Tag Archive for: College Athletic Recruiting Rules

June 15th is the date when coaches in most NCAA Division I sport programs will be able to initiate recruiting phone calls and 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 15th as the earliest date for placing recruiting calls and sending emails/messages:

  • Baseball – Sept. 1 of junior year
  • Women’s Basketball – Sept. 1 of junior year
  • Football – Sept. 1 of senior year except for one call between Apr. 15 – May 31 as a Jr.
  • Men’s Ice Hockey – Jan. 1 of sophomore year
  • Lacrosse – Sept. 1 of junior year
  • Softball – Sept. 1 of junior year

For NCAA Division II programs, June 15th is the date when coaches in ALL sports can start to contact recruits who have completed their sophomore year via phone, email, or direct message services.

Here is a list of resources for recruits and their families:

Eligibility Issues – Not knowing, understanding and meeting the eligibility rules can have serious short and long-term consequences. Is your athlete on track to meet the eligibility requirements?
Recruiting Rules – A recruiting coach’s job is to sell their school in the best light possible. YOUR job as a recruit or parent of a recruit is to have as much accurate information as possible to make a decision based on what is the best fit for you!
Scholarship Strategies – Athletic Scholarships and Financial Aid agreements are NOT one-size fits all and they are not guaranteed. Is your athlete getting a good deal?

Do you have questions and need advice?

For questions about the NCAA recruiting rules and recruiting tips and advice, schedule a confidential Recruiting Rules or Scholarship Strategies Consultation to make sure your athlete is prepared for their recruitment and potential scholarship offers. You can also call us at 913-766-1235 or send an email to rick@informedathlete.com.

I recently saw a tweet from a recruiting service about a basketball recruit that said:

“What are you waiting on coaches? [Athlete’s name] is putting up big numbers! Who else needs to tell you numbers don’t lie?”

When I see something like this on social media, I feel the urge to call it what it is – totally misleading!

If you have a recruiting service telling your son or daughter that “It’s all about the numbers that you put up” my advice would be to walk away instead of paying the fee that the recruiting service will charge you.

  • Many college coaches – especially in team sports like baseball, basketball or football – aren’t overly impressed by just “the numbers” because your numbers can vary greatly depending upon the level of competition you were playing against when you put up those numbers.
  • There is much more that coaches take into consideration, such as recommendations from high school or club coaches, academic performance, work ethic, and how a recruit handles adversity.
  • Coaches will also evaluate a recruit’s natural ability and their technique (example: how does an offensive lineman run block compared to their pass blocking technique). Is the athlete versatile enough to play multiple positions for us?

To prospects and parents who are managing their own recruitment, I often recommend that the athletic profile they send to a coach should include examples of their leadership skills, their work ethic, and how the recruit sees themselves helping that college team compete for championships!

Do You Have Questions?

Most of you who come to our website and receive our newsletters know that we’re not a recruiting service, meaning we don’t promote prospective student-athletes to college coaches.

Our focus is ONLY on what is in the best interest for the student-athlete and their family.

To do this, we provide confidential consultations and services regarding recruiting strategies, athletic scholarships, freshman eligibility rules and requirements, and more so that athletes and families are fully informed and can make the best decision for their particular situation.

If you have questions about the recruiting rules or are interested in tips to improve your recruiting opportunities, schedule a confidential Recruiting Rules Consultation online, send an email to rick@informedathlete.com or call us at 913-766-1235.

June 15th is an important date for high school athletes who are being recruited to NCAA DI and DII schools and also to junior colleges.

NCAA Division I Recruiting Information:

June 15th is the first date when most NCAA Division I coaches 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/messages to prospects:

  • Baseball – Sept. 1 of junior year
  • Women’s Basketball – Sept. 1 of junior year
  • Football – Sept. 1 of senior year except for one call between Apr. 15 and May 31 of junior year
  • Men’s Ice Hockey – Jan. 1 of sophomore year
  • Lacrosse and Softball – Sept. 1 of junior year

Regarding calls placed by high school recruits TO Division I coaches, the dates listed above are the same EXCEPT that coaches in the sports of baseball, basketball, and football can accept incoming calls and talk to recruits who call them at any time.

NCAA Division II Recruiting Information:

For recruiting by NCAA Division II colleges, June 15 is the date when coaches in ALL sports can start to contact recruits who have completed their sophomore year via phone, email, or direct message services.

Division II coaches in all sports can also accept incoming calls and talk to prospects who call them at any time.

NJCAA Letter of Intent Signees:

For athletes who attended an NJCAA two-year college during the 2018-19 academic as a Letter of Intent signee: June 15 is also the date by which notification of renewal of the Letter of Intent for the 2019-20 academic year is supposed to be provided by their college.

An NJCAA athlete not 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.

For specific questions about recruiting rules, or Letter of Intent or scholarship agreements, schedule a confidential consult online or call 913-766-1235.

A “Dead Period” is when coaches from NCAA schools are prohibited from having face-to-face interaction with recruits or their families – even if the recruit and/or parents make an unannounced visit to a coach’s office while they are touring college campuses.

Every NCAA Division I and II sport other than football has at least one “Dead Period” from November 12 to 14 or 15, around the initial date for recruits to sign an NCAA National Letter of Intent, depending upon whether the sport is a Division I or II program.

For more information on the rules in general, visit our Recruiting Rules page on our website. If you have specific questions about the NCAA recruiting rules, schedule a confidential email or phone consult online, call us at 913-766-1235 or send an email to rick@informedathlete.com.