Recruiting Terms & Definitions

Recruiting Terms and Definitions
During your recruiting experience you will notice that there are times during the year that teams will be allowed or prohibited from communicating with you and in what forms. These times change depending on if you are looking at Division 1, Division 2 or Division 3 schools. For example, in Division I lacrosse a prospective student-athlete (PSAs) may begin to receive information after September 1 of their junior year; for Division II programs however a PSA may begin to receive electronic media and printable materials following June 15 preceding their junior year. The following better defines what are dead, quiet, evaluation and contact periods. 

Division I - These are strictly enforced by the NCAA as programs are expected to follow these rules and regulations through each athletic year. 

  • Dead Period—A dead period is that period of time when it is not permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts or evaluations on or off the member institution’s campus or to permit official or unofficial visits by prospective student-athletes to the institution’s campus. The provision of complimentary admissions to a prospective student-athlete during a dead period is prohibited, except as provided in Bylaw 13.7.2.4 for a prospective student-athlete who visits an institution as part of a group. During such a dead period, a coaching staff member may not serve as a speaker at or attend a meeting or banquet at which prospective student-athletes are in attendance, except as provided in Bylaws 13.1.9 and 13.1.9.1, and may not visit the prospective student-athletes’ educational institutions. It remains permissible, however, for an institutional staff member to write or telephone prospective student-athletes during such a dead period
  • Quiet Period—A quiet period is that period of time when it is permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts only on the member institution’s campus. No in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts or evaluations may be made during the quiet period.
  • Evaluation Period—An evaluation period is that period of time when it is permissible for authorized athletics department staff members to be involved in off-campus activities designed to assess the academic qualifications and playing ability of prospective student-athletes. No in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts shall be made with the prospective student-athlete during an evaluation period.
  • Contact Period—A contact period is that period of time when it is permissible for authorized athletics department staff members to make in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts and evaluations.

Division II - There is no specific contact and evaluation period in sports other than basketball and football except for the following dead periods.Division III

In-person, Off-campus

  • In-person, off-campus recruiting contacts shall not be made with a prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete’s relatives or guardian(s) until the prospective student-athlete has completed his or her sophomore year in high school. U.S. service academy exceptions to this provision are set forth in Bylaw 13.16.1.

Timing of Recruiting Materials

  • There are no restrictions on the timing for providing recruiting materials, electronic transmissions or telephone calls to prospective student-athletes. Additionally active student-athletes at that University are permitted to contact PSAs via telephone and electronic transmission during official and unofficial visits.