How do you interpret this note from a coach?

[murphdog]

OK. She reached out. What happens on a "visit"?

A visit generally consists of a your given by a coach or an upperclassman player, sometimes lunch, sometimes meeting more members of the team. Reality is it varies from visit to visit and school to school.
At DD’s school overnights generally happen on week nights in the fall. If it’s still during the season your DD might get to attend (but usually not participate in) a practice and then stay overnight with a freshman.
DD was able to go to a practice, have dinner with most of the team and then attend 2 classes the next morning.
Last year as a freshman she hosted 2 possible recruits overnight but they didn’t go to class with her because their intended major was different from hers.
She has only met one of the girls who went on overnights this fall because her class/work schedule hasn’t allowed for it.

 

[mj1569]

OK. She reached out. What happens on a "visit"?

Generally you will meet with the coach that you DD is communicating with and maybe the head coach depending on the level of interest or their availability. You should get a tour of the athletic/softball facilities. You'll get a tour of the campus and/or dorms. You will also probably meet with someone from admissions. Other activities could be lunch with some of the players or a meeting with a professor from your DD's prospective major if she knows what she wants to study.

 

[RMGC]

In dating terms this is "I am interested in you, are you interested in me?"

First of all, let’s clarify something about the D2 and D3 divisions of the NCAA. They are NOT linear as to talent. It is not like baseball minor league double A or Triple A. We are a D3 team and played three division D2 winners and won all three. The reason D2 exists is to give those more academically challenged girls an avenue into a college with assistance through athletic scholarships. D3 only offers academic scholarships for girls with higher grades and scores. Secondly, many colleges will not offer official visits so don’t expect it. If you want to go to a particular college you should let them know and have them guide you through the process. Finally, if you need financial assistance be up front about it so the coach knows what you need in order to accept.
They are asking your DD directly to answer the question "How interested are you in coming here? Where do we stand?". So if your DD really has this school in her top 3, she should pick up the phone and tell them that "Yes, I want to come here. How do we make that happen?".

One of the things in D3 is that they lose a LOT of talented players who say they are interested but when the D2 or D1 school comes calling they bail for athletic scholarship money or the lure of a higher division. So many D3 coaches can be a little shy about being "all-in" on a player as a junior. It is why they often go full-court press on seniors versus juniors - because they are wary about investing a lot of time on a player.

Also a lot of D3's (not all) are very academically focused, so quite often while the softball coach wants you, they are EXTREMELY worried that a player can get past the admissions process. And admissions normally wants the junior transcript before giving them a read on the likelihood of admitting a student. That can be a big deal especially if this a NEWMAC/NESCAS D3 or similar school.

So your DD should contact the coach directly, tell the coach she is REALLY interested and it will flow from there.

 

[YOCOACH]

Visits will vary school to school and coach to coach. However, a generalization is a campus tour by the HC,AC, player or a combination thereof. A lot of times a school hoodie is involved as well as lunch or dinner and a trip to the Admissions office. Many times you'll meet at least some of the players.

Examples from DD several years ago.

A small D2:: We arrived around 10 and HC met us at the admissions office. She asked DD's size shirt, went into a closet and brought back a hoodie to give to her. While at the admissions office, we met with an Admissions Administrator and discussed tuition, expected grades, ACT/SAT scores, expected Academic monies/grants they could award and answered other general questions DD had. Next we went on a campus tour with the HC, had lunch with some of the players and AC's and then went to the HC's office where practices, playing time and coaching philosophy was talked about and further questions were answered. Then an offer was made.

At a D3: The HC and AC met us at the Admissions office. A hoodie was given and once again we met with an Admissions Administrator. We discussed the same as before. We went on a campus tour and then the coaches had meetings set up with the head of the nursing program and the Head of the Science and Technology Department which oversaw the Nursing program. Next we had Dinner with a majority of the team and ultimately she was invited for another visit/overnighter and an opportunity to attend some classes with another nursing major on the team.

At a D1, she was met by a player, given a campus tour, met with HC who strongly suggested choosing another major if she wanted to play and an offer was made.

At another D3, HC met her at the Admissions office, met with an administrator to discuss the usual, given a campus tour, invited us to a camp/overnighter with a player and sent us on our way.

At another D2 the AC and a player met us at the Athletic offices. We discussed the team, playing time, practice schedules etc. Given a campus tour while stopping by the bookstore to get a hoodie. Along the way we were introduced to several players and professors. Then the player left when we went back to the HC's office where an offer was made. Afterwards we met a some of the team for lunch then HC left us at the Admissions office to discuss the usual. Picked us up after we were done and told us he hopes to hear from us soon.

At another D1: She was invited to an overnighter and attend classes with a player as well as watching practice and participating in a camp the following day. She went to classes and lunch with a Freshman, watched the team practice, ate dinner with the team, overnighted with a Junior on the team, attended the camp and afterwards we met with the coaches. We were given the campus tour and an offer was made. We were then encouraged to set up an appointment with the Admissions office to discuss particulars and when we come back, stop in and say Hi to the HC.

 

[sluggers]

My DD3 played D3 hoops on a very good D3 team.

If the kid is really good, the coach says, "You can make an impact your freshman year"--which means that she will get substantial playing time as a freshman.

The coach is offering your DD the only thing that she can actually promise: Playing time.

 

[clarity]

Visits will vary school to school and coach to coach. However, a generalization is a campus tour by the HC,AC, player or a combination thereof. A lot of times a school hoodie is involved as well as lunch or dinner and a trip to the Admissions office. Many times you'll meet at least some of the players.

Examples from DD several years ago.

A small D2:: We arrived around 10 and HC met us at the admissions office. She asked DD's size shirt, went into a closet and brought back a hoodie to give to her. While at the admissions office, we met with an Admissions Administrator and discussed tuition, expected grades, ACT/SAT scores, expected Academic monies/grants they could award and answered other general questions DD had. Next we went on a campus tour with the HC, had lunch with some of the players and AC's and then went to the HC's office where practices, playing time and coaching philosophy was talked about and further questions were answered. Then an offer was made.

At a D3: The HC and AC met us at the Admissions office. A hoodie was given and once again we met with an Admissions Administrator. We discussed the same as before. We went on a campus tour and then the coaches had meetings set up with the head of the nursing program and the Head of the Science and Technology Department which oversaw the Nursing program. Next we had Dinner with a majority of the team and ultimately she was invited for another visit/overnighter and an opportunity to attend some classes with another nursing major on the team.

At a D1, she was met by a player, given a campus tour, met with HC who strongly suggested choosing another major if she wanted to play and an offer was made.

At another D3, HC met her at the Admissions office, met with an administrator to discuss the usual, given a campus tour, invited us to a camp/overnighter with a player and sent us on our way.

At another D2 the AC and a player met us at the Athletic offices. We discussed the team, playing time, practice schedules etc. Given a campus tour while stopping by the bookstore to get a hoodie. Along the way we were introduced to several players and professors. Then the player left when we went back to the HC's office where an offer was made. Afterwards we met a some of the team for lunch then HC left us at the Admissions office to discuss the usual. Picked us up after we were done and told us he hopes to hear from us soon.

At another D1: She was invited to an overnighter and attend classes with a player as well as watching practice and participating in a camp the following day. She went to classes and lunch with a Freshman, watched the team practice, ate dinner with the team, overnighted with a Junior on the team, attended the camp and afterwards we met with the coaches. We were given the campus tour and an offer was made. We were then encouraged to set up an appointment with the Admissions office to discuss particulars and when we come back, stop in and say Hi to the HC.

I didn't realize how important hoodies were to the process! Seriously, though, this is great information that you shared. Much appreciated.

 

[radness]

Daughter is a junior/2021. She attended a camp recently at a D3 school she is interested in. She had a good camp there previously, and the coach has seen her play in person once. A short time after the recent camp, she received a handwritten note from the coach, which said roughly the following (I'm paraphrasing):

Our team and coaches think you are very talented, both offensively and defensively. We think you would make a significant impact to our team as a freshman. Have a good Christmas.

That's it. What are we supposed to do with that??? Is it lacking specifics because she's a junior and it's D3? If they wanted to, could they schedule an official visit now that would take place after January 1? Or does this mean she should expect to be contacted after January 1 for an official visit. Or should we expect coaches to be overly complimentary, but light on specifics, until next fall? This school is currently in her top 3.

Hello, Speak to them. If your daughter is old enough 16.... They could have spoken directly. If they were not certain of her interest the note is of interest to connect.
Would not gleen from it...obviously.
Would not gleen from it playing time promise.
Most colleges and players come in and want freshman.
The best is to be clear with colleges player intensions.
Ie: colleges should know ahead of time when attending camps what the players goals are. Enjoy

 

[YOCOACH]

I didn't realize how important hoodies were to the process! Seriously, though, this is great information that you shared. Much appreciated.

Yeah. a lot of schools don't mind the free advertisement of a prospective recruit flying the school colors around other athletes and prospective future recruits

 

[Milo]

Our daughters are at the same stage of the process. Reply to everyone. Be honest with the coach and build a rapport. My daughter lets schools that are interested in her know right away if they don't have her major that it won't work because of that so they can move on and not waste their time.

 

[clarity]

She's been in communication and is trying to arrange an overnight visit. Question: does an "overnight" visit differ from a "regular" day visit in ways other than having dinner and sleeping in a dorm? Obviously parents aren't going to spend the night in the dorm, but would the schedule for an overnight typically include things like visits with admissions that parents would attend (or would they?)?