Tennis: NCAA Rules of Athlete Recruitment
INTRODUCTION
Even before first official contact is allowed between coaches and athletes on June 15 of an athlete’s sophomore year, coaches have already begun to seek out talented potential recruits to their teams. Prospective men and women’s athletes should familiarize themselves with the NCAA tennis recruiting rules and calendar to know when coaches should contact them, and to utilize contact periods to their best advantage.
In the following article we lay out the rules and calendars for Division 1, Division 2, and Division 3 colleges so that prospective recruits know when they should be getting contacted by NCAA coaches and when they can conduct visits, both official and unofficial, as well as when they will be evaluated. When you start these conversations with coaches and when you can speak in-person on and off-campus with the head coaches of NCAA men or women’s tennis teams is determined by a recruiting calendar, which will be explained in detail below.
From when you first reach out to the head coaches, to periodically reporting your progress, to speaking with the head coaches during unofficial campus visits, to then official campus visits, all communications with Division I head coaches fall under precise rules set by the NCAA and a recruitment calendar.
For Division 1 and 2 colleges, coaches can contact athletes starting June 15 of their sophomore year. Coaches may send texts, emails and social media messages to athletes and call them as well.
On the other hand, Division 3 colleges are allowed to essentially make their own calendars and rules without much restriction.
RECRUITING CALENDAR AND RULES
The foremost task of a prospective NCAA men or women’s tennis athlete recruit is to get to know the rules regarding contact between an athlete and an NCAA coach and the timeline for communication. These rules include:
when you can initiate a discussion with a head coach,
when head coaches can initiate discussion with you,
where and when you can begin in-person communication with a head coach
the medium of communication (phone call, e-mail, text, in-person)
the content of the interaction (particularly, when you can speak about recruitment)
the distinction between “official” and “unofficial” visits
when are unofficial visits allowed
when are official visits allowed
when is contact disallowed during the recruitment cycle
Whenever a coach says more than “Hello” to the athlete or his/her parents during a face-to-face interaction off-campus, a “contact” is made, according to the NCAA. The rules surrounding contact are very rigid. Many Division 1 NCAA coaches approach cautiously and will absolutely not interact with parents or players at games beyond a simple “hello” until between the player’s junior and senior year.
The rules and calendar vary between Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3 colleges, so please pay careful attention to which Division a college that you are interested in belongs.
DIVISION 1 TENNIS ATHLETE RECRUITMENT RULES
Freshman and Sophomore Year
At any time, an athlete may receive recruitment surveys, camp brochures and non-sports recruiting publications from Division 1 coaches.
June 15: From this date after sophomore year, coaches can send athletes recruiting materials and begin texting, emailing, and sending them social media messages. Coaches may call athletes and vice versa. Coaches may make verbal offers to athletes.
Junior Year
August 1: Off-campus contact between coaches and athletes at the athlete’s home or at their school is permitted. Athletes may conduct official and unofficial visits to campuses.
Evaluations: There are a total of seven recruiting opportunities (contacts + evaluations) for each athlete per year. From September 1 to May 31, only three out of seven contacts may occur off-campus.
Recruitment Calendar
At the Division 1 and Division 2 levels, various types of contact with college coaches are permitted at specific periods. Figure out what type of contact you can expect based on your age and the season by placing the NCAA Division 1 recruiting calendar for 2022-2023 and the NCAA Division 2 recruiting calendar for 2022-2023 on top of the recruiting rules.
Dead Periods
Potential men and women’s tennis recruits must also observe the “dead periods” of the recruitment calendar.
A Dead Period is defined by the NCAA as that period of time where conducting in-person (face to face) recruiting contacts or evaluations on or off the campus are not allowed, and the colleges are not allowed to conduct official or unofficial visits for potential recruits to the campus.
Nov. 7-10, 2022 (Monday-Thursday of the first week for the signing of the National Letter of Intent).
Contact Periods
Contact Period (Recruiting Period): A contact period is the time frame during which coaches may make in-person (face to face) contact with athletes and evaluate potential recruits off-campus. All periods not designated as “dead period” should be treated as contact periods.
Tennis Division 1 Athlete Recruitment Timeline Chart
Tennis Division 1 Athlete Recruitment Timeline
DIVISION 2 TENNIS ATHLETE RECRUITMENT RULES
Note that there are no highly selective colleges in NCAA Division 2
Freshman and Sophomore Year
At any time, a coach may send an athlete recruitment surveys, camp brochures and non-sports recruiting publications.
Junior Year
June 15 prior to junior year: NCAA coaches are permitted to contact athletes via phone calls, texts, emails, social media direct messages and more.
Coaches can send athletes institutional publications, along with all other recruiting materials.
Athletes can begin making official campus visits, while coaches can begin meeting with recruits off-campus.
Coaches can approach a recruit's coach during contact periods at a competition.
In an athlete’s senior year, a coach can make a total of three off-campus contacts with the athlete.
Dead Periods
November 7 (7 a.m.) to 9 (7 a.m.), 2022, (over the 48 hours before the National Letter of Intent signing at 7 a.m.)
Contact Periods
All periods not designated as “dead period” should be treated as contact periods.
DIVISION 3 TENNIS ATHLETE RECRUITMENT RULES
Freshman and Sophomore Year
There are no set Division 3 recruiting calendars - NCAA Division 3 college coaches are not restricted from recruiting during dead periods, recruiting periods, or silent periods. All recruiting material, phone calls, digital correspondence and unofficial visits are permitted starting sophomore year. Coaches may make as many calls as they like to athletes. Athletes may also make an unlimited number of unofficial visits to colleges.
Off-campus contact is permitted starting sophomore year.
Junior Year
January 1: official visits are permitted.
Senior Year
There are no restrictions on the potential athlete recruit or head coaches on contact.
Tennis 2 & 3 Athlete Recruitment Timeline Chart
Tennis Division 2 & 3 Athlete Recruitment Timeline