Tag Archive for: NCAA recruiting rules

, ,

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.

/by
,

NCAA Official Visit Rule Change For These Specific Situations

NCAA universities (in all divisions) are limited to providing only one official visit for each prospective student-athlete that they are recruiting.

However:

  • Beginning on October 15, it is permissible for both Division I and Division III universities to provide a second official visit to a student-athlete if they are transferring from another university or if they have taken a gap year after graduating from high school.
  • For NCAA Division II universities, a second official visit for a prospect became available beginning September 1 after the completion of high school.
  • Another Exception allows a high school or junior college prospective student-athlete to take an additional official visit to an NCAA Division I or II school if there has been a change of head coach at the university since the time of their previous official visit to that school.

Also, Important to Know:

A high school or junior college prospective student-athlete MUST be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center BEFORE they can make an official visit to an NCAA Division I or II university.

Do You Have Questions?

If you have questions about the recruiting process and rules, official visits, navigating the NCAA Eligibility Center, or would like to discuss the athletic scholarship that is being presented to your athlete, schedule a confidential Scholarship Strategies Consult online or by calling us at 913-766-1235 or sending an email to rick@informedathlete.com

/by
, , ,

NCAA Rule Changes Just Keep on Coming!

Over the past year or so, we’ve obviously seen many changes to the NCAA rules, mostly at the Division I level.

  • Changes to the Transfer Portal Windows in D1
  • The opportunity for athletes to be immediately eligible after a transfer, even if they have previously transferred from one four-year university to another (as long as they satisfy academic requirements to be eligible at the new university).
  • The elimination of contact, evaluation and quiet periods from the Division II recruiting calendars, as we mentioned in our last newsletter.
  • Proposed settlements in the “House vs. NCAA” lawsuit which potentially are leading to more scholarships being available to Division I athletes, even though roster limits may reduce the number of roster spots available in various NCAA sports.

AND NOW

It was recently reported by credible sources that Division I leadership is considering even further changes to the NCAA rules. Such changes being considered include:

  • Applying football’s “four-game rule” to all sports.
  • Allowing student-athletes in all sports to earn prize money before enrolling in college.
  • Eliminating the National Letter of Intent (but possibly being replaced by institutional scholarship signing agreements that would likely be very similar to the NLI).
  • Allowing student-athletes and recruits in all sports to maintain their collegiate eligibility while engaging with agents to consider and explore pro sports opportunities.

Do you have questions about how these rule changes could affect your athlete?

Schedule a confidential Transfer Eligibility Consult online, send an email to rick@informedathlete.com or call us at 913-766-1235.

/by

September 1st NCAA DI Recruiting Opportunities for High School Recruits

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 Campus Visits. (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 Campus Visits, as well as 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 Campus Visits, as well as 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.

Also, on 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 by calling 913-766-1235. You can also download the September and October recruiting calendars for ALL NCAA Division I sports at no charge HERE.

/by
, ,

Recruiting Season: Why June 15th is so Important

June 15th is an important date for high school and junior college student-athletes who are hoping to be recruited to play their sport at college and juco levels.

NJCAA Letter of Intent Signees:

For athletes who attended an NJCAA two-year college during the 2023-24 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 2024-25 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.

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/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

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 of HS via phone, email, or direct messaging.

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

Do You Have Questions?

For specific questions about the NCAA transfer or recruiting rules, or scholarship agreements and letters of intent, schedule a confidential Scholarship Strategies Consult Online, send an email to us at rick@informedathlete.com or call 913-766-1235.

/by

September 1st Recruiting Opportunities for High School Juniors

NCAA Division I coaches in the sports listed below can engage in the specified recruiting activities beginning September 1st of a recruit’s junior year in high school.

Baseball – Coaches can call and can send text messages, email or other direct correspondence (mailings, instant messages, etc.) They can also provide official and unofficial visits to HS juniors.

Women’s Basketball – Coaches can call and can send text messages, email or other direct correspondence (mailings, instant messages, etc.)

Football (both FBS and FCS) – Coaches can send text messages and emails or other direct correspondence.

Lacrosse – Coaches can call and can send text messages, email or other direct correspondence. They can also provide official and unofficial visits to HS juniors. Sept. 1 is also the first date when these coaches can accept incoming calls from HS juniors.

Softball – Coaches can call and can send text messages, email or other direct correspondence. They can also provide official and unofficial visits to HS juniors. Sept. 1 is also the first date when these coaches can have off-campus contact with HS juniors and can accept incoming calls from them.

If you have questions about the recruiting rules for these or any other NCAA sports, send an email to rick@informedathlete.com or by calling 913-766-1235. You can also schedule a confidential Recruiting Rules Consult online for an in-depth conversation regarding your athlete’s specific situation.

/by

NCAA Recruiting Rule Tips and Updates

NCAA Division I Dead Period extended again! The recruiting “Dead Period” prohibiting in-person recruiting in all Division I sports has now been extended through May 31. This means that no official or unofficial visits to Division I campuses are permissible until after May 31 at the earliest. Division I coaches will be limited to phone, video, or electronic communication with recruits.

For a free copy of the current NCAA Recruiting Calendars, go here:  https://informedathlete.com/services/ncaa-recruiting-calendars/

Recruiting Tip for All College Levels:

When talking to student-athletes or their parents we often hear “The assistant coach that recruited me is no longer with the school.”

Because we hear those comments so often, we suggest that athletes who are being recruited spend as much time as possible with the head coach when visiting a campus. After all, the head coach is the one who decides who will be in the starting lineup.

To learn more about Recruiting Rules, visit our webpage:  https://informedathlete.com/how-we-help/recruiting-rules/

For tips and suggestions to improve your recruitment or for questions about NCAA recruiting rules, schedule a Recruiting Rules Consult Online, send an email to rick@informedathlete.com or call us at 913-766-1235.

/by

June 15 – An Important Date for NCAA Recruiting of 2022 High School Grads

June 15th is an important date for high school recruits regarding the opportunity to have contact with NCAA Division I and Division II coaches, and also for current junior college athletes who were signed to an NJCAA Letter of Intent during the 2019-20 academic year.

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 – Sept. 1 of junior year
  • 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 2019-20 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 2020-21 academic year is supposed to be provided by their college.

An NJCAA athlete not signed to a new 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, Letter of Intent, or scholarship agreements, call us at 913-766-1235 or send an email to rick@informedathlete.com.

/by
,

How to Navigate the Current NCAA Recruiting Restrictions

Last week, NCAA Division I leaders extended the recruiting Dead Period for all Division I coaches through the end of July due to continued COVID-19 concerns.

Division I coaches are limited to recruiting by phone, text, email, and other messaging, as well as looking at film and by speaking with high school, junior college and/or club coaches.

Meanwhile, Division II coaches entered a recruiting Quiet Period on June 1.

This means that although the Division II coaches are still restricted from conducting any off-campus recruiting activities, they can conduct sports camps and clinics, invite recruits to campus and have in-person recruiting conversations, as long as those interactions take place on campus.

As the parent of a high school or junior college recruit, how should you or your athlete approach this situation?

Some suggestions:

  • Check out opportunities in your state or region to participate in recruiting camps or showcase events this summer. Because coaches can’t leave campus to conduct recruiting, they will be relying more than ever on the word of event organizers and junior college or smaller college coaches on who were the top players at each event.
  • Attend recruiting/skills camps that may be offered at junior colleges or small colleges in your area. Don’t discount the information that junior college coaches may share with NCAA coaches. Also, don’t discount the possibility of starting off your college career at a junior college to improve your skill level, or to gain strength and speed, so that you can then be recruited by NCAA programs from a junior college.
  • Create a recruiting video that you can send out to coaches.
  • Prepare an athletic resume that you can send to coaches along with a recruiting video. Highlight not only your athletic skills and abilities, but also your academic performance and any leadership or other extra-curricular activities you’ve been involved in.
  • Set up a page for your athlete on one of the recruiting websites that permit you to create your own page and profile.

Here are some of the ways that we can provide objective guidance and information to help you and your athlete navigate through this current challenging environment.

  • We can explain the academic requirements that your athlete will need to satisfy to be eligible to compete at the college level, as well as the transfer academic requirements if they want to start off at the junior college level, or just take part-time courses at the beginning of their enrollment.
  • We can explain the differences in the rules regarding athletic scholarships at the various college levels so that you are prepared if an offer of a scholarship is made to your athlete.
  • For a spring sport recruit who may be faced with overcrowded college rosters this next year, we can also explain the rules and implications of taking a gap year after high school graduation. That option may provide some benefits both athletically to gain size and strength and improve skill level, as well as academically to take part-time course work while postponing the start of the athlete’s eligibility clock.

If you have questions, concerns, or are confused about what to do and how to navigate the recruiting process, we can help you understand and provide scenarios and options for what is in the best interest of your athlete. Schedule a private and confidential Scholarship Strategies Consultation online or by calling us at 913-766-1235 or sending an email to rick@informedathlete.com.

/by

NCAA Division II Recruiting Will Enter a Quiet Period Starting June 1st

In a recent post, I shared that NCAA Division I has extended their recruiting Dead Period for all sports through June 30.

In contrast, NCAA Division II has announced that they will enter a Quiet Period starting June 1 and continuing until June 30.

During the Quiet Period, Division II coaches:

  • Can invite recruits to visit campus
  • Can have face-to-face interaction with recruits and their family members on campus.
  • Can host camps and clinics on their campuses.

However:

  • Coaches are still prohibited from conducting off-campus recruiting activities.
  • Keep in mind that decisions by colleges regarding whether and when to permit these activities will be guided by campus policies and state and local health authorities.
  • Certain Division II conferences may also choose to impose more restrictions on campus activities than are permitted during a Quiet Period.

Schedule a confidential Recruiting Rules consultation online to make sure you’re up to date on what activities are permissible. You can also call us at 913-766-1235 or send an email to rick@informedathlete.com.

/by