College Recruiting Overview

Welcome to the AJGA College Recruiting Overview. Please keep in mind that NCAA bylaws are subject to change and at all times. We encourage student-athletes and their parents to reference ncaa.org , eligibilitycenter.org and usga.org for recruiting and amateurism rules and information.

Access the NCAA’s Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete for information related to navigating the initial-eligibility process.

• Contact: A contact happens any time a college coach says more than hello during a face-to-face meeting with you or your parents off the college’s campus.
• Dead Period: A college coach may not have any face-to-face contact with you or your parents on or off the college campus at any time during a dead period. The coach may write and call you or your parents during this time.
• Evaluation: An evaluation happens when a college coach observes you practicing or competing.
• Official visit: During an official visit, the college can pay for transportation to and from the college for you, lodging and meals (Division I allows for up to three meals per day) for you and your parents or guardians, as well as reasonable entertainment expenses including five tickets to a Division I home sports event or five tickets to a Division II home sports event. Before a college invites you on an official visit, you must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and although not required, they may ask for a copy of your high school transcript and SAT, ACT, PSAT or PreACT score. Official Visits to Division I campuses can occur as early as August 1 before a prospect’s junior year of high school. You are allowed an unlimited number of official visits, but only one per school (unless a coaching change occurs).
• Recruited: If a college coach calls you more than once, contacts you off campus, pays your expenses to visit the campus, or in Divisions I and II, issues you a National Letter of Intent or a written offer of financial aid, you are considered to be recruited.
• Unofficial visit: Any visit by you and your parents to a college campus paid for by you or your parents. The only expense you may receive from the college is three complimentary admissions to a Division I home athletics contest or five complimentary admissions to a Division II home athletics contest. You may make as many unofficial visits as you like and may take those visits at any time. Beginning August 1 before your junior year of high school, you can talk/meet with a coach and athletic staff member during an unofficial visit anytime other than during a Dead Period.
• Verbal commitment: A verbal commitment is a verbal agreement between a prospective student-athlete and a coach to play sports for a college prior to the Prospective Student Athlete signing or being eligible to sign a National Letter of Intent. The commitment is not binding on you or the school. June 15 following a prospect's sophomore year is the first opportunity for any recruiting interaction.
• Walk-on: Someone who is not typically recruited by a school to participate in sports and does not receive a scholarship from the school, but who becomes a member of one of the school’s athletics teams.
• Transfer Portal: Database for student athletes declaring their desire to transfer. Athletes enter the portal by informing coaches and compliance of their intentions to transfer. Please see NCAA Compliance for procedures and dates that are currently in place.
• NIL: Name Image & Likeness- The rights of college athletes to control and profit via personal brand and endorsements while participating in college sports. Players and parents MUST reference NCAA Compliance and each institution.
  

Freshman & Sophomore Year

• Recruiting materials: You may receive brochures for camps, questionnaires, NCAA materials and non-athletics recruiting publications.
• Telephone calls and texts: A college coach cannot accept a call, call/text you or return a voicemail or text prior to June 15 following your sophomore year of high school.
• Off-campus contact: None allowed.
• Official visit: None allowed.

• Unofficial visit: You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits but cannot speak with a Division I coach or athletics department staff member, take an athletics specific tour or receive complimentary admissions to home athletic contests during these visits until August 1 before your junior year.

Junior Year

• Electronic correspondence (e.g., text messaging, instant messaging, email): All forms of electronic correspondence are permissible beginning June 15 following your sophomore year. Correspondence must be private until you provide a written commitment to the NCAA school.
• Recruiting materials: You may begin receiving recruiting materials June 15 following your sophomore year.
• Telephone calls: You may call a coach at your own expense and calls/voicemails may be accepted/returned beginning June 15 following your sophomore year.
• College coaches may call you: Beginning June 15 following your sophomore year. Calls are unlimited.
• Off-campus contact: Allowed beginning August 1 before your junior year.
• Official visit: Official visits are allowable beginning August 1 before your junior year. You are allowed an unlimited number of official visits, but only one per school.

• Unofficial visit: Except during Dead Periods, you may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits and can speak with a coach or athletics department staff member during these visits as well as receive three complimentary admissions to a Division I home athletic contest beginning August 1 before your junior year.

Senior Year

• Electronic correspondence (e.g. text messaging, instant messaging, email): All forms of electronic correspondence are permissible. Correspondence must be private until you provide a written commitment to the NCAA school.
• Recruiting materials: Allowed.
• Telephone calls: You may call a coach at your expense and calls/voicemails may be returned.
• College coaches may call you: Allowed.
• Off-campus contact: Allowed.
• Official visit: Except during Dead Periods, official visits are allowable. You are allowed an unlimited number of official visits, but only one per school.
• Unofficial visit: Except during Dead Periods, you may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits and can speak with a coach or athletics department staff member during these visits as well as receive three complimentary admissions to a Division I home athletic contest.
• Limitation on off-campus contacts/evaluations: A college coach may have face-to- face contact off their campus with you or your parents/legal guardians not more than three times. An unlimited number of contacts and evaluations are permissible after you sign a National Letter of Intent, written offer of admission and/or financial aid; OR after the college receives a financial deposit from you.

(Last updated April 2024)