Do the coaches ask the team who they liked and who fit in? Is it the type of thing where it doesn’t help but can hurt if the team gives a thumbs down? Does it depend on how athletically talented the recruit is whether it matters?
Yes to all those things.
Some coaches ask the hosts or the team for feedback. The coach wants a good fit, but he really wants good players and good students. If the report is that the guest wasn’t a good guest, that he got really drunk or said he was just using this OV as leverage at another school, the coach may think twice about going forward with that recruit.
The coach at our son’s first OV last week said they were absolutely asking the current team members how everyone fit in, and they were very open about it. I heard it best on here: it’s like an interview for the recruit, and an interview for the team/school so best foot should be put forward (not saying you hate the sport, belittling the school you’re visiting, etc) I think they want to make sure that the recruits fit in with the team mindset and will be good representatives of the school both in athletics and academics. Take, for instance, if a recruit partook in some undesirable behavior at the OV (shocking, I know!): that could get back to the coach (and in some cases absolutely will get back), and it could certainly hurt the recruit: that’s a kid who might have had a slot, $ taken away, or dropped altogether due to poor behavior. I’ve talked to all of my HS athletes before their visits about what they can expect and what behavior I expect - it’s also a reflection on me and my HS program.
I asked a coach recently if he’s ever declined to make an offer based on the input from his athletes, and he said “yes.” We also know an athlete who did not get an offer after at least one OV, and, knowing her, we suspect it was because of input from the team. On the other side of the equation, we know someone who turned down an offer based on his OV. So based on our very small sample size, I would say that it can matter.
Reporting by the team to the coach does take place. However, the purpose of an OV is equally if not more so to sell the recruit on the school. Coaches know that most recruits have more than one OV scheduled, and that the recruit cannot go to more than one school (not at least at one time). Therefore, many OVs do not result in matriculation for one reason or the other. It is a step in the process. It is not a guarantee of admission, but it does signal interest in an athlete from a program.
The recruit should know that he or she is expected to behave. Some schools even have the recruit sign a sheet saying that drinking during the OV can result in non-admittance. That said, I would encourage recruits to be themselves and use OVs to determine whether they like the school, rather than focusing on perfection in their own behavior.
Parents “coming along” should expect to be invisible for large swatches of time. Bring work, a book and work-out clothes (for use at the hotel). It is pretty likely however that the coach will want you to attend an “after the OV meeting.” And, it is useful to attend that meeting because the parent is better able to assess the situation and remember to ask all of the tough questions: 1) will my kid get through admissions; 2) what level of support are you able to give (i.e., where is my kid on your list); 3) how many times has admissions rejected a kid you you gave that level of support to; 4) where/how do you see my kid fitting in; 5) does he/she have a roster spot; 6) put differently, is there a possibility that my kid will be cut; 7) how do tryouts work; 8) how does financial aid work; 9) what are the academic expectations; 10) can my kid go pre-med and still be on the team? It is not only that you want to make sure the questions are asked, you also want to hear how the coach gives the answers.
I think parents “coming along” should rethink this. Stay home. Let your the athlete be independent.
@moms2boys: What if the coach invites a parent to attend/meet with coach?
@SevenDad…I really meant that parents should not attend unsolicited. If the coach invites you - without you asking I would go.Is this for an official visit or an unofficial visit?
@SevenDad…I know some parents that thought they were being recruited and showed up at everything and initiated too many conversations with the coaches during the recruitment process. I think it worked against them because sometimes the parents don’t give the athlete a chance to talk… I never went with my son on official visits. Since the schools provided the transportation that was easy. I drove him to a few non officials visits to meet coaches and only surfaced when the coaches specifically asked for me. My son would call me and then I would appear.
OV (it already happened, btw)…was just second-guessing my attendance. CC has a way of making one do that! 
SevenDad…Yes it does! When my son was going thru the process and I would mention something I read on here he would always tell me it’s not always right. I’m sure you were great and the visit went well. Never second guess. Best of luck to you and your child!
I guess I would restate the issue. It is not whether to attend the OV with your kid, it is whether you should be in attendance for a coach meeting after the OV. After doing this both ways over the years for multiple sports, I do think it is preferable to have a parent in attendance for the coach meeting. And, I think most coaches prefer it. In fact, when I told one assistant coach that I was staying over with one of my old college buddies during the OV, he told me directly to be back for the meeting with the coach, because he wanted me to be at the meeting.
You should let your kid handle MOST of that meeting, but you need to step in if your kid is uncomfortable asking the important questions. Most kids do not have the sternum to ask where they are on the coach’s list of recruits. That entails realizing that you might not be no. 1, and you might not even be no. 6. That is tough for a 17 year old, just as it is tough for a 17 year old to understand the nuances of financial aid.
I don’t think there is one set way to get from point A to point B. It isn’t “wrong” not to go to the coach meetings. Just realize that your kid may not relay the information discussed accurately, as it will be given through the filter of a 17 year old. It could be “wrong” for a parent to attend the meeting if the parent ends up doing all of the talking. The better scenario in my view is to refrain from talking too much until the coach looks at you and asks “do you, Sally-parent, have any questions,” at which point you ask all of the questions that need to be asked.
@gointhruaphase I agree completely! To expect a 16 or 17 year old to handle a meeting with a potential coach where scholarship dollars is being discussed is not desirable. We could not attend several of our daughter’s OVs and the coach each time said they would call us with her offer. It was our daughter’s job to discern where she was most comfortable and where she saw herself excelling academically and athletically. We felt it was our role to assist with the financial portion of the visits.
FWIW, I just accompanied S on an UV. For most of our time there, we were tagging along with 4 recruits attending an OV. 3 of the 4 OV’s had parents with them. The part we did with them was observing a practice, then eating lunch and going to a game. Not real heavy duty recruiting going on. I assume that the parents weren’t present for most of the other weekend activities besides the wrap up meeting. This was for a top D1 program, and the OV’s were all highly recruited kids. Not sure if that matters.
Interesting. Sounds like it might be different for some sports. My son was recruited to top D1 programs and was an committed by September. I know none of his friends parents attended any of the OV. Whatever works. Good luck to everyone!
Big D1 football recruiting has decided that inviting the parents is the way to go. The NCAA allows the teams to pay for the parents to attend the visits too.
I flew with my daughter to one OV, dropped her off, but she invited me to go on the public tour on Sat (the coach hadn’t arrange for any teammate to go with her). Honestly, it wasn’t enough for me to ‘fight’ for the school when decision time came. No one had contacted me about any of the specifics of the costs or how likely she’d be accepted in ED.