Hi everyone, I will be going on a few unofficial visits soon and was just wondering what I should expect. I know that I’m not allowed to practice with the team, but I have heard of coaches just “suggesting” to play in a pick-up game or things like that. Should I bring my equipment and be prepared to play, or is an unofficial visit just to get to know the coaches and the facilities?
I can’t speak for all sports, but I can for baseball. Son has been on many unofficial and two officials. Never was asked to do anything athletic at all on any of them.
Same with soccer although my son always has cleats with him anyway.
Yeah, no athletic activities, no working out, none of that stuff. At one of my son’s unofficial visits, the strength coach and his position coach were taking him though the weight room and he picked up a trap bar to show me how to use it when I asked one of the coaches what it was. Both coaches immediately were like no no no, you can’t lift in here, that’s a violation.
My daughter was invited to a captain’s practice, but it was cancelled because of rain. I don’t know if she would have played. She brought no equipment, but there are always extra sticks and goggles available.
At a D2 school, the coach wasn’t allowed to have them on the field at all. NCAA and insurance issues.
Our athlete did get asked to demonstrate a starting stance to a head coach. They all have a welcome, confirming you are in a meat market, where they attempted to put a hand on the biceps.
Insider info: most prefer you do not walk on a logo/mascot when on the carpet in the facility.
You won’t have to worry about playing or practicing because it is against ncaa rules. The coaches were probably just being friendly and joking around. You could bring cleats and some athletic clothes if you wanted. Better safe than sorry! Good luck on your recruiting journey!
Here is a post about unofficial visits hope it helps!
http://captainathlete.com/general-student-athletics/unofficial-visits-what-to-expect/480
Hi! It was all confusing to me the first few times out. My biggest confusion was food! My D first D1 visit was all day & I knew we would have lunch. When I had visited schools with our older son (not an athlete) we had always been given vouchers for lunch in the dining hall from most all of the places we toured. So when I was with my D and the coaches took us to the dining hall, I expected them to have some sort of vouchers – wrong! (and I know better now). It was just a little awkward as they stood back for me to pay because I was caught off guard.
Her next visit was at a D3 and was during a weekend tournament (several games on a Saturday). The coaches & parents had arranged a potluck between the games and we were invited to take part. I was wondering if I should have picked up a pasta salad so I had contributed just like everyone else 
She was invited on a D3 visit and she was asked (before hand) if she would like to play a pick-up game with the team – (its spring season) so no coaches were in the gym. The captains ran the pick-up game and my daughter brought her stuff. Of all the visits we were on – that was the ONLY time she was asked to do anything athletic. I’m not sure if that was allowed or not, but she was 1 of 3 recruits on the court. And several had been there a few times.