Home | Log In | Register
Recruiting Resources : Senior Year Recruiting Dates

Recruiting Dates for Senior Athletes

Recruiting Rules for High School Seniors

» Senior Year Rules for Recruiting Materials
» Senior Year Rules for Receiving Phone Calls
» Senior Year Rules for Off-campus Contact & Evaluations
» Senior Year Rules for Official Visits


Recruiting Materials During Senior Year Top ^

For almost all NCAA Division I sports, recruiting materials can be given to high school prospects starting September 1st during the beginning of the student's junior year. However, the NCAA allows men's basketball and men's ice hockey players to begin receiving recruiting materials starting on June 15th before the athlete's junior year.

The following recruiting materials may be provided to a prospect at any time:
  • Camp Brochures
  • Questionnaires
  • Educational Information distributed by the NCAA
  • Non sports-related university publications available to all students at any time (i.e. Official academic, admissions and student-services publications)


Phone Calls from College Coaches During Senior Year Top ^

Telephone calls from college coaches may be accepted by high school athletes from NCAA Division I athletic programs starting in junior year for most sports. While the athlete is a junior, most sports only allow receiving one call per month from each college coach attempting to recruit the athlete. However, when the prospect becomes a senior, the recruiting rules loosen up and calls can be accepted more frequently. Senior prospects must be aware of important calling dates and how often calls can be accepted from NCAA Division I coaches during the following periods:

Men's Basketball

2 calls per week beginning August 1st during summer before senior year.

Women's Basketball

1 call per week beginning August 1st during summer before senior year.

Football

1 call per week beginning September 1st, fall senior year. During the contact period, unlimited calls from college coaches are allowed.

Men's Ice Hockey

1 call per week beginning August 1st, during summer before senior year.

All Other NCAA Division I Sports

1 call per week beginning July 1, summer prior to senior year.



Off-Campus Contact and Evaluations with College Coaches Top ^

The NCAA places strict rules on when and how often an athlete may meet face-to-face with a college coach. The NCAA defines a "contact" as any in-person conversation a high school prospect or his/her parents have with a college coach beyond saying "Hi" or "Hello" to one another off the college's campus including the athlete's high school campus, sports field, gymnasium or other competition or practice facility. Below is a list of off-campus contact rules that apply to senior NCAA Division I prospects for various sports:

Men's Basketball

Meeting with college coaches is allowed anytime beginning September 9 during the basketball player's senior year.
  • 130 total recruiting days during senior year
  • Maximum of 3 contacts during the basketball player's senior year
  • Not more than 7 total recruiting opportunities (Athlete-coach interactions) during senior year, contacts and evaluations combined

    • Women's Basketball

    Meeting with college coaches is allowed anytime beginning September 16, fall senior year.
  • 100 total recruiting days during senior year
  • Maximum of 3 contacts during the basketball player's senior year
  • Not more than 5 total recruiting opportunities (Athlete-coach interactions) during senior year, contacts and evaluations combined

    • Football

    Meeting with college coaches is allowed anytime beginning the last Sunday of November during the football player's senior year.
  • 42 total evaluation days during fall of senior year
  • Maximum of 6 official contacts at one place for each football prospect
  • Maximum of 3 evaluations during the entire academic year
    • » 1 evaluation in the fall
    » 2 evaluations in the spring between April 15 and May 31

    NOTE: FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) head coaches cannot have any off-campus recruiting or coaching clinics, visits to a football prospects high school, or meet with a senior football prospect's coach anywhere off the college's campus between April 15 and May 31, during the senior year spring evaluation period.

    All Other NCAA Division I Sports

    Meeting with college coaches for all other sports is allowed anytime during the athlete's senior year.
  • Maximum of 3 contacts during the basketball player's senior year.
  • Not more than 7 total recruiting opportunities (Athlete-coach interactions) during senior year, contacts and evaluations combined.

    Exceptions:
    Softball - 50 evaluation days between August 1 before senior year and July 31 summer after senior year
    Women's Volleyball - 80 evaluation days between August 1 before senior year and July 31 summer after senior year



    • Official Visits to NCAA Division I Colleges Top ^

    High school athletes and parents may begin making Official Visits to NCAA Division I colleges starting on the first day of classes senior year. Only ONE Official Visit may be made to each of the athlete's colleges of interest, and a total of five Official Visits may be made all together. Official visits may not be made by an athlete or his or her parents before senior year.

    Unlike unofficial visits, Official Visits have limitiations on the frequency and number an athlete may make. During an Official Visit, the the following rules apply:
    • Official Visits can not be made before September 1 of the student athlete's senior year
    • For DI and DII schools, an Official Visit may not be made until initial eligibility is given by the NCAA clearinghouse.
    • Any college or university may give at most one all-expenses paid Official Visit per prospect.
    • A DI or DII prospect may accept at most 5 all-expenses paid Official Visits.
    • At DIII schools, a prospect may accept an unlimited number of Official Visits as long as he or she attends a DIII college.
    • No Official Visit may be longer than 48 hours.
    • Limitations must be made by the college on the amount of entertainment a prospect and his or her family may receive during an Official Visit.

    Learn More About...

    » Senior Year Recruiting

    » Junior Year Recruiting

    » Sophomore Year Recruiting

    » NLI Signing Dates

    » NCAA Scholarship Info

    » How to Become Eligible