NCAA Recruiting Rules: When Can College Coaches Contact High School Athletes
The NCAA recruiting rules limit the type and amount of communication athletes can receive from coaches. View the rules by sport.
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NCAA Recruiting Rules: When Can College Coaches Contact High School Athletes
Navigating the NCAA recruiting rules, particularly regarding when college coaches can initiate contact with athletes, can be challenging. When can college coaches start contacting their athletes? For most sports, coaches can begin reaching out to athletes starting June 15 after sophomore year or September 1 of their junior year of high school.
More specifically, coach contact depends on your sport, age, division level and the type of communication. We’ve created a comprehensive guide to help you understand when you can expect to start hearing from college coaches, based on your sport and desired division level.
Scout Tip: While neither athletes nor coaches can initiate phone conversations until June 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year, college coaches are still going to build their recruiting classes prior to that date through online research, attending events and communicating with athletes’ coaches. Having an online profile is critical for athletes to get evaluated early. Get your free evaluation by an NSR College Scout.
Updated NCAA Recruiting Rules Change the Timing for Certain Recruiting Activities
In 2019, the NCAA approved a set of rules that changed the way Division 1 college coaches can recruit athletes during camps and visits. In an effort to streamline communications, coaches have to wait on giving scholarship offers to athletes until after their sophomore year of high school. Here’s a quick breakdown of these changes:
- Sports impacted: These rules apply to all D1 sports except football, W/M basketball, softball, baseball and W/M lacrosse. Men’s ice hockey also changed their rules, but the dates are different than those listed below. Get a full breakdown of the recruiting rules for all sports below.
- Official visits: Recruits can take official visits starting August 1 before their junior year of high school.
- Camps and clinics: Recruits and college coaches are not allowed to have any recruiting conversations during camps prior to June 15 after sophomore year of high school.
- Unofficial visits: College athletic departments—this includes college coaches—are not allowed to be involved in a recruit’s unofficial visits before August 1 of a prospect’s junior year. Unofficial visits cannot be scheduled with the coach.If a recruit happens to bump into the coach on campus, they can’t have any recruiting conversations at that time.
- D1 men’s ice hockey only: Men’s ice hockey adopted slightly different rules, recognizing the unique challenge facing elite recruits who are considering turning professional. College coaches can begin to contact recruits starting January 1 of their sophomore year. In addition, recruits can also begin to take unofficial visits at that time. Recruits will need to wait until August 1 of their junior year to take official visits and receive verbal scholarship offers.
When Can Division 1 Coaches Contact Athletes?
Generally speaking, D1 coaches can send athletes nonrecruiting material like non-recruiting questionnaires, camp brochures, and non-athletic institutional publications at any time. Serious recruiting contact begins either June 15 after sophomore year or September 1 of junior year, depending on the sport and division level.
Scout Tip: Even though d1 coaches cannot communicate with athletes prior to the contact dates, they are still identifying and evaluating prospects. Being proactive and understanding the process is crucial. Get evaluated today to get started!
Navigating NCAA Rules Can Be Tough
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NCAA Division 1 Recruiting Rules by Sport
Division 1 Football NCAA Recruiting Rules
- Any time: Athletes can receive non-recruiting materials from college coaches, such as questionnaires, camp brochures, nonathletic institutional publications, and NCAA educational materials published by the NCAA.
- April 1 through Sunday before the last Wednesday in June of junior year: Athletes can take official visits as long as they are not taken in conjunction with their participation in the college’s camps or clinics.
- June 15 after sophomore year: Coaches can extend verbal offers to recruits.
- September 1 of junior year: Athletes can receive any form of private communication. This includes emails, recruiting materials, texts, and direct messages on social media.
- January 1 of junior year: Coaches can contact athletes off-campus (limited to the NCAA Recruiting Calendar’s contact periods).
- September 1 of senior year: Coaches can call athletes once a week. They can call recruits unlimited times during the contact period.
- The athlete’s senior year: Coaches can initiate off-campus contact with the athletes and/or their parents up to six times.
- During athletes’ senior year: Coaches can evaluate each recruit once during September, October, and November.
- They can conduct two evaluations per athlete (one for athletic ability and the other for academic qualifications) between April 15 and May 31.
Division 1 Men’s Basketball NCAA Recruiting Rules
- Any time: Athletes can receive non-recruiting materials from college coaches, such as questionnaires, camp brochures, nonathletic institutional publications, and NCAA educational materials published by the NCAA.
- June 15 after sophomore year: Coaches can extend verbal offers to recruits.
- June 15 after sophomore year: Coaches can call, email, text, direct message, and correspond with athletes in any form of private communication. Calls from coaches to athletes are unlimited at this time except during dead and quiet periods.
- August 1 before junior year: Recruits can begin official visits, with only one official visit per school.
- Start of classes junior year: Coaches can initiate off-campus contact. Except during the April recruiting period, coaches can only conduct off-campus contact at the recruit’s school or residence.
- Contact cannot occur the day of a competition or at a time during the day when the athlete’s classes are in session.
Division 1 Women’s Basketball NCAA Recruiting Rules
- Any time: Athletes can receive non-recruiting materials from college coaches, such as questionnaires, camp brochures, nonathletic institutional publications, and NCAA educational materials published by the NCAA. Unofficial visits are also permitted.
- June 1 after sophomore year: Coaches can send electronic communications to athletes, including texts, instant messages, emails, and recruiting materials. Coaches can call athletes an unlimited number of times at this time.
- June 15 after sophomore year: Coaches can extend verbal offers to recruits.
- January 1 of junior year: Recruits can begin taking up to one official visit, except during dead periods.
- September 1 of senior year: NCAA recruiting rules allow coaches to conduct off-campus contact at the athlete’s school or residence. No off-campus contact is allowed on the day of a recruit’s game, and no contact is permitted during school hours on school days.
- After an athlete has signed a National Letter of Intent, they are no longer subject to NCAA restrictions.
Division 1 Men’s Ice Hockey NCAA Recruiting Rules
- Before Junior Year: Athletes can receive non-recruiting materials from coaches and take unofficial visits.
- January 1 of Sophomore Year: Coaches can initiate phone calls and electronic communication (texts, emails, etc.). Recruits can make unofficial visits.
- Junior Year - August 1: Coaches can initiate off-campus contact. Athletes can receive verbal scholarship offers, take official visits (up to five), and arrange unofficial visits with the athletic department.
- Senior Year - September 1 to May 31: Coaches have a limited number of recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations) per recruit.
Division I Women’s Ice Hockey NCAA Recruiting Rules
- Any Time: Coaches can send general promotional materials (brochures, questionnaires, etc.) to prospective student-athletes.
- June 15 After Sophomore Year: Coaches can initiate full contact with recruits, including phone calls, emails, and texts. Verbal scholarship offers can also be made at this time.
- August 1 Before Junior Year: Recruits can begin taking official visits and arranging unofficial visits. Coaches can initiate off-campus contact with recruits.
- August 1 Before Junior Year: Coaches are subject to a limit of seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations) per recruit until May 31 of the following year. After June 15, no more than three of these opportunities can be contacts.
Division I Swimming and Diving NCAA Recruiting Rules
- Any Time: Coaches can send general promotional materials (brochures, questionnaires, etc.) to prospective student-athletes.
- June 15 After Sophomore Year: Coaches can initiate full electronic communication with recruits (emails, texts, etc.) and send additional recruiting materials.
- August 1 Before Junior Year: Recruits can begin taking official visits and arranging unofficial visits. Coaches can initiate off-campus contact with recruits.
- August 1 Before Junior Year: Coaches are subject to a limit of seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations) per recruit until May 31 of the following year. After June 15, no more than three of these opportunities can be contacts.
Division I Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse NCAA Recruiting Rules
- Any Time: Coaches can send general promotional materials (brochures, questionnaires, etc.) to prospective student-athletes.
- September 1 of Junior Year: Coaches can initiate full contact with recruits, including phone calls, emails, and texts. Verbal scholarship offers can also be made. Recruits can begin taking official and unofficial visits. Coaches can conduct off-campus evaluations (limited to the recruit's school or home).
- September 1 of Junior Year: Coaches are subject to a limit of seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations) per recruit per year. No more than three of these can be off-campus contacts.
Division I Women’s Gymnastics NCAA Recruiting Rules
- Any Time: Coaches can send general promotional materials (brochures, questionnaires, etc.) to prospective student-athletes.
- June 15 After Sophomore Year: Coaches can initiate full contact with recruits, including phone calls, emails, and texts.
- August 1 Before Junior Year: Recruits can begin taking official and unofficial visits. Coaches can initiate off-campus contact with recruits.
- August 1 Before Junior Year: Coaches are subject to a limit of seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations) per recruit until May 31 of the following year. After June 15, no more than three of these opportunities can be contacts.
Division I Men’s Wrestling NCAA Recruiting Rules
- Any Time: Coaches can send general promotional materials (brochures, questionnaires, etc.) to prospective student-athletes.
- June 15 After Sophomore Year: Coaches can initiate full contact with recruits, including phone calls, emails, and texts.
- August 1 Before Junior Year: Recruits can begin taking official and unofficial visits. Coaches can initiate off-campus contact with recruits at their residence or school.
- August 1 Before Junior Year: Coaches are subject to a limit of seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations) per recruit until May 31 of the following year. After June 15, no more than three of these opportunities can be contacts.
- Note: These are general guidelines. Specific rules may vary by sport and division. Always consult the official NCAA guidelines for the most accurate information.
Division I Softball NCAA Recruiting Rules
- Any Time: Coaches can send general promotional materials (brochures, questionnaires, etc.) to prospective student-athletes.
- September 1 of Junior Year: Coaches can initiate full contact with recruits, including phone calls, emails, and texts. Verbal scholarship offers can also be made at this time.
- September 1 of Junior Year: Recruits can begin taking official visits and arranging unofficial visits. Coaches can initiate off-campus contact with recruits at their residence or school.
- Annual Limit: Coaches have a limit of seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations combined) per recruit each year. After September 1 of the junior year, no more than three of these can be off-campus contacts.
- Note: These are general guidelines. Specific rules may vary by sport and division. Always consult the official NCAA guidelines for the most accurate information.
Division I Baseball NCAA Recruiting Rules
- Any Time: Coaches can send general promotional materials (brochures, questionnaires, etc.) to prospective student-athletes.
- August 1 Before Junior Year: Coaches can initiate full electronic communication with recruits (emails, texts, etc.) and send additional recruiting materials.
- September 1 of Junior Year: Coaches can extend verbal scholarship offers. Recruits can begin taking official visits and arranging unofficial visits. Coaches can initiate off-campus contact with recruits.
- September 1 of Junior Year: Coaches are subject to a limit of seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations combined) per recruit until May 31 of the following year. After September 15, no more than three of these opportunities can be contacts.
- Note: These are general guidelines. Specific rules may vary by sport and division. Always consult the official NCAA guidelines for the most accurate information.
All Other Division I Sports NCAA Recruiting Rules
- Any Time: Coaches can send general promotional materials (brochures, questionnaires, etc.) to prospective student-athletes.
- June 15 After Sophomore Year: Coaches can initiate full contact with recruits, including phone calls, emails, and texts. They can also extend verbal scholarship offers.
- August 1 Before Junior Year: Recruits can begin taking official and unofficial visits. Coaches can initiate off-campus contact with recruits at their residence or school.
- Note: These are general guidelines. Specific rules may vary by sport and division. Always consult the official NCAA guidelines for the most accurate information.
NCAA Division II & III Recruiting Rules
Division II Recruiting Rules
- Non-Recruiting Materials: Coaches can send general promotional materials (brochures, questionnaires, etc.) to prospective student-athletes at any time.
- Printed Recruiting Materials: Coaches can start sending printed recruiting materials to prospects on July 15 after their sophomore year.
- Phone Calls: Coaches can initiate phone calls to prospects on June 15 after their sophomore year.
- Off-Campus Contact: Coaches can have in-person contact with prospects or their parents off campus starting June 15 after their sophomore year.
- Unofficial Visits: Prospects can visit campus at any time.
- Official Visits: Prospects can take official visits starting June 15 after their sophomore year.
- Note: While these rules are less complex than Division I, there are still specific regulations and limitations. It's essential to consult the official NCAA Division II guidelines for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
Division III Recruiting Rules
- Recruiting Materials: Coaches can send recruiting materials to prospective student-athletes at any time.
- Communication: There are no restrictions on when coaches can call or contact athletes digitally.
- Off-Campus Contact: Coaches can initiate off-campus contact with prospects after their sophomore year.
- Official Visits: Prospects can take official visits starting January 1 of their junior year.
- Unofficial Visits: Prospects can make unlimited unofficial visits at any time.
- Note: While Division III offers greater flexibility compared to Divisions I and II, specific regulations may vary by conference or institution. It's essential to consult the official NCAA Division III guidelines for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
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