Recruiting for NCAA Division I Universities
For the latest official guidelines go to:
http://www.ncaa.org/library/membership/recruiting_guides/2005-06/2005-06_d1_other_sports_recruit_guide.pdf
Players become “prospective student athletes” when they begin ninth-grade classes. Players become “recruited prospective student athletes” at a particular college if any representative of the college’s athletic interests approaches them about enrolling and participating in athletics at that college.
Activities that cause a student athlete to consider themselves recruited: (1) Official visits to that college (2) Getting phone calls from a representative of that college (3) An off campus visit by a representative of that college.
A student-athlete is eligible to receive “general” university information through the mail at any time. Phone calls from faculty or coaches (not boosters) are not permitted until July 1 after completion of the junior year of high school and are limited to one per week with the following exceptions where calls may be unlimited:
* During the five days prior to the “official” visit to the college.
* On the day of a coach’s off campus contact with the student athlete.
* On the initial date for signing the National Letter of Intent through the two days after the signing date.
* A student-athlete may call a coach as often as she likes.
Letters from coaches, faculty members and students are not permitted until September 1 at the beginning of the junior year of high school.
A college coach may “contact” a student athlete in person off campus only after July 1 after completion of the junior year in high school. Any face to face meeting between a college coach and the player or parents of a player, during which any of you say more than “hello” is considered a “contact”. Coaches are permitted no more than three off campus contacts.
An evaluation is any off campus activity used to assess a student athlete’s academic and or athletic qualifications. A college coach may not make more than four evaluations during each academic year.
During a student athlete’s senior year they are eligible to go on "official" visits to a campus if they are invited and notified by mail. Players should make it clear to the coach in question if they want to accept the invitation as a student-athlete is limited to a total of five "official" visits. It would be my personal suggestion that players save those "official" visits for universities where extended travel is necessary. An "official" visit (no more than 48 hours) simply means that the costs are covered by the university. During any time, student athletes may go on "unofficial" campus visits as often as they like. During these "unofficial" visits players may contact the coach and receive any information requested including a campus tour. Nothing may be paid for by the coach or program in question or the visit becomes "official". Players can not go on an "official" visit until they give the college their academic transcripts and a score from the SAT taken on a national test date. The transcript may be a photocopy of official high school transcripts and in most cases the college will use the services of the Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse to validate credentials.
Division II Recruiting
Telephone Calls: A college coach or faculty member is allowed to make one phone call to you per week beginning July 1 after your junior year. Exceptions to the one call per week rule include the five day period prior to your official visit to that university, the day of a coach's off-campus contact with you, and the first three days of the National Letter of Intent signing period.
Contacts: Contacts are any off campus 'face-to-face' interactions between a coach and you or members of your family. Coaches are limited to three such contacts.
Evaluations: An evaluation is any off-campus activity used to assess your academic qualifications or athletics ability, including a visit to your high school (even if no contact occurs) or watching you practice or compete at any site. Institutions are limited to seven contacts or evaluations, combined (though no more than three contacts). Evaluations done over consecutive days at tournaments are considered a single evaluation. Once you have signed a National Letter of Intent, coaches are free to evaluate you as often as they choose.
Official Visits: During your senior year in high school, you may have one expense paid official visit to each University. You may have up to five official visits to different institutions, regardless of the number of sports you are being recruited for. Prior to an official visit, you must provide the institution (or the NCAA Clearinghouse) with your PSAT/SAT/ACT test score and a copy of your high school transcript. During the official visit, which may not exceed 48 hours, you may receive round-trip transportation between your home and the campus, and you may receive meals, lodging and complimentary admissions to campus athletics events. Your host may spend up to $30 on entertainment for you.
Division III Recruiting
Division III coaches may contact you on an unlimited basis anytime after completion of your junior year in high school. You can visit a college campus any time at your own expense. On such a visit, you may receive three complimentary admissions to a game on that campus, a tour of off-campus practice and competition sites in your sport and other college facilities within 30 miles of the campus, a meal in the college's on-campus student dining facilities and housing, if it is available to all visiting prospective students.
As a senior, you may make an expense-paid official visit to any particular campus. There is no limit to the number of schools you may officially visit, as long as you enroll initially in a Division III program.
During your official visit (which may not exceed 48 hours), you may receive round-trip transportation between you home and the campus, meals, lodging, and complimentary admissions to campus athletics events. All meals provided to you on an official visit must occur in an on-campus dining facility that the college's students normally use. If dining facilities are closed, the college is permitted to take you off-campus for meals. In addition, a student host may help you become acquainted with campus life. The host may spend $20 per day to cover all costs of entertaining you.
