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Why June 15th is a Key Date in College Athletic Recruiting

While June 15 marks an important Division II Transfer Portal deadline, it is also a significant date for many other college student-athletes and high school recruits as they navigate the recruiting process.

NJCAA Letter of Intent signees:

 For NJCAA two-year college athletes enrolled during the 2025–26 academic year, June 15 is the deadline to receive notification of renewal of their 2026–27 Letter of Intent.

An NJCAA athlete who isn’t signed to a second-year scholarship by June 15 (which is supposed to be in the form of a new Letter of Intent) becomes recruitable by any other NJCAA college starting on June 16.

June 15 is also an important date for many high school recruits regarding recruiting communication with NCAA Division I and Division II coaches.

NCAA Division I Recruiting information:

June 15 is the first date when most coaches at NCAA Division I programs can place recruiting phone calls and send emails/messages to athletes who have just completed their sophomore year of high school.

The following Division I sports are the only ones that have a date other than June 15 as the earliest date for placing recruiting calls and sending emails/text messages to prospects:

Baseball – Aug. 1 of junior year

Women’s Basketball – June 1 at conclusion of sophomore year

Men’s Ice Hockey – Jan. 1 of sophomore year

Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse – Sept. 1 of junior year

Softball – Sept. 1 of junior year

Men’s Wrestling – April 1 of junior year

NCAA Division II recruiting information:

For coaches at NCAA Division II colleges, it is permissible to have phone, email or text/direct message communication with athletes (and their families) of ANY high school athlete, regardless of year in school.

However, June 15 remains the first date when coaches in ALL Division II sports can have in-person, off-campus contact with 2028 high school graduates and their families.

For specific questions about the NCAA transfer or recruiting rules, send an email to rick@informedathlete.com or call our office at 913-766-1235.

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Redshirt Rules for Spring Sports 2026

With many spring sports now underway or starting soon, here is a quick review of redshirt rules at each college level.

If your athlete is a freshman at a Division II school, be sure to note the new rule below.

NCAA Division I

Any appearance in a regular-season contest (varsity or JV) — even if for only one or two minutes or one or two plays — uses a season of competition.

Preseason scrimmages or exhibitions may be exempt, BUT rules vary by sport. Student-Athletes should confirm with their school’s NCAA compliance office before participating in an exhibition contest or preseason scrimmage.

NCAA Division II

For athletes other than true freshmen, any appearance in a regular-season contest at the varsity or JV level uses a season of competition.

New Rule: True freshmen may compete in up to 30% of games/dates of competition in their sport and still redshirt.

NCAA Division III

To redshirt, an athlete must completely remove themselves from the team before the first game or contest of the season.

 Practicing once the season begins counts as a season of participation, even if an athlete never appears in a game.

 Important for transfers: This rule can negatively impact athletes transferring to Division III for what they expect to be their final season of eligibility after graduating from a non-D3 university.

NJCAA and CCCAA

Any appearance – even if only for one or two minutes or for one or two plays – in a regular-season contest (varsity or JV) uses a season of competition.

NAIA

The NAIA charges a season of competition if an athlete appears in more than 20% of the maximum games/dates of competition in their sport.

Important to Know:  Any participation in NAIA-approved postseason competition counts as a season used—even if it is the athlete’s only appearance all season.

Questions About Redshirting or Medical Redshirts?

Schedule a confidential Eligibility Issues Consult online, email rick@informedathlete.com, or call 913-766-1235.

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Your Guide to Football Scholarship Signing Dates February 2026

Here’s what families need to know about February NCAA and NJCAA football signing dates for high school and junior college recruits:

February 4, 2026

  • NCAA Division I and II football programs begin their “regular” signing period for athletic scholarship agreements with both high school and junior college recruits.
  • (Note: Division I had its “early” signing period in December, and both Divisions had a December period for junior college signings.)

February 5, 2026

  • High school football recruits may begin signing an NJCAA Letter of Intent (LOI).

Important Scholarship Reminder

  • NCAA Division I programs may or may not offer a multi-year scholarship.
  • Division II and NJCAA scholarships are issued for one year only, subject to renewal.
  • Always carefully review the terms and conditions of any scholarship agreement before signing.

Quick FAQ’s:

Q: Can my athlete wait to sign later in the spring?
Yes. The regular signing period remains open beyond February, but roster spots and scholarship money may become limited.

Q: Is a verbal commitment binding?
No. Only a signed scholarship agreement (NCAA) or LOI (NJCAA) is binding.

Q: Can an athlete negotiate scholarship terms?
Sometimes. It depends on the program and circumstances, but families should understand what is being offered before accepting.

Q: Does signing lock my athlete into staying at that school?
Signing creates an agreement for that academic year, but transfer rules still apply if an athlete later chooses to move.

Do You Have Questions?

For questions about these signing opportunities, schedule a confidential Scholarship Strategies Consult online, call 913-766-1235, or email rick@informedathlete.com.

 

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NCAA adds Flag Football as Emerging Sport for Women

The three NCAA Divisions are adding Flag Football to the Emerging Sports for Women program.

Rules will be established in order for Flag Football programs at NCAA member schools to be considered an “NCAA-sponsored sport.”

Once at least 40 schools sponsor Flag Football as an NCAA-recognized varsity sport, the sport may be considered for the establishment of a National Championship

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Upcoming NCAA and NJCAA Scholarship Signing Dates

Here’s a summary of upcoming NCAA and NJCAA signing dates for high school and junior college recruits.

 

November 1, 2025

The NJCAA Letter of Intent (LOI) signing opportunity begins November 1 for high school recruits in all sports except football.

November 12, 2025

High school seniors and junior college recruits in all sports other than Football can sign an athletic scholarship agreement with an NCAA Division I or II university beginning November 12.

December 3-5, 2026

NCAA Division I Football “Early” Signing Period.  High school and junior college Football recruits can sign an athletic scholarship agreement with an NCAA Division I university beginning December 3.

For Division II Football programs, it will only be permissible to sign a junior college recruit who is intending to transfer at midyear to that Division II university.

February 4, 2026

NCAA Division I and II Football programs begin their “regular” signing period for athletic scholarship agreements.

February 5, 2026

High school Football recruits can begin signing an NJCAA Letter of Intent (LOI).

Be sure to carefully read a scholarship agreement offered to your athlete.

Keep in mind that NCAA Division I programs may or may not offer athletic scholarships that cover more than one year of an athlete’s college enrollment.

If you have questions about these signing opportunities, schedule a confidential Scholarship Strategies Consult online, call our office at 913-766-1235 or email rick@informedathlete.com.

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Recruiting Opportunities for NCAA DI Recruits Starting Sept 1st

September 1st of a high school recruit’s junior year “opens the door” for the following recruiting activities in selected NCAA Division I sports:

Baseball – Official and unofficial visits to campus, as well as off-campus contact by Division I coaches.  (Phone calls to or from D1 coaches, as well as text messages and email or printed recruiting materials, were possible beginning Aug. 1.)

Lacrosse – Official and unofficial visits, off-campus contacts, and receiving phone calls, text messages, and email or printed recruiting materials.  Also, lacrosse coaches can accept incoming calls from high school juniors starting Sept. 1 of junior year. 

Softball – Official and unofficial visits, off-campus contacts, and receiving phone calls, text messages, and email or printed recruiting materials.  Also, softball coaches can accept incoming calls from high school juniors starting Sept. 1 of junior year.  

Permissible beginning September 1st of a recruit’s senior year:

  • Women’s Basketball – Off-campus contact by Division I coaches. 

If you have questions about the recruiting rules for these or any other NCAA sports, send an email to rick@informedathlete.com or call us at 913-766-1235. 

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NCAA’s Misleading Wording on “Guaranteed” Scholarships

If you’ve seen the NCAA’s “Driving Change” 30-second commercial during an event like March Madness or the College World Series, you may recall that the narrator says “…D1 scholarships are now guaranteed…”

Well, as Lee Corso might say on ESPN’s College Game Day during the Fall, “not so fast, my friend.”

While attending the annual NCAA Rules Seminar recently, I learned that Division I scholarships are NOT guaranteed if the scholarship agreement is written in a certain manner.

If a scholarship is written as a multi-year scholarship, but lists “zero” financial aid in years 2, 3 and 4, there is no guarantee that the athlete’s scholarship will be renewed after the first year. 

Furthermore, in that type of situation, there is no requirement that the athletic department must provide an opportunity for an appeal hearing.

The rationale of the NCAA is that the athlete is signing a scholarship agreement that clearly indicates there will be no athletic scholarship provided in years 2, 3 or 4, so no notice of non-renewal or the opportunity for an appeal hearing is necessary.

So, for example:

Year 1 – 100% of a full scholarship
Year 2 – 0 scholarship
Year 3 – 0 scholarship
Year 4 – 0 scholarship

This is a valid scholarship agreement with no assurances that your son or daughter will receive an athletic scholarship after the first year of the agreement.

Do you Have Questions?

If you have questions about your athlete’s scholarship and are interested in a confidential consultation to discuss, schedule a Scholarship Strategies Consult online, call us at 913-766-1235 or write to rick@informedathlete.com.

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The Importance of June 15th in the College Athletic Recruiting World

June 15th is an important date for some college athletes as well as for many high school recruits. 

 

NJCAA Letter of Intent Signees:

 

For athletes who attended an NJCAA two-year college during the 2024-25 academic year as a Letter of Intent signee; June 15 is the date by which notification of renewal of the athlete’s Letter of Intent for the 2025-26 academic year is supposed to be provided by their college.

 

An NJCAA athlete who isn’t signed to a second-year scholarship by June 15 (which is supposed to be in the form of a new Letter of Intent) becomes recruitable by any other NJCAA college starting on June 16. 

 

June 15th can also be an important date for many high school recruits regarding recruiting communication with NCAA Division I and Division II coaches.

 

NCAA Division I Recruiting Information:

 

June 15 is the first date when most coaches at NCAA Division I programs will be able to place recruiting phone calls and send emails/messages to athletes who have just completed their sophomore year of high school. 

 

The following Division I sports are the only ones that have a date other than June 15 as the earliest date for placing recruiting calls and sending emails/text messages to prospects:

 

Baseball – Aug. 1 of junior year

Women’s Basketball – June 1 at conclusion of sophomore year

Men’s Ice Hockey – Jan. 1 of sophomore year

Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse – Sept. 1 of junior year

Softball – Sept. 1 of junior year

 

NOTE about the June 15 recruiting date:  For any of you who may have requested and viewed our recruiting calendars for June and July, you’ll see change from June 14 to June 15 as to the classes of high school recruits who will be able to receive recruiting phone calls from NCAA Division I coaches. 

 

NCAA Division II Recruiting Information:

 

For coaches at NCAA Division II colleges, it is now permissible to have phone, mail, email or text/direct message communication with ANY high school athlete, regardless of year in school. 

 

However, June 15 remains the first date when coaches in ALL Division II sports can have in-person, off-campus contact with 2027 high school graduates and their families. 

 

For specific questions about the NCAA transfer or recruiting rules, send an email to  rick@informedathlete.com or call 913-766-1235. 

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NCAA 2025 Convention Summary

The annual NCAA Convention was held recently in Nashville. I’ll share below some of the key decisions and rule changes that were approved during the Convention.

As a side note, I was surprised to not see any mention of a formal discussion about the possibility of athletes being granted 5 years of playing eligibility given recent lawsuits against the NCAA.

Here’s a brief rundown of the approved rule changes that directly impact student-athletes:

NCAA Division I

For Division I (and for Division III), the only proposed rule change that directly impacts student-athletes is the approval of Women’s Wrestling as an official Championship Sport beginning next year. There will be one National Championship for NCAA sponsored teams across all three NCAA Divisions in 2026.

  • There were 76 NCAA schools (across all three Divisions) that sponsored a Women’s Wrestling team during the 2023-24 school year.
  • By the end of the 2024-25 school year, it’s expected that there will be 93 schools sponsoring a Women’s Wrestling team (4 in Division I, 34 in Division II and 55 in Division III).

NCAA Division II

Effective Fall 2025, an athlete in their first year of college enrollment will be able to redshirt as long as they participate in less than 30% of the maximum permissible games or dates of competition in their sport.

  • Note that this will only apply for an athlete who starts their college career at a D2 school.
  • This option will not be available for an athlete transferring to D2.

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Also, D2 member schools voted to eliminate the academic requirement that an athlete must earn at least 18 semester credit hours or 27 quarter credit hours during the regular academic year to be eligible for competition the following year.

Other academic requirements were retained for Division II eligibility:

  • An athlete must earn at least 9 semester credit hours or 8 quarter credit hours during each semester or quarter of full-time enrollment to be eligible to compete during the next term.
  • An athlete must earn a total of at least 24 semester credit hours or 36 quarter credit hours annually to be eligible (summer or winter credit hours can be included to satisfy this requirement).
  • An athlete must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 to be eligible for competition.

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Athletes who were Qualifiers based on their high school academic performance and who are transferring to NCAA Division II from a two-year college will no longer be required to earn transferable credit hours in English, math or science courses to satisfy transfer eligibility requirements.

  • Those athletes will still need to satisfy other academic requirements to be eligible as a 2-4 transfer (such as earning at least 12 hours of transferable credit for each term of full-time enrollment at the two-year college, etc.).

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Finally, as in the other NCAA Divisions, D2 approved the addition of Women’s Wrestling as a Championship Sport starting in 2026. It was necessary that all three Divisions approved this to establish a Championship next year.

NCAA Division III

As mentioned above under Division I and Division II, the only proposed rule change affecting Division III athletes was the approval of Women’s Wrestling as an official NCAA Championship Sport beginning next year.

Do You Have Questions?

For questions about any of these actions taken at the NCAA Convention, you can contact us directly via e-mail at rick@informedathlete.com or by calling 913-766-1235.

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NCAA & NJCAA Signing Dates

Upcoming NCAA and NJCAA Signing Dates include:

November 1, 2024

The NJCAA Letter of Intent signing opportunity for high school recruits begins November 1 for all sports except football.

November 13, 2024

High school seniors and junior college recruits in all sports other than Football can sign an official scholarship agreement with an NCAA Division I or II university beginning November 13.

For Division I basketball only, this period is only for one week and ends on November 20. For all other sports, the end date of the signing period is based on each university’s policies and deadlines for awarding scholarships to all incoming students.

December 4-6, 2024 High school football recruits can sign an official scholarship agreement with an NCAA Division I program (FBS or FCS) during this 3-day period.

December 4, 2024

Junior college Football players who plan to enroll in January with an NCAA Division I or II program can sign an official scholarship agreement beginning on this date.

February 5, 2025

The initial date for the Football “regular signing period” for high school or junior college recruits to sign with NCAA Division I or II programs or NJCAA football programs is February 5, 2025. The end date of the signing period is based on each university’s policies and deadlines for awarding scholarships to all incoming students.

Do You Have Questions?

For questions about these signing opportunities, schedule a confidential Scholarship Strategies Consult online or send an email to rick@informedathlete.com.

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