FAQs

What is a Contact?

A contact occurs whenever a college coach speaks more than a simple greeting during a face-to-face meeting with a prospective student-athlete or their parents off the college’s campus.

What is a Contact Period?

A contact period is a timeframe during which college coaches are allowed to have face-to-face interactions with prospective student-athletes or their parents, observe student-athletes in competition, visit their high schools, and communicate with them or their parents via phone or in writing.

What is an Evaluation Period?

During an evaluation period, college coaches can watch prospective student-athletes compete, visit their high schools, and communicate by phone or in writing with them or their parents. However, they are not allowed to have face-to-face contact with the athletes or their parents off-campus during this period.

What is a Quiet Period?

A quiet period is a time during which college coaches can only have face-to-face contact with prospective student-athletes or their parents on the college’s campus. They are not allowed to watch the athletes compete (unless the competition occurs on campus) or visit their high schools. Coaches may still communicate with the student-athletes or their parents by phone or in writing during this period.

What is a Dead Period?

During a dead period, college coaches are prohibited from having face-to-face contact with prospective student-athletes or their parents. They also cannot observe the athletes’ competitions or visit their high schools. However, coaches may still communicate with the student-athletes or their parents via phone or in writing.

What is the Difference Between an Official Visit and an Unofficial Visit?

An official visit is any visit to a college campus where the college pays for the transportation, lodging, three meals per day for the prospect and their parents, and reasonable entertainment expenses, including three tickets to a home sports event. An unofficial visit, on the other hand, is a visit paid for by the prospective student-athlete or their parents, with the only expenses covered by the college being three tickets to a home sports event.

What is a National Letter of Intent?

A National Letter of Intent (NLI) is a contract signed by a college-bound student-athlete when they agree to attend a Division I or II college or university for one academic year. In return, the institution agrees to provide financial aid for one year, as long as the student-athlete is admitted to the school and meets NCAA eligibility requirements. While the NLI is voluntary, signing it signals the end of the recruiting process, as participating schools are prohibited from recruiting athletes who have signed with other institutions.

If an athlete signs an NLI and later requests a release from the contract, they may transfer to a different school. However, this will result in a loss of one full year of eligibility, and the student-athlete must complete an entire academic year at the new school before becoming eligible to compete.

What Are Recruiting Calendars?

Recruiting calendars are designed to ensure the well-being of prospective student-athletes and coaches while promoting competitive fairness. These calendars define specific periods during which recruiting activities may or may not take place within a particular sport.