Your athlete has been invited on an official visit. This is a significant milestone — it means a coaching staff is seriously interested and willing to invest the program's resources to bring your family to campus. But an official visit is not just a sales pitch from the school. It is a 48-hour evaluation window, and your family should treat it that way.
This guide covers what actually happens during an official visit, how to prepare, and how to use the experience to make a stronger decision. For the full official vs. unofficial visit comparison, including who pays for what and NCAA limits on each type, see our official visit vs. unofficial visit breakdown.
What the official visit schedule typically looks like
Most official visits follow a similar structure. The school has 48 hours to make its case, and coaching staffs have refined these itineraries over years of recruiting. Here is what a typical two-day visit looks like.
Day 1 — Arrival and introductions
Your athlete will arrive on campus, usually by early afternoon. The coaching staff will greet you and provide an overview of the visit schedule. Expect an athletic facilities tour — weight rooms, locker rooms, training areas, competition venues — followed by a meeting with the head coach. That first meeting is usually broad: program philosophy, team culture, and what the coaches see in your athlete. Dinner is typically with coaches and sometimes current players. After dinner, your athlete will be handed off to a student-athlete host for the evening.
Day 2 — Academics and deeper conversations
The second day usually focuses on the academic side. Expect meetings with academic advisors, a campus tour, and possibly a visit to specific departments or classrooms related to your athlete's intended major. There may be a practice observation or, if timing aligns, attendance at a game. A second meeting with the coaching staff often happens on day two — this is where conversations about roster fit, playing time expectations, and financial aid may get more specific. The visit wraps by the 48-hour mark.
What your athlete does with the host
Your athlete will typically stay overnight with a current team member. This is one of the most valuable parts of the visit. Away from coaches and the formal schedule, your athlete gets an unfiltered look at daily life — the dorm or apartment, the social scene, how teammates interact, and what the day-to-day reality of being a student-athlete at that school actually feels like.
NCAA official visit rules: what the school can and cannot provide
The NCAA regulates official visits closely. Understanding these rules helps you know what is normal and what might be a violation.
| What the school CAN provide | What the school CANNOT provide |
|---|
| Round-trip transportation to campus | Cash or spending money |
| Lodging (up to 48 hours) | Gifts, apparel, or gear beyond basic materials |
| Meals (on campus or locally) | Entertainment beyond the campus and athletic events |
| Up to 3 complimentary event tickets | Transportation for friends (only parents/guardians and the recruit) |
| A student-athlete host for the overnight stay | Use of a personal vehicle for the recruit |
Key eligibility requirements
In Division I, your athlete must have an NCAA Eligibility Center Certification Account before taking an official visit. Do not wait until the visit is scheduled to start this process — get it done early. D1 athletes are limited to five official visits total, and each visit is capped at 48 hours. For most sports, official visits can begin as early as August 1 before junior year.
Division differences
D2 programs follow similar rules with slightly different timing windows. D3 schools operate differently — they may fund transportation for one overnight campus visit, but they do not offer the full official visit package that D1 and D2 programs provide. If your athlete is visiting D3 schools, the experience will feel more informal, but the evaluation process should be just as rigorous on your end.
Questions to ask coaches, players, and academic advisors during the visit
An official visit gives your family direct access to the people who will shape your athlete's college experience. Come prepared with specific questions. General questions get general answers.
For the coaching staff:
- What role do you see my athlete playing as a freshman? As an upperclassman?
- How do you handle athletes who are struggling academically?
- What does a typical weekly schedule look like during the season? During the offseason?
- How many players at my athlete's position are currently on the roster, and how many are you recruiting?
- What happens to an athlete's scholarship or roster spot if they are injured?
For current players (especially the host):
- What surprised you most about being a student-athlete here?
- How would you describe the coaching staff's style behind closed doors?
- Do players transfer out of this program frequently? Why?
- How manageable is the academic workload alongside your sport?
- If you could do it over, would you choose this school again?
For academic advisors:
- What academic support services are available specifically for athletes?
- How flexible is the class schedule around practice and travel?
- What is the graduation rate for athletes in this sport?
- Can my athlete realistically pursue this major with their athletic schedule?
For a deeper list of commitment-stage questions, see our guide on questions to ask before committing.
Red flags to watch for during an official visit
Not every program that invites your athlete on an official visit is the right fit. Pay attention to what you observe, not just what you are told.
Coaches avoid specifics.
If the coaching staff talks in broad terms about "opportunity" and "potential" but will not answer direct questions about roster numbers, playing time, or financial aid, that is a signal. Programs that are serious about your athlete will be willing to have detailed conversations.
The schedule feels overly controlled.
If the staff keeps your athlete away from current players in unstructured settings, or if the host seems coached on what to say, take note. A confident program lets recruits see the real environment.
Current players seem unhappy or guarded.
Watch body language during meals and team interactions. If players seem tense around coaches or give vague, rehearsed answers, that tells you something about the culture. Read more about how to interpret what coaches say during the recruiting process.
Facilities do not match promises.
If a coach has been talking about upcoming facility upgrades or resources that do not appear to exist yet, ask for timelines and funding confirmation. Promises without plans are just marketing.
Pressure to commit on the spot.
A program that pressures your athlete to commit during or immediately after the visit is prioritizing its own timeline over your family's decision-making process. Legitimate programs will give you time to evaluate.
How to compare official visits across multiple programs
If your athlete is using multiple official visits, you need a structured way to compare them. Memories blur quickly, and the excitement of each visit can make every program feel like "the one."
Take notes immediately after each visit.
Before you leave campus or that evening, write down specific observations while they are fresh. What stood out positively? What concerned you? What questions went unanswered?
Use consistent categories.
Rate each school across the same dimensions so you are comparing consistently. A simple framework:
| Category | What to evaluate |
|---|
| Athletic fit | Playing time path, coaching style, team culture, facilities |
| Academic fit | Major availability, academic support, class flexibility |
| Social fit | Campus feel, teammate interactions, host experience |
| Financial package | Scholarship offer, total cost, renewal terms |
| Location and lifestyle | Distance from home, campus setting, surrounding area |
Separate the visit experience from the school itself.
Official visits are designed to impress. A school that runs a polished visit is not necessarily a better fit than one with a more low-key approach. Focus on the substance — the people, the academics, the realistic athletic path — not the presentation.
The bottom line
An official visit is one of the most important tools your family has in the recruiting process. It is the only time your athlete will experience a program from the inside before making a commitment that will shape the next four years.
Treat it as a two-way evaluation. The coaches are assessing your athlete, and your family should be assessing them with equal rigor. Prepare your questions in advance. Pay attention to what happens in unstructured moments. Take notes. And do not let the excitement of the experience override your judgment.
The best decision comes from clear-eyed observation, not from how good the visit felt in the moment.