Son and I are about to go see some coaches and schools - I did read the very informative thread about the unofficial visits for the freshman, woman, lacrosse player. Would there be different advice for a rower, a rising senior?
As a parent - at this point should I disappear when son and coach are talking? He is going to be a senior. Although of course I’d love to stay and listen and learn!
He has a list of questions - some good ones suggested in the other threat as well. Is it appropriate to ask about travel details for regattas (bus/van, how are kids fed - high school teams have food tents manned by parent volunteers - I imagine they don’t do that in college!, does the whole team travel? what happens when they miss class?) -
He is a good student and highly likely admissible on his own merits (of course any crazy thing can happen), so should we even ask about admissions support? I don’t know that he needs it. And I am sort of unclear about how that affects his place on the list of kids that are considered recruits?
And a vocabulary question - I think I know what this means, but what is a blue chip recruit? and what about being told you would be a value add for a team? To me that all sounds positive.
We attending a rowing recruiting seminar about two years ago. (daughter dislocated shoulder so no longer rows)
The biggest message I took away was to let your child lead. The coach doesn’t need/want to hear from you. Let your son make the arrangements. Let your son lead the discussion. If you are the kind of parent who can’t keep your mouth closed in that setting, let him do it alone. if you can let him lead, then by all means sit and listen!
I think the questions in your first paragraph are a good place to start. I wouldn’t get into the admission support stuff on the first meeting. I would encourage your son to toot-his-own-horn if he can casually work it into the conversation. Something like “I have a xxx GPA so I don’t think admissions will be a problem.”
I could be wrong but I think a blue chip recruit is someone who is targeted. Very positive!
Good luck!
Thanks. I am pretty good about staying silent! But I will fade to an outside bench somewhere if I get the vibe that is what is desired.
And he has made all these arrangements himself - he has been in contact with various coaches since this winter. I haven’t done anything but help him by proof reading his emails sometimes and helping figure out dates and making travel arrangements. I realize that I am out of my area in this endeavor, and he knows what he wants. He is a rather modest kid, so I hope he doesn’t under sell himself, but I would imagine that there are plenty of kids who have that tendency. I have to trust the coaches know what they are looking for and are used to dealing with teenagers.
@345winter Best of luck. My friend went through this last year with her son (a coxswain, which is a little different than a rower because there’s only 1 or 2). He visited several schools last summer and then he had 2 or 3 official visits in the Fall. He chose one school and will row there in the fall.
Rowing for men is not an ncaa sport, so rules of recruiting are different and the school or conference may set their own rules.
@345Wintner,
My thoughts have nothing to do with Rowing. They pertain only to unofficials overall.
I would absolutely attend the meeting. I have been through this multiple times and the first few unofficials with my first, I let my kid do the meeting without me. I am not sure it was a good idea because of age etc., but many of the coaches wondered why I wasn’t at the meeting. Again, let’s be clear here. It is one thing to send your kid on an official (or even an unofficial) by him or herself. If time or money doesn’t allow a parent to attend, it is fine. A coach will understand the absence of a parent. But in this instance, you are there. I think the coach may wonder why you disappeared.
Absolutely, let your kid do the talking. Your job is to listen and to assess whether the option is viable. You can also help if he undersells. Don’t be surprised if the coach asks you if you have any questions. Ask the one you really want to know, like will my kid get in.
Let your kid and coach talk without your interference and then intro yourself and ask basic questions. Don’t hover!
So noted - present, but silent. I have asked my son to be prepared with knowledge about the schools and rowing programs we are visiting. He can always follow up in email or on the phone if there are things we think he should have said but didn’t.
Also, when you visit have your son introduce you to the coach. It’s a small thing, but it will show him to be a nice kid and coaches like to work with nice kids.
Sounds like your son is already on the right track in that he has done his homework. Agree with the above…have your son lead the encounter. It will show his maturity and signal he’s ready for the commitment to a program.
You certainly can ask questions. Just let your son do most of the talking 
Good luck!