Do parents go on recruiting visits?
By Jason Bolton May 25, 2023 15:50
For student-athletes and their families, the entire college recruiting process can feel downright intimidating. Parents play a pivotal role in the recruiting process, and with so much on the line here are fifteen ways you can help your child. However, the question at hand is: do parents take recruiting trips? There is no simple answer to whether prospects should go this route, as it will largely depend on each family's unique circumstances and what the coach does in his personal life.
Recruiting Visits — recruiting visits, also known as official or campus visits, are when a college has the chance to show off its institution and athletics program so student-athletes can check out if it's where they want to go.
Coaches usually schedule these visits; they include a tour of the campus, meetings with academic advisers and coaches, and games or matches to watch up close live action over an official visit weekend), in addition, student recruits stay overnight at the host's specific schools where prospective athletes have been placed for sleeping. The purpose of these visits is so the student-athlete can get a feel for what the school and culture are like, as well as allow the coaching staff to evaluate them in person.
Some families prefer to have parents travel with their student-athletes on recruiting visits, while others want their children to go alone. Though it is a personal decision whether to have parents on recruiting visits, there are several factors families should take into account when deciding.
One piece of that is the implications for official visits towards recruiting trips financially. The costs can go up very simply depending on the distance between the student-athletes home and a college or university. Families must also question whether they — parents or parents and student-athletes—can afford to take such a visit. Also, families should inquire if the school offers any travel benefits for parents.
Parents and the Official Visit
Parents may offer their child emotional support and help during the visit, However, since a lot of decisions have to be made with regards to which ticket format they want or how many passes should one buy — they might not also drop in for everything. Most meetings with coaches and academic advisers will be student-athlete only, so the parents might have to wait outside. Also, parents cannot go to any team meetings or practices because they are pretty much private for the team members only.
You also need to look at what the coaching staff wants. Some coaches opt to sit down with student-athletes one-on-one, while others may encourage parents to come along as well. Football recruiting: Families must communicate with the coaching staff before visiting → In doing so, families can make sure they are not crossing any lines or placing the coaching staff in awkward positions.
If parents should attend recruiting visits is ultimately a personal decision that can be made more specifically based on the family and coach. There are viewpoints that some families would like to have a parent present so they can provide additional support and guidance while others may see it as a time for their child (the student-athlete) to become more independent and responsible.
Whether the decision made is to commit or not, the most important thing is for families to be open about their interest level with their student-athletes, coaching staff, and each other so that a positive experience can still be had by all.
Parents have an opportunity to be a critical part of the recruiting process beyond just going on unofficial and official visits by helping their child stay organized through this often overwhelming process. But focusing on key dates and deadlines, building a recruiting profile, and selecting target schools/coaches leverages our shadowy vantage point to give your athletes the best chance they can play sports in college.
Parents also play a key role in assisting their children to manage school and sports, recovery techniques for hydration and sleep; reduce stress levels, or decrease anxiety over minor issues associated with the sport. Parents can even help pitch some sort of plan that will be both challenging yet achievable within timeframes set up through coaches while coinciding with goals that too must keep realistic at all times!!!
Ultimately, the choice of if and when to have parents on recruiting visits is a personal decision that should be made by considering what best aligns with everyone's needs and the coach's schedule. More than anything, however (outside of financial and logistical realities), families must talk amongst each other distance-wise even more so with the coaching staff to make it a positive recruiting experience. In the end, parents can guide and encourage their kids to make it a rewarding experience that will pay off for them in sports (if they choose) and life.
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