BFF Recruiting: VISITS, VISITS, VISITS! What is the deal with visits? What does it all mean? What should I expect? How do I prepare?
I hope you all had an enjoyable September 1st, and are enjoying the days that follow. Speaking with clients and friends, it was exhausting, fun, some said stressful, and others just enjoyed it all.
I have been asked a bunch of questions about details, planning, and preparing for visits so I wanted to take the time to share all the details with you.
If you have been offered a visit to campus official or unofficial visit, you can bet that the interest level is serious from this school and you will want to be ready and prepared for what’s ahead.
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OFFICIAL VISITS:
According to the NCAA, when you are invited on an official visit, "the college can pay for transportation to and from the college for you, lodging and meals...for you and your parents or guardians, as well as reasonable entertainment expenses, including three tickets to a home sports event."
HERE IS A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT IS PAID FOR:
1-Transportation- FOR YOU
2-Lodging-FOR YOU & YOUR PARENTS/GUARDIAN to stay at a hotel within 30-mile radius of campus
3-Meals- up to 3 meals plus a snack per day for FOR YOU & YOUR PARENTS/GUARDIAN
4-Entertainment-YOU & YOUR PARENTS/GUARDIANS within 30 mile radius of campus
5-Athletic Events-can provide up to 3 tickets to a home athletic event. These tickets are to be provided through a pass list
BFF TIP: Make sure to bring ID’s for you and your family! When going into games you need to have some sort of ID!
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN MY OFFICIAL VISIT?
Transportations -for parents or legal guardians
Lodging or meals -for anyone else accompanying you other than your parents or legal guardians.
Coaches can not pay for alcohol (for players or parent/guardian). -This may seem obvious for the player but can get tricky when going out to dinner with parents. Just make sure to ask so you figure it out ahead of time.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OFFICIALS AND UNOFFICIALS?
Remember unofficial visits—travel, lodging, and meal expenses are paid for by YOU & YOUR FAMILY—are also unlimited.
**The only expenses that NCAA rules allows schools to provide a prospective student-athlete on an unofficial visit are three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest through the use of a pass list (not hard tickets). Those admissions are for the exclusive use of the prospective student-athlete and those accompanying the prospective student-athlete on the visit.
HOW MANY OFFICIAL VISITS CAN I TAKE?
Per NCAA guidelines, you can only visit a college on an official visit ONCE and have only FIVE total visits to all Division I schools.
1-You are allowed up to 5 visits to D1 & D2 schools combined
2- You can only take 1 official visit per school
3-You cannot take a visit during a Dead Period
BEFORE YOU VISIT: ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:
1-you need to submit a copy of your high school transcript
2-you need to submit standardized test scores to the college
3-you need to be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
HOW LONG ARE VISITS?
1-Official visits can last no more than 48 hours.
2-The clock starts on the 48 hours as soon as you reach campus.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?
Coaches have varying philosophy’s when it comes to hosting prospective athletes. Each school has a different budget and may have their own internal guidelines on what they can and cannot do. So each experience will be a bit different.
1- Visits are very detail-oriented and organized
The purpose is to spend as much time as you can within the given time period getting to know the players, coaches, campus, academics, campus, every single part of what it would be like to be a student-athlete.
Most will have YOU stay on campus with a current player, who will show you around and introduce you to other potential teammates. Parents/Guardian will stay in a hotel.
The purpose is to get the full experience, and see almost every aspect of what it would look like to be a student-athlete at the school. See if it’s a good fit.
WHAT DO THEY INCLUDE?
Visits will vary depending on the school, however here are some things you can expect to do
Watch a practice
Tour the campus
Eat on campus
Go to a class
Meet team/coaches support staff including:
Academic Advisor
Sports Performance (Strength and Conditioning)
Financial Aid help
Expect it to be a jam-packed day or two where you will get to meet up with the coach and discuss your future at the college and on the team.
BFF INSIDER TIP:
Coaches will put you in different environments and situations. You may be 1 on 1 with coaches, you may be with other recruits and their families. You might just be with your parents alone in order to explore. They may also leave you alone with current players. Again, these situations are all designed to assess YOU and see if you will be a perfect fit for the team and culture!
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL ITINERARY LOOK LIKE?
Again, coaches want to plan a special visit. It will be organized, and well thought out. Here are some examples of what it may look like.
EXAMPLE DAY ONE:
Meet coaches on-campus/ maybe enjoy a meal together
Meet with an academic advisor
Meet Sports Performance (Strength & Condoning)
Tour Campus with coaches or players
Eat on campus
Meet current players
Go to a class
Attend a sporting event (or dinner off campus)
Enjoy the evening meeting the team
EXAMPLE 2nd Day (if you do a 48-hour visit)
Breakfast
Meet individually with coaches
Give you and your parents sometime to explore both on-campus or off-campus
Visit the bookstore!
WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD I ASK THE COACH?
Having questions prepared shows a huge level of interest in the college's athletic program and the coach. Here are a few to get you started:
1- How would you describe the culture of the team?
2- What is your philosophy on playing freshman?
3-What is the team's travel schedule like?
4-How do they balance travel with academics missing school?
5-How many players are you looking to bring in this class?
6-What does a typical practice look like?
7-Do you guys require Study hall hours?
8-What is the academic support like?
9-What is the alumni connection like?
10-What are the next steps?
BFF INSIDER TIP:
Write these and any other questions you may have down and bring them with you, along with extra paper and a pen. It’s okay to have them ready for when you meet 1 on 1 with coaches.
WHAT QUESTIONS COULD THE COACH ASK ME?
1-What other schools are you planning to visit?
2-What schools have offered you a scholarship?
3-What factors will help you make a decision?
4-Do you see yourself here?
5-When can you commit? ( what is your timeline)
WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD I ASK THE PLAYERS?
1-What is their relationship like with the head coach? Assistant coaches?
2-Do you feel like you are supported academically and athletically enough to be successful?
3-Do you hang out mostly with the team or do you have other friends from other teams?
4-How do they treat injured players?
5- Do you get time to explore outside of campus?
6-What is your favorite part about being a student-athlete here?
WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD I ASK THE ACADEMIC ADVISOR?
1-What are the requirements for my major?
2-Are the opportunities for extra help if I need it?
3-What type of jobs are available after graduation?
4-What kind of career placement do you offer?
5-What is your placement rate?
HOW SHOULD I REPRESENT MYSELF?
You need to be well behaved and prepared for your visit.
You are a junior/senior in high school who has been invited to a college campus for a night or two.
It is very possible that you will be asked to go to parties and out for fun.
There is nothing wrong with going out but beware of drinking.
If a coach finds out that you were drinking or were out past curfew, your future could be jeopardized.
No exceptions. You know that scholarship you were given? You can say goodbye to that for sure.
While it might seem like the "cool" thing to do because you want to fit in, it's not worth it.
WHAT ELSE SHOULD I BE AWARE OF DURING MY VISIT?
1- Be confident and Prepared
Make sure to make eye contact, have a confident handshake, and have body language. This is a huge commitment with lots of preparation for coaches. You need to be polite, engaged, and thankful for the opportunity.
2-Speak clearly
Practice speaking clearly, and have thought about what you want from your experience over the next 4 years.
3-Write down questions to ask when meeting 1 on 1 with coaches
It’s okay to bring a list of questions into the meeting with the coaches. A lot of the questions will be answered over the time you are there but any individual questions make sure to bring along.
4-Be responsible
No drinking, be on time, and again be polite and THANKFUL!
Before leaving, Make sure to know what the next steps are, and always follow up with a thank you letter, email, text. (Any and all) to all of the nice people you meet along the way.
BFF INSIDER TIP:
Make sure to ask for business cards from anyone you meet. It’s a nice touch and also gives you the email and phone number in case you have a question!