My son has been invited to a couple of unofficial visits. I am not sure what to expect. Any suggestions?
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cdjd13,
Welcome to HSBBWeb, and congrats on the upcoming college visits.
If you do a "FIND" from the title bar, you can search or advanced search on this topic. You'll find many suggestions, best practices and recommendations for unofficial as well as official visits. The topic is a very popular discussion thread mostly found in the Recruiting section. If you find an older thread you like, please feel free to ask specific questions in that thread.
Best of luck and Happy Holidays.
Welcome to HSBBWeb, and congrats on the upcoming college visits.
If you do a "FIND" from the title bar, you can search or advanced search on this topic. You'll find many suggestions, best practices and recommendations for unofficial as well as official visits. The topic is a very popular discussion thread mostly found in the Recruiting section. If you find an older thread you like, please feel free to ask specific questions in that thread.
Best of luck and Happy Holidays.
Fenwaysouth, I understanding you sending cd to search the topic. I did it myself and read some interesting post - most were several years old. However, I think it would also be helpful also, if we can see different oppinions and updated information from other users.
My son 2014 took an unofficial to a SEC school back in October. We went on a Friday. Meet the recruiting coordinator who is also the pitching coach at 1. For next 90 minutes we toured the campus, academic support area, dorms where we met a frosh pitcher, all the baseball facilities. Practice and warmups started at 2:30 and went to 4 where son shadowed coach and met other pitchers. From 4 to 6:30 watched scrimmage from behind the plate with coaches as it was scout day. Got to meet all the coaches, grad assts and such. Great trip, long drive.
Score101 - FWIW you can do an advanced search by date that will sort by most recent. I did a search on the topic and got two pages worth for 2011 alone. As you said there are some interesting posts.
cdjd13,
Let's start off with a definition: Unofficial visit - Any visit by you and your parents to a college campus paid for by you or your parents. The only expense you may receive from the college is three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest. You may make as many unofficial visits as you like and may take those visits at any time. The only time you cannot talk with a coach during an unofficial visit is during a dead period.
What you can expect is that your son will be evaluating the college, girls, academics, dorms, library, coaches, infrastructure, other students, & overall program to see if this is a place he wants to go to. Remind him it is for 4 years. The college coaches (and possibly players) will be evaluating him as a potential recruit or future teammate. The coaches want to know if they should continue to recruit your son. I look at it like dating.....it is like a first date. Bottom line.....Is there enough interest and compability between your son and the program to continue the athletic recruiting process.
Your son can expect questions about his grades, intended major, interests, summer travel team & upcoming schedule. I would dress appropriately (business casual). I would let your son handle the arrangements, and communication on his own. If it is out of town or a long drive, you could go with him but let him meet with coaches on his own. Hint: While your son is meeting with the coach, you can set up an appt with Financial Aid to get some information. Many parents I know did their own un-official visits while their son was busy with the coach.
Your son should ask questions of the coach that relate directy to his program and your son's potential 4 years there. I would research the heck out of the program including depth & class at each position. Specifically, I would ask about tutoring, athletic expectations, challenging majors & how they work with you, typical day in-season, typical day out-of-season, summer baseball requirments, scholarship questions, and any other specific questions he has. There are couple older threads that deal directly with just questions that are pretty good. I would also ask "who have been your best players, and how did they become your best players". I've heard many coaches open up when asked that question, because they are very proud of their program & players.
In summary, unofficial visits can be very helpful in determining if a school is still interesting. From the schools perspective it is very good because there is no limit to the amount of hours you can spend on campus, it is on your dime, and you can make unlimited visits. Recruits will come up with all kinds of reasons they like or dislike a school. I've seen it with my two oldest sons and heard from others about their un-OVs. You really learn alot about your son in this process. Best of luck.
PS - Always have your son follow up (email or phone) with the college coach that spent the time to host your son regardless if your son likes the school or not.
cdjd13,
Let's start off with a definition: Unofficial visit - Any visit by you and your parents to a college campus paid for by you or your parents. The only expense you may receive from the college is three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest. You may make as many unofficial visits as you like and may take those visits at any time. The only time you cannot talk with a coach during an unofficial visit is during a dead period.
What you can expect is that your son will be evaluating the college, girls, academics, dorms, library, coaches, infrastructure, other students, & overall program to see if this is a place he wants to go to. Remind him it is for 4 years. The college coaches (and possibly players) will be evaluating him as a potential recruit or future teammate. The coaches want to know if they should continue to recruit your son. I look at it like dating.....it is like a first date. Bottom line.....Is there enough interest and compability between your son and the program to continue the athletic recruiting process.
Your son can expect questions about his grades, intended major, interests, summer travel team & upcoming schedule. I would dress appropriately (business casual). I would let your son handle the arrangements, and communication on his own. If it is out of town or a long drive, you could go with him but let him meet with coaches on his own. Hint: While your son is meeting with the coach, you can set up an appt with Financial Aid to get some information. Many parents I know did their own un-official visits while their son was busy with the coach.
Your son should ask questions of the coach that relate directy to his program and your son's potential 4 years there. I would research the heck out of the program including depth & class at each position. Specifically, I would ask about tutoring, athletic expectations, challenging majors & how they work with you, typical day in-season, typical day out-of-season, summer baseball requirments, scholarship questions, and any other specific questions he has. There are couple older threads that deal directly with just questions that are pretty good. I would also ask "who have been your best players, and how did they become your best players". I've heard many coaches open up when asked that question, because they are very proud of their program & players.
In summary, unofficial visits can be very helpful in determining if a school is still interesting. From the schools perspective it is very good because there is no limit to the amount of hours you can spend on campus, it is on your dime, and you can make unlimited visits. Recruits will come up with all kinds of reasons they like or dislike a school. I've seen it with my two oldest sons and heard from others about their un-OVs. You really learn alot about your son in this process. Best of luck.
PS - Always have your son follow up (email or phone) with the college coach that spent the time to host your son regardless if your son likes the school or not.
This is an excellent post fenwaysouth!
fenwaysouth - thank you for the information. This is all new to me.
Fenwaysouth....
Awesome information! I must admit that you have me thinking....my son has an unofficial visit planned to a school and now I wonder if he messed up and scheduled it during a dead period. Can someone kindly tell me what the D1 dead period is for 2012?
Awesome information! I must admit that you have me thinking....my son has an unofficial visit planned to a school and now I wonder if he messed up and scheduled it during a dead period. Can someone kindly tell me what the D1 dead period is for 2012?
CDJD13,
Your welcome. Lot of folks are here to help you. You'll be an expert in no time.
BB13,
Here ya go. I hope your date is good.
NCAA D1 2012 Baseball Recruiting Calendar
Your welcome. Lot of folks are here to help you. You'll be an expert in no time.
BB13,
Here ya go. I hope your date is good.
NCAA D1 2012 Baseball Recruiting Calendar
The coaches of all the colleges that we visited asked that we, as his parents, attend the unofficial visit with our son. We never really had an opportunity to visit any other part of the campus as we were busy the entire time. There were times when our son was able to talk to some of the players alone (while watching a workout, etc.), but for the most part, we were there with him. Thankfully we were included in the meeting with the academic advisors. At the college my son chose to attend, the academic advisor was instrumental in his choice and our support of his choice. She really helped to sell that school and I am very glad that we were able to meet her.
In looking back, I would say that we did not ask enough questions at the visits. Take the advice offered here and ask lots of questions. Don't be afraid to gather as much info as you can.
And, just in case you are there during meal times...they are not supposed to provide you with a meal at unofficial visits. At one of our visits, we had lunch at a restaurant on campus with all of the coaches and at another, we grabbed a sandwich with the recruiting coordinator in the student union. But, we had to pay for our own food. I know that was one of those NCAA rules that I wasn't really sure about at first.
In looking back, I would say that we did not ask enough questions at the visits. Take the advice offered here and ask lots of questions. Don't be afraid to gather as much info as you can.
And, just in case you are there during meal times...they are not supposed to provide you with a meal at unofficial visits. At one of our visits, we had lunch at a restaurant on campus with all of the coaches and at another, we grabbed a sandwich with the recruiting coordinator in the student union. But, we had to pay for our own food. I know that was one of those NCAA rules that I wasn't really sure about at first.
Thank you.
Thanks fenwaysouth. Valuable information in one post. Golden post.
What is difference between quiet and dead or better yet what is quiet? Funny that when my son was talking to a coach a while back he mentioned he loves to drink choc milk during workouts like a lot of schools do in football at halftime. We were told that milk is considered a food and therefore by ncaa cant be given out during workouts as it would be a free meal. Go figure
found it
Quiet period is a time when the college may not have any in-person talk with the prospective student-athlete or the parents off the college’s campus. The coach may not watch the prospect play or practice.The prospective student-athlete can visit college campuses during this time and a coach may write or telephone.
Quiet period is a time when the college may not have any in-person talk with the prospective student-athlete or the parents off the college’s campus. The coach may not watch the prospect play or practice.The prospective student-athlete can visit college campuses during this time and a coach may write or telephone.