NCAA Compliance Guide for Programs

NCAA compliance is not optional, and violations carry real consequences: scholarship reductions, recruiting restrictions, postseason bans, and reputational damage that can take years to repair.

Every member of your coaching staff must understand the rules. "I didn't know" is not an acceptable defense. Build a culture where compliance is as important as winning.

The NCAA defines four types of recruiting periods, and they vary by sport and division:

Contact Period: You can have in-person, off-campus contact with prospects. You can also watch them compete and visit their school.

Evaluation Period: You can watch prospects compete and visit their school, but you cannot have off-campus, in-person recruiting contact.

Quiet Period: In-person contacts can only happen on your campus. Prospects can make official and unofficial visits.

Dead Period: No in-person recruiting contact on or off campus. Phone calls, texts, and emails may still be permitted depending on the sport.

Important: These periods change, and they are sport-specific. Always verify the current calendar through official NCAA channels or your compliance office. Coach Leo can help you look up current rules for specific sports and divisions.

NCAA rules govern how and when you can communicate with prospects:

• Phone calls, texts, and emails are generally permitted after specific dates that vary by sport
• Social media contact rules have evolved. Direct messages to prospects may be restricted during certain periods
• Written correspondence (letters, postcards) has its own set of rules and dates
• Unofficial and official visits must follow specific protocols for meals, transportation, and entertainment

Best practice: Document every contact with every prospect. Your compliance office should have a system for tracking communications. If they do not, create one using tools like ScoutSync that log interactions systematically.

Recruiting international athletes adds layers of complexity:

• Amateurism certification is required for international D1 and D2 prospects. The NCAA Eligibility Center handles this process, and it can take months
• D3 international athletes enrolling on or after August 1, 2023 must have amateurism certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center
• Professional experience abroad may affect eligibility depending on the sport, level, and nature of compensation received
• Academic evaluation of international transcripts requires credential evaluation services

Start the eligibility process early for international prospects. Delays in certification have cost programs and athletes opportunities. Use Coach Leo to research specific eligibility requirements for international athletes in your sport.