NCAA Unofficial Visits: 1 Tactic That Can Make The Difference
"NCAA unofficial visit" is a terrible name. It creates a stigma that visiting colleges in some way other than certified NCAA official visits (which are seen as very glamorous) is a bad thing.
In reality, it's the complete opposite. An NCAA unofficial visit can make all the difference in the world. A better name for it would be "NCAA demonstration of true interest." That's a bit wordy, but here's the point: it's easy to send emails to college coaches around the country. But it takes real effort, dedication, and investment to go visit a college. This makes unofficial visits a key component of the college sports recruiting process.
For this reason, college coaches love athletes who make unofficial visits. It's a clear sign that the athlete is truly interested in that school.
What Makes Unofficial Visits Such a Powerful Tactic
College coaches are swamped by emails from athletes who want to play for them. Add in the thousands of anonymous players coaches see at tournaments each year and it becomes totally overwhelming. Coaches are continually asking themselves, "which ones are actually interested in my school?" It can be mystifying.
By contrast, athletes who take it upon themselves to make unofficial visits, make it easy for a coach. Since only a fraction of the total athletes on a coaches list make unofficial visits, coaches can begin to see which players are serious about their school.
6 Things You Need to Know About NCAA Unofficial Visits
- Prospective athletes pay all travel expenses associated with the visit.
- Prospective athletes can stay on campus with a member of the team or another student.
- Prospective athletes can take as many unofficial visits as they like to any number of colleges at any time.
- Prospective athletes can meet with the college coach while on campus.
- College coaches can help prospective athletes coordinate NCAA unofficial visits.
- All visits before senior year must be unofficial.
Tip for CaptainU Users: Use the Mail tool to schedule your visit with a coach. Use the Outline tool to know what to say.
Sign in or if you don't have an account, Create one now.
