Official Visit protocol

Thanks for thinking me an expert, son has only been on two official visits.

Here's my suggestion:
Clean shaven, fresh haircut, no earrings, nice khaki shorts (not those from A&F with the strings or warn out look) and polo shirt. Bring nice khaki slacks for dinner just in case he has time to change.
Wearing the school colors is IMO, tacky, unless he has made a decision.

Have fun and good luck!

I am no expert by any means, but I doubt that you will need slacks of any kind. If you have them already, bring them, don't go out and buy them for this visit. A nice pair of jeans that fit you properly (not like you just got out of prison and have no belt) will be fine. Cargo shorts are about all anyone wears, or jean shorts. Bring Shirts with collars - polo and button up shirts. Clean, clean, clean. Do not chew gum if you are speaking. ( I am sure your parents raised you right and you know your mannersBE YOURSELF. Make sure you shake everyones hand that you are introduced to and thank everyone properly. Make sure you return home with a present for mom.

my son just went on his official visit this past weekend, we live in cleveland and he went to the south as well, he wore shorts and a polo shirt most of the time as it was very warm, he also wore the schools t shirts as he has committed already, did not bring a pair of pants and did not get a haircut, he wore the schools baseball hat, he should have but he looked like the rest of the players and fit in fine. he had a great time and he was treated like a king as was our entire family, good luck to your son, mg

mg,
You have an email.

mg, you did good .. a T & flip flops are considered business attire for that school

What do the parents do on these visits? Do they stay for a little while and then leave ? Do they go to the football game? If an offer is made to the player are the parents present?

My son is going on his first visit in a couple weeks. My husband - who was a DI athlete and went on his visit alone - thinks he should go by himself, hang out with the guys, get a good feel for it all. The coach seemed to really want a parent with him - coach asked to talk to my husband and seemed to balk a little at us not coming. Do you think that means one of us really needs to go.

Also, husband stayed in the dorm with athletes when recruited. Coach mentioned hotels. Are the kids not allowed to stay in the dorm with players or is that just how this coach likes it. Should we ask if he can stay with players??

We first timers do so appreciate all you "experts" and your gracious help.

On all visits we ate most meals with the coaches and taken to a football game on saturday. On friday when we arrived we got the campus tour, housing tour, athletics facilities, study hall tour and met with the baseball advisors, AD, meetings with coaches included offers. Both nights for dinner the coaches brought their wives and families, the player hosts and many of the freshman. At Clemson, they held a big buffet for all recruits together (all sports) before the game. At the other school they gave a big spread to all the baseball recuits after the game at the stadium.
My husband and I did our own exploring when alone and really loved the pre football atmosphere at Clemson the most. My husband, who is bald, had a huge Tiger Paw painted on his head. It was the talk of the weekend. We had lots of fun. At night we hung out with the other parents on the trip but each visit by saturday night we were exhausted. We appreciated the coaching staff at both schools making us feel like it was our official visit weekend too!

We only saw our son at meals and on the tour. At Clemson he stayed with a friend on the team, at UF he was givenhis own room but also stayed with his friend in his dorm (I think).Football games they sat closer to field and we sat with the parents and coaches.

All schools recruit differently. I did find the emphasis on family atmosphere at Clemson was much tighter and son loved that.

He had a busy weekend too. He slept all the way home on both trips!

TPM: I bet that was so exciting and a great memory!

When son went on official visit a couple of weekends ago. We went with him, host athlete picked him up at the hotel, he went to the game we went for a quarter he was not sitting with us, we left after a quarter and did our own thing.

They also had a buffet prior to game where we all sat and talked. Then my son went to the game with 4 or 5 of the baseball team and we did not see him the rest of the night until he returned to the hotel.

We were invited to the meeting with the coach where the offer was made.

hitahomer,
Yes, it was a GREAT time and fortunate that they were so insistent on us coming. Since many of the recruits at Clemson come from away, it is important to them to let parents know what's going on, IMO.
At Clemson, son was not the only recruit who hadn't committed at the other school he was teh only one and we flet that too many (coaches and parents)spent the weekend convincing US he should go.

quote:

Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom:


Here's my suggestion:
Clean shaven, fresh haircut, no earrings, nice khaki shorts (not those from A&F with the strings or warn out look) and polo shirt. Bring nice khaki slacks for dinner just in case he has time to change.
Wearing the school colors is IMO, tacky, unless he has made a decision.

Have fun and good luck!

We've got our sons official visit coming up in a couple weeks, I'm not too worried about what my son wears but I can't decide what is appropriate for me... do I go with the Grateful Dead or Bob Marley t-shirt? Any suggestions?

You are getting to be just as funny as CM.

quote:

Originally posted by jerseydad:

quote:

Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom:


Here's my suggestion:
Clean shaven, fresh haircut, no earrings, nice khaki shorts (not those from A&F with the strings or warn out look) and polo shirt. Bring nice khaki slacks for dinner just in case he has time to change.
Wearing the school colors is IMO, tacky, unless he has made a decision.

Have fun and good luck!

We've got our sons official visit coming up in a couple weeks, I'm not too worried about what my son wears but I can't decide what is appropriate for me... do I go with the Grateful Dead or Bob Marley t-shirt? Any suggestions?

The old KISS tour T's are nice. Just try to cover up most of the ink and you'll be fine.



I would stay institution neutral. Common sense but if visiting Miss State, I would leave the Ole Miss and Southern Miss gear at home.

JD,
Another thought, if wearing blue, make sure you have on the right "shade" .

quote:

Also, husband stayed in the dorm with athletes when recruited. Coach mentioned hotels. Are the kids not allowed to stay in the dorm with players or is that just how this coach likes it. Should we ask if he can stay with players??

by rule, schools are permited to provide a hotel room ... for a parent .. player usually stays with team

Good choice Dad04 however I may save the Kiss t-shirt for the dinner.

TPM - I would never make the mistake of wearing the wrong color blue. Not in that state anyway

There is only one shade of blue in Carolina and thats Carolina Blue !!!

quote:

by rule, schools are permited to provide a hotel room ... for a parent .. player usually stays with team

In the book, "Official Visit," the author states that one Florida program paid for separate hotel suites for father and son. This was in the late 1990s -- don't know if things are different now.

Three days ago, a school called to arrange an early October visit for our son. The head coach requested that both parents be there. I guess it varies from school to school. Frankly, I am glad that my husband and I are both invited, in that we will be paying for a large portion of his college bill. For us, it's not so much an individual decision for our son as it is a family decision.

Coach May, you mean "powder blue"?

Midlo Im going to let that slide. Why? For one reason Ive always like the Deacs. #2 Mac Williamson #3 Zach White #4 Mike Dimmock and last but not least a another pretty good pitcher named Daniel!

quote:

Originally posted by Infield08:

quote:

by rule, schools are permited to provide a hotel room ... for a parent .. player usually stays with team

In the book, "Official Visit," the author states that one Florida program paid for separate hotel suites for father and son. This was in the late 1990s -- don't know if things are different now.

Three days ago, a school called to arrange an early October visit for our son. The head coach requested that both parents be there. I guess it varies from school to school. Frankly, I am glad that my husband and I are both invited, in that we will be paying for a large portion of his college bill. For us, it's not so much an individual decision for our son as it is a family decision.

IMO, if you are paying the balance of teh bill, you have a say as well. I know some parents who let their kids make their own decision (without family input)and take student loans out if it is not affordable to the parents.

At UF, son got his own room, it was on a seperate floor than the parents.

Thanks to all (especially TPM) for all the good advice. Visit went well... now we are off to visit #2 this weekend... racking up the frequent flier miles!

Good luck with visit #2. Hope everything goes great!