Things to Know About the NCAA Recruiting Guidelines

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.”

Why We Have NCAA Recruiting Guidelines
To that end, NCAA member schools have adopted rules to create an equitable recruiting environment that promotes student-athlete well-being. These rules create NCAA recruiting guidelines that define who may be involved in the recruiting process, when recruiting may occur and the conditions under which recruiting may be conducted. NCAA recruiting guidelines seek, as much as possible, to limit the intrusions by college coaches into the lives of student-athletes by clarifying when activity can and cannot occur and how it must be done.

How Parents & Athletes Abide by NCAA Recruiting Guidelines
Athletes and parents tend to become concerned with making sure they follow the NCAA recruiting guidelines and the rules associated with recruiting. First of all, it is not incumbent upon the athlete to know all of the rules and NCAA recruiting guidelines. Almost every NCAA recruiting guideline and rule deals with the actions of the coach or member institution. You have to remember that the NCAA came up with these important recruiting guidelines and rules to protect the athlete and their parents.

They are in place to control the actions of the coach and school, not the athlete and their parents. Coaches are required to know the applicable NCAA guidelines and rules and should stop any activity that may violate them. Secondly, the NCAA Division I recruiting manual is nearly 500 pages thick. Not even NCAA coaches know all of these guidelines and rules. But just know that you can always go to the NCAA website or manual if you have any questions, or you can always call one of the coaches at Play Up Athletics. We may not know all the rules either, but at least we can tell you if you even need to bother worrying about a certain situation or activity.

How Coaches Approach the NCAA Recruiting Guidelines
Most of the NCAA recruiting guidelines and rules deal with the contact of the athletes by a coach and how and when that can be done. If you want more information on how and when an athlete can be contacted, visit the NCAA recruiting calendar. If you want more general information on recruiting the NCAA produces a manual called the Guide for College Bound Student Athletes if you want to learn more.

Play Up Athletics Can Break Down Recruiting Rules For You
Play Up Athletics specializes in getting student athletes ready to be recruited and then walking them through the process from start to finish, including making sure they are aware of applicable rules and deadlines. Our program called The Athletic Edge, addresses the important NCAA recruiting rules that apply to the athlete, but more than that, we teach you the most efficient, effective and affordable way to get recruited. A small investment can reap tens of thousands of dollars in savings and produce an unforgettable college experience. To learn more about The Athletic Edge and how we can help you, contact us.

If you have any specific questions about NCAA recruiting guidelines just e-mail or give us a call.