NCAA Recruiting Timelines
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It is the goal of hundreds of thousands of student athletes across the world to compete within the NCAA. At the highest levels (Division I, II, and III) there are a number of opportunities to continue to play your respective sport while earning a high-level education. While many people want this dream to become a reality, they are unaware of the timelines in which coaches may start contacting them. On this installment of THE BLOG we will go through the timelines for different sports in the NCAA.
NCAA Division I (All Sports EXCEPT Football, Baseball, Softball, M/W Lacrosse, M/W Hockey, and M/W Basketball.)
For all sports that are not listed above, at the NCAA Division I level, the rules are as follows in terms of recruitment timelines:
- No “communication with a coach” until June 15 of sophomore year (Grade 10)
- No Official or Unofficial visits until August 1 of junior year (Grade 11)
- No “Recruiting Conversations” or Verbal Offers until June 15 of sophomore year
For the sports that are listed above (Football, Baseball, Softball, M/W Lacrosse and M/W Basketball), the rules are as follows in terms of recruitment timelines:
M Basketball
Verbal offers: There are no restrictions on when coaches can extend verbal offers to recruits.
August 1 of sophomore year: Athletes can begin taking unofficial visits.
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.
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.
August 1 of junior year: Recruits can begin official visits, with a maximum of five total official visits during the junior year, with only one official visit per school. An additional five official visits may be taken between the day of completion of junior year and October 15 following completion of high school.
W Basketball
Verbal offers: There are no restrictions on when coaches can extend verbal offers to recruits.
September 1 of junior year: Coaches can send electronic communications to athletes, including texts, instant messages, emails and recruiting materials. According to NCAA rules, coaches can call athletes an unlimited number of times at this time.
March 1 of junior 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. Coaches are not permitted to contact athletes during school hours on school days.
April of junior year starting the Thursday following the NCAA Women’s Final Four®: Recruits can begin taking up to five official visits, except during the dead periods.
Football
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.
April 1 through Sunday before the last Wednesday in June of junior year: Athletes can take official visits as long as it is not taken in conjunction with their participation in the college’s camps or clinics. Athletes can take a total of five official visits during high school enrollment.
July 1 going into senior year: Coaches can contact athletes off campus (limited to the NCAA Recruiting Calendar’s contact periods).
September 1 of senior year: Athletes can take official visits, with a maximum of five total official visits per student-athlete.
September 1 of senior year: Coaches can call athletes once a week after this time until December 31. They can call recruits unlimited times during the contact period. For the remainder of the 2021-2022 academic year, additional calls can be made once a week in January, March, June and July. No calls in February. In April and May, calls are made at the institution’s discretion.
Softball
September 1 of junior year: Coaches can make verbal scholarship offers and send athletes all forms of private electronic correspondence, including text messages, instant messages, direct messages and emails, as well as all recruiting materials. Coaches can also call athletes at this point.
September 1 of junior year: Athletes can begin taking official visits. Recruits can also start arranging unofficial visits with a school’s athletic department and talk about recruiting with the coach while on campus.
September 1 before junior year: Coaches can begin conducting off-campus contact with athletes at their residence or school.
Baseball
September 1 of junior year: The NCAA recruiting rules show athletes can receive all forms of electronic correspondence at this time, including emails, instant messages, faxes, etc., as well as other recruiting materials.
September 1 of junior year: Recruits can begin taking official visits to schools. Athletes can also begin arranging unofficial visits with a school’s athletic department and meet with the coach while on campus.
July 1 following junior year: Coaches are allowed to start off-campus contact with recruits.
M/W Lacrosse
September 1 of junior year: Coaches can extend verbal scholarship offers and send all forms of private, electronic correspondence, including text messages, direct messages and emails, as well as recruiting materials. Coaches are also able to start calling athletes after this date.
September 1 of junior year: Athletes cannot go on unofficial visits or official visits before this date.
September 1 of junior year: Coaches are allowed to conduct off-campus evaluations. But during the athlete’s junior year, those contacts are only allowed at the recruit’s school or home.
M Hockey
January 1 of sophomore year: Coaches can begin calling recruits. Coaches can also send all forms of private electronic correspondence, including text messages, direct messages, instant messages and emails. Recruits can also begin to make unofficial visits.
August 1 before junior year: Coaches can make off-campus contact with recruits.
August 1 before junior year: Athletes can begin receiving verbal scholarship offers and going on official visits, taking up to five. Athletes can also start arranging unofficial visits with the school’s athletic department and speak to the coach about recruiting while on campus.
W Hockey
July 7–31 before junior year: College coaches can call international college-bound student-athletes once during this time period.
June 15 after sophomore year: Coaches can extend verbal offers, make calls and send all forms of private electronic correspondence, including texts, emails, direct messages, instant messages, etc.
August 1 before junior year: Recruits can begin taking official visits to schools. Athletes are also allowed to start arranging unofficial visits with a school’s athletic department and meet with the coach while on campus.
August 1 before junior year: Coaches can begin to have off-campus contact with recruits.
NCAA Division II All Sports
All sports at the NCAA Division II level follow the same perimeters when it comes to recruiting timelines. The rules are as follows:
- Printed recruiting materials: Starting July 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year, coaches can begin sending recruits printed recruiting materials.
- Telephone calls: Starting June 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year, coaches can start calling athletes.
- Off-campus contact: Coaches can conduct off-campus communications with athletes and/or their parents starting June 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year.
- Unofficial visits: Athletes can take unofficial visits at any time.
- Official visits: Athletes may start taking official visits starting June 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year.
NCAA Division III All Sports
All sports at the NCAA Division III level follow the same perimeters when it comes to recruiting timelines. The rules are as follows:
- Recruiting materials: Athletes can receive recruiting materials at any time.
- Telephone calls: There is no limit on when college coaches can call athletes.
- Digital communications: There is no limit on when college coaches can contact athletes digitally.
- Off-campus contact: After the athlete’s sophomore year, college coaches may begin to conduct off-campus communications.
- Official visits: Athletes can begin taking official visits after January 1 of their junior year.
- Unofficial visits: Athletes can make an unlimited number of unofficial visits at any time.
While these rules may seem long and complex, it is vital that you are aware of them when beginning to contact coaches. Failure to meet these guidelines could cost you your scholarship and eligibility. Whenever you are unsure, use the many resources available to make sure you get right back on track!