A Parents Guide to Unofficial Recruiting Trips
A Parent’s Guide to Unofficial Recruiting Trips:
Unofficial recruiting trips are a great way for parents and student-athletes to explore potential colleges without the formal structure of an official visit. These self-funded trips provide an opportunity to get a genuine feel for a school’s environment, athletic program, and academic offerings. Here’s how parents can make the most of these visits.
1. Plan the Trip
Preparation is key to a productive unofficial visit. Make sure to coordinate schedules and choose a time when you can attend a practice, game, or other campus activities. Research the school and learn about the athletic program, academic departments, and campus culture beforehand. Contact Coaches (if possible) and notify the coaching staff of your visit to see if they’re available for a brief meeting.
2. Explore the Campus
Encourage your athlete to immerse themselves in the college environment. Take a guided tour and walk around the campus to see dorms, dining halls, libraries, and recreational facilities. Visit the athletic facilities and explore weight rooms, practice fields, and competition venues to evaluate the program’s resources. Attend a class If possible and sit in to understand the school’s educational atmosphere.
3. Engage with Coaches and Players
Connecting with the team can provide valuable insights. See if you can meet the coaching staff and If they’re briefly available. Try to discuss their philosophy, goals, and expectations for athletes.Talk to players and encourage your athlete to ask questions about team culture, training schedules, and balancing academics and athletics. Observe a practice or game and watch the team in action, this can reveal their dynamics and playing style and how they interact with each other and the coaching staff.
4. Assess Academic Fit
Academics are just as important as athletics so see if the school is a good fit for your athlete academically. Make sure they have the grades and scores to get into the schools that you look at, but its ok to have a reach school just for fun, and based on your athletic level, a lot of schools might be able to get you in with sub par grades and scores.