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The official college visit: What goes on? Feedback Welcome!

When a coach invites you to take an overnight visit it is a good sign that you are a player the program is very interested in. At this point the coach has determined you are academically eligible and have the ability to contribute to the athletic program. Rules on visits vary depending on the NCAA classification.

Division I- you are allowed 5 official visits to different schools. These visits are paid for by the school: Transportation, lodging, food and tickets to the game you might be a guest at. Official visits cannot extend beyond 48 hours. You can take unofficial visits as often as you like but you need to pay your own way and make your own arrangements. For the complete NCAA statement on this topic click here.

Division II - these rules mirror those of Division I. Please click here to go to the NCAA statement on Division II on campus visits.

Division III - you are allowed the same expense paid official visit to a Division III school as to a Div- I or II school. While you can only make one per school, you can visit as many schools as you would like. Click here for Division III rules.

From the schools point of view the overnight visit serves many purposes and you should know what they are...

1. Show off what their program has to offer you. Getting you on campus for a visit gives the coach and players a chance to impress you with the facilities, the weight room, meeting other players and even alumni. At some schools it is a chance to hard sell you and ask for a verbal commitment. You are seen as vulnerable: without parents, awed by the big time environment, stoked by a night out with the current players. Be careful not to get caught up in the emotion of the moment.

2. Evaluate you as a person and teammate. Host student athletes are usually hand selected by the coaching staff as the best representatives the team has. Usually they speak the party line and will show you a good time on campus. Aside from this the coach also respects and asks for the opinion these student athletes have about the recruits. Basically the equation is simple. Good guy or jerk. Will he fit on the team or not? Did he enjoy the campus or not enjoy the campus? Coaches consider this input very carefully when recruiting.

From your point of view you should go into a college visit with the following goals in mind.

1. Talk to as many players as possible from the program, athletes from other teams and regular students. Like any selling proposition the coaching staff would like to steer you away from the negative aspects of a school or program. Besides asking your host, filter around to other players and ask them questions. Don't forget the regular students on campus. For a refresher on what questions to ask go to "What to ask a coach."

2. Sit in on a class in the area of study you are considering. Have you forgotten that the real reason to be in college is to study and prepare for life after? Talk to a professor or two. How big are the classes? How many people are in your major? Are there any players from the team in your major?

3. Visit all facilities. If the school shows you the football teams weight room make sure it is the one you will have access to. Sounds silly but make sure you inspect the area where you will be spending your time. Practice and game facilities, weight room, training room, dining hall, library, computer labs, etc.

4. Meet your position coach (if you have one). In college you have more coaches, and the position coach is the one you will spend the most time with. The head coach gets his info on your performance from the position coach. Make sure you speak with this person and see if you get along.

5. Parties. Part of being on a trip is being taken to college parties by the players. Whatever you do, be responsible in your actions. I have seen recruits get so drunk that they did regrettable things and even lost chances at scholarships or being recruited by their top choice. This is not high school. College is a step up in all areas so use your head.

Summary. While you want to visit as many schools as possible to see them in person, reserve the overnight or weekend visit for the top 4 or 5 schools. Not only is it time consuming, but you should not go someplace just for fun. Be fair to yourself and the host school, take these trips only if you are seriously interested.