This info was taken from the NCAA website for recruitment. The recruiting process is complicated and involves plenty of restrictions. Some club coaches do not know the rules,while others try to limit the information that parents have. Some of the faleshoods that I frequently hear are addressed below. Things like phone contacts, type of permissible contacts,verbal commitment(non-binding by both parties) and letter of intents(totally voluntary). Here are the basics:
NCAA Recruiting Regulations
Introduction
College coaches must follow the rules outlined in this section. You
are expected to follow these rules as well.
Recruiting Terms
Contact. A contact occurs any time a coach has any face-to-face
contact with you or your parents off the college's campus and says
more than hello. A contact also occurs if a coach has any contact
with you or your parents at your high school or any location where
you are competing or practicing.
Contact period. During this time, a college coach may have in person
contact with you and/or your parents on or off the college's
campus. The coach may also watch you play or visit your high
school. You and your parents may visit a college campus and the
coach may write and telephone you during this period.
Dead period. A college coach may not have any in-person
contact with you or your parents on or off campus at any time
during a dead period. The coach may write and telephone you or
your parents during this time.
Evaluation. An evaluation is an activity by a coach to evaluate
your academic or athletics ability. This would include visiting your
high school or watching you practice or compete.
Evaluation period. During this time, a college coach may watch
you play or visit your high school, but cannot have any in-person
conversations with you or your parents off the college's campus.
You and your parents can visit a college campus during this period.
A coach may write and telephone you or your parents during this
time.
Official Visit.Any visit to a college campus by you and your
parents paid for by the college. The college may pay all or some of
the following expenses:
• Your transportation to and from the college;
• Room and meals (three per day) while you are visiting the
college; and
• Reasonable entertainment expenses, including three
complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest.
Before a college may invite you on an official visit, you will have
to provide the college with a copy of your high school transcript
(Division I only) and SAT, ACT or PLAN score and register with the
Eligibility Center.
Prospective student-athlete. You become a "prospective
student-athlete" when:
• You start ninth-grade classes; or
• Before your ninth-grade year, a college gives you, your relatives
or your friends any financial aid or other benefits that the college
does not provide to students generally.
Quiet period. During this time, a college coach may not have
any in-person contact with you or your parents off the college's
campus. The coach may not watch you play or visit your high
school during this period. You and your parents may visit a college
campus during this time. A coach may write or telephone you or
your parents during this time.
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 home athletics contest. You may make as many unofficial visits
as you like and may take those visits at any time. The only time you
cannot talk with a coach during an unofficial visit is during a dead
period.
Verbal commitment. This phrase is used to describe a collegebound
student-athlete's commitment to a school before he or
she signs (or is able to sign) a National Letter of Intent. A collegebound
student-athlete can announce a verbal commitment
at any time. While verbal commitments have become very
popular for both college-bound student-athletes and coaches,
this "commitment" is NOT binding on either the college-bound
student-athlete or the institution. Only the signing of the National
Letter of Intent accompanied by a financial aid agreement is
binding on both parties.
National Letter of Intent
The National Letter of Intent (NLI) is a voluntary program
administered by the Eligibility Center. By signing an NLI, your son or
daughter agrees to attend the institution for one academic year. In
exchange, that institution must provide athletics financial aid for one
academic year.
Restrictions are contained in the NLI itself. Read them carefully. These
restrictions may affect your eligibility.
If you have questions about the National Letter of Intent, visit the Web
site at www.national-letter.org or call 877/262-1492.
Summary of Recruiting Rules for Women's Basketball-Division I
SOPHOMORE YEAR
Recruiting Method-Recruting Materials
• You may receive brochures for camps and questionnaires.
Recruiting Method-Telephone Calls
• You may make calls to the coach at your expense only.
• College coach cannot call you.
Recruiting Method-Off-Campus Contact
• None allowed.
Recruiting Method-Official Visit
• None allowed.
Recruiting Method-Unofficial Visit
• You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits.
JUNIOR YEAR
Recruiting Method-Recruiting Materials
• You may begin receiving September 1 of junior year.
Recruiting Method-Telephone Calls
• You may make calls to the coach at your expense.
Recruiting Method-College Coaches May Call You
• Once per month in April,May and June 1-20.
• Once between June 21 and June 30 after your junior year.
• Three times in July after your junior year (maximum of one call per week).
Recruiting Method-Off-Campus Contact
• None allowed.
Recruiting Method-Official Visit
• None allowed.
Recruiting Method-Unofficial Visit
• You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits.
SENIOR YEAR
Recruiting Method-Recruiting Materials
• Allowed.
Recruiting Method-Telephone Calls
• You may make calls to the coach at your expense.
Recruiting Method-College Coaches May Call You
• Once per week beginning August 1.
Recruiting Method-Off-Campus Contact
• Allowed beginning September 16.
Recruiting Method-Official Visit
• Allowed beginning opening day of classes your senior year.
• You are limited to one official visit per college up to a maximum of five official visits to Divisions I and II colleges.
Recruiting Method-Unofficial Visit
• You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits.
Recruiting Method-Evaluation and Contacts
• Up to five times during your senior year.
Recruiting Method-How often can a coach see me or talk me off the college's campus?
• A college coach may contact you or your parents/legal guardians not more than three times during your senior year.
