THE RECRUITING EPIDEMIC
A trend plaguing collegiate women's soccer
SENIOR YEAR
As a senior in high school, a prospect may:
Receive phone calls from college coaches once a week starting July 1st before their senior year.
Receive emails and calls without having to initiate conversation first.
Take an official visit after the first day of the recruit's senior year
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A prospect may not:
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Take more than five official visits during the year.
NCAA recruiting rules become much more lenient this year because the time frame for commitment is diminishing.
JUNIOR YEAR
As a junior in high school, a prospect may:
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Receive emails or letters from college coaches beginning September 1st.
Arrange unofficial visits only.
Interact with college coaches July 1st after the student-athlete’s junior year.
SOPHOMORE YEAR
The same recruiting rules for a prospect’s freshman year of high school apply for their sophomore year of high school.
FRESHMAN YEAR & PRIOR
As a freshman in high school or younger, a prospect may:
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Call or email a college coach on their behalf.
Engage in phone call conversations with coaches if the phone call is initiated by prospect
Attend unlimited unofficial visits
Unofficial visits mean the prospect visits the school on their own expense​
May receive campus brochures and questionnaires.
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A prospect may not:
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Receive calls or emails from a college coach
Only camp brochures can be sent by college coaches​
Attend an official visit
​Official visits are paid for by the athletic institution campus visits or questionnaires from the school.​
Interact with college coaches at off-campus events
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NCAA: LAYING DOWN THE LAW
Overview
NCAA Division I institutions have adopted recruiting regulations in order to protect the amateur status of young student-athletes. Such regulations are aimed to protect the privacy of the student-athlete’s personal lives from exploitation through the collegiate athletics recruiting process. The NCAA rules for Division I institutions outline topics such as who may be involved in the recruiting process and when an athlete can begin to conduct the recruiting process.
More specifically, Division I women’s soccer programs have their own set of recruiting guidelines under which coaches and prospects must operate. Women’s soccer has seen a dramatic turn in the trend to recruit younger players in recent years. As a result, it is crucial that prospects, parents, club/high school coaches, and college coaches be well versed in the NCAA regulations and violations. Failure to abide by the recruiting rules can affect a prospect’s collegiate eligibility in the future.
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The following information includes the NCAA recruiting guidelines and regulations based on the prospect’s year in high school. Exceptions to the rules vary by school year.