NCAA Recruiting Rules

The NCAA "Guide for College Bound Student Athletes" is available directly from the NCAA at:

Here are some of the points we need to be aware of as we attend College Exposure events: These rules apply to the athletes as well as their parents.

This Page Last Updated: 07/29/2008
Check with NCAA for updated information.

College coaches must follow the rules outlined in this section. You are expected to follow these rules as well.

Recruiting Terms

Contact. A contact occurs any time a coach has any face-to-face contact with you or your parents off the college's campus and says more than hello. A contact also occurs if a coach has any contact with you or your parents at your high school or any location where you are competing or practicing.

Contact period. During this time, a college coach may have inperson contact with you and/or your parents on or off the college's campus. The coach may also watch you play or visit your high school. You and your parents may visit a college campus and the coach may write and telephone you during this period.

Dead period. The college coach may not have any in-person contact with you or your parents at any time in the dead period. The coach may write and telephone you or your parents during this time.

Evaluation. An evaluation is an activity by a coach to evaluate your academic or athletics ability. This would include visiting your high school or watching you practice or compete.

Evaluation period. The college coach may watch you play or visit your high school, but cannot have any in-person conversations with you or your parents off the college's campus. You and your parents can visit a college campus during this period. A coach may write and telephone you or your parents during this time.

Official visit. Any visit to a college campus by you and your parents paid for by the college. The college may pay the following expenses:
• Your transportation to and from the college;
• Room and meals (three per day) while you are visiting the college; and
• Reasonable entertainment expenses, including three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest.

Before a college may invite you on an official visit, you will have to provide the college with a copy of your high school transcript (Division I only) and SAT, ACT or PLAN score and register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.

Prospective student-athlete. You become a “prospective student-athlete” when:
• You start ninth-grade classes; or
• Before your ninth-grade year, a college gives you, your relatives or your friends any financial aid or other benefits that the college does not provide to students generally.

Quiet period. The college coach may not have any in-person contact with you or your parents off the college's campus. The coach may not watch you play or visit your high school during this period. You and your parents may visit a college campus during this time. A coach may write or telephone you or your parents during this time.

Unofficial visit. Any visit by you and your parents to a college campus paid for by you or your parents. The only expense you may receive from the college is three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest. You may make as many unofficial visits as you like and may take those visits at any time. The only time you

cannot talk with a coach during an unofficial visit is during a dead period.

Verbal commitment. This phrase is used to describe a collegebound student-athlete's commitment to a school before he or she signs (or is able to sign) a National Letter of Intent. A collegebound student-athlete can announce a verbal commitment at any time. While verbal commitments have become very popular for both college-bound student-athletes and coaches, this "commitment" is NOT binding on either the college-bound student-athlete or the school. Only the signing of the National Letter of Intent accompanied by a financial aid agreement is binding on both parties.

Summary of recruiting rules — DIVISION I
	Recruiting Method	Guidance
SOPHOMORE YEAR	Recruiting Materials	• You may only receive brochures for camps and questionnaires.
	Telephone Calls	• You may make calls to coach at your expense only. • College coach cannot call you.
	Off-Campus Contact	• None allowed.
	Official Visit	• None allowed.
	Unofficial Visit	• You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits.

JUNIOR YEAR	Recruiting Materials	• You may begin receiving September 1 of junior year.
	Telephone Calls	• You may make calls to coach at your expense.
	College coaches may call you	• Once per week starting July 1 after your junior year.
	Off-Campus Contact	• Allowed starting July 1after your junior year.
	Official Visit	• None allowed.
	Unofficial Visit	• You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits.

SENIOR YEAR	Recruiting Materials	• Allowed
	Telephone Calls	• You may make calls to coach at your expense.
	College coaches may call you	• Once per week starting July 1.
	Off-Campus Contact	• Allowed
	Official Visit	• Allowed beginning opening day of classes your senior year. • You are limited to one official visit per college up to a maximum of five official visits to Divisions I and II colleges.
	Unofficial Visit	• You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits.
	Evaluation and contacts	• Up to seven times during your senior year.
	How often can a coach see me or talk to me off the college's campus?	• A college coach may contact you or your parents/legal guardians not more than three times during your senior year.

Summary of recruiting rules—Divisions II and III
	DIVISION II	DIVISION III
Recruiting materials	• A coach may begin sending you printed recruiting materials September 1 of your junior year in high school.	• You may receive printed materials any time.
Telephone calls	• A college coach may call you once per week beginning June 15 between your junior and senior year. • You may make calls to the coach at your expense.	• No limit on number of calls or when they can be made by the college coach. • You may make calls to the coach at your expense.
Off-campus contact	• A college coach can have contact with you or your parents/legal guardians off the college’s campus beginning June 15 after your junior year. • A college coach is limited to three inperson contacts off campus.	• A college coach may begin to have contact with you and your parents/legal guardians off the college’s campus after your junior year.
Unofficial visits	• You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits any time.	• You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits any time.
Official visits	• You may make official visits starting the opening day of classes your senior year. • You may make only one official visit per college and up to a maximum of five official visits to Divisions I and II colleges.	• You may make official visits starting the opening day of classes your senior year. • You may make only one official visit per college.