One of the most restrictive of all the recruiting periods is the NCAA Dead Period. During the dead period, coaches may not have any in-person contact with recruits and/or their parents. In other words, coaches are not allowed to talk to recruits at their college campus, the athlete’s school, an athletic camp or even the grocery store.
While the term “dead period” makes it seem like all recruiting stops during this time, that’s actually not the case. Athletes and coaches are still allowed to communicate via phone, email, social media and other digital communication channels. While NCAA Division 1 programs are prohibited from conducting any in-person recruiting, D1 college coaches can still contact student-athletes via digital forms of communication during the dead period. In this video, we debunk common misconceptions around the NCAA recruiting dead period and contact rules.
Take a look at our NCAA recruiting rules to learn more about the different ways athletes and coaches can communicate. The goal of the NCAA Dead Period is to give athletes a little bit of time and breathing room to think about what school they want to sign with.
Learn how college coaches continue to recruit during the most restrictive recruiting period on the NCAA recruiting calendar.
Managing Your Recruiting During a Dead Period
While recent developments surrounding the coronavirus pandemic impact more than just sports and recruiting, we’re dedicated to helping student-athletes and their families navigate the changing landscape of recruiting during this time.
To help student-athletes manage their recruiting, we’ve created a recruiting guide for all college-bound athletes to follow during the next few weeks. Whether you’re wondering how to efficiently use your downtime due to a canceled sports season, need to work on your time-management skills as you transition from high school classes to online learning or are trying to figure out strategies to stay healthy and positive—physically and mentally—during this time, check out our tips for managing your athletic recruiting process below.
Download our guide to managing your recruiting here.
Use this guide to help you stay on track athletically and academically during a dead period.
Update your NCSA recruiting profile.
Give your profile a fresh look by uploading a new highlight/skills video and a recent transcript. You can also add your GPA, test scores and key athletic stats to make sure coaches see and evaluate your most recent accomplishments.
Draft a new personal statement.
This is a great time to show college coaches your character. Stand out from the crowd by demonstrating your commitment to your sport and that you’re taking on this new challenge head-on.
Research college rosters.
College rosters provide insights on the types of athletes coaches want to recruit, where they recruit and if they’re recruiting your position soon.
Add colleges to your target list.
Make sure you have a good mix of safety, target and dream schools. If you’re not sure where to start, check out your Coach Activity Report or your Top Matches for schools that may be a good fit.
The best way to narrow down your preferences and figure out what you want your college experience to be like is by checking out a college campus—and it’s easy to do online!
Connect with coaches on social media.
Following a coach or athletic program on Twitter or Instagram is a great way to get regular updates and a behind-the-scenes look at what competing on a college team is really like.
Coaches are relying on digital communication more than ever, and messaging coaches is one of the best ways to stay in touch during this time. Check out our email tips to see how you can stand out in a crowded inbox.
Maximize your academic scholarship opportunities.
Dedicate some time each week for online learning and extra test prep. A high GPA and ACT/SAT scores can improve your admissions chances and ensure you’re NCAA eligible.
Maintain a regular workout schedule.
Sticking to your regular training routine can be difficult if you’re not in season, but make sure you’re getting some exercise in each day. Try walking/running, online or app-based video classes and even some creative workouts so you’ll be prepared once practice starts again!
Whether it’s connecting with friends and family via video chat, getting creative with your workouts or just streaming your favorite show (we won’t judge!), set aside some time each day to help manage your stress and avoid burnout.
Insider Tip: Take a look at the upcoming official and unofficial visits you have lined up. Check those dates against your sport’s dead period. If any of your visits fall within the dead period window, reschedule them if possible. If you visit a school during this time, you will not be able to speak or meet with the coach. Meeting with the college coach is one of the most important aspects of an official or unofficial visit, so you want to make sure you’re visiting at a time that this is possible. Learn more about official visits and unofficial visits.
When is the NCAA Dead Period?
While the recruiting calendar varies by sport, the dead period usually takes place during the early signing period (for sports that have an early signing period), as well as at the beginning of the regular signing period. We’ve included the dates for each sport’s dead period below. Division III schools do not have designated dead periods.
Find your sport at the DI or DII level
On This Page
Division I Bowl Subdivision Football Dead Periods
- August 1–31, 2025
- Except for: the 48 hours prior to a home game during August and September 1–2 through the 48 hours after the game. This is a quiet period.
- December 1–7, 2025
- December 22, 2025 – January 4, 2026
- Dec. 31, 2025 – Jan. 4, 2026; Quiet period for two- and four-year college transfer prospective student-athletes who intend to enroll midyear.
- January 12–14, 2026
- February 2 – March 1, 2026
- For National Service Academies, Feb. 6 through March 1 shall be a quiet period.
- May 24–27, 2026
- June 23 – July 31, 2026
Division I Championship Subdivision Dead Periods
- August 1–31, 2025
- Except for: the 48 hours prior to a home game during August and September 1–2 through the 48 hours after the game. This is a quiet period.
- December 1-4, 2025
- December 22, 2025 – January 4, 2026
- Dec 31-January 4: Quiet period for two- and four-year college transfer prospective student-athletes who intend to enroll midyear.
- January 12-14, 2026
- February 2 – Mar. 1, 2026
- May 24-27, 2026
Division I Baseball Dead Periods
- November 10-13, 2025
- January 8–11, 2026
- May 25-June 1, 2026
- June 20-22, 2026
- July 3-5, 2026
Division I Men’s Basketball Dead Periods
- August 4-20, 2025
- Nov. 10-13, 2025
- Dec. 24-26, 2025
- April 2-9, 2026
- May 10, 2026
- May 20-31, 2026
- June 19, 2026
- June 21, 2026
- July 1-26*, except as noted below: DEAD PERIOD
- July 9-12
- July 16-19
- Aug. 3-19
Division I Women’s Basketball Dead Periods
- December 24–26, 2025
- April 2–6, 2026
- April 16, 2026 (For high school and two-year college PSAs only.)
- April 20, 2026 (For high school and two-year college PSAs only.)
- May 14, 2026
- June 16-17, 2026
- June 21, 2026
- July 9, 2026
- July 16, 2026
- July 21, 2026
Division I Men’s/Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field Dead Periods
- November 10-13, 2025
- November 22, 2025
- December 14-26, 2025
- March 13-14, 2026
- June 10-15, 2026
Division I Men’s Golf Dead Periods
- November 10-13, 2025
- November 27 – 30, 2025
- The first official day of the Golf Coaches Association of America National Convention until 12:01 a.m. on the day after the adjournment of the convention.
- December 23, 2025 – January 1, 2026
Division I Men’s Lacrosse Dead Periods
- August 12–31, 2025
- November 10-13, 2025
- November 24 – November 30, 2025
- December 10–14, 2025
- December 24–January 4, 2026
- May 22–26 (noon), 2026
- July 2-10, 2026
Division I Women’s Lacrosse Dead Periods
- August 28 – September 3, 2025
- November 10–13, 2025
- May 22–24, 2026
- During the Women’s Lacrosse Championship, coaches can evaluate athletes at one event, as long as it’s hosted within a 100-mile radius of the championship site. Coaches are not permitted to attend any evaluation event that occurs two hours before, during, or two hours after the semifinals competition and final game.
- July 2-6, 2026
Division I Women’s Volleyball Dead Periods
- November 10-13, 2025
- December 18 – January 1, 2026
Division I Women’s Beach Volleyball Dead Periods
- November 10–13, 2025
- December 17–31, 2025
- Except for coaches attending the AVCA annual awards banquet may have incidental contact w/ two-year college prospective student-athletes being honored at the banquet, provided no recruiting conversation occurs.
- April 29 – May 3, 2026
- Except: An institution’s authorized coaching staff members (see Bylaw 11.7.6) may evaluate on only one day and may attend only one event on that day during this period. Such an event shall occur within a 30-mile radius of the site of the championship. Coaches from the same institution who attend such an event shall attend the same event on the same day. Coaches shall not attend events that occur at the same time that any intercollegiate competition in conjunction with the NCAA championship occurs.
Division I Softball Dead Periods
- August 28 – September 3, 2025
- November 10-12, 2025
- December 10-13, 2025
- May 26 – June 5, 2025
Division I All Other Sports Dead Periods
Women’s Gymnastics Dead Periods
- November 10–13, 2025, which is the Monday through Thursday of the initial week for the fall signing of the NCAA financial aid agreement
- December 1–30, 2025
- April 15–19 (noon), 2025, the day before the first day of the National Collegiate Gymnastics Championships to noon on the day after the championships.
- June 1–15, 2026
Men’s Ice Hockey Dead Periods
- November 10–13, 2025, which is the Monday through Thursday of the initial week for the fall signing of the NCAA financial aid agreement
- April 8–12 (noon), 2024, or the Wednesday prior to the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship through noon on the Sunday after the game
Women’s Ice Hockey Dead Periods
- November 10–13, 2025, which is the Monday through Thursday of the initial week for the fall signing of the NCAA financial aid agreement
- March 19-23 (noon), 2026, the day prior to the National Collegiate Women’s Ice Hockey Championship to noon on the day after the game
Men’s Soccer Dead Periods
- November 10–13, 2025 (Monday through Thursday of the initial week for the signing of the NCAA financial aid agreement)
- December 12–15, 2025 (Friday through Sunday of the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship)
Women’s Soccer Dead Periods
- Nov. 10-13, 2025 (Monday through Thursday of the initial week for the signing of the NCAA financial aid agreement)
- December 15, 2025 – January 6, 2026
- July 29-31, 2026
Men’s Wrestling Dead Periods
- November 10–13, 2025 (Monday through Thursday of the initial week for the signing of the NCAA financial aid agreement)
- Monday before the National Wrestling Coaches Association Convention through the day of adjournment of the convention.
- Three consecutive weeks beginning 21 days following the final day of the Men’s Wrestling transfer portal window.
Women’s Wrestling Dead Periods
- November 10-13, 2025 (Monday through Thursday of the initial week for the signing of the NCAA financial aid agreement)
- Monday before the National Wrestling Coaches Association Convention through the day of adjournment of the convention.
All Other Sports
- November 10 (7 am) – 13 (7 am), 2025 (Monday through Thursday of the initial week for the fall signing of the NCAA financial aid agreement)
- Except: When the dead period for recruiting occurs during the
North American Cup Fencing Championship, it shall be
permissible for authorized coaching staff members to
observe prospective student-athletes participating in
that event. - Except: When the dead period for recruiting occurs during
the Junior Olympic Rifle Championships, it shall be
permissible for authorized coaching staff members to
observe prospective student-athletes participating in
that event.
- Except: When the dead period for recruiting occurs during the
Division II Dead Period
- Dec. 1 (7 a.m.)-Dec. 3 (7 a.m.) for two-year college
prospective student-athletes who intend to enroll midyear. - Feb. 2 (7 a.m.)-Feb. 4 (7 a.m.)