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Recruiting Update - NCAA Legislative Proposals

By AVCA Blog Post, 12/28/18, 12:00PM CST

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In April of 2018, the NCAA adopted several new rules in an effort to streamline and slow down the recruiting process for prospective student-athletes. Some major changes came in the areas of official and unofficial visits and sports camps and clinics. It’s important for all those involved in a prospect’s recruiting process to be aware that ADDITIONAL PROPOSALS are in place to be voted on this April. If these rules pass, several of them will be effective immediately. The intent of these rules is to update legislation related to contacts, telephone calls, recruiting materials, official and unofficial visits, financial aid agreements, and camps and clinics. These rules will again drastically change the recruiting process and timeline for prospective student-athletes, so it’s important for all involved to be prepared for possible change. To simplify, the two biggest areas of change will come in Division I coaches not being able to receive phone calls from prospects (and their family) until June 15 at the conclusion of sophomore year and no oral offers of financial aid being allowed before August 1 of a prospect’s junior year.

Here are the major recruiting proposals that are on the docket for the April vote (additional details can be found at the NCAA Legislative Services Database):

13.1.1.1 Time Period for Off-Campus Contacts -- General Rule. Off-campus recruiting contacts shall not be made with an individual (or his or her family members) before July 1 following the completion  August 1 at the beginning of his or her junior year in high school

13.1.3.1 Time Period for Telephone Calls -- General Rule. Telephone calls to an individual (or his or her family members) may not be made before September 1 at the beginning  June 15 at the conclusion of his or her junior  sophomore year in high school (subject to the exceptions below).

13.1.3.2.3 Telephone Calls From an Individual -- Lacrosse and Softball Sports other than Basketball, Football and Men's Ice Hockey. In lacrosse and softball  sports other than basketball, football and men's ice hockey, an institutional staff member may not receive telephone calls from an individual (or his or her family members) before September 1 at the beginning June 15 at the conclusion of his or her junior  sophomore year in high school.

13.1.5.1 Sports Other Than Football, Basketball, and Men's Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Softball and Wrestling. In sports other than football, basketball, and men's ice hockey, lacrosse, softball and wrestling, each institution is limited to seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations combined) per prospective student-athlete per year (see Bylaw 13.1.5.7). During the senior year of high school, Beginning August 1 at the start of a prospective student-athlete's junior year of high school, not more than three of the seven opportunities per year may be off-campus contacts at any site and shall include contacts with the prospective student-athlete's family members, but shall not include contacts made during an official visit per Bylaw 13.6 or an unofficial visit per Bylaw 13.7.5

13.4.1 Recruiting Materials and Electronic Correspondence -- General Rule. An institution shall not provide recruiting materials, including general correspondence related to athletics, or send electronic correspondence to an individual (or his or her family members) until September 1 at the beginning  June 15 at the conclusion of his or her junior  sophomoreyear in high school. 

13.6.2.1.1 Sports Other Than Basketball and Football. In sports other than basketball and football, a prospective student-athlete may not be provided an expense-paid visit earlier than September  August 1 of his or her junior year in high school.

13.7.1.1 Sports Other Than Basketball and Football. In sports other than basketball and football, an unofficial visit with athletics department involvement (e.g., contact with athletics department staff, athletics-specific tour, complimentary admission) shall not occur with an individual (or his or her family members) before September  August 1 at the beginning of his or her junior year in high school.

13.9.1 Oral Offer of Aid -- Sports Other Than Basketball, Football and Men's Ice Hockey. In sports other than basketball, football and men's ice hockey, an athletics department staff member shall not, directly or indirectly, provide an individual an oral offer (or indicate that an offer will or may be made) of athletically related financial aid, other institutional financial aid, admission to the institution or as a member of an intercollegiate team before August 1 at the beginning of the individual's junior year in high school.

13.12.1.5.1 Exception -- Recruiting Conversations -- Sports Other Than Basketball and Football. In sports other than basketball and football, recruiting conversations during an institutional camp or clinic (including a camp or clinic that involves only individuals who are not yet prospective student-athletes) are not permitted between an institution’s coach and a participating individual before September August 1 at the beginning of the individual’s junior year in high school.