NCAA Track and Field / Cross Country Recruiting Guidelines

NCAA Recruiting Timeline/Rules

NCAA Division 1 Track and Field/XC Recruiting Rules

The NCAA Division 1 track and field recruiting rules and calendar outline when prospective student-athletes can receive certain forms of communication from college track and field coaches based on their year in high school.

• Any time: Athletes can receive general camp brochures, recruiting questionnaires and non-athletic recruiting publications.

• June 15 after sophomore year: Coaches can begin sending recruits all forms of private electronic correspondence, including phone calls, text messages, emails, social media DMs and instant messages. All other recruiting materials are also permitted at this time, including athletic institutional publications. Coaches can also initiate recruiting conversations—including extending verbal offers—with recruits during camps and clinics on this date.

• August 1 before junior year: College track and field coaches can start off-campus contact with recruits at their home and school. Athletes may also begin taking unofficial and official visits to their schools of choice.

NCAA Division III Track and Field Recruiting Rules

The NCAA track and field recruiting rules and calendar at the D3 level are the most relaxed among all NCAA divisions. While there are very few restrictions around coach communication and off-campus contact, D3 college coaches tend to start their recruiting during the end of an athlete’s junior year and continue for the duration of their senior year—it’s not uncommon to see coaches recruiting athletes well into the spring of their final year of high school.

• Recruiting materials: Athletes can receive recruiting materials, including questionnaires and other printed recruiting publications, at any time.

• Electronic communication: Coaches are permitted to contact recruits using all forms of private electronic communications at any time, including phone calls, text messages, emails, social media DMs and instant messages.

• Unofficial visits: Athletes can take unofficial visits to their schools of interest at any time.

• Official visits: D3 schools can host prospective student-athletes beginning January 1 of their junior year.

• Off-campus contact: Coaches can conduct off-campus contact with recruits at their home or high school immediately following the end of an athlete’s sophomore year.