We are going to be traveling half way across the country next week to play for a couple of weeks, and my boys would love to stop and look at some universities and their facilities on the way and while we are there playing. Who would I contact and how or can I even make this happen. Of course they have the places they want to go, but I would love to show them other alternatives too.
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Look at the website/roster for the schools you're looking at. You can usually find an office number for the baseball program. Call it and just explain the situation. Most places are pretty good about letting you see the facility even if your son isn't a recruit. We did this at UNC when my was was 12....he was 4'8 and probably 90 lbs. We were in Cary for 13U NTIS. We called, got ahold of a coach and he said text him when we get there. The gates were locked but a ton of players/families from the older NTIS teams were roaming around looking thru the fence. Imagine the looks when this 4'8 kid walks up to the gate, a coach comes out opens it and takes us inside lol.
DAD2TWINS,
I think it's a great idea to look at as many different schools as is possible. It's hard with all the baseball, school, work, and other commitments.
We visited colleges every chance we had, particularly early in the process. Baseball tourney trips, holidays seeing family, Spring breaks, etc.
Sometimes we would do what Buckeye suggests, particularly when farther along in the recruiting process. But mostly we just walked campuses. Typically we'd stop at Admissions and fill out a "request info" card so my guys were in the Admissions database and get a campus map. Then we would hit places on campus where my guys were most interested: baseball field, workout facilities, dining hall, and student center. Occasionally we'd get to the library, an academic building, and a dorm, but only if my better half was along!
Once in awhile we'd stop at Admissions just as a tour was going out. We'd do that occasionally, particularly if it was a small group and short tour. One or two information sessions...they all started to sound the same so we stopped doing those.
We'd get to campuses when it worked for us. Sometimes that was in the early evening. Anything to see the campus and get a sense of place.
My guys would have a visceral reaction to most places. They either could or could not see themselves on that campus. The visits were extremely helpful in determining the type of schools (size, location, etc.) my guys wanted to focus on. And any school with a lousy baseball field or crappy workout facilities or field / facilities miles from campus was punted. Always.
Agree with the above, but remember it is summer on campus. Unless you are visiting a larger university in a large city, many will only have summer school students there which normally is a smaller population. It does get you a feel of the colleges though.
I drug my baseball playing son to college tours with his older brother. Our first visit was to a back up school, that neither of them particularly liked or wanted to go to. But after seeing many other schools since, that first school became a good option, it just wasn't at the beginning.
Remember: It may be a dream school for your son, but the baseball coaches may not see him as their dream player. And a program is more than the facilities.
keewart's line speaks volumes! 
"...And a program is more than the facilities."
Dad2 twins;
do you live near Torii Hunter home inn Pine Bluff? Years ago when Torii was 17 years ago I stopped in Pine Bluff to visit the family. He join our American team to Korea the next year.
When you travel across the States, you can call the College Baseball Coach and request to use the batting cages for a "work out". You will now know the interest of the Coach.
Bob
Over the years during our travels we have stopped by many colleges. We starting showing our kids different colleges from a very young age. That way when they were at the age they needed to pick out a college they had a good idea of the different types of schools, from Ivy's to very large public universities to small private religious institutions. It was one of the best things we did for our kids over the years. They went into the college selection process with a lot of knowledge on the different types of schools.
Along the way as the kids got older they started to want to see the sport facilities. At first we would just wonder around and see if things were open. Many times we found we were able to get into the stadiums and other places. I was surprised at how easy it was. We were able to walk right into some SEC, B1G Schools facilities. Many times we met folks working who told us to feel free to take a look around. At some point we did send out emails and many times received positive responses about stopping by and they would let us in and show us around.
One of our best wondering around stories. We headed down to the Cotton Bowl a few years back to see MSU play (go green). My oldest attended MSU and my youngest was a frosh in HS. We hit up TCU to take a look around. The football stadium was open so we walked right in. As we were walking in we passed a man walking out. He said hi to us and started a conversation. Turns out he was the AD. Very nice conversation with him. He told us to head up to the upper deck as it had a great view of the area. He also told us to feel free to head down onto the field. Just be careful to avoid the roped off areas as they had just painted it for an upcoming bowl game. We mentioned that my son was a big baseball player. We talked a little about where he was recruiting-wise at the time (starting to see action, but not at TCU level, probably wouldn't get to that level). He told us he would stop by and make sure the baseball stadium was unlocked for us so we could head over there when we were done. Very cool non-planned experience.
Facilities matter, period. Especially to the player/student because that is what he is in that order, a player then a student. Call the Director of Baseball Operations and let them know your intent. He should be/or can be there since the are actively recruiting prospects and inviting them in for visits & offers etc. The good ones or nice ones set the example for the least equipped. Barring a major, academic prestige or program success vs another, the facilities matter a lot less to the parents but the kids care, big time.
