What Do You Wear To An Unofficial Visit?
Planning an unofficial visit can be nerve-wracking. You have to communicate with a college coach, wrangle your parents into coming along and set up an itinerary to see all the spots on campus. One thing you may not consider until the night before you leave for your unofficial visit is what to wear.
You should dress to impress on an unofficial visit. For men, a collared shirt and khakis will work fine. For women, a blouse and jeans or a dress will make a good impression. It’s great to dress more formally than you usually would for an unofficial visit to make a strong impression on the coach. Coaches want to see that you are taking the visit seriously and are genuinely interested in their program. If you’re going on an unofficial visit, definitely avoid wearing anything that might be considered offensive, polarizing or unprofessional.
Before going on an unofficial visit, it’s a good idea to bring some athletic clothes along with you just in case the team invites you to work out with them. If you’re targeting a Division I school for men’s basketball or any Division II school; you might participate in a tryout during a visit. For all other Division I sports and Division III schools, you are not allowed to attend tryouts during a campus visit, but the team can organize a workout without the coach present. So no matter what type of school you’re targeting or what sport you play, you may get the chance to work out with the team and will need the right clothes to perform at your best.
If you are an underclassman targeting a Division I school, you won’t be able to meet with the coach during your unofficial visit. The NCAA restricts students-athletes from coordinating with a Division I school’s athletic department to plan an unofficial visit before August 1 of their junior year. You will still be able to visit campus as an underclassman, but you won’t get to talk with the coach during your visit.
What Happens On An Unofficial Visit?
Unofficial visits are a great way to learn more about a school and its athletic program without a lot of pressure. Compared to official visits, unofficial visits are less formal and more flexible. An unofficial visit is a chance for you to spend as much time as you want on campus to see if you can envision yourself there. Here are some things that you can expect to happen on an unofficial visit.
Coach Meeting: If you coordinated with the coach before coming to campus, you would be able to sit down and chat with the coach about their program and coaching style. Be sure to ask any questions you have about recruiting during this meeting. Take note of whether or not you think you connect with the coach. Your relationship with your coach can make a significant impact on your experience at a school.
Admissions Meeting: You might also plan a meeting with the admissions staff as part of your unofficial visit. You’ll want to ask them what you need to do to meet all of the academic requirements for the university to admit you.
Campus Tour: One of the best ways to tell if you feel at home at a school is to take a campus tour. Tour guides usually hit all the significant spots, such as the dining halls, libraries and class halls. A campus tour can help you envision your daily routine at a school and what it would be like to go there.
Team Workout: During your meeting with the coach, you can find out if you’ll have the chance to meet some of the team and tour athletic facilities on an unofficial visit. It’s important to notice if you have chemistry with the team during a workout or tryout.
An unofficial visit is not planned or financed by the school, so student-athletes have more control over what they include on their unofficial visit itinerary. However, preparing for some crucial meetings, especially with the coach, can help advance the recruiting process for you.
How To Make A Good Impression On A Coach During An Unofficial Visit?
So you’re already dressing to make an impression on a college coach, but what else can you do to stand out? You want the coach to see your dedication to not only your sport but also to their program. Doing your best to make a good impression on a coach shows that you care about their program, and it’s not just a second option or backup plan for you. Here are some other ways that you can make a good impression on the coach, besides what you wear.
Ask Questions: Take the opportunity during an unofficial visit to ask questions, especially questions about how they coach and what they expect of their student-athletes. You want to get a feel for what the day to day is like at this school. You might also ask what kind of academic resources are available for student-athletes at the university, such as tutoring or extra academic support.
Have A Good Attitude: Having a positive attitude can go a long way in impressing a college coach. If you’re on your phone, not paying attention or letting your parents answer all the questions, the coach will not be impressed with your behavior. Remember to keep your phone up and be paying attention, even if you aren’t an extrovert.
Contact The Coach Before: To maximize your time during an unofficial visit, make sure the coach knows who you are before heading off to campus. Hopefully, you’ll have sent them an introductory email expressing your interest in their program before planning your visit. You want the coach to have seen your athletic information and highlight video so they have a sense of where you’d fit on the team.
By maintaining a positive attitude and asking insightful questions, you can make a good impression on the coach. You want to showcase your confidence and respect, something that many coaches consider necessary to play sports in college. Continuing to put yourself out there during the recruiting process can help you get on a coach’s radar and stay there when it comes time to make offers.
Can You Get Offered On An Unofficial Visit?
One of your main goals for an unofficial visit is to progress further in the recruiting process. An unofficial visit is an excellent way for you to tell if you want to go to a school or are interested in playing at that university. It’s also useful to get a sense of how enthusiastic the coach is about you as a potential recruit. Although rare, coaches may make you an offer during an unofficial visit. Just in case this happens, you should be thinking about which schools are on the top of your list.
Prepare For An Offer Conversation: It’s always better to prepare too much than not enough. Consider what schools are among your top choices before going on an unofficial visit, and know what you will say if a coach makes you an offer (or doesn’t).
Take Notes: During your visit, be sure to take notes about your thoughts and feelings about the school. It will be helpful to refer back to your first impressions of campus when it comes time to make a decision about which school to commit to.
As early recruiting becomes more prevalent, offers may start rolling in sooner than you expect. An unofficial visit might be the only chance you have to see the campus before you get an offer. For this reason, it’s essential to take unofficial visits seriously, even if they are less formal than official visits. These visits can go a long way in making an impression on a coach and giving you the information you need to decide on a school.
Things To Keep In Mind
Unlimited Number Of Visits: The NCAA does not restrict how many unofficial visits student-athletes can take, so visit as many schools as you want to make your decision. You are limited to only five official visits and only one per school, so unofficial visits are an excellent way to get back on campus as much as you need to.
Do Your Research: It always helps to do some research about the team, coach and school before getting on campus, so you know what questions you want to ask.
Bond With The Team: Pay attention to how well you bond with the team during your visit if you get a chance to meet them. If you can tell that you have similar mindsets and play well together, that’s a good sign that you’re at the right school for you.