When student-athletes start the recruiting process, one of their first questions is: “When can college coaches contact high school athletes?” Read on to learn more about the NCAA volleyball recruiting rules and calendar.
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The importance of the NCAA men’s volleyball recruiting rules and calendar
The NCAA volleyball recruiting rules and calendar outline when and how college coaches can reach out to athletes. These rules are in place to protect athletes from receiving an overwhelming amount of contact from college coaches. However, they can be a little misleading as they don’t accurately represent when recruiting really starts. At the D1 level coaches scout recruits prior to the June 15 contact date and many lock down top talent as soon as the contact date arrives. The important part is for athletes and families to be familiar with these rules, so they are ready for any opportunity that presents itself.
When can college volleyball coaches contact you?
The important date to remember is June 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year of high school. This is when NCAA Division 1 volleyball coaches can start to contact athletes, including extending verbal offers, phone calls and electronic communications (such as emails, texts, instant messages, etc.). This contact date is just one of the recruiting rules athletes and families should brush up on. NCAA Division 2 coaches can start contacting recruits at any time.
NCAA Division 1 men’s volleyball recruiting rules
The NCAA Division 1 volleyball recruiting rules outline when and how college coaches from Division 1 teams can start reaching out to prospects. As previously mentioned, June 15 after sophomore year of high school is the most important date for athletes and families to remember. Starting this date, coaches can extend verbal offers and can partake in almost all forms of communication.
- NCAA materials, camp invites and non-athletic publications: Any time
- Verbal scholarship offers: June 15 after sophomore year
- Private correspondence (emails, phone calls, texts, DMs, instant messages, faxes): June 15 after sophomore year
- Official and Unofficial visits: August 1 before junior year
- Off-campus contact: August 1 before junior year
NCAA Division 2 men’s volleyball recruiting rules
- Recruiting questionnaires, camp brochures and non-athletic publications: Any time
- Unofficial visits: Any time, unlimited
- Verbal scholarship offers: Any time
- Private correspondence (emails, phone calls, texts, DMs, instant messages, faxes): Any time
- Official visits: June 15 after sophomore year
- Off-campus contact: June 15 after sophomore year
NCAA Division 3 men’s volleyball recruiting rules
Of all the NCAA divisions, D3 volleyball colleges have the most relaxed NCAA recruiting rules. There are no restrictions on most forms of contact. There are only restrictions on when recruits can start taking official visits and have off-campus contact with coaches.
- Phone calls and electronic communications: There is no limit on when college coaches can call or digitally message athletes.
- Unofficial visits: Any time, unlimited
- Official visits: Athletes can begin taking official visits after January 1 of their junior year.
- Off-campus contact: After the athlete’s sophomore year, college coaches may begin to conduct off-campus contact.
- Recruiting materials: Athletes can receive recruiting materials at any time.
Men’s NAIA volleyball recruiting rules
College coaches at NAIA schools have a lot of freedom in the recruiting process and are not restricted in when or how they can reach out to athletes. Even though recruiting rules are more lenient, NAIA coaches usually start the recruiting process after NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 coaches.
2024–25 NCAA men’s volleyball recruiting calendar
Throughout the year, there are certain time periods set forth by the NCAA that regulate the way coaches can recruit athletes at that time. Remember: It’s up to the coach to follow these recruiting rules. However, it’s also important for families to know what to expect from coaches throughout the year so that they can make the most of the recruiting process. For example, student-athletes should avoid planning their campus visits during a dead period, as the coach will not be able to meet with them during that time.
Also, the NCAA Division 1 volleyball recruiting calendar is more restrictive than the Division 2 volleyball calendar. For D2 volleyball, all dates outside of a dead period are treated as a contact period. For D3 volleyball, the entire school year is treated as a contact period.
Dead period: During the dead period, coaches may not have any in-person contact with recruits or their families. Coaches can still keep in touch with recruits via phone, email, social media and other approved electronic means of communication.
- Division 1: Nov. 11–14, 2024
- Division 2: Nov. 11 (7 a.m.) – 13 (7 a.m.), 2024
All other dates that don’t fit into the dead period are in the contact period, during which coaches can email, text, call, direct message and contact athletes and their parents through any NCAA-approved method.