Recruiting Rules & Calendar Hub

Free, no account required. Plain-language explanations of when a college track & field coach can legally initiate contact with a high school athlete — division by division. Athletes can always reach out to a coach first, at any time, in every division.

• NCAA Division I

  Restricted window

  The most structured calendar in college track & field — contact is only allowed during the windows below.

  • Contact Period: Aug 1 – Dec 13, 2026
  • Dead Period: Nov 9–12, 2026
  • Dead Period: Nov 21, 2026
  • Dead Period: Dec 14–26, 2026
  • Contact Period: Dec 27, 2026 – Jul 31, 2027
  • Dead Period: Mar 12–13, 2027
  • Dead Period: Jun 9–12, 2027

  During a Dead Period a coach can't call, text, visit, or evaluate an athlete in person — but general recruiting materials can still go out. Source: NCAA's official 2026-27 Division I Cross Country & Track recruiting calendar.

  Last verified July 18, 2026

• NCAA Division II

  Restricted window

  No fixed monthly calendar like D1 — what's allowed depends on where the athlete is in their recruiting journey.

  • Freshman & sophomore year: recruiting materials only — no direct contact yet
  • June 15 before junior year: off-campus contact and calls/texts open up, with no limits
  • Official visits: allowed anytime after that, outside of dead periods
  • Once an athlete signs: other D1/D2 coaches must stop reaching out

  D2 doesn't publish exact dead-period dates the way D1 does — confirm current dead periods with the school's compliance office. Source: NCAA's official 2026-27 Division II Coaches Off-Campus Recruiting Guide.

  Last verified July 18, 2026

• NCAA Division III

  Unrestricted

  One of the most open levels — no locked calendar, no waiting period.

  • Coaches can contact an athlete at any point in high school

  Individual schools may set their own norms, but the NCAA itself doesn't restrict D3 contact timing.

  Last verified July 18, 2026

• NAIA

  Unrestricted

  No NCAA-style recruiting calendar — coaches can reach out whenever they want.

  • No restrictions on when a coach can make contact

  Confirmed against the NAIA's own published recruiting rules — no calendar exists at this level.

  Last verified July 18, 2026

• Junior College (NJCAA)

  Unrestricted

  The most flexible level of all — no recruiting calendar exists.

  • Coaches can contact, evaluate, and offer at any time, year-round

  The real limit is elsewhere — an official visit requires the athlete to have finished their junior year. Individual NJCAA regions may set their own local norms.

  Last verified July 18, 2026

These rules are set by each governing body and can change. Committed reviews and updates this page as new calendars are published — always confirm directly with a school's compliance office before relying on a date for a specific decision.