NCAA Division 1
June 15 after sophomore year
June 15 after sophomore year
August 1 before junior year
How the other divisions work
NCAA Division II
Coaches can call, text, email, and message athletes and parents at any time (all sports). In-person, off-campus contact and official visits start June 15 after sophomore year.
NCAA Division III
Coaches can call, text, and email at any time. Off-campus contact after sophomore year. Official visits start January 1 of junior year.
NAIA
Coaches can contact athletes at any time; each program sets its own timeline.
Junior College (JUCO)
Generally few restrictions; check with each program.
Before the contact date, your athlete isn't stuck waiting
The rules limit when coaches can reach out, not when your athlete can. Before June 15 after sophomore year, your athlete can:
- Email coaches with a short intro, schedule, and highlight link
- Fill out each program's online recruiting questionnaire
- Attend camps and clinics where coaches can watch them play
- Receive questionnaires and camp information from coaches
Coaches evaluate players long before they're allowed to reply, so early outreach still counts.
What contact, evaluation, quiet, and dead periods mean
Coaches can communicate and meet with recruits, including in person.
Coaches can watch your athlete play but can't have in-person recruiting conversations off campus.
In-person contact is only allowed on the college's campus.
No in-person contact, but calls, texts, and emails are still allowed.
The NCAA publishes new dates for these periods each year.
What parents should do, by grade
Build a target list, start a highlight video, and keep grades strong.
Email coaches and complete questionnaires so your athlete is on their radar before June 15 after sophomore year.
Expect replies, calls, and texts. Log every one so nothing gets buried.
Official visits begin and offers get real. Compare them carefully.
Frequently asked questions
Recruiting rules can change. Confirm current rules with the NCAA: NCAA recruiting information (official)
Recruiting rules for other sports
Baseball · Football · Men's Basketball · Men's Soccer · Men's Volleyball · Softball · Women's Basketball · Women's Soccer · All sports
Track every coach touchpoint in one place
When the contact date hits, coach emails can pile up fast. Prospect-Orbit logs every coach email automatically from Gmail, Outlook, or iCloud (Pro), shows which programs are warming up and which have gone quiet, and keeps NCAA, NAIA, and JUCO deadlines and contact periods in one place: Key dates (NCAA compliance calendar).