What are NCAA Recruiting Periods? | USPORT.AI Help Center

The NCAA regulates when and how college coaches can communicate with you, watch you compete, and invite you to campus.

These rules exist to protect student-athletes and create fair recruiting practices.

📅 The NCAA divides the year into four types of recruiting periods:

Contact Period 🟢

Coaches CAN contact you in person, on or off campus
Coaches CAN watch you compete or practice
Coaches CAN have in-person conversations with you and your family

Evaluation Period 👀

Coaches CAN watch you compete or practice
Coaches CAN verify your academic credentials at your school
Coaches CANNOT have in-person, off-campus conversations with you or your family
Coaches CAN still communicate via phone, email, and text (if allowed by sport-specific rules)

Quiet Period 🔕

Coaches CAN contact you by phone, email, and text (if allowed)
Coaches CAN have on-campus contact at the college
Coaches CANNOT have off-campus, in-person contact with you
Coaches CANNOT watch you compete or practice in person

Dead Period 🛑

Coaches CANNOT have any in-person contact with you, on or off campus
Coaches CANNOT watch you compete or practice
Coaches CAN still communicate via phone, email, and text (if allowed)
These typically occur during exam periods, championship seasons, or holiday breaks

Important note: These periods vary by sport and division. Each sport has its own recruiting calendar.

📞 When Can Coaches Contact You?

The NCAA has specific rules about when coaches can initiate contact with you.

These rules differ based on:

Your grade level (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior)
Your sport
The NCAA division (DI, DII, or DIII)

General timeline for most sports:

Before September 1 of junior year:

🚫 Coaches typically cannot call or text you
✅ You can call coaches
✅ Coaches can send you recruiting materials (brochures, camp information)
✅ You can email coaches

After September 1 of junior year:

✅ DI and DII coaches can call you (frequency limited by sport)
✅ Text messages and direct messages may be allowed (depending on sport)
✅ Full communication opens up

Important exceptions:

Some sports (like football and basketball) have earlier or later contact dates
DIII rules are often more flexible than DI and DII
Always check the specific rules for your sport

🤝 What Counts as "Contact"?

The NCAA defines "contact" and "evaluation" very specifically.

Contact means any face-to-face interaction between a coach and you (or your parents) where you recognize the coach and more than a simple greeting occurs.

Examples of contact:

A conversation at your school
Meeting at your home
Talking at a tournament or game
Meeting at the coach's office during a campus visit

Evaluation means a coach assesses your athletic ability or academic qualifications. This can happen by:

Watching you practice or compete
Reviewing your academic transcripts at your high school
Watching film of you competing

Not considered contact or evaluation:

A simple "hello" with no conversation
A coach watching a public livestream of your game
Email or phone communication during permitted periods
Receiving recruiting materials in the mail

🏫 What are Official Visits?

An official visit is a campus visit where the college pays for your expenses. The NCAA limits the number of official visits you can take and what the school can provide.

Official visit rules:

Eligibility:

You must be a senior in high school (or have started senior year classes)
You must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center
You must provide the college with your transcript and test scores
Some sports allow official visits earlier (check sport-specific rules)

What the school can pay for:

✅ Transportation to and from campus (for you and your parents/guardians)

✅ Lodging (up to two nights)

✅ Meals (up to three per day)

✅ Reasonable entertainment expenses

Limits:

📊 You can take five official visits total across all DI and DII schools

⏰ Each visit can last up to 48 hours

🏫 You can only take one official visit per school

What happens during an official visit:

Tour of campus and athletic facilities
Meetings with coaches and current athletes
Academic meetings with advisors or professors
Attendance at a game or practice (if in season)
Sometimes overnight stays with current team members

🚗 What are Unofficial Visits?

An unofficial visit is any campus visit you make at your own expense. These visits have far fewer restrictions than official visits.

Unofficial visit rules:

Eligibility:

✅ You can take unlimited unofficial visits

✅ You can visit at any time (even before high school)

✅ You can visit the same school multiple times

❌ The school cannot pay for your travel, lodging, or meals

✅ You pay all your own expenses

What the school CAN provide:

Three complimentary game tickets for you and your family
Access to campus tours and facilities
Meetings with coaches (during permissible contact periods)

What the school CANNOT provide:

Transportation costs
Hotel accommodations
Meal expenses (except three complimentary tickets which may include food at the venue)
Entertainment expenses

When to take unofficial visits:

Before you're eligible for official visits
To visit schools you're seriously interested in
To narrow down your list before using official visits
To see campus during different seasons or when classes are in session

⚖️ Key Differences: Official vs. Unofficial Visits

Factor	Official Visit	Unofficial Visit
Cost	💰 School pays	💵 You pay
Number allowed	📊 5 total (DI/DII combined)	♾️ Unlimited
Timing	⏰ Usually senior year only	🗓️ Anytime
Duration	48 hours maximum	No limit
Per school	1 visit per school	Multiple visits allowed
Requirements	Must be registered with Eligibility Center	No registration required