Restrictions
Each Division has a different set of restrictions when it comes to communicating with you, and eventually planning official visits.
When can field hockey coaches contact field hockey recruits?
Starting June 15 of the student-athlete’s sophomore year, NCAA Division 1 and 2 college 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. 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.
D1 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:
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 of junior year: Student-athletes are not permitted to schedule unofficial visits or official visits until after this date.
August 1 of junior year: Off-campus evaluations can begin. Evaluations may only occur at the recruit’s school or home during junior year.
D2 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: Starting June 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year, student-athletes can begin receiving printed recruiting materials.
Telephone calls: Beginning June 15 after an athlete’s sophomore year, coaches can begin calling athletes.
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.
D3 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.