signed with the Ducks.

For the full story, check out DuckNation .

Texas: Tales from the road

AUSTIN, Texas. -- Jake Raulerson and Durham Smythe had it easy. Or it least that's how it looked.

Texas offered early. Both committed early. Their recruitment ended, and they haven't looked back.

But reaching that decision came with its costs.

They are both in-state recruits who don't live far from Austin, but both recruits' families learned that playing the recruiting game isn't cheap.

For the full story, check out HornsNation .

Washington: Get 'em on campus

SEATTLE -- For Washington's coaching staff, a pivotal part of the recruiting plan is getting kids on campus.

The Huskies are selling something that requires personal attention, a connection that is formed through face-to-face meetings.

Talk to head coach Steve Sarkisian, recruiting ace Tosh Lupoi and recruiting coordinator Johnny Nansen and they will all say the same thing.

"If we get the parents and the recruit here, we have a really good shot at winning the kid," Nansen said.

For the full story, check out HuskyNation .

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How Do You Ask For An Unofficial Visit?

There is only so much you can learn about a program from afar. At a certain point in the recruiting process, you will want to visit different programs to help determine which of them would be the best fit for you. Taking unofficial visits is one of the best ways of accomplishing this. As a recruit, I am sure you are wondering the best way to broach the subject of unofficial visits with the coaches at the programs you are interested in.

The good news is that setting up an unofficial visit is typically not very complicated. In your next conversation with the coach at the program you are planning to visit, explain your interest in their program and tell them that you plan on visiting. Then, you can work out a day with the coach that works for both of you. Because the financial burden of the visit falls on you and your family, coaches are generally pretty flexible with scheduling unofficial visits.

Even though it may feel like a big ask to bring up the topic of visiting a coach’s program earlier on in the recruiting process, it is important to remember that the coach is courting you just as much as you are them. A coach will see an unofficial visit as the perfect opportunity to show you what makes their program the perfect fit for you.

Setting Up An Unofficial Visit

An unofficial visit is defined as any visit to a college’s campus that is paid for entirely by you and your family. Because of this, you do not technically need to ask the coach of the program you are interested in whether you can visit. You can tour the school, see the dorms, and even eat in the dining halls on a normal college visit.

Communication Is Still Key: However, communicating and planning with the program’s coach will increase your chances of having a meaningful visit. In addition to touring the campus as a normal student would, the coach can ensure that you get to tour the weight rooms or practice facilities, learn about their training/nutrition program, and even meet some of the current athletes in the program. On your visit, you want to learn as much as you can about both the specific program you are interested in and the general college you would be attending.

Try To Be Flexible: Sometimes this isn’t possible. If you are touring numerous schools, or booked a flight on a specific date, there may only be one day where you are free to visit the coach’s school. However, do your best to be as flexible as possible. Coaches are very busy people and will not be free every day to help ensure your visit goes smoothly. By giving them a range of dates that you are free on, you greatly increase the chances that they will also be free to help with the visit. Additionally, coaches will appreciate you being considerate of their time.

The Difference Between Unofficial And Official Visits: This can be confusing for a lot of recruits. While unofficial and official visits may seem similar, they are not the same thing. An official visit is typically paid for, at least partially, by the program. They may pay for your flight, housing, and/or food. Because of this, you are limited in the number you are allowed to take. Additionally, they are a much bigger ask than an unofficial visit because they require more planning and commitment from the coaches at the program you are interested in.

Understand The Restrictions: One great thing about unofficial visits is that it does not matter what age you are. Because of this, they can be a great way to get an idea of what you might be looking for in a college when you are deciding where to apply. However, remember that, until August 1st before your junior year, you are not allowed to arrange unofficial visits with the school’s athletic department. This means you are limited to the things a normal prospective student would do on a visit- walking around the campus, exploring the town, attending academic information sessions, etc.

Unofficial visits can be an important part of the recruiting process. They help you decide what you are looking for in a school, while also narrowing your list of schools you are interested in. However, keep in mind that unofficial visits are not free. You have to pay for the travel, housing, and food associated with a visit. Because of this, it is important that you are purposeful and selective when choosing which colleges to visit.

A Guide To Acing Your Unofficial (Or Official) Visit

An unofficial visit is predominantly an opportunity for you to learn more about the school and program you are interested in. However, coaches also consider it a great opportunity to evaluate your potential fit in their program. We’ve included some tips below to help you learn as much as possible on your visit, while also impressing the program’s coaches.

Do Your Research: College coaches don’t expect you to be an expert on their program. They do, however, expect you to have done your basic background research. You should be able to articulate both the specific aspects of their programs that interest you and the ones you want to learn more about. This will signal to them that you are taking the recruiting process, and their program seriously. Additionally, the better prepared you are the less time coaches have to waste explaining information that is readily available on their website to you.

Be Active And Engaged: While coaches obviously evaluate you as an athlete first, this does not mean that your character and demeanor are not important. Coaches want players who will actively participate and positively contribute to their program off the field. There is no better way to show this than to be as engaged as possible during your visit. Stay away from answering questions with “yes,” “no,” or any other single word answers. A major part of the unofficial visit is continuing to build a relationship with the coaches at that program.

Ask Good Questions: Before your visit, you should put together a pretty extensive list of questions you have about the program. While putting together this list, be sure you are checking the program’s website to make sure none of your questions can be answered there. Your list can include questions about anything. Some examples of things that may be good to ask about are travel during the season, academic support available to athletes, their off-season training schedule, or where the coach sees you fitting into their program.

Do As Much As Possible: Try to experience as much as possible during your visit because it may be the only time you get to see the school before you decide where to commit. In addition to the schedule the coach has planned for you, do things like going on a campus tour, sitting in on a class, or eating at a popular local restaurant. The more you do, the better able you will be to gauge your interest in the school.

During your unofficial visit, remember that you are there to learn about the program and school. Do your best to be an active listener and ask any questions that come to mind. Coaches will appreciate the opportunity to talk about their program.

Things To Keep In Mind

Visit Local Schools First: Even if you are sure you want to attend a school that is far away, it can still be incredibly valuable (and inexpensive) to visit your local schools. These visits can help you determine what factors you really care about when choosing which school to commit to.

Unofficial Visits Are Unlimited: There are no restrictions on the number of unofficial visits you can take. Because of this, don’t be afraid to schedule a visit to a program that you want to learn more about.

Take Notes: If you are visiting numerous colleges, especially in a short period of time, taking notes can be helpful. It will allow you to easily compare your experiences at different schools, without forgetting what happened during each visit.

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Fir st Down

• Grant Caraway
• Apr 16, 2022

How To Set Up An Unofficial Visit

This is one of the MOST OVER HYPED aspect of college recruiting and below we are going to share some insight as to why unofficial visits mean absolutely nothing. I hope this can give you some more info on the topic.

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https://www.firstdowntraining.com/book-online

So unofficial visits are often times publicized on Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and more. And the problem is that people love to act like they are getting recruited by a school simply for the hype. But the fact of the matter is, ANYBODY and I mean ANYBODY can take an unofficial visit. The different between an official visit and unofficial visit is that on an unofficial you are paying for everything. You pay for the flight, the hotel, the food and every other expense. On an official the university pays for it, that’s why you see REAL recruits taking official visits when the time comes for it. And they guys who are just there for the photo-shoots, suddenly stop showing up on Instagram. To set up an unoffical visit, you literally call the recruiting department and say “I want to set up a visit or a tour of the facilities”. It’s not difficult because the school isn’t going to turn down a chance to hype up their school and have photos taken of their uniforms. It’s just publicity for them and they simply do not care what kind of recruit you are. Schools will invite the guys who they are recruiting for an unofficial. Most guys set up the tour themselves for the hype. The reason I write this is so young athletes don’t get discouraged with their current position/recruiting process. I can’t tell you how many athletes I train/communicate with say “how did he get a visit there? And how is he getting recruited without film?” And that only serves to distract you from the common goal. Which is getting your education paid for and playing at the next level. The more time you spend worrying about other people, is the less time you spend on your own goals and aspirations. Ignore the noise, and the unofficial visits are just noise. If anything, it’s nothing to be proud of. Guys are literally paying hundreds if not thousands of dollars on trips just to take pictures in a schools uniform. If you are a real 3 star-5 star recruit this is a different story. Unofficial's are good to take and it’s great to see the campus. But all I am trying to say is that you get a lot of guys who have never even spoken to a coach on the coaching staff posting about their “visits” and “tours”. It’s all BS. Stay in your lane and at the end of the day what matters is what you can showcase on film. Instagram & Twitter can lie but the film doesn’t lie. Be the guy who shows up on film. Get some real recruitment, not some fake recruitment for Instagram.

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Why Go On An Official Visit Before Committing?

Receiving an invitation to visit a university is a milestone in your recruiting process and a truly great opportunity to meet the coaching staff and experience the atmosphere on campus. An opportunity of getting a step closer to decide for yourself whether that could be the right place for your time as a student athlete. It is an excellent opportunity, yes, but you should understand that it is primarily a strong signal sent by the coach(es), who seem to have you listed very high up on their recruiting list. This edition of our Friday Scholarship Guide will be all about your potential official or unofficial visit.

Technology has definitely changed the way recruiting is being done quite a bit throughout the last decades. You are able to research schools, look up their social media channels, or check out some of their truly awesome videos that they have on their Youtube channels. You are able to talk to coaches on the phone, but even more so, you have the chance to connect with them through video calls, such as Skype or Facetime. That certainly gets coaches and you very far, but does it make a meeting in person redundant? Most certainly not. Meeting somebody in person, who is going to be pretty central in your life and to your athletic development for four years, offers invaluable insights. Whatever program you may commit to in the end, going on a visit to meet coaches and see the campus make your decision a better decision .

Let's have a look at why you should go on a visit if offered the chance:

• Signal Accepting an invitation to pay the campus a visit is your signal that you take the coaches' interest (and perhaps offer) seriously. They invest time and resources in convincing you that their college program is the most attractive one and it's up to you to show that you are willing to invest your time also.
• Collect insights on coach/team Say, you've been communicating with assistant and head coaches at a school; messaging back and forth, talking on the phone, but without any physical meeting yet. You certainly have collected a lot of information about the school, the athletic department, the team or its opponents - all facts, which matter a huge deal. Now, you can definitely make a very good decision based on all that. But at the end of the day your relationship with coaches, you getting along with their coaching style and personality matters to the same extent - to those who have their eyes set on a pro career, it matters the most! Visiting your top schools allows you to get a sense of what feels right: putting all of the school's characteristics and the chemistry with the coaching staff together.
• Know what to expect After a visit you also know what to expect: Simple things, such as the dorm rooms? What's the food like? Where am I going to be lifting weights and could I see myself pulling all-nighters in the library before midterms? Perhaps you don't like the atmosphere at one school, but you love the neighbourhood at another one ...

Official Visit vs. Unofficial Visit

The NCAA regulates the definition of a visit as well as the number of visits you are allowed to go on. The really important difference here is whether it is an official or unofficial visit. If a school invites you on an official visit, they may cover costs in relation with your trip:

• Transportation (flights)
• Accommodation
• Tickets to sports events on campus

You are allowed to go on a maximum of 5 official visits on the Division I and Division II level, but you are able to plan an unlimited number of unofficial visits. The schools' compliance departments and coaching staff will typically prepare your visit, which aims at giving you the best possible impression of the school! While the schools' staff take care of the paperwork, you can be instrumental and helpful in providing certain things upfront or having them ready. More about that in a little bit.

Worried About Recruiting Rules?

It's definitely good for you to be aware that there are rules set by the collegiate sports governing bodies. The recruiting coaches, as well as the schools' compliance departments will do everything they are required to, in order to obey the rules. Here are some of the most important ones:

• One really important rule is the timing of such an official visit. You may not go on an official visit before August 1 (NCAA D-I), June 15 (NCAA D-II) or January 1 (NCAA D-III) of your junior year . (Check out an older blog article about when to start your recruiting process here )
• Your official visit may not last longer than 48 hours .
• One school - one official visit .
• A maximum of 5 official visits on NCAA D-I and D-II level .
• Unlimited number of official visits in NCAA D-III.
• Unlimited number of unofficial visits .

Now the kind of documentation the schools would require prior to your arrival are essentially the following:

• A copy of your academic test scores (SAT or ACT)
• Your grade transcripts
• Your NCAA Eligibility ID

Being aware of the academic test score requirement is especially important, as the low number of test dates throughout the year may put you in a position where your planned visit may have to be defined as an unofficial visit, with the total cost of the trip definitely being incurred by you.

What Will I Be Doing On A Visit?

48 hours (on official visits) is not a whole lot of time, but generally long enough to get a comprehensive impression of the campus, campus life, dorms, class rooms, staff and athletic department. There's certainly a difference with regards to that in terms of size of the school, but the coaching staff will usually help you make the most out of it no matter the size of the school. Now depending on the timing of the visit and the kind of things the coaches want to emphasize, your visit could look very different from your visit at another school. Here are a few things that are typically part of any visit:

• Meeting with the coach(es) If not, you haven't planned/coordinated when to visit well!
• Meeting the team
• Seeing the dorm rooms
• Eating in the cafeteria
• Meeting a school counselor
• Joining to a class

The timing is important to experience two things: you definitely want to meet the coaches in person (at least in most cases) and you definitely want to make sure students are "on campus". Any day between Monday to Friday is typically a good day, as everyone is heading to classes. On the other hand, try to avoid to only be on campus Saturday or Sunday mornings when many of the students try to catch up with some sleep! Another question we often receive from athletes is: travelling alone or with mum and dad? There are advantages and disadvantages with both. If you go alone, you will definitely be more out of your comfort zone, speaking up for yourself and showing your true personality. If you go with your parent, it's a bit easier to hide and let them do the talking; especially if you're more the introverted type. No matter what you decide for, coaches will observe you and try to get a better grasp of you as a person. Do you really fit into the team, the culture they are maintaining or trying to build? Can you contribute to the success of the team?

Visiting schools helps you reduce the likelihood of experiencing game-changing surprises once you start out with your freshman year in college. And that's something that can really put your mind at ease going into senior year.

Work towards getting invitations to go on visits and make sure to enjoy your visit. It's a memorable experience no matter which school you decide for in the end.

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