If a coach is really serious about recruiting you, he/she will ask
to make a home visit or ask you to visit the campus. Once, the
parent of a prospect on my recruiting service asked me this
question: “Is there any way to cut to the chase and eliminate
all this foolishness?” I didn’t know the answer then, but I know
it now. The answer is: ask the coach, “Are you going to make
a home visit?” or, “Are you going to ask my kid to come to
your school for an official visit?” The answer to these questions
slashes through all the “foolishness” and provides profound
insight into the honest interest of a coach in a prospect. I now
refer to these questions as the “killer questions.” Always ask if
they will be “handling” (don’t say “paying”) the expenses for
the visit. Remember, there are certain restrictions concerning
official—that is to say, paid—visits. Refer to your NCAA Guide
for the College-Bound Student-Athlete.
Remember, you can make as many unofficial visits to a cam-
pus as you wish. That means you handle (pay) your expenses.
Be sure you contact the coach; tell the coach of your plans to
visit the college and that you’d like to meet the coach while
you’re there. Often the coach will arrange for you to be escorted
by a team member. If you’re visiting on a game day, the coach
may even reserve some tickets for you. In football some coaches
even offer to let you attend the games on the sidelines. If the
chapter 13
The Visit