1. “A Recruit’s Guide for Success”
Official & Unofficial Visits 101
“Thanks to all of the college visits, I got to experience colleges that I was
not very familiar with. I actually signed with a college like that and could not
be more happy with my decision.”
-NCSA student-athlete
“NCSA opened my eyes to colleges that I had never heard of prior to join-
ing the program. Colleges that I had ruled out in my mind ended up being
on the top of my list after going on unofficial visits.”
-NCSA student-athlete
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2. What is an Unofficial Visit and Why Are They Important?
An unofficial visit is any visit to a college/university campus that is NOT
funded by the institution.
Unofficial visits can be taken as early as freshman year.
Typically, a coach will talk to you and your parents about their institution
and athletic program and they will give you a brief tour of the athletic
facilities. If a coach has seen you play, they may give you an indication of
their level of interest. In some cases, verbal scholarship offers are extend-
ed on unofficial visits. If you know a coach has seen you play, you should
ask them where you stand amongst their recruiting class, and what they
feel you need to work on in order to improve.
If you take the initiative to schedule an unofficial visit and you arrive with
some knowledge about the university and a list of good questions, you
are likely to move up on the coach’s list of potential players. Be proactive!
Reminder:
Bring pen and paper. Taking notes
will show that you are organized.
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How to Set Up an Unofficial Visit
Before you visit a college, you must call or email the coach to inform him or
her that you are coming to campus and would like to set up a meeting.
If you have video available, make sure you send it to the coach before your
visit.
Ask the coach if they recommend that you schedule an admissions interview
while you are on campus.
“Coach Smith, I am in the process of scheduling my unofficial visits and
I would like to visit your university. Will you be available to meet with me
Saturday, June 2 or Sunday, June 3? Is there anything specific I should do
in order to set up an unofficial visit with your university? Do you recom-
mend I arrange for an admissions interview? Please click on the following
link to view my NCSA scouting report. The video highlights should give you
an idea of my abilities.”
Show up with a copy of your scouting report and a prepared list of questions.
Don’t forget a paper/pen to take notes.
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3. What is a Game Day Visit?
Game day visits are typically unofficial and they provide student-athletes and
their families with the opportunity to visit the campus and watch a game. Game
day visits are most common in football recruiting but take place in other sports
as well. Most football programs will offer game day visits to student-athletes on
their recruiting list. Remember, the coaching staff will be busy preparing their
team, so recruits usually do not get much attention during a game day visit. If
this happens, do not get discouraged but you should always follow up with a
“thank you” to the coach who invited you on the visit.
General Tip:
Tell coaches about the other
colleges that are recruiting you.
Coaches will not want their
competition to get you!
2This is an actual game day visit itinerary from a DI-A Football Program:
Hawks v. Wildcats
Saturday, November 6, 1993
9:30 a.m. Arrive at Game Day Center
Registration
10:00 View the Hawks Highlight Tape
10:20 Game Day Presentation
Recruiting - Jeff Cole, Recruiting Coordinator
10:30 Tour the Hall of Legends
11:15 Walk to Smith Arena and experience the pre-game
excitement of Hawk Football.
11:45 Address by John Jackson, Head Football Coach
12:00 p.m. Walk through the famous Hawk Tunnel and experience
what no other stadium has to offer - 80,000 Hawk Fans
12:15 Pre-game warm-ups on the floor of Hawk Stadium
1:00 Kick-off - BEAT WILDCATS!!!
Post Game Prospects and their guests: Return to the tunnel entrance
of Smith Arena. Visit with the Hawk Coacheson the floor of
Smith Arena; Home of Hawk Basketball.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR A FUN WEEKEND.
Any questions, don’t hesitate to call Jeff Cole, Recruiting Coordinator.
Due to NCAA regulations regarding an unofficial visit, you must pay for
your own parking and lunch.
Note:
Always have a contact person when
you attend a game day visit. If you are
running late for any reason you should
call and tell your contact.
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4. What is an Official Visit and Who Gets Them?
If an institution pays for any part of a visit, it is an official visit. Typically the college
will pay for travel, housing, meals and some entertainment costs.
Coaches usually offer official visits to their top recruits.
The number of official visits a college or team can offer depends on their budget.
Division I colleges usually have the most official visits, followed by Division II col-
leges. Division III colleges usually do not offer paid official visits.
• You are allowed to take no more than five official visits to Division I and/or
Division II universities, and you can only take one visit per university. There is
no limit on the number of official visits you can take at the Division III level, but
you can only take one visit per college.
• You may begin to take official visits beginning the opening day of classes your
senior year of high school.
If a coach offers you an official visit, you are most likely very high on their list. If an
official visit offer is not extended, especially at the Division I or II level, you must ac-
cept the fact that you are not very high on the coach’s list.
How to Set Up an Official Visit
Be upfront with the coach and ask him/her if they plan to offer you an official visit.
If a coach invites you to visit during your senior year, ask if this will be an official
visit.
• Ask the coach what you need to bring on your visit. It is required that you send
the college a copy of your high school transcript prior to taking an official visit.
If a coach asks what other colleges you are visiting, you should list universities that
are comparable or better. BE HONEST about the other colleges you are talking to.
If a coach believes that his competitors are recruiting you, it will raise your stock!
The fact that you are initiating dialogue about an official visit and that you are ar-
ranging visits with other colleges will create leverage and a sense of urgency.
Note:
Offers are usually made during your official visit, and your parents
may not be there with you. Feel comfortable to tell a coach that you
need to let your parents review any financial information before you
commit. If a university really wants you they will wait a few days or a
week. If you are pressured to commit but do not feel ready, simply
say, ”Right now you are my number one choice, but I promised my
parents I would take my five official visits before making a commit-
ment. How long will this offer be extended?”
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5. What to Do On Your Visit
Ask questions! Refer to NCSA’s “List of Sample Questions” in section 3D.
Asking questions will show a coach that you are prepared and that you
are taking your college decision seriously. Remember to ask academic,
athletic, social and financial questions.
Walk around the campus and try to get a feel for the atmosphere. Do the
students seem friendly? Do you like the layout? Is this a place you could
picture yourself living for four years?
If you get an opportunity to meet the team, ask them questions too! These
are the people who may be your teammates, so be friendly and try to de-
termine whether or not you can visualize yourself fitting in with this group.
Consider arranging an admissions interview and possibly a campus tour.
Ask the coach if you can sit in on a class. Watch a practice or a game, if
possible.
A Sample Official Visit Itinerary:
Friday, January 15
3:37 p.m. Arrive at City Metro Airport on Flight #1111.
4:45 Check into the Campus Hotel - Home of the Hawks.
4:30-7:30 Welcome Reception at Campus Hotel. Meet your host, Joe Smith.
6:30 Dinner at Main Street Station with Coach Jackson and Joe Smith.
After dinner, free time with Joe.
Saturday, January 16
8:00 a.m. Wake-up call.
9:00 Breakfast at new Chemistry Building Atrium with Hawk coaches.
10:00 Academic Presentation at Student Auditorium - by John Harris,
Assistant Athletic Director of Academic Services.
10:30 Meet with Helen Thompson, Professor of Business Administration,
School of Business.
12:15 p.m. Lunch at Student Union with Hawk Football Staff.
2:00 Hawk vs. Lions basketball game in Smith Arena.
4:30 Tour Game Day Center and Hall of Legends.
6:30 Reception at Game Day Center with Hawk Football Staff.
7:00 Dinner seved in Hall of Legends Commons.
After dinner, free time with Joe.
Sunday, January 17
8:00 a.m. Wake-up call.
*Church is available if you wish. We will help you get to Church.
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8:30-11:00 Join staff for Brunch at Hall of Legends Commons.
Clear up any unfinished business.
11:15 Leave campus for the airport.
12:15 p.m. Depart City Metro Airport on Flight #1114, after visiting
the Nation’s top academic and athletic University.
General Tip:
The college you are visiting may compete
against another university that is recruiting
you. Don’t worry, this is a good thing.
Being up front with both coaches should
avoid any uncomfortable situations.
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6. Reminder:
Bring your handwritten list of questions that you
and your family compiled. Not all of these ques-
tions will apply to every college you visit. Make a
list of questions you would like to have answered
in a notebook that you will keep with you at all
times. When the coach asks, “Do you have any
questions,” pull out your list and fire away!
Questions a Coach May Ask During the Visit
1. What other institutions are recruiting you?
Be honest and list colleges that are comparable to, rivals with, or better than the
institution you are visiting.
2. What colleges will you visit?
Be honest and name any universities that you have visited officially or unofficially. If
this is the first college you have visited, state that you are in the process of schedul-
ing the rest of your visits.
3. Has anyone offered you a scholarship?
If you have been offered a scholarship you should tell the coach about it. If you
have visits scheduled but have yet to receive a scholarship offer, state that you are
in the process of taking your visits and you plan to discuss scholarships with those
coaches when you meet with them. If no official visits are set, tell the coach you are
in the process of setting up your official visits and name the colleges you are talking
to.
4. When can you commit?
If you are visiting your number one college and feel comfortable committing, go for
it! If you have other visits pending, tell the coach you want to take your other official
visits just to make sure you make an educated decision. Ask the coach, “How long
does your offer stand for? When do I have to make my decision by?”
What You Will Be Evaluated On
Just because you are offered an official visit, does not necessarily mean you will
receive a scholarship offer or even a spot on the team. The coaching staff already
has identified you as a top prospect from an athletic standpoint, but the official
visit gives them an opportunity to judge your personality, life-style and character.
Usually, coaches will make an effort to match recruits up with team members who
have similar personalities and life-styles. Be yourself, but remember, coaches are
looking for young men and women who will be a positive asset to their university
and team, and who get along well with others. At some point during or after your
visit the coaches will probably ask your host about you, so always be courteous,
positive and respectful.
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7. Here is an actual official visit evaluation form from a Division I university:
Prospect: Roger Thomas Host: Alex Cole
1) How well will he fit in? Would you want to work with him for four years?
(x ) Very well ( ) Well ( ) Ok ( ) May Not ( ) Will Not
2) Is he interested in our University?
(x) Yes, very much; We’re his #1
( ) Yes, we are in the top
( ) So, so; we are in the top 10
( ) Don’t think so
3) The biggest competition we have, in order, and why.
1) State College Why: Didn’t give reasons
2) Academic U. Why: Wants to visit & see what it’s like
4) Character Evaluation:
(x) Tops ( ) Good ( ) Check out further ( ) Bad
5) What does he like about our University?
Has liked us for long time - togetherness of team - likes
the fact that you can go out & have fun-yet can stay on
campus & it is quiet if you want to study.
6) Where do his parents stand?
They were concerned at first about distance - but don’t
seem to be now.
7) Any other comments, concerns, information, etc.
Doesn’t want to stay near home - would be surprised if he
doesn’t come.
General Tip:
While on an official visit it is important that
you make it a priority to get a good feel for the
college. You need to evaluate the campus, the
students, your prospective teammates, and the
coaches. Ask yourself, “Is this a place where I
can see myself being comfortable for four years
even if I’m not an athlete?”
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8. 7You are now a senior, the most important time of the recruiting process!
At this point you should begin to schedule official and unofficial visits with
colleges that interest you. The more schools you visit the better! I am
including some information below about visits in the form of an FAQ.
I hope you find it helpful!
Visit FAQ
What is the definition of an official visit vs. unofficial visit?
An Official visit is paid for by the college, an unofficial is paid for by you. On an official
visit the NCAA allows a school to pay for lodging, transportation, meals, and entertainment.
So that includes airfare, rental car, and 3 meals a day. The school is NOT allowed to pay
for your parents. If you stay overnight with a member of the team on campus, the coach
may not pay for your parents hotel. On an unofficial visit a coach is able to provide tickets
to 3 sporting events under $100, transportation to an off-site venue, and the student-athlete
may stay overnight with a team member. Official visits cannot be made until the opening
day of class senior year. The NCAA allows 5 visits to D1 and D2 schools combined. You
are allowed an unlimited number of unofficial visits. You may only take ONE official visit
per institution. Each official visit may be up to 48 hrs.
Are all D1 & D2 schools able to offer official visits?
Official visits offered based on the school’s recruiting budget. Some schools do not have
the budget to offer paid visits.
Can you visit a D3 school officially?
Yes! You are allowed an unlimited number of official visits to NAIA & D3 schools. Unfortu-
nately, D3 schools tend to have a limited recruiting budget and therefore aren’t usually able
to offer paid airfare, hotel, etc…Some D3 schools do not offer official visits at all. It’s a
case by case basis.
What does it mean if the coach doesn’t offer an official during senior year?
You are not likely a top recruit if it’s a D2 or D1 school as a general rule. Always ask
questions and find out where you are on the recruiting list before visiting a school. Also ask
what the schools policy is on official visits. Many schools are not fully-funded enough to
provide airfare, but will offer to pay for meals and lodging. If they do, that IS an official
visit. Always clarify with the coach whether it’s an official and unofficial.
Should I always take an official if offered?
Schools that are near-by, which you can drive to, you may want to consider taking an
unofficial. Coaches will not be offended if you decline the official visit. Just be truthful and
tell them that you are going on many visits and would rather save your officials for schools
that are farther away.
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9. 8
Are student-athletes allowed to tryout or practice with the team?
As an NCAA rule, D1 and D3 schools do not allow tryouts. You are, however, allowed to
participate in workouts that are NOT organized or observed by coaching staff. They must
not be designed to test your athletic ability though. D2 schools are allowed to conduct one
tryout in the off-season of your sport. NAIA schools may also offer tryouts.
Are their any times when visits are not allowed?
Yes. There is a Dead Period in which it is not permissible to make in-person recruiting
contacts. Dead periods generally fall right before the signing periods and can be found in
the NCAA Recruiting Calendar.
When should visits be scheduled?
You should take visits whenever you can. Your schedule is very busy, so any free time
should be used for visiting colleges.
Should you go on group admissions tours, recruit days, or recruitment weekends?
It’s always better to meet with a coach when you take a college visit. Many times you get
very little time to spend with the coach personally on a recruitment day. It really gives you
no gauge about how interested the coach is in you personally. NCSA recommends asking
the coach for a personal visit on another weekend.
Should a student-athlete bring up a visit or wait until a coach asks?
You should bring it up! Many NCSA athletes are far ahead of others in the recruiting
game. You should really let the coaches know what YOUR recruiting timeline is. This is
your recruiting experience and college choice, you have every right to inquire about how it’s
going to work.
How do you schedule a visit?
The key to setting up visits is coordinating with the coach. You must call or email the coach
to inform him or her that you are coming to campus and would like to set up a meeting.
Always contact the coach well in advance. If you do not let a coach know about your visit
you are not maximizing your time and you will miss out on opportunities. Send the coach
an email, then follow-up with a phone call. If you already have a relationship with the
coach it should be easy.
What should you bring?
When you go on a visit we would recommend bringing along your 1 page profile, tran-
scripts, recommendation letters, pen and paper, a list of questions and video.
What should you wear?
Dress nicely. No hats, jewelry, or torn jeans. Wear a polo shirt and khakis with nice shoes
(they can be running shoes). You want to be comfortable, but look nice. You only have
one shot to make a great first impression.
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10. 9
What exactly do you do on a visit?
Tour the Campus, have an interview session with the coach, meet the players, tour the
facilities, meet with admissions, possibly attend an athletic event, possibly stay overnight
with a team member. If possible, we recommend staying overnight with a team member. It
will give you the best overall feel for the school and the opportunity to speak with someone
who has been in your shoes!
What does the interview session with the coach consist of?
This interview session is the time when you should ask any questions that you have. Prior to
your visit write down questions in a notebook so you don’t forget anything. Your parents
are allowed in the office with you and the coach and they are allowed to ask questions as
well. They should not dominate the conversation though. You should be doing most of the
talking, but if they think of something that they want to ask, they are more than welcome to.
As a senior, a coach will most likely tell you what they have to offer during this meeting.
You can accept right then and there, decline right then and there, or (and this is what we
recommend) thank the coach for the offer and tell him/her that you need to go home and
talk it over with your parents. Maybe you have other visits scheduled and you want to take
those before you commit – tell them this. This is usually the best route, but make sure that
you know how long the offer is on the table. It won’t be there forever and you need to
know how long you have.
What questions are appropriate to ask?
Ask questions that you help you determine whether or not the school is a good fit. Don’t
spend too much time on questions the website can answer. For example don’t ask “what is
the enrollment at ---? Do ask “Coach, where do you see me fitting in with your team?”
What should you be looking for on a visit to determine whether the school is
a good fit?
When you're on a visit make sure you get along with everyone and you feel that you will be
able to have a good relationship with them. This is why asking questions and being proac-
tive is so important. You will need to talk with these coaches and open communication lines
now to help determine which schools will be the best fit for your needs and personality.
Make sure your future teammates on the team seem friendly, fun, and that you will be able
to make friends with them too! Make sure to see how they interact with the coaches. Do
they get along, do they have fun, do they respect them? These factors are the MOST
IMPORTANT when on a visit. You should be able to see the positive interactions between
the coaches and the players. These people will become your family for the next four yours,
and hopefully the rest of your life. Look at it this way, if you get sick, hurt, or something
happens in your life--they will be there for you. Visit with players. Talk with freshmen and
sophomores to get their perspective on first-year experiences. Take notes regarding your
visit. Focus on: names and titles of people you meet, conditions of facilities and equip-
ment, impressions, policies.
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11. 10
Will a coach ask you to commit?
As a senior, the coach will show what they have to offer and will most likely give you an
offer at the end of the trip. That could be an athletic offer or other types of aid. They may
ask you to verbally commit, but you do not need to commit on a visit. You can turn them
down, give them your verbal, or ask for more time to go home and consider all their
options and other opportunities from other schools. You should try to take all five official
visits, or see as many as you can to make the best decision. Always ask the coach how
long the offer is on the table or if they are going to offer someone else.
If offered ask:
How long is this scholarship offer on the table?
Are you going to offer this scholarship to someone else if I do not accept right away?
Is the scholarship good for 5 years if I need extra time to graduate?
What do I need to achieve to keep my scholarship each year?
May I see the offer in writing?
What should they do after the visit?
Always write a thank-you letter to the coach after your visit!
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Unofficial and Official College Visits
“A Recruit’s Guide for Success”
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