Invites to schools from the coach

Dad,
Invites are indeed an expression of interest.
The real question is the level of interest.
If they are asking your son for official visits, that means your son should be one of their top recruits.
Both the school and your son are limited in the number of official visits. Your son can only take 5.
If the visits are unofficial, i.e., at your expense, they are interested but it is likely others are on the official visit list.
This all presupposes your son is a 2011. If he isn't, then all the visits would be unofficial.
In my view, your son will need to do some prioritizing.
Trying to visit every school on an unofficial basis will be time consuming, difficult and expensive.

Yes that is good news if a coach has invited your son to visit the school. When I coached at the JUCO level and I asked a player to visit, it was hoping that this player and family would decide this was a good fit academically and athletically for them. I wouldn't waste my time bringing a recruit in and spending time with him and his family unless I have some decent level of interest.

As stated the question is what level of interest does the school have? The visit can maybe give some more insight into what they see in your son and how they see him fitting into their program. After a visit or even at the end of it many times an offer is made. I think visiting can't really hurt it will just prepare you and make you more comfortable with the process and help you be more prepared for any other school visits. As infielddad stated when it comes to official visits then you will have to decide on the surface if this is a school with academics and athletics that you feel is a possible choice based on the information you currently have. You want to take advantage of the limited amount of official visits you can take. So some research beforehand will hopefully help with this decision process.

So no it's not feasible to visit every school but what you son is doing is correct. Never blow off a coach or school. You never know when your situation may change or when you meet that coach at a different school, level..ect.

Best of luck!

Is the visit invite for an official or unofficial?

By the way he is a 2011.
I am not sure if it is official or unofficial.
My son has been contacting colleges.
Several schools have talked to his high school and summer coaches and gotten very good feedback. Not just about the player that he is but also about the type of young man he has become. Several schools have said they have heard great things and want him to visit the campus soon and see the facilities and meet the players if the visits are in the fall.
How do we know if it is an official visit?

They will pick up the costs

Unofficial you pay for it

Who is giving you the info about these great vibes?

Pitcherdad - ask them.

For the schools within driving distance (3-4 hours?) I would go ahead and visit soon if you can. Contact them ahead of time and set up a date.

You will typically get a nice tour of the facilities...including dorms, classrooms, athletic facilities, etc... Might get to meet a player or two if any are in summer school. And you will have some type of meeting with the coaches at some point.

Its possible (at this point) they could make an offer...but if they don't, it isn't bad either. That might come a little later.

We did 4 or 5 of these with our 2011 and they were well worth it and helped him immensely to make his decision. The school he committed too will have all of their commits make an 'official' visit in the Fall.

Should these visits be scheduled by my son or is it ok for his mom and I to go ahead and contact the coach? I am trying to do this the right way and so far I have let my son drive the contact with the schools he is interested in. I have heard most coaches do not want to hear from parents but appreciate hearing from the players.

let the player set it up

I'd advise making sure that the schools he does have genuine interest in that he sees them in the Fall.

I know it's difficult to make a lot of visits, but I think it's important your son see the school while school is in session. That's when you'll get a true taste for a school.

Stu

Pitcher dad - are you at East cobb now - and the coaches there are asking for visits? Great job! Who does your son play for?

My son was scheduled to be in East Cobb this week but two weeks ago now he felt some mild soreness in his elbow after throwing in a showcase. The soreness started after he had thrown about 96 pitches and then went out to warm up one of the outfielders late in the game. We made the decision to have him take a break which included missing East Cobb. Not an easy decision for him as he has been working pretty hard towards being ready for this summer.
He plans on getting back into throwing again this coming week.

Can a coach provide a football ticket to you on an unofficial visit?

Eric G - the answer is yes, up to 3 tickets.

Clint, thanks!