If you're planning on swimming in college, odds are you are going to be taking some visits to colleges, and meeting the team and coaches. A great way to do that is through official visits. If you're being actively recruited by a school, then they'll usually set up a date for you.
According to the NCAA, an official visit can include, “transportation to and from the college for the student-athlete, lodging and three meals per day for the student-athlete and his or her parents or guardians, as well as reasonable entertainment expenses including three tickets to a home sports event,” all paid for by the institution.
Barring any travel time, the visit starts when the recruit steps foot on campus, as opposed to contact with the team or coach.
Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities and Campus Visits
These visits are crucial in making the right decision for a college. Here are a few things that you should expect when attending a 48-hour official visit with a swimming and diving team.
So many tours!
One of the first things you will do when you get there is a campus tour. Sometimes it is set up by the campus through a welcome center, or it is just athletes and coaches giving the tour.
A more in-depth tour will probably come later on in the visit with individual dorms, facilities, academic services, athletic facilities, and more.
Watching practices
Another thing coaches like to do is have their potential recruits watch practices.
Coaches don't want to cancel practice over a weekend, so when there is no one else to host you, you'll be sitting on the side of a pool deck with the other recruits!
It is important to use some of this time to see how the practices work, what kind of sets they do, and how the swimmers interact in the water.
Meetings
When on a visit, you will meet more people than you can remember. The head coach, the assistant coach, the compliance director, the academic advisor, the team, professors, and maybe more!
These people could be part of your everyday life in college, so make sure to be professional and polite, and to get a good idea of whether you want to be seeing them every day!
Optional swim time
If you're a swimmer, you know there is no off season. Usually, coaches will give you time to hop in the pool, and swim some laps of your own. You can bring your own practice from home, or just swim a little and get out! There is no shame in either!
Meals
Luckily, all of your meals are paid for on official visits, so you don't need to bring a dime for food.
Most of the time, you will be going out to hot spots around campus that the athletes enjoy, but you will probably go to the dining hall once or twice to see how they eat everyday.
Related: Best Hotels and Travel Tips for the Top 5 Collegiate Athletics Programs in Los Angeles
A trip to the bookstore
Per NCAA regulation, a school cannot give you any school merchandise, so they will hopefully take you to the bookstore if you want to pick up some merchandise.
This is one of the only reasons you would need to bring your own money on an official visit.
Team activity
Usually, the team will host an activity on or off campus. It can be a bonfire at an upperclassman's house, or you can go bowling, or play kickball.
It's a way to meet the entire team and have some fun with them to see if it is a good fit.
Related: SRUSA's Don Williams on Finding the Right Fit
Parties
Now, this is not a universal experience. Parties are in no way put on the itinerary for the recruits to plan for prior to the official visit. It is usually the team going behind the coach's back and taking recruits to a party.
Usually, a coach will have you sign paperwork before the visit to state that you will not go to a party on campus, but it does happen sometimes. If you do go, make sure to upkeep an appropriate image and make safe, responsible decisions.
Related: What They Don't Tell You about Your Overnight Trip
Overall, official visits can be fun and informative! They're a great way to meet the team and coaches and see what a school has to offer! Make sure you're prepared for everything on (and off) the itinerary.
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* Originally published on March 11, 2022, by Kyle Haflich
