Each One Teach One Basketball Association

The NCAA defines recruiting as “any solicitation of prospective student-athletes or their parents by an institutional staff member or by a representative of the institution’s athletics interests for the purpose of securing a prospective student-athlete’s enrollment and ultimate participation in the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program.”

Recruiting approaches differ among divisions however. Division II schools for example, allow high school student athletes to participate in recruiting events and sports camps hosted on campus. On the other hand, activities like those are rare and seen as a special privilege at a Division I school.

Recruitment Calendars

Each sport has their own unique recruitment calendars and schedules. It is important to research your sport’s schedule and prepare yourself accordingly.

Most recruitment calendars include the same basic periods or phases including:

Contact Period – This is the time when a college coach has communicated with a prospective student-athlete and the prospect’s parents. The coach may watch the prospective student-athlete play or visit his or her high school. The prospect and the parents may visit a college campus, and the coach may write and telephone during this period.

Dead Period – This is a time when the college coach may not have any in-person contact with the prospective student-athlete or the prospect’s parents at any time. The coach may write and telephone during this time.

Evaluation Period – This is the time a college coach may watch a prospective student-athlete play or visit the high school but cannot have any in-person conversations with the possible recruit or the parents off the college’s campus. The prospective student-athlete and the parents can visit the college campus and a coach may call or write.

National Letter of Intent – This is the document a prospective student-athlete signs when he or she agrees to attend the designated college or university for one academic year. According to the terms of the National Letter of Intent program, participating institutions agree to provide athletics financial aid for one academic year to the student-athlete.

Quiet Period – This is a time when the college may not have any in-person talk with the prospective student-athlete or the parents off the college’s campus. The coach may not watch the prospect play or practice. The prospective student-athlete can visit college campuses during this time and a coach may write or telephone.

Verbal Commitment – This is the phrase used to describe a college-bound student-athlete’s commitment to a school before he or she is able to sign a National Letter of Intent. A college-bound student athlete can announce a verbal commitment at any time. While verbal commitments are popular, they are not binding.

Technology’s Role in Recruitment

Evolving technology presents a lot of unique possibilities in recruiting. The NCAA position states new technology can be used so long as it complies with the spirit and the letter of already existing guidelines. It is not permissible for example, for schools to text prospective student athletes. But they are allowed to email prospective athletes during certain recruiting periods. Schools are also allowed to contact recruits through social media and online networking platforms.