NCAA Recruiting Rules

When Can College Coaches Reach Out to Student-Athletes?

The time period during which college coaches can have recruitment-related conversations with you depends on the sport you play and the NCAA Division you are targeting. For NCAA Division I sports, the most common dates for such conversations are June 15th and September 1st, when you enter your Junior Year. For NCAA Division II, coaches can start recruiting conversations with athletes beginning June 15th of their Junior Year, regardless of the sport.

When Can You Reach Out to College Coaches?

The short answer is anytime! There are no restrictions on student-athlete communications to college coaches. There are only rules and regulations in place for college coaches. In fact, initiating contact early in your recruitment process is crucial for visibility and ensuring you are on coaches' radar. Though coaches may only offer generic responses due to NCAA regulations, they do track interested athletes. Notably, Division I and II have earlier recruiting periods than Division III, so expressing interest sooner is advisable, particularly for those targeting DI programs.

Keeping track of your sport’s designed contact period is helpful if you plan to reach out to NCAA programs early. Keep in mind, however, that if you contact a coach outside the designated contact period, the college coach will often return your email informing you that’s the case, as well as the date when it is okay for you to get back in contact with them. To learn more, check out our article on what you should be emailing coaches here. 

NCAA Division I Sports Rules & Regulations

Below we will break down each NCAA Division I sport and discuss the specific rules and regulations surrounding communication between college coaches and prospective student-athletes. 

NCAA Division I Men’s/Women’s Lacrosse

• Direct Recruiting-like Conversations - September 1st (entering Junior Year): On September 1st, college coaches can begin engaging in recruiting-related conversations with prospective student-athletes entering their Junior Year of high school. These conversations can be about where you stand on their list, what you have been doing in your recruiting process, and their recruiting timeline. This communication can include phone calls, emails, video chat software (Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, etc.) and social media direct messaging. 
• Verbal Offers - September 1st (entering Junior Year): DI coaches can extend verbal offers to a prospective student-athlete starting September 1st of your Junior Year. Remember that a verbal offer is not a binding agreement. It only becomes binding when the student-athlete signs the National Letter of Intent.
• Official and Unofficial Visits - September 1st (entering Junior Year): On September 1st, entering their Junior Year, lacrosse student-athletes can begin taking official and unofficial campus visits.

NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball

• Direct Recruiting-like Conversations - June 15th (after Sophomore Year): On June 15th after Sophomore Year, college coaches can begin engaging in recruiting-related conversations with prospective student-athletes. These conversations can be about where you stand on their list, what you have been doing in your recruiting process, and their recruiting timeline. This communication can include phone calls, emails, video chat software (Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, etc.) and social media direct messaging.
• Verbal Offers - June 15th (after Sophomore Year): DI coaches can extend verbal offers to a prospective student-athlete on June 15th after their Sophomore Year. Remember that a verbal offer is not a binding agreement. It only becomes binding when the student-athlete signs the National Letter of Intent.‍
• Official and Unofficial Visits - August 1st (entering Junior Year): On August 1st, entering their Junior Year, men's basketball student-athletes can start taking official and unofficial campus visits.

NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball

• Direct Recruiting-like Conversations - June 1st (after Sophomore Year): On June 1st, after their Sophomore Year, college coaches can engage in recruiting-related conversations with prospective student-athletes. These conversations can be about where you stand on their list, what you have been doing in your recruiting process, and their recruiting timeline. This communication can include phone calls, emails, video chat software (Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, etc.) and social media direct messaging.
• Official Visits - January 1st (Junior Year): On January 1st, during their Junior Year, Student-athletes and programs can start planning official visits.
• Verbal Offers - June 15th (after Sophomore Year): DI coaches can extend verbal offers to a prospective student-athlete starting June 15th, after their Sophomore Year. Remember that a verbal offer is not a binding agreement. It only becomes binding when the student-athlete signs the National Letter of Intent.‍
• Unofficial Visits - Unofficial visits with athletics department involvement (e.g., contact with athletics department staff, athletics-specific tour, complimentary admission) may occur with an individual (or the individual's family members) at any time, subject to recruiting calendar restriction.

NCAA Division I Football

• Direct Recruiting-like Conversations- June 15th (after Sophomore Year):  Starting June 15th, college coaches can begin to initiate recruiting conversations with prospective student-athletes who have completed their Sophomore Year of high school. These conversations can be about where you stand on their list, what you have been doing in your recruiting process, and their recruiting timeline. This communication can include phone calls, emails, video chat software (Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, etc.) and social media direct messaging
• Official Visits - April 1st (Junior Year):  On April 1st, during their Junior Year, student-athletes and programs can start planning official visits. They are allowed to have visits starting April 1st through the Sunday before the last Wednesday in June.  
• Unofficial Visits: An unofficial visit can happen at any time during the recruiting process. 
• Verbal Offers - June 15th (after Sophomore Year): DI coaches can extend verbal offers to a prospective football student-athlete starting June 15th, after their Sophomore Year. Remember that a verbal offer is not a binding agreement. It only becomes binding when the student-athlete signs the National Letter of Intent.

NCAA Division I Softball

• Direct Recruiting-like Conversations - September 1st (Junior Year): On September 1st, college coaches can engage in recruiting-related conversations with prospective student-athletes entering their Junior Year of high school. These conversations can be about where you stand on their list, what you have been doing in your recruiting process, and their recruiting timeline. This communication can include phone calls, emails, video chat software (Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, etc.) and social media direct messaging. 
• Verbal Offers - September 1st (Junior Year):  DI coaches can extend verbal offers to a prospective student-athlete starting September 1st, of your Junior Year. Remember that a verbal offer is not a binding agreement. It only becomes binding when the student-athlete signs the National Letter of Intent.‍
• Official and Unofficial Visits - September 1st (Junior Year):  On September 1st, entering their Junior year, softball student-athletes can begin taking official and unofficial campus visits.

NCAA Division I Baseball 

• Direct Recruiting-like Conversations - August 1st (entering Junior Year): On August 1st, college coaches can engage in recruiting-related conversations with prospective student-athletes entering their Junior Year of high school. These conversations can be about where you stand on their list, what you have been doing in your recruiting process, and their recruiting timeline. This communication can include phone calls, emails, video chat software (Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, etc.) and social media direct messaging. 
• Verbal Offers - September 1st (Junior Year):  DI coaches can extend verbal offers to a prospective student-athlete starting September 1st, of your Junior Year. Remember that a verbal offer is not a binding agreement. It only becomes binding when the student-athlete signs the National Letter of Intent.‍
• Official and Unofficial Visits - September 1st (Junior year):  On September 1st, entering their Junior Year, baseball student-athletes can begin taking official and unofficial campus visits.

NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey 

• Direct Recruiting-like Conversations - January 1st (Sophomore Year): On January 1st, college coaches can engage in recruiting-related conversations with prospective student-athletes in their Sophomore Year of high school. These conversations can be about where you stand on their list, what you have been doing in your recruiting process, and their recruiting timeline. This communication can include phone calls, emails, video chat software (Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, etc.) and social media direct messaging.
• Verbal Offers - August 1st (entering Junior Year): DI coaches can extend verbal offers to a prospective student-athlete on August 1st entering their Junior Year. Remember that a verbal offer is not a binding agreement. It only becomes binding when the student-athlete signs the National Letter of Intent.‍
• Official Visits - August 1st (entering Junior Year): On August 1st, entering their Junior Year, men's ice hockey student-athletes can begin taking official campus visits.

NCAA Division I Women’s Ice Hockey 

• Direct Recruiting-like Conversations - June 15th (after Sophomore Year): Starting June 15th, college coaches can begin initiating recruiting conversations with prospective student-athletes once they have completed their Sophomore Year of high school. These conversations can be about where you stand on their list, what you have been doing in your recruiting process, and their recruiting timeline. This communication can include phone calls, emails, video chat software (Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, etc.) and social media direct messaging.
• Verbal Offers - June 15th (after Sophomore Year): DI coaches can extend verbal offers to a prospective student-athlete on June 15th after their Sophomore Year. Remember that a verbal offer is not a binding agreement. It only becomes binding when the student-athlete signs the National Letter of Intent.
• ‍Official and Unofficial Visits - August 1st (entering Junior Year): On August 1st, entering their Junior Year, women's ice hockey student-athletes can begin taking official and unofficial campus visits. 

NCAA Division I Men’s/Women’s Swimming & Diving

• Direct Recruiting-like Conversations - June 15th (after Sophomore Year):  Starting June 15th, college coaches can begin initiating recruiting conversations with prospective student-athletes once they have completed their Sophomore Year of high school. These conversations can be about where you stand on their list, what you have been doing in your recruiting process, and their recruiting timeline. This communication can include phone calls, emails, video chat software (Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, etc.) and social media direct messaging.
• Verbal Offers - June 15th (after Sophomore Year): DI coaches can extend verbal offers to a prospective student-athlete on June 15th after their Sophomore Year. Remember that a verbal offer is not a binding agreement. It only becomes binding when the student-athlete signs the National Letter of Intent.‍
• Official and Unofficial Visits - August 1st (entering Junior Year): On August 1st, entering their Junior Year, swimming & diving student-athletes can begin taking official and unofficial campus visits.

NCAA Division I Women’s Gymnastics 

• Direct Recruiting-like Conversations - June 15th (after Sophomore Year):  Starting June 15th, college coaches can begin initiating recruiting conversations with prospective student-athletes once they have completed their Sophomore Year of high school. These conversations can be about where you stand on their list, what you have been doing in your recruiting process, and their recruiting timeline. This communication can include phone calls, emails, video chat software (Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, etc.) and social media direct messaging.
• Verbal Offers - June 15th (after Sophomore Year): DI coaches can extend verbal offers to a prospective student-athlete on June 15th after their Sophomore Year. Remember that a verbal offer is not a binding agreement. It only becomes binding when the student-athlete signs the National Letter of Intent.‍
• Official and Unofficial Visits - August 1st (entering Junior Year): On August 1st, entering their Junior Year, women's gymnastics student-athletes can begin taking official and unofficial campus visits.

NCAA Division I Men’s Wrestling 

• Direct Recruiting-like Conversations - June 15th (after Sophomore Year):  Starting June 15th, college coaches can begin initiating recruiting conversations with prospective student-athletes once they have completed their Sophomore Year of high school. These conversations can be about where you stand on their list, what you have been doing in your recruiting process, and their recruiting timeline. This communication can include phone calls, emails, video chat software (Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, etc.) and social media direct messaging.
• Verbal Offers - June 15th (after Sophomore Year): DI coaches can extend verbal offers to a prospective student-athlete on June 15th after their Sophomore Year. Remember that a verbal offer is not a binding agreement. It only becomes binding when the student-athlete signs the National Letter of Intent.‍
• Official and Unofficial Visits - August 1st (entering Junior Year): On August 1st, entering their Junior Year, men's wrestling student-athletes can begin taking official and unofficial campus visits.

Remaining NCAA Division I Sports

• Direct Recruiting-like Conversations - June 15th (after Sophomore Year): Starting June 15th, college coaches can begin initiating recruiting conversations with prospective student-athletes once they have completed their Sophomore Year of high school. These conversations can be about where you stand on their list, what you have been doing in your recruiting process, and their recruiting timeline. This communication can include phone calls, emails, video chat software (Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, etc.) and social media direct messaging.
• Verbal Offers - June 15th (after Sophomore Year): DI coaches can extend verbal offers to a prospective student-athlete on June 15th after their Sophomore Year. Remember that a verbal offer is not a binding agreement. It only becomes binding when the student-athlete signs the National Letter of Intent.‍
• Official and Unofficial Visits - August 1st (entering Junior Year): On August 1st, entering their Junior Year, student-athletes can begin taking official and unofficial campus visits.

NCAA Division II Sports Rules & Regulations

• Direct Recruiting-like Conversations - June 15th (after Sophomore Year): NCAA Division II coaches can contact prospective student-athletes at any time through phone, text, email, or regular mail, without any restrictions, even if the prospect is a freshman or sophomore. In-person communication is limited until June 15th after the student-athlete’s sophomore year.
• Verbal Offers - June 15th (after Sophomore Year): DII coaches can extend verbal offers to a prospective student-athlete on June 15th after their Sophomore Year. Remember that a verbal offer is not a binding agreement. It only becomes binding when the student-athlete signs the National Letter of Intent.
• Official Visits - June 15th (after Sophomore Year): On June 15th, after Sophomore Year, student-athletes can begin taking official campus visits.
• Unofficial Visits - Anytime: There are no restrictions surrounding when student-athletes can take an unofficial visit to a DII school. 

NCAA Division III Sports Rules & Regulations

Division III programs do not follow the same rules as Division I and II. Division III programs have fewer restrictions compared to Division I and II, with minimal rules restricting the timing of recruiting-like conversations. However, it is important to note that most Division III athletes tend to commit to their schools at the end of their Junior Year or during their Senior Year, even with the lack of regulations. 

Division III colleges are allowed to use something called a non-binding celebratory form. This is something that can be signed at any point after the student has been accepted by the college's admissions department.It's important to understand that recruiting rules and regulations are imposed on college coaches, not student-athletes. In other words, there are no specific NCAA rules athletes must follow when communicating with coaches. Nonetheless, it is useful to know the rules that coaches must follow, so that you know what to expect in your communication with them.