NCAA Recruiting
Calendars Explained
Contact Periods, Dead Periods, Quiet Periods, Evaluation Periods & Recruiting Shutdowns
NCAA recruiting rules exist to create a fair recruiting environment and protect student-athlete well-being. This guide breaks them down in plain language.
Important Note
Recruiting calendars are sport-specific and can change each year. Always check the current NCAA calendar for your sport before planning travel or visits.
International athlete? Read this first.
NIL, immigration, age-based eligibility, and transcript rules can quietly derail a U.S. recruiting timeline. Our guide walks through the five compliance areas international athletes should plan around.
Read the international compliance guideWhat the NCAA Means by "Recruiting" and a "Contact"
Recruiting
The NCAA defines recruiting broadly as solicitation of prospects (or their parents) by school staff or representatives for the purpose of securing enrollment and participation in athletics.
Contact
A contact happens when a college coach says more than hello during a face-to-face interaction off campus with a prospective student-athlete (or their parents).
This is why timing matters: in many sports, coaches may be watching you, yet still restricted from certain types of communication or in-person interaction depending on the recruiting period.
What Are Recruiting Calendars?
Sport-specific schedules that define when recruiting may be more open or more restricted. They exist to support well-being and competitive equity.
The NCAA publishes Division I and II recruiting calendars and guides by sport and academic year.
View NCAA CalendarsThe 4 Recruiting Periods Explained
Different sports use different mixes of these periods, but the definitions stay consistent.
Contact Period
A contact period is when it's permissible for authorized athletics staff to make in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts and evaluations.
What this means for you: This is typically the most "open" time for face-to-face recruiting activity. Coaches can visit your school, watch your games in person, and have meaningful conversations with you off campus.
Evaluation Period
An evaluation period is when staff may be involved in off-campus activities to assess academic qualifications and playing ability, but no in-person, off-campus recruiting contact may be made with the prospect during that time.
What this means for you: Coaches can watch you compete, but you shouldn't expect off-campus face-to-face conversations. They're evaluating, not engaging directly.
Quiet Period
A quiet period allows in-person recruiting contacts only on the school's campus. No in-person off-campus recruiting contacts or evaluations may be made.
What this means for you: Great time for campus-based recruiting activity. Schedule your campus visits during these windows, but don't expect coaches to be out at showcases seeing you.
Dead Period
A dead period means it's not permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts or evaluations on or off campus. Schools cannot allow official or unofficial visits during this time.
What this means for you: Don't schedule visits or expect in-person recruiting access during dead periods. Focus on other preparation during these windows.
Recruiting Shutdown Periods
Some sports also use recruiting shutdowns. A shutdown is a period when no form of recruiting is permissible, intended to give coaches and prospects a break.
What's Prohibited
- Official and unofficial visits
- Off-campus contacts and evaluations
- Institutional camps or clinics
- Correspondence (including email, DMs, texts)
- Making or receiving telephone calls
- Approval actions on social media (like/retweet/repost)
What May Still Be Permissible
- Contact with a prospect who has signed the institution's written offer of aid
- Certain exceptions tied to tryout legislation (with conditions)
Key takeaway: If a coach "goes silent" during a shutdown, it may be compliance, not lack of interest. Don't panic.
Official vs Unofficial Visits
Official Visit
The visit is paid for by the college or university.
- Transportation, meals, and lodging typically covered
- Limited number per prospect (varies by sport)
- Subject to recruiting period restrictions
Unofficial Visit
The visit is paid for by you or your parents.
- You cover all costs (travel, meals, lodging)
- No limit on number of unofficial visits
- Still subject to recruiting period restrictions
Reminder: Visits can be restricted by the recruiting period. For example, neither type of visit is allowed during dead periods.
Who Is Allowed to Recruit You?
Off-Campus Contacts & Evaluations
In sports other than football, only certain "countable coaches" who have received rules education may contact or evaluate prospects off campus.
Correspondence + Calls
Institutional staff may send correspondence (including texts, emails, and DMs) and make calls after the first permissible date for your sport.
Boosters Cannot Recruit
Representatives of an institution's athletics interests (boosters) are not permissible recruiters. They may not contact, evaluate, or correspond with prospects.
This is a big one for families. A "nice booster" reaching out is not always a good sign. It can be a compliance risk.
First Permissible Dates
When coaches can start calling, texting, visiting, and contacting you off campus. These dates are sport-specific.
| Sport | Correspondence | Calls | Visits | Off-Campus Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Rule (All Other Sports) | June 15 after sophomore year | June 15 after sophomore year | Aug. 1 of junior year | Aug. 1 of junior year |
| Baseball | Aug. 1 of junior year | Aug. 1 of junior year | Sept. 1 of junior year | Sept. 1 of junior year |
| Women's Basketball | June 15 after sophomore year | Anytime (incoming) | Anytime (unofficial) | Sept. 1 of senior year |
| Football | June 15 after sophomore year | June 15 after sophomore year | Anytime (unofficial) | Jan. 1 of junior year |
Written offers of aid: Generally cannot be provided before Aug. 1 of a prospect's senior year (with a noted men's ice hockey exception).
Verify your sport: This is a planning overview. Confirm your sport's current-year calendar for exact dates and sport-specific exceptions.
Signing Dates
The NCAA publishes sport-specific signing dates for Division I and II each academic year.
Example Early Signing Dates (2025-26)
- Division I Basketball: Nov. 12–19, 2025
- Division I Football: Dec. 3–5, 2025
Transfer Detail Most Recruits Miss
NCAA signing dates do not apply to four-year transfers. Four-year transfers must be permissibly entered in the NCAA Transfer Portal to sign a written offer of athletics aid, with Division I tied to sport-specific windows or exceptions.
The type of athlete (high school recruit vs. two-year transfer vs. four-year transfer) changes the rules and timing.
How International Athletes Should Use the Calendar
The calendar becomes your advantage when you use it strategically.
Time your U.S. trips around what coaches can actually do
Avoid traveling for campus visits during dead periods (visits aren't allowed then). Consider planning campus trips during quiet periods if your goal is on-campus conversations and facility time.
Don't panic when coaches are quiet
Some sports have recruiting shutdowns where no recruiting is permissible, including texts/DMs, emails, calls, and even social media "likes." If a coach isn't responding, it may be compliance.
Build your "always-ready" recruiting package
When recruiting periods open up, you want to be instantly recruitable: updated highlight + full-game links, academic snapshot, verified metrics where relevant, and clear contact info + citizenship/passport status.
Use the calendar to choose events that match evaluation windows
During evaluation-heavy times, the right showcase or tournament can be the difference between being seen and being ignored. This is especially true if you're outside the U.S.
Build Your Recruiting Profile
Create a verified, data-backed profile that coaches can access anytime recruiting periods open up.
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