Every year the NCAA releases recruiting rules and a calendar that work as guides to the recruiting process for both college coaches and student-athletes. These rules are set in place to protect the well-being of student-athletes and allow for a fair recruiting environment.

What to understand about the NCAA field hockey recruiting rules and calendar

While the NCAA prohibits contact between NCAA D1 college coaches and student-athletes until after June 15 of the athlete’s sophomore year, the recruiting process is known to start as early as 8th grade. From field hockey early recruiting to National Signing Day, below is a look at the college field hockey recruiting process.

Early recruiting: Before college coaches can contact field hockey recruits, they dedicate a good deal of time to attending tournaments, college camps and showcases to evaluate athletes and build a list of prospective recruits. College coaches also connect with high school and club coaches to express interest in an athlete but can no longer extend verbal offers.
Contact and verbal offers: College coaches can begin making verbal offers to athletes starting June 15 after the athlete’s sophomore year.
Official and unofficial visits: Student-athletes and their families can schedule official and unofficial visits beginning August 1 of the athlete’s junior year. During these visits, they can have recruiting conversations on campus with college coaches.

When can field hockey coaches contact field hockey recruits?

Starting June 15 of the student-athlete’s sophomore year, NCAA Division 1 field hockey coaches may begin contacting recruits via phone, text and email. Before this date, no form of communication is permitted between college coaches and student-athletes. College coaches are still permitted to contact high school and club coaches for general feedback, but these conversations cannot include financial offers, recruiting statements, etc. NCAA Division 2 coaches can contact recruits at any time excluding face to face contact. Digital communication is permitted between Division 3 college coaches and field hockey recruits at any time.

Before June 15 of their sophomore year, student-athletes can begin to prepare for the recruiting process. This preparation includes building a recruiting profile, capturing footage for a highlight video and researching programs they are interested in. This legwork will help better position student-athletes for a successful recruitment experience.

NCAA Division 1 field hockey recruiting rules

NCAA Division 1 programs must adhere to the strictest recruiting rules. These rules vary from sport to sport, and here are the details specific to field hockey:

Any time: Non-recruiting materials, including questionnaires, camp brochures, nonathletic institutional publications and official NCAA educational materials can be sent to student-athletes at any time.
June 15 after sophomore year: After this date, college coaches are permitted to call athletes, as well as send text messages, direct messages and emails. Coaches can also begin sending athletes recruiting materials and sharing verbal scholarship offers.
August 1 before junior year: Student-athletes are not permitted to schedule unofficial visits or official visits until after this date.
August 1 before junior year: Off-campus evaluations can begin. Evaluations may only occur at the recruit’s school or home during junior year.

NCAA Division 2 field hockey recruiting rules

NCAA Division 2 programs enjoy less restrictive recruiting rules than Division 1 programs. These recruiting rules apply to all Division 2 programs:

Non-recruiting materials: There is no restriction on when athletes may receive non-recruiting materials, including camp brochures, questionnaires, NCAA materials and non-athletic recruiting publications.
Printed recruiting materials: Student-athletes can begin receiving printed recruiting materials at any time.
Telephone calls: Coaches can begin calling athletes at any time.
Off-campus contact: Starting on June 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year, off-campus communications between coaches and athletes and/or their parents is permitted.
Unofficial visits: Unofficial visits are permitted at any time.
Official visits: Athletes may schedule official visits starting June 15 after their sophomore year.

NCAA Division 3 field hockey recruiting rules

NCAA Division 3 schools have the most relaxed NCAA recruiting rules. Just like Division 2 programs, all Division 3 sports adhere to the same recruiting rules:

Recruiting materials: Student-athletes can receive recruiting materials at any time.
Telephone calls: There is no restriction on when college coaches can call athletes.
Digital communications: Digital communication between college coaches and student-athletes is permitted at any time.
Off-campus contact: Following the athlete’s sophomore year, off-campus communication can begin between an athlete and coaches.
Official visits: Student-athletes can begin to go on official visits starting January 1 of their junior year.
Unofficial visits: Student-athletes are not limited on the number of unofficial visits they can make.

2025–26 field hockey recruiting calendar

The NCAA releases a recruiting calendar and guidelines each year that dictate when and how college coaches can recruit student-athletes. Many NCAA sports have a recruiting calendar that lists numerous dead periods, quiet periods, contact periods and evaluation periods. Field hockey is an exception and only has one of these periods—a dead period. Starting June 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year, Division 1 college coaches are free to begin communicating with recruits, aside from during the one dead period.

NCAA field hockey dead periods

Dead periods: During this time, college coaches are prohibited from any in-person contact with recruits or their parents. The only form of contact between athletes and coaches that is permitted during dead periods is digital communication via phone, email, social media, etc.

Division 1

Starting on June 15 after their sophomore year, student-athletes are free to communicate with college coaches, with the expectation of one dead period listed on the NCAA field hockey recruiting calendar.

December 20-23, 2025: Quiet period
December 24- January 1, 2026: Recruiting Shutdown

Division 2

Division 2 field hockey has one dead period on the NCAA field hockey recruiting calendar. Outside of this dead period, student-athletes may communicate with coaches.

Nov. 10 (7 a.m.) – 12 (7 a.m.), 2025

National Signing Day for field hockey

A financial aid agreement is a binding contract that guarantees an athletic scholarship for one year and wraps up the recruiting process. Keep in mind that scholarships aren’t guaranteed for all four years, so it’s a good idea to check with your school about renewal after your first year.

Learn more about National Signing Day and other important recruiting dates.

2025–26 NCAA Field Hockey Recruiting Rules and Calendar

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