When it comes to college recruiting, it's important to understand when college coaches can contact athletes directly.
Furthermore, the NCAA, NAIA, and each of the Junior College levels have specific rules with regards to Contact Periods, Quiet Periods, Dead Periods, and more.
Here's a quick breakdown of the rules regarding communication between college coaches and student-athletes:
NCAA DI
Contact Rules
After June 30th of junior year, student-athletes can begin to communicate with college coaches off-campus (they still can't communicate with them on campus). However, each sport has specific rules:
Baseball
No phone calls can occur before 7/1 after a student-athlete’s junior year.
After 6/30, student-athletes can only receive one phone call per week from each college program outside of a Contact Period.
During Contact Periods, student-athletes can be contacted by college coaches at anytime.
Contact Periods: Beginning the Friday after the 2nd Thursday of September through the Sunday before the NLI Early Signing Period as well as 3/1 - 8/31 during a student-athlete's senior year.
Men’s Basketball
Between 6/15 of sophomore year and 7/31 of junior year, student-athlete's can receive one call per month.
After 8/1, student-athletes can only receive two phone calls per week from each college program outside of a Contact Period.
During Contact Periods, student-athletes can be contacted by college coaches at anytime.
Contact Periods: 9/1 - 10/5, 3/16 - 3/22, and the Thursday after the DI National Championship through 7 days after the NLI Signing Period in the spring.
Women’s Basketball
In April of junior year or the Thursday after the DI National Championship, student-athletes can receive one phone call per college program.
In May of junior year, student-athletes can only receive one phone call per college program.
Between 6/1 - 6/20, student-athletes can only receive one call per college program.
Between 6/21 - 6/30 of junior year, student-athletes can only receive one call per college program.
During the month of July, student-athletes can receive three calls per month per college program, with no more than one per week.
Starting in August of senior year, student-athletes can receive one call per week per college program outside of the Contact Periods.
During Contact Periods, college coaches can make unlimited phone calls to qualifying student-athletes.
Contact Periods: 9/16 - 10/6 and 3/1 through the Thursday before the DI National Championship.
Football
Between 4/15 - 5/31 of their junior year, student-athletes can receive one call per college program.
After 8/31, student-athletes can receive one call per week per college program outside of the Contact Periods.
During Contact Periods, college coaches can make unlimited phone calls to qualifying student-athletes.
Contact Periods: The Sunday after the last Saturday in November through the Saturday before the NLI Signing Period in spring.
Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse
Student-athletes cannot be called by college coaches until after 6/30 of their junior year.
After 6/30, student-athletes can receive one call per week per college program outside of the Contact Periods.
During Contact Periods, college coaches can make unlimited phone calls to qualifying student-athletes.
Men’s Contact Periods: Day after the first Sunday in January through Martin Luther King Day, 3/1 through the Thursday before the DI National Championship, 12PM after the DI National Championship through the first Monday in August, and 9/1 through the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
Women’s Contact Periods: 1/2 through the Thursday before the DI National Championship, the Monday after the DI National Championship through 7/31, and 8/1 through the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
Softball
Student-athletes cannot be called by college coaches until after 6/30 of their junior year.
After 6/30, student-athletes can receive one call per week per college program outside of the Contact Periods.
During Contact Periods, college coaches can make unlimited phone calls to qualifying student-athletes.
Contact Periods: Day after the second Saturday in August through the second Sunday in December and 1/3 - 8/31.
Men’s and Women’s Volleyball
Student-athletes cannot be called by college coaches until after 6/30 of their junior year.
After 6/30, student-athletes can receive one call per week per college program outside of the Contact Periods.
During Contact Periods, college coaches can make unlimited phone calls to qualifying student-athletes.
Women’s Volleyball Contact Periods: 8/1 through the first Sunday of December and 1/1 - 7/31.
NCAA DII
After June 14th of junior year, student-athletes can receive one (only) phone call or one off-campus recruiting visit per week from each college program.
NCAA DII sports are not regulated by any specific Contact Periods except for the following:
Football
During Contact Periods, college coaches can make unlimited phone calls to qualifying student-athletes.
Men’s Basketball
Contact Periods: 9/7 - 10/14 and 3/1 through 30 days after the initial NLI Signing Period.
Women’s Basketball
Contact Periods: 9/7 - 10/14 and 3/1 through 30 days after the initial NLI Signing Period.
Football
Contact Periods: 12/1 through 30 days after the first Saturday after the initial day of the NLI Signing Period.
NCAA III
College coaches are only allowed to visit student-athletes off-campus, in person, after the completion their junior year.
There are no rules regarding college coaches contacting student-athletes via phone.
NAIA / NJCAA
There are no rules regarding college coaches contacting student-athletes via phone.
Next Suggested Article: Official and Unofficial Visits
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