Recruiting Guidelines
Recruiting Guidelines
NCAA Recruiting Rules
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NCAA Recruiting Rules: Division 1
When Can Division 1 Coaches Start Communicating with Athletes?
NCAA Recruiting Rules: D1 Football
NCAA Recruiting Rules: D1 Men's Basketball
NCAA Recruiting Rules: D1 Women's Basketball
NCAA Recruiting Rules: D1 Women's Ice Hockey
NCAA Recruiting Rules: D1 Swimming and Diving
NCAA Recruiting Rules: Division 1
In recent years, the NCAA developed a new set of rules for Division 1 college coaches. These rules relate to how coaches can interact with recruits during camps and visits. Listed below is the specific set of rules for all sports, excluding basketball, softball, baseball, lacrosse and football.
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Official Visits: Recruits can start going on official visits to colleges starting August 1st before their junior year of high school.
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Camps and Clinics: College coaches and recruits are not permitted to have any conversations regarding recruiting until June 15 of their sophomore year of high school.
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Unofficial Visits: College athletic departments cannot take part in a recruit’s unofficial visit until August 1st of their junior year of high school.
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D1 Men’s Ice Hockey (Only): College coaches can contact recruits starting on January 1st of their sophomore year. Recruits can also take unofficial visits at any time in the recruiting process. Finally, recruits are required to wait until August 1 of their junior year to go on official visits and receive verbal scholarship offers.
When Can Division 1 Coaches Start Communicating with Athletes?
In general, D1 coaches can send athletes non recruiting information and items such as recruiting questionnaires at any time. However, recruiting contact starts on June 15 after sophomore year or September 1 of junior year, depending on the sport and division.
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NCAA Recruiting Rules: D1 Football
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Athletes can receive non recruiting items at any point in the recruiting process, such as recruiting questionnaires and camp pamphlets.
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There are no restrictions on verbal offers.
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As of September 1 of junior year, coaches can communicate with athletes through any medium. This includes emails, recruiting items, texts and DMs on social media platforms.
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Between April 1 and the last Wednesday in June of junior year, athletes can take one official visit. During this visit, the athlete cannot attend any school camps or clinics. Athletes can take a maximum of five official visits.
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Coaches can contact athletes off campus starting July 1 before their senior year of high school.
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On September 1 of senior year, athletes can take a maximum of 5 official visits. Starting at the same time, coaches can communicate with athletes on a call once a week and an unlimited number of times during the contact period. Further, coaches can initiate contact a total of six times between a recruit and their parents. Finally, coaches can evaluate recruits once during September, October and November. Between April 15 and May 31, coaches are allowed to complete two evaluations per athlete.
NCAA Recruiting Rules: Men’s D1 Basketball
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Athletes can receive non recruiting items at any point in the recruiting process, such as recruiting questionnaires and camp pamphlets.
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There are no restrictions on verbal offers.
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As of June 15 after sophomore year, coaches can communicate with athletes through any medium. This includes emails, recruiting items, texts and DMs on social media platforms.
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When an athlete starts classes in their junior year, coaches can begin initiating off-campus contact. Although, coaches can only initiate off campus contact at a player’s school or home. Further, coaches cannot meet with athletes during a day of competition or during class hours.
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Recruits can start taking official visits starting August 1st of their junior year. They can only visit a maximum of five schools during their junior year of high school, with a maximum of one visit per school. A recruit can take five more visits between their last day of junior year and October 15 of that same year.
NCAA Recruiting Rules: Women’s D1 Basketball
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Athletes can receive non recruiting items at any point in the recruiting process, such as recruiting questionnaires and camp pamphlets.
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There are no restrictions on verbal offers.
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As of September 1 of junior year, coaches can communicate with athletes through any electronic medium. This includes emails, recruiting items, texts and DMs on social media platforms. There are no restrictions on the amount of times coaches can call athletes.
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Starting on March 1 of a recruit’s junior year, coaches can begin initiating off-campus contact. Although, coaches can only initiate off campus contact at a player’s school or home. Further, coaches cannot meet with athletes during a day of competition or during class hours.
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Recruits can take a total of five official visits starting April of their junior year following the NCAA Women’s Final Four tournament, with the exclusion of dead periods.
NCAA Recruiting Rules: D1 Women’s Ice Hockey
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Athletes can receive non recruiting items at any point in the recruiting process, such as recruiting questionnaires and camp pamphlets.
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Between July 7 - 31 before a recruit’s junior year, college coaches can call international athletes once.
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Starting June 15 after sophomore year, coaches can give verbal offers, call athletes and communicate with athletes through any electronic medium.
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Starting August 1 before junior year, recruits can go on official visits. Coaches can also meet with athletes during unofficial visits, as well as start meeting recruits off campus.
NCAA Recruiting Rules: D1 Swimming and Diving
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Athletes can receive non recruiting items at any point in the recruiting process, such as recruiting questionnaires and camp pamphlets.
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Starting June 15 after sophomore year, coaches can communicate with athletes through any electronic medium.
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Starting August 1 before junior year, recruits can go on official visits. Coaches can also meet with athletes during unofficial visits, as well as start meeting recruits off campus.
NCAA Recruiting Rules: Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse
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Athletes can receive non recruiting items at any point in the recruiting process, such as recruiting questionnaires and camp pamphlets.
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As of September 1 of junior year, coaches can give verbal offers and communicate with athletes through any medium. This includes emails, recruiting items, texts and DMs on social media platforms. Coaches can start calling athletes at this time as well.
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As of September 1 of junior year, athletes can go on both official and unofficial visits. Further, coaches can begin off campus evaluations; however, contacts are only allowed at a recruit’s school or home during their junior year.
NCAA Recruiting Rules: D1 Women’s Gymnastics
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Athletes can receive non recruiting items at any point in the recruiting process, such as recruiting questionnaires and camp pamphlets.
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Starting June 15 after sophomore year, coaches can start communicating with athletes through any electronic medium. Coaches can also start calling athletes at this time.
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On August 1 before junior year, athletes can start going on official and unofficial visits. At this time, coaches can start meeting athletes off-campus.
NCAA Recruiting Rules: D1 Men’s Wrestling
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Athletes can receive non recruiting items at any point in the recruiting process, such as recruiting questionnaires and camp pamphlets.
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Starting June 15 after sophomore year, coaches can start communicating with athletes through any electronic medium. Coaches can also start calling athletes at this time.
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On August 1 before junior year, athletes can start going on official and unofficial visits. At this time, coaches can start meeting athletes off-campus at their home or school.
NCAA Recruiting Rules: D1 Softball
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Athletes can receive non recruiting items at any point in the recruiting process, such as recruiting questionnaires and camp pamphlets.
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As of September 1 of junior year, coaches can give verbal offers and communicate with athletes through any medium. This includes emails, recruiting items, texts and DMs on social media platforms. Coaches can start calling athletes during this time as well.
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As of September 1 of junior year, athletes can start going on official visits. Recruits can arrange unofficial visits with a school’s athletic department, as well as discuss recruiting with a college coach on campus.
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Starting September 1 before junior year, coaches can meet recruits off campus at their home or school.
NCAA Recruiting Rules: Remaining D1 Sports
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Athletes can receive non recruiting items at any point in the recruiting process, such as recruiting questionnaires and camp pamphlets.
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Starting June 15 after sophomore year, coaches can give verbal offers, call athletes and communicate with athletes through any electronic medium.
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On August 1 before junior year, athletes can start going on official and unofficial visits. At this time, coaches can start meeting athletes off-campus at their home or school.
NCAA Recruiting Rules: Division 2
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Athletes can receive camp brochures, NCAA items, questionnaires and non recruiting items at any point in the recruiting process.
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Printed recruiting items can be sent to recruits starting July 15 of their sophomore year.
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Coaches can start calling athletes starting June 15 of their sophomore year.
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Coaches can start communicating with athletes and their parents off campus as of June 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year.
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Athletes can go on unofficial visits at any time.
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Official visits are permitted starting June 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year.
NCAA Recruiting Rules: Division 3
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Coaches can send athletes recruiting materials at any time.
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There is no limit on how many times coaches can contact athletes, as well as through other electronic mediums.
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Coaches can communicate with players off campus following an athlete’s sophomore year.
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January 1 after junior year is when athletes can start going on official visits.
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Athletes can go on as many unlimited visits as they wish.
Next Section: Contact Periods