Official vs Unofficial Campus Visits: What Recruits Need to Know
Campus Visits
Campus Visits
Campus visits are one of the most important steps in the college recruiting process. Meeting coaches in person, seeing the facilities, and experiencing campus life gives you information you simply cannot get from a website or a phone call. Understanding the difference between visit types — and how to make the most of each — can help you make the best decision of your athletic career.
Two Types of Visits
Unofficial Visit
An unofficial visit is a campus visit that you and your family pay for entirely.
What the school can provide:
Up to 3 complimentary tickets to a home athletic event (added to the pass list, not hard tickets).
That's it. The school cannot pay for your transportation, lodging, or meals.
Timing:
You can take unofficial visits at most schools at any time, except during NCAA dead periods.
At D1 schools, coaches cannot be involved in officially hosting an unofficial visit before August 1 of your junior year. You can still visit campus before that date, but the coaching staff cannot formally arrange your itinerary or tour.
D3 schools have the most flexible rules and coaches can interact with you on campus earlier.
How many can you take?
Unlimited. There is no cap on unofficial visits.
Best uses for unofficial visits:
Getting a genuine, unpolished feel for campus life before committing any official visit.
Attending games to watch the team compete and get a sense of the culture.
Exploring the academic departments you're interested in.
Quietly evaluating programs before a coach has offered a formal official visit.
Tip: Time unofficial visits to coincide with home games at your target schools. Seeing the team compete tells you far more about the culture and coaching style than any campus tour would.
Official Visit
An official visit is a campus visit paid for entirely by the college or university.
What the school covers:
Round-trip transportation (flights, mileage reimbursement, or driving)
Lodging for you and up to two parents/guardians
Meals (up to three meals per day for a standard visit)
Up to 3 complimentary tickets to a home athletic event
Duration:
Maximum 48 hours from the time of arrival on campus.
Timing:
D1 official visits begin August 1 before junior year in most sports.
Some sport-specific calendars vary — always confirm with the program.
Limit per school:
You can take only one official visit per school (with a narrow exception if there is a head coaching change at that school).
Total limit:
Previously capped at 5 official visits total. As of early 2025, the NCAA removed the cap on total official visits for football — recruits can take as many as their schedule allows.
For other sports, limits may vary — confirm with your specific sport's governing rules.
Requirements before an official visit can be scheduled:
At D1 schools, you must have a confirmed NCAA Eligibility Center registration on file before a school can pay for your visit.
This is another reason to register early in junior year.
What Happens During an Official Visit
Official visits are carefully organized by the program and typically follow a structured schedule:
Campus tour — academic buildings, student union, dorms, dining halls
Facilities tour — athletic facilities, weight room, training room, film room
Coach meetings — formal meetings with the head coach and position coaches
Academic advising — meeting with advisors in your intended major
Practice or game observation (if timing allows)
Overnight stay — you typically stay with a current player on the team
Social time with current players — often the most valuable part of the visit
Making the Most of an Official Visit
Prepare Questions in Advance
You should arrive with at least 8-10 genuine questions. Categories to cover:
About athletics:
What does a typical practice week look like?
Where do you see my position in your system?
What do athletes from my position typically work on to develop here?
What is the general expectation for a freshman in the program?
About team culture:
How would you describe the culture of the locker room?
How do you handle conflicts between athletes?
What do your athletes do outside of sport?
About academics:
What academic support is available specifically for athletes?
What is the time commitment for athletics during academic semesters (travel, film study, etc.)?
How do athletes manage challenging course loads during season?
About your future:
What is the graduation rate for your athletes?
Where do athletes from this program typically go after graduation?
Talk to Players Without Coaches Present
This is the most important advice about official visits. When you have time with current players — especially during the overnight stay — ask the honest questions. Current players will tell you things coaches won't:
Is the coach's public message the same as how they actually run the program?
Do athletes feel supported academically?
Is the team culture healthy or toxic?
What do they wish they knew before committing?
You can ask players directly: "If you could do it over, would you choose this school again?"
Evaluate the Facilities
Look beyond the highlight reel. Is the weight room actually open and accessible? Are the academic resources real or just marketing? Do players seem comfortable and happy in the spaces they share?
Notice the Details
How coaches treat support staff, how players interact with each other in your presence, and whether the campus genuinely feels like a place you want to spend four years all matter. Trust your gut — not just the sales pitch.
Visit Timing Strategy
You do not have to take official visits in any particular order. However, it helps to think strategically:
Visit schools you're less certain about first. You'll develop your list of questions and evaluation criteria early when the stakes are lower.
Save your top choice(s) for later. Going in later means you have context from previous visits and sharper questions.
Don't commit on the visit itself. Coaches may create artificial urgency ("we need an answer by the end of the weekend"). Take the time you need to make a clear-headed decision after returning home.
What You Cannot Receive
NCAA rules are strict about what schools can and cannot provide. Athletes cannot receive:
Cash or gifts
Clothing, equipment, or merchandise
Meals, entertainment, or experiences beyond the standard campus visit
Compensation for the visit beyond what is explicitly permitted
Receiving impermissible benefits during a visit can jeopardize your eligibility. If something seems too generous, it's worth asking your own advisor or the school's compliance office whether it's permitted.
After the Visit
Send a thank-you email to each coach within 24-48 hours. Brief and genuine — you don't have to be effusive.
Take notes on each school while your impressions are fresh. You'll be comparing 3-5 schools against each other and details will blur.
