What should my son expect on an overnight visit? He would go to a class and stay in a dorm room with player(s).
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quote:Originally posted by gobig:
Our experience with overnight visits was very informative and a great experience! I highly recommend visits! Note: all of the schools we attended overnight were out of state. We attended with son as the schedule was packed with information and we figured it would take all of us to retain a good portion of it
GoBig parents & GoBig Son did campus tour - academic - guided by the coaches themselves. . we met the guidance counselors, the tutors, and most everyone that would guide our sons academic role as a student athlete.
A couple of the players were enlisted to take us around campus to see the specific colleges, buildings, sports facilities for other sports, the dorms and much more.
We met back with the Coaching Staff who toured us threw the locker rooms, explained gear & uniforms, the daily life of a player from how the laundry gets done to how schedules for practices are posted. We also met the strength coaches, trainers and saw the weight facilities and nutrition offices.
Back to the Coaches office for us to ask any questions, mingle with some of the players, and basically unwind. We went back to the hotel.
Son went with the players he was to stay with and we asked few questions (trying not to embarrass son) at that point except the time we were to meet the next day.
According to son, a bunch of the players came over to meet him, some brought their girlfriends, they ordered pizza and played guitar hero and stayed up late. He had a great time and he really left with the attitude that he wanted to be "one of them", it left us with the idea he had a "good fit", meaning he knew when we were at the right school, and he knew pretty immediately.
I feel certain that many schools follow a similar protocol for the basics. We were fortunate and all the players were on their best behavior, they were at the least FINE representatives of their respective schools, and this happened at more than one!
Good luck to your son, Ball players are special and they just belong together IMHO! Don't worry mom, he'll do great!!
son did 3 overnight visits. all were fun for him and a wealth of information.
Funny instance was a player saying "how did you like coach?" My son said the coach seemed nice.
Player said, "Don't worry, that will change in practices!" and smiled.
Guitar hero seems to be the big social intereaction in the dorm rooms these days. He also went to shoot a few hoops in the gym on two of these visits with some of the baseball team members.
All the players were very hospitable and as was stated by the previous poster, great reps of the teams and the colleges.
PS- pack a sleeping bag and pillows for him.
Funny instance was a player saying "how did you like coach?" My son said the coach seemed nice.
Player said, "Don't worry, that will change in practices!" and smiled.
Guitar hero seems to be the big social intereaction in the dorm rooms these days. He also went to shoot a few hoops in the gym on two of these visits with some of the baseball team members.
All the players were very hospitable and as was stated by the previous poster, great reps of the teams and the colleges.
PS- pack a sleeping bag and pillows for him.
I am unaware of a single overnight visit to any school by either of my sons or any of their friends that did not involve pressure to drink. Be careful about that.
I would echo Holden's comment. My son didn't go for an overnight...but he was on the team when another prospective high school player came for overnight visit. Son reported that he was shocked that "certain upperclassmen members" of the team really partied down with this kid. Apparently unbeknownst by the coach, this kid was in poor shape the next morning. Tell your son to be careful.
I can not stress enough the importance of an overnight visit and a day of going to a class or two. My sons both did it at least 3 times and each time they learned either more about the school or equally important what it was like being a college student.
The quote that Gobig posted is generally how it goes. See the campus, go to a class, eat with the guys and hang out and be social.
However, it is the interaction with the players that provides the real insight into the life on campus and what it means to play ball at the school.
As to alchol, it is present on virtually every college campus. It was available during my son's visit at his current school (he went to a dinner with the girl's socccer team). Yet, there was no pressure to drink to fit-in (you need to remember there will be some players that may be 22-23 years of age on some teams).
The quote that Gobig posted is generally how it goes. See the campus, go to a class, eat with the guys and hang out and be social.
However, it is the interaction with the players that provides the real insight into the life on campus and what it means to play ball at the school.
As to alchol, it is present on virtually every college campus. It was available during my son's visit at his current school (he went to a dinner with the girl's socccer team). Yet, there was no pressure to drink to fit-in (you need to remember there will be some players that may be 22-23 years of age on some teams).
Each school is different and I suppose the time of year makes a differnce. The overngiht trips my son took involved staying at a hotel and being picked up by the coach, dropped off by players after dinner. He didn't say anything about drinking however both schools had games the next day. His visits with the compliance officer/cousnseler were one of the more important parts of the trip. Not all counslers are created the same and its pretty easy to tell who the outstanding one are.....as long as your son talks to them.....
My son was a JC transfer so perhaps they didn't feel the need to entice him with parties etc like they might do with a HS player
however both schools had games the next day. His visits with the compliance officer/cousnseler were one of the more important parts of the trip. Not all counslers are created the same and its pretty easy to tell who the outstanding one are.....as long as your son talks to them.....My son was a JC transfer so perhaps they didn't feel the need to entice him with parties etc like they might do with a HS player
Overnight visit? The only "overnight" visit was an official visit. We (Mom, Dad, Son) drove the 6 hours and met the head coach, two assistant coaches and host player. We all had nice dinner and talked college baseball. Coach gave host player the NCAA alloted money and the boys departed. We were given a travel check (for mileage). We retired to our hotel (provided by the college) and the boys made the rounds (wherever college boys go). I do know they went to 1 party where some inebriated chick gave my son a table dance (that's all he would admit to). All the players lived off campus so my son stayed at house where 3 players lived that night. The next day the wife and I met up with son and coaches at the baseball complex. We watched the pre-game festivities and then attended an SEC football game with one of the assistant coaches while our son attended with some of the players. After the game all were free to do as we wished. I think our son went to Toomer's corner for the after game festivities. I went back to the hotel to check in on the HSBBW. The next morning the head coach, as prearranged, came to our hotel for breakfast with the wife and I. We discussed college vs pro ball since our son was expected to be drafted the following spring. After breakfast the coach left and I went to the players' house and woke son up and we headed back to Tennessee.
Fungo
Fungo
That sounds like the perfect visit for all parties involved. So I guess it is safe to say your son didnt drive you back home. 