Decoding the NCAA Recruiting Calendar
For the first time, a shutdown period has been added to the NCAA Division I recruiting calendar. From May 7-13, no recruiting of any sort (written, verbal, in-person, through third parties) may take place. This period will occur again August 13-17. Click here to access the full NCAA Division I recruiting calendar. As a reminder, NCAA Division II and Division III schools adhere to a more lax recruiting schedule. NAIA schools are allowed unlimited contact. Below is an easy way to decipher what is allowed throughout the recruiting calendar.
What is a "contact"?
Any face-to-face interaction between a college coach and a prospective student-athlete and her family that is more than a "hello" and occurs off-campus.
When can prospective student-athletes and their parents have in-person interactions with a coach off-campus?
During the contact period and quiet period.
When can college coaches watch a prospective student-athlete compete?
During the contact period and evaluation period. During the quiet period, coaches can only watch prospective student-athletes on their college campus (i.e. elite camp, team camp).
When can college coaches conduct home visits or come to a prospective student-athlete's school?
Starting March 1 of her junior year.
When can college coaches visit a prospective student-athlete's high school?
During the contact period and evaluation period.
When can college coaches initiate phone calls to a prospective student-athlete or her parents?
Starting September 1 of her junior year.
May a college coach write or call prospective student-athletes or their parents?
Yes, at all times EXCEPT the shutdown period. In addition, calls are prohibited during the July evaluation periods.
NCAA Evaluation Period Changes
Due to new changes, non-scholastic evaluations (those that happen with AAU teams) will move to a new schedule. While April previously consisted of two evaluation periods, one of those periods will move to the third weekend in May. In July 2019, the last evaluation period will shorten from 7 days to 5. The dead period in between will also shorten from 10 days to 8.
How does this affect prospective student-athletes?
The upside to the new schedule is that prospects have more time between the first two evaluation periods to work on their game. Instead of comparing your skillset from one weekend to the next, coaches have time to contact your coaches, get to know you through mailings or phone calls, and see you again a month later. "Have you improved?" and "Are you incorporating what we've discussed?" are questions that coaches will have. It's up to you to do the work. With a shortened July schedule, there are more opportunities for on-campus visits. Instead of splitting the last week of July between two tournaments, expect players to use the extra time to visit campuses before school starts back up.
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