Coach Taylor – Can College Coaches Talk to 7th and 8th Graders?
February 24th, 2010 - byCoach Taylor – Can an athlete and college coach correspond with one another or talk following an event like a tournament without breaking the NCAA rules if the athlete is not yet in high school?
Technically – Yes…but discussing “recruiting” would be looked upon unfavorably by the NCAA.
College coaches are in fact allowed to talk to prospects that are not yet in high school. Since the student athlete is not considered an official prospect by the NCAA until they start high school, the college coach might not be breaking any rules.
*One exception does exist in Men’s Basketball. The NCAA recently declared that 7th and 8th graders are now defined as prospective athletes, a move designed to prevent overeager college coaches from recruiting them.
Although, the college coach might not be “technically” breaking a specific NCAA rule, this is a gray area in many ways. It would be highly inappropriate for a college coach to proactively recruit an athlete in 7th or 8th grade similar to the way they do with juniors and seniors in high school. However, if they were to run into an athlete at a tournament, a casual conversation unrelated to recruiting would not be a direct “violation.”
Send your recruiting questions to askcoachtaylor@ncsasports.org
If you would like to speak with a NCSA Recruiting Coordinator about your personal recruiting situation, call 866-579-6272.
