Lacrosse Recruiting Part 2 (communications) - From Blue Chip 225

Last time we spoke about the basics of the recruiting process.  Today's article covers the how and when of contact and communications with college coaches. The next article will cover commitment time.

The BR Staff

Phone Calls

Simply put - you can call college coaches at your own expense anytime after you start your Freshman year.  

• DII and DIII coaches can call you anytime.
• DI coaches cannot call you until July 1st after your Junior year.    

Campus Visits

This is a simple one: you can visit the campus of any college anytime on an "unofficial visit," that is, one that is not arranged by or paid for by the college.  

Once you start your Senior year you can make "Official visits" to a limited number of colleges. (no limit to DIII colleges)  Official visits are visits to campus by you and/or your family invited by and paid for by the college.  Before you can receive an invitation for an official visit you must have submitted certain material to the college and NCAA. 

Off-Campus Contact 

Simply, this means any time a coach talks face to face with you or your family anywhere but on the campus of the college anymore than a greeting.   This kind of contact is limited both by your grade and the NCAA Recruiting Calendar.   In case this isn't confusing enough, the rules for DII and DIII programs are slightly different.  Click here to read the exact rules.

The Recruiting Calendar
The NCAA establishes periods which control what coaches can and cannot do.  They publish a calendar each year on their website.  The periods include: 

• Contact Period - Coach may have in-person contact with you or your parents off the college campus, and may watch you play or visit your high school.  He may write or call as well. 

• Dead Period - Coaches may not have any in-person contact with your or your family.
   
• Evaluation Period - Coach may watch you play or visit your high school, but cannot have any in-person conversations.  You can visit the college, and the coach may write or call you.
   
• Quiet Period - Coach cannot have any in-person contact with you or your parents off the college campus, nor can he watch you play or visit your high school.  He may write or call your parents. 

See the calendars here at 

Remember that the permissions granted by the calendar are limited by your grade level.