Starting this stage of the process now. Any advice from those of you who have done this step? My wife is a bit nervous and can’t believe that I haven’t checked the board for advice on what to do (first visit is in about 2 hours, oops). I’m not too nervous and will just let things play out however they go, but was wondering if anyone had thoughts of what to do or not do, or just general information of how they go. I’m pretty sure S is being given a scholarship offer tonight, the coach said he was coming with money so unless I get a bag of cash (unlikely, it’s not a revenue sport ) I’m guessing that means a scholarship offer. Not sure if that is customary on these visits or not. In this particular case the coach knows we are pretty far along with someone else so I think that is accelerating the process.
As an aside, I have received invaluable guidance from many on this board that have helped me along every step to this point. All of your advice is part of why I have this meeting tonight. Thanks to too many of you to list.
Really well. The “home” visit actually took place at a restaurant, 3 siblings and 2 dogs creates a lot of chaos at our house and we thought it would be easier to focus if we weren’t dealing with whatever mini-crisis was happening in our house at the moment.
Coaches went to S’s HS practice, then the met S, wife, and I at a restaurant. We had met on an unofficial visit, and one of the coaches has talked to me quite a bit on the phone. Both have talked a lot to S on the phone. Still, it was mostly “get to know you” type conversation that flowed both ways. Plus quite a bit of talk about their sport and other participants, both on the HS and college level. After the meal was over, my wife asked a more pointed question about the academics on the team, and then the conversation transitioned pretty quickly to a nuts and bolts conversation about the way everything is done.
They had a good sales pitch about their program and how he would fit in. To be honest it makes perfect sense why they say they want him and are coming after him hard. They have a hole in the roster that he would plug nicely. They have most of the pieces of a National Championship team 3-4 years down the road in place, just missing 2-3 pieces including his position.
It’s an equivalency sport, so no full scholarship unless you are playing below your level, and this is a top D1 program. That’s actually part of why I had a lackadaisical attitude. I didn’t think they would offer him enough money for it to make any sense to go there. However, it was a lot more than I expected. It definitely wasn’t “practice room” money, it was more like “starter who we think can All American” money. We were pretty happy.
This was the first home visit, although I have a message from another coach who wants to come out. Our plan was to decide after OV’s in the fall, but then he got a pretty tempting offer a couple weeks ago, which has accelerated our timeline. I think it is time for him to let his top choices know that we are going to make a decision soon, and see if any others want to throw their hat into the ring. The 2 programs he has offers from are very different, but for different reasons may ultimately be his top 2 choices anyway. So all of us are ready to just get this process wrapped up. Then he can have a more relaxing summer and senior year.
) I’m guessing that means a scholarship offer. Not sure if that is customary on these visits or not. In this particular case the coach knows we are pretty far along with someone else so I think that is accelerating the process.