Official visits are a critical part of the recruitment process. The NCAA defines the official visit as any visit to a college campus by you and your parents paid for by the college. Recruits are allowed to make only five combined official visits to Division I and Division II schools. The institute may pay for all or some of the following expenses: your transportation to and from the college, room, meals (three per day) while you are visiting the college, and reasonable entertainment expenses, including three complimentary admissions to a home athletics competition.

As you prepare for an official visit, there are a few things that you should expect.

1. You will be staying with a host or a current member of the team.

This is an excellent opportunity to ask about academic classes, team dynamics, the coaches, and how they interact with the team.

2. Pack appropriately

It would help if you also remembered to pack appropriately. You don't want to be remembered as the recruit who forgot your toothbrush or underwear.

3. Be mentally prepared

Prepare yourself mentally for some nerve-wracking situations. Your host or student-athletes might ask you many questions; you might be asked to go to a party where there might be drinking or have to sleep on the floor. Never stray from who you are and what your beliefs are.

4. NCAA rules/policy

The team and coach have to follow the NCAA rules when it comes to hosting a recruit.

• The duration of an official visit lasts 48 hours.
• The host institution cannot provide a car for the host or his/her family during the stay.
• The prospect should sleep and eat meals as regular students do.
• If you are asked to join in on an activity, it must be within a 30-mile radius of the school and at a location comparable to the amenities of the host institution.
• The host can provide entertainment for the prospect and their guardians, but they cannot offer it to his/her friends or other relatives (the 30-mile rule applies.)
• A host may provide complimentary tickets to the institution's athletic event at the time of their visit, but this service may only be given to the prospect and their guardians, and the ticket must also be located in the general admission section. So that's a no-go on the sky-box or owner's suite.
• There should be no cash given to the prospect for entertainment purposes during the visit.
• The host should never purchase any school-related souvenirs or products. If you want a t-shirt, you will have to visit the bookstore and pay out of pocket.
• Official visits cannot be made until the opening day of classes your senior year, no matter what the division is. Official visits are not allowed to occur during recruiting dead periods. 

5. Things you should do during your official visits

• Sit in on a class! It is essential to see if you like a more substantial class size or if you would prefer a smaller one. Smaller class sizes will allow you to know most of your classmates, and the professor will be sure to know your name.
• You should check out the library since you will be spending much time there.
• Take the time to visit the different housing options, both on and off-campus.
• Eat at the school cafeteria.
• Watch a practice or game.
• Set up a meeting with an academic advisor.
• If you want to get a good feel for the campus, you might want to watch the dynamics of the students, or maybe talk to some of them. You can learn a lot by just observing, so maximize your time on campus.

6. Meeting with the coach

One of the primary purposes of an official visit is to meet the coach. This meet and greet may feel like a hard sell, but you have to remember the coach is trying to get you to “buy into'' the school. Try to decipher what the coach is saying and look for red flags. If something sounds too good to be true, it might be.

7. How to present yourself

Professionally displaying yourself is critical. Wear something like a button-down and khakis, a sweater and slacks, and make sure you have clean shoes. You want to give the coach and players a firm handshake when first meeting them. I would not recommend sweatpants, ripped jeans, a hat, or sneakers. You should be confident, project your voice, and be respectful. Do not mumble your words, text while visiting, or seem like you are disengaged. Remember, all eyes are on you, whether you like it or not. 

8. The parent/guardian role

What is the parent's role? Parents need to understand that this is your visit and your time to shine. Athletes need to be the adult be the one asking questions. However, parents should be involved in the conversation when talking about finances, scholarships, and paying for college. 

9. Questions to ask

• Find out the length of the scholarship that they might offer you: does it get renewed every year? what happens if you get injured?
• How does playing time work?
• What is the ideal GPA score for that particular school?
• Are there other academic requirements?
• What is the off-season like?
• What is the balance like between sports and academics? 

Keep calm, have fun, and trust your gut.

* Originally published on December 10, 2017, by Keirsten Sires