<p>Hi Again!</p>
<p>On the home front I am doing everything I can to remain calm, cool & collected about senior year, college applications, and baseball recruiting. On the inside I am in a total panic! I want to make sure that my son stays grounded but I do not want to miss an opportunity. There has been so much time, effort & work that my son has done to prepare for this moment - now it is here - wow!</p>
<p>My son is scheduled to visit his top choice school. As the parent shoud I go with him to meet the coach? Should I stay with him and talk with the coach? I understand that this is a relationship between the coach and student athlete but I feel that I should at least say HI! What is appropriate?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>ccmom, I remember how you feel so very well. Try and take in the excitement without dwelling too much on negative thoughts that have a way of sneaking in.</p>
<p>Is this an official visit you’re speaking of? Have you been to this campus before?</p>
<p>Riverrunner:Thanks for your reply! This will be our third visit to the campus but first visit to see the coach on campus. Not sure if it is considered an official visit.</p>
<p>My son & coach have been communicating back & forth for about six weeks. Initial contact was made by the coach via a handwritten letter. There have been a series of emails. Coach has requested transcripts, videos etc… These items have been provided. A few weeks ago my son let the coach know that we would be in the area of the school for a work related meeting and that he would be coming along with us on the trip. At the time the coach told my son that he would not be in town - not be on campus on the dates that we would be around. Since then the coach has seen my son play at a showcase, talked with him at the showcase - said he liked what he saw etc… Now the coach is going to be in town and will be on campus when we are in the area and has requested that my son stop by to meet with him on campus.</p>
<p>You will probably get several opinions on this, and must weigh what sounds right for your family. </p>
<p>This sounds like an unofficial visit, but you should discuss this with the coach to see if he will be treating this as an official. If this is a DI school, your son gets only 5 official visits, and they must all occur after the first day of his senior year. If you are visiting before the start of school, and everything is at your expense, this is unofficial, and the coach may wish your son to come back for an official when the other athletes are on campus. </p>
<p>I would say take your son on this first visit, plan for it to be unofficial: a meeting with you, your son and the coach. Expect him to show you around the facilities and want to show his program in the best light possible. If your son indicates he doesn’t want you to go to the coach meeting but would rather you drop him off and pick him up later, respect his choice.</p>
<p>Your son should go on the official visit later (September/October), if invited, and you will not go on this visit. Read up on official visits if you wish. There are lots of posts on this topic on this forum. Meeting with future and current team mates over a weekend, attending a class, and seeing the other students on campus is possibly the most important part of this decision. </p>
<p>Best wishes!</p>
<p>You will find the right school. Senior year can be tough but there are many that have gone through it just fine. If your son (and you) can handle this, he will do just fine in college. Whatever you do…don’t feel pressured. The most important thing in all of this is the academic and athletic fit for your son. If the fit is not there, you need to keep looking for the right fit. The wrong fit happens way too many times because folks aren’t clear on their goals, honest with themselves and ask the tough questions to these coaches. It is your son’s future education and your money. Cast a wide net to find that “fit”.</p>
<p>I would go with your son for two reasons. First he has never done this, and it would be great if you were there for support, and feedback. Let him do all the talking with the coach unless it deals with Finances. Second, your son should be asking the questions, and you should be listening to the coaches response. When you get to car compare notes on what was said so both of you have a clear understanding of what was said, and needs to happen going forward.</p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>