The NCAA Division I Management Council recently approved following recruiting rule changes.  The NCAA DI Recruiting Rule changes are effective beginning May 1, 2019:

Recruiting Calls

In most sports, the earliest date for NCAA Division I coaches to place recruiting calls to prospects was moved up from September 1st at the start of the junior year to June 15th after the sophomore year.

The exceptions are:

• Baseball, Softball, Lacrosse and Women’s Basketball – September 1st of junior year
• Football – September 1st of senior year except for one call between April 15-May 31st of junior year
• Men’s Ice Hockey – January 1st of sophomore year

Incoming Calls

NCAA DI coaches in most sports can accept incoming calls from recruits on/after June 15th after the sophomore year.

The exceptions are:

• Lacrosse and Softball – September 1st of junior year
• Baseball, Basketball, Football and Men’s Ice Hockey – Permissible at any time

Earliest Date for Coaches to Send Recruiting Materials to Prospects

NCAA DI Coaches are now allowed to send recruiting materials via text message, emails, etc to prospects starting June 15th after sophomore year of HS. (The previous rule for most sports was September 1st of the junior year).

The exceptions are:

• Football, Baseball, Softball, Lacrosse and Women’s Basketball – Sept. 1st of junior year
• Men’s Ice Hockey – January 1st of sophomore year

Off-Campus Contacts

NCAA DI Coaches in many sports can now have off-campus contacts with recruits in many sports as early as August 1st at the START of the recruit’s junior year. (The previous time frame was July 1st AFTER the junior year.)

The exceptions are:

• Baseball and Football – July 1st following completion of junior year of HS
• Men’s Basketball – opening day of junior year of HS
• Women’s Basketball – March 1st of junior year of HS
• Men’s Ice Hockey – June 15th after sophomore year of HS
• Lacrosse and Softball – September 1st of junior year of HS

Official and Unofficial Visits

The earliest date for official and unofficial visits was moved just one month earlier for most sports – from September 1st at the start of the junior year to August 1 at the start of the junior year. This rule was changed to accommodate home football, soccer or volleyball contests that occur in August.

For Official Visits, the exceptions are:

• Baseball, Softball and Lacrosse – September 1st of junior year
• Women’s Basketball – Thursday after Women’s Final Four during junior year
• Football – April 1st of junior year

For Unofficial Visits with Athletic Department Involvement, the exceptions are:

• Baseball, Softball and Lacrosse – September 1st of junior year
• Men’s Basketball – August 1st of sophomore year
• Football and Women’s Basketball – No restriction on earliest date

Medical Exams During Official or Unofficial Visits:

Effective May 1, 2019: During an official or unofficial visit to a Division I campus, universities will be permitted to conduct a medical exam on a prospect to determine the prospect’s “…medical qualifications to participate in intercollegiate athletics.”

The exam must be conducted by a team physician or athletic trainer. No coaches or other athletic staff members may be present.

Prospects Involved in Tournaments or Multi-Day Events:

Effective May 1, 2019 for all sports other than basketball: Prospects involved in competition (such as in a tournament or multi-day event) can have contact with NCAA Division I coaches when competition has concluded for the day. (The previous rule prohibited contact until the tournament concluded or the prospect’s team is eliminated from competition.)

Scholarship & Financial Aid

Effective August 1, 2019: Athletes can accept up to $1000 of athletically-related outside financial aid per academic year from “…established and continuing programs to aid students.”

Examples include high school booster clubs, local sports clubs, and civic clubs providing athletic recognition.

For more information

Contact us via e-mail at rick@informedathlete.com or by calling 913-766-1235 if you have questions about these rule changes or any other changes that you might have heard or read about via social media or in your local paper (if you’re “old-school” like me!!).