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NCSAA Recruitment Rules

NCAA Recruiting Contact Rules

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NCAA regulations restrict when college coaches may extend scholarship offers and initiate recruiting communication. In general, scholarship offers may not be made until after a student-athlete’s sophomore year of high school. Below is a high-level overview of Division I recruiting rules:

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  • Initial Contact: For most Division I sports, coaches may begin recruiting conversations on June 15 following a prospect’s sophomore year or September 1 of their junior year, depending on the sport.

  • Official Visits: Division I recruits may take official visits beginning August 1 prior to their junior year of high school.

  • Camps and Clinics: Recruiting-related conversations between Division I coaches and prospects are not permitted at camps or clinics prior to June 15 after the sophomore year.

  • Unofficial Visits: Before August 1 of a prospect’s junior year, Division I coaches and athletic departments may not coordinate unofficial visits or engage in recruiting discussions during campus visits.

 

It is important to note that recruiting timelines vary by sport. Division I football, however, follows a unique timeline, allowing recruiting contact to begin on January 1 of the athlete’s sophomore year.

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Here is a comprehensive breakdown of NCAA recruiting rules for football.

The NCAA has established specific timelines governing how and when Division I football coaches may interact with prospective student-athletes. Key regulations include:

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  • Permissible at Any Time: Coaches may send non-recruiting materials, such as camp brochures, institutional publications, and NCAA educational resources.

  • April 1 through the Sunday before the last Wednesday in June of Junior Year: Prospective student-athletes may take official visits, provided the visit is not connected to participation in the institution’s camps or clinics.

  • June 15 After Sophomore Year: Coaches may extend verbal scholarship offers to recruits.

  • January 1 of Junior Year: Coaches may initiate off-campus contact with recruits, limited to designated NCAA contact periods.

  • September 1 of Junior Year: Coaches may begin all forms of private communication, including emails, recruiting materials, text messages, and direct messages on social media platforms.

  • September 1 of Senior Year: Coaches may place one phone call per week to recruits. During designated contact periods, unlimited calls are permitted.

  • Senior Year – Off-Campus Contact: Coaches may initiate up to six off-campus contacts with a recruit and/or their parents or legal guardians.

  • Senior Year – Evaluations: Coaches may conduct one evaluation per recruit in each of September, October, and November. Additionally, two evaluations per recruit are permitted between April 15 and May 31—one to assess athletic ability and one to assess academic qualifications.

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For additional information, including how Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies impact recruiting, refer to the NCAA’s official NIL guidance.

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