Resources — Recruiting
College Recruiting Visits
Official vs. unofficial visits, rules by level, scholarship negotiation, and everything families need to know before setting foot on a campus.
Section 1
Official vs. Unofficial Visits
Every campus visit falls into one of two categories. Knowing which is which — and what each allows — is your first compliance checkpoint.
Official Visit
The School Pays
- ✓ Transportation to and from campus is covered
- ✓ Hotel for athlete and up to two family members
- ✓ Meals during the visit
- ✓ Guided campus tour with current players
- ✓ Meeting with coaches and academic staff
- ✓ Attendance at a game or practice (if permitted)
- ✓ Limited to 5 total for D1 and D2
- ✓ School must have extended an offer first (D1)
Unofficial Visit
You Pay
- ✓ Athlete and family cover all travel and lodging
- ✓ School may provide a campus tour (free)
- ✓ No limit on the number you can take
- ✓ Can happen at any time of year
- ✓ Great for early-stage research and narrowing your list
- ✓ Coaches can meet with you during an evaluation period
- ✓ No offer required — you can visit without a scholarship on the table
- ✓ Complimentary tickets to games may be provided
If a coach invites you
Respond within 24–48 hours — even a brief "Thank you, we're interested" maintains the relationship. Bring a list of prepared questions. Take notes during the visit and rate each school on academics, facilities, coaching staff culture, team culture, and financial aid. Send a thank-you email within 24 hours of returning home. A handwritten note is even more memorable.
Section 2
Rules by Level
Recruiting regulations vary significantly across divisions. The table below covers the most common rules — always verify current rules directly with the NCAA, NAIA, or NJCAA, as policies can change.
| Level | Contact Allowed | Official Visits | Duration | Key Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA D1 | Phone/text after June 15 following sophomore year; in-person contact rules vary by sport | 5 total | 48 hours max | School must have extended an official offer before an official visit can occur |
| NCAA D2 | After Sept 1 of junior year | 5 total | 48 hours max | Similar to D1 but generally less restrictive; school covers expenses once offer is extended |
| NCAA D3 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No athletic scholarships — need-based and academic aid only. Schools can pay for visits at their own discretion |
| NAIA | School-specific; generally more flexible than NCAA | School-specific | School-specific | NAIA has its own eligibility and recruiting rules. Verify with each school's athletic compliance office directly |
| NJCAA | After end of junior year (sport-specific) | Limited; check sport rules | 2 days max | NJCAA programs often move fast. Decision timelines are shorter than 4-year schools — be ready to commit quickly |
Rules summarized as of 2026. Always verify with the school's compliance office and the governing body (NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA) before making decisions based on this table.
Section 3
What Parents & Athletes Often Miss
The things that matter most are rarely the ones families talk about most.
Before the Visit
- Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center (Clearinghouse) early — junior year at the latest
- Research the academic programs, not just the athletic program
- Write down 10–15 questions in advance; don't rely on memory
- Look up the team's graduation rate and APR (Academic Progress Rate)
- Review the school's financial aid policies before arriving
Money Details
- Official visits are free but have hard caps — use them strategically
- Unofficial visits are out-of-pocket — budget accordingly and start early
- Track every visit expense for comparison when weighing financial aid packages
- Ask the financial aid office — not just the coach — what total cost looks like
- Merit aid, Pell grants, and loans may be part of the package, not just athletic aid
Reading the Signals
- A coach scheduling an official visit = serious, confirmed interest
- An unofficial visit invitation = they want a look, not a commitment
- A coach who never asks your athlete a direct question during the visit is a red flag
- A program that rushes you to commit before a visit is worth a second look
- Watch how current players interact with coaching staff — culture shows itself quickly
During & After
- Take written notes — details blur together after multiple visits
- Rate each school on: academics, facilities, coaching staff, team culture, financial aid
- Send a thank-you email to the head coach within 24 hours
- Have your athlete send the email — not the parent
- Avoid comparing your visit experience to other recruits; every path is different
Section 4
Scholarships & Negotiation
Most families don't know they can ask. And most coaches expect them to.
Headcount vs. Equivalency Sports
Headcount
Full scholarship or nothing. D1 football (FBS), basketball, tennis, volleyball, gymnastics. Each scholarship covers full cost of attendance. Nothing to negotiate on individual components.
Equivalency
Coaches split a pool of scholarship money across multiple players. You may receive a partial scholarship. The amount is negotiable. Competing offers from other schools are a legitimate part of the conversation.
One-year renewable rule: Athletic scholarships are renewed annually, not guaranteed for four years. Understand the specific conditions that trigger non-renewal at each school you're considering.
6 Questions to Ask Every Coach
- Is this scholarship renewable each year? What are the conditions for renewal?
- What happens to my scholarship if I am injured and cannot play?
- How much of my total financial need will this scholarship cover?
- Does my scholarship cover summer school or additional semesters?
- How many players are you offering scholarships to this year at my position?
- What is the typical scholarship percentage for players in my position at this program?
Section 5
Senior Year Timeline
The recruiting calendar has hard deadlines. Miss one and your window may close. Here's how the year typically unfolds for most sports.
Fall
Aug–Nov
Aug–Nov
Early Fall — Finalize & Visit
- Take SAT/ACT if scores still need improvement
- Finalize highlight film — 3–5 minutes, best plays first
- Use official visits on schools you are seriously considering
- Continue unofficial visits to build your comparison list
- Confirm NCAA Eligibility Center status is complete and up to date
- Attend National Signing Day preview events if available in your area
Signing
Nov–Feb
Nov–Feb
Signing Periods — Commit on Your Terms
- Early Signing Period: mid-December (football and most sports)
- National Signing Day: first Wednesday in February (football)
- Only the NLI (National Letter of Intent) is binding — verbal offers are not
- Read the NLI carefully before signing; it obligates both you and the school
- Do not sign before you are genuinely ready — coaches understand
Winter
If Open
If Open
Still Unsigned? Keep Moving
- JUCO and NAIA programs often have open spots well into February and March
- Walk-on opportunities at 4-year programs remain viable — contact coaches directly
- Late-signing schools open spots when commits de-commit; check team portals
- Use ABF resources to connect with programs that match your academic and athletic profile
Dead
Periods
Periods
Dead Periods — No In-Person Contact
- During dead periods, no in-person contact is allowed between coaches and recruits
- Phone, text, and email contact remain open during dead periods
- Dead periods are scheduled around championships, bowl games, and signing periods
- A quiet period restricts coaches to on-campus contact only — they cannot visit you
- Know the period type before planning a visit — it affects what a coach can legally do
Section 6
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a college coach contact my athlete first?
Yes, but timing rules apply by division and sport. For D1 sports, coaches generally cannot initiate contact (phone or text) until after June 15 following your athlete's sophomore year. D2 rules allow contact after September 1 of the junior year. D3, NAIA, and NJCAA programs have fewer restrictions. Coaches can always respond if your athlete contacts them first — so don't wait for them to reach out.
How many official visits can my athlete take?
Five official visits for D1 and D2 athletes. D3 programs have no official limit — schools can fund visits at their own discretion. NAIA and NJCAA rules vary by program and sport. Use your D1/D2 official visits on schools where your athlete has a genuine interest in committing — they are a limited resource.
Can a coach pay for an unofficial visit?
No. By NCAA rules, all costs on an unofficial visit — transportation, lodging, meals — are the responsibility of the student-athlete and family. The school may provide up to three complimentary tickets to an athletic event during an unofficial visit. Any additional benefit from the school converts the visit to an official visit and counts against the limit.
What happens if we miss an official visit date?
Contact the school's athletic compliance office immediately. In most cases, a missed official visit cannot simply be rescheduled and reclassified — it typically counts as one of your five. Emergencies may have exceptions, but do not assume. Always communicate with the school's compliance officer, not just the position coach.
What is a dead period?
A dead period is a defined block of time when no in-person recruiting contact is allowed between coaches and prospective student-athletes or their families — anywhere, on or off campus. Phone, text, and email contact may still occur. Dead periods are scheduled by each sport's national governing body around championship events, signing periods, and holidays.
What is a quiet period?
A quiet period allows coaches to have in-person contact with recruits only on their own campus. Coaches cannot visit your athlete at their high school, practice, or home during a quiet period. Athletes and families can still visit the campus. It's "quiet" in the sense that coaches go quiet on the road — not quiet in terms of contact altogether.
What is an evaluation period?
During an evaluation period, coaches are allowed to watch your athlete compete or practice in person. However, they are not permitted to speak with or approach the athlete or family at that event. It is a watching-only period. If a coach shows up at a game during an evaluation period, that is a strong signal of serious interest — but expect no interaction at the event itself.
Can a school take back a scholarship offer?
Verbal offers are not binding on either side. A coach can verbally offer a scholarship and later not follow through — and an athlete can verbally commit and then decommit. Only the NLI (National Letter of Intent), once signed by both parties during a signing period, creates a binding agreement. Never stop your recruiting process based on a verbal offer alone.
Does my athlete need a parent or guardian on official visits?
Not required, but strongly recommended. NCAA rules allow schools to cover the expenses of a parent or legal guardian (generally up to two) during an official visit. This is a significant benefit — use it. Parents who attend official visits gain important context for making the decision, and their presence signals to the program that the family is engaged and serious.
What is the NLI and when should we sign it?
The National Letter of Intent is a legally binding agreement between a student-athlete and an NCAA member institution. Signing the NLI commits the athlete to attend that school for one academic year and commits the school to provide the promised athletic scholarship. It can only be signed during specific signing periods for each sport. Read it carefully, consult with a counselor if unsure, and sign only when genuinely committed — it has penalties for breaking the agreement.
What should my athlete ask during the campus visit?
Beyond the scholarship questions listed in the guide, your athlete should ask: What does a typical week look like for a player in my position? What are the expectations during the off-season? What is the team culture like — how do veterans treat freshmen? What happens if I want to change my major? What support is available if I'm struggling academically? The answers reveal what life on that team will actually look like — not what the brochure promises.
Also in Recruiting Resources
Parent Recruiting Guide: 18 Mistakes to Avoid
What NOT to do during the recruiting process — and what to do instead. 18 behaviors that quietly hurt a recruitment, paired with the approach that actually works.
We Help Families Navigate the Recruiting Process
From scholarships and NIL guidance to fundraising for recruiting travel — ABF gives student-athletes and families the tools to compete and succeed.