Coaches can contact players as early as June 15, following their sophomore year, or September 1, of their junior year of high school for most sports. Coach contact is determined by your sport, age, division level, and mode of communication. For example, baseball coaches can contact players after their sophomore season (June 15) if they use telephone calls or e-mails to communicate with their athletes.
Contact by phone is recommended for all sports except wrestling and soccer. Coaches should call only during normal business hours, which are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. Telephone contacts should be brief (five minutes or less), but if you need to talk with the athlete further, other methods can be used such as writing letters or sending e-mails.
Wrestling coaches can contact wrestlers anytime after their sophomore year by email or text message. Electronic mail addresses are available on each wrestler's profile page on jucoweb.com. Text messages can be sent to cell phones by contacting the athlete's mother at the number listed on his or her profile page.
Coach contact for soccer is limited to e-mail and telephone calls made between November 1 and January 1. Email is recommended because it gives coaches a chance to discuss issues related to playing time without being seen in person.
It is advisable to approach a coach as soon as you have determined that their school and program are a good fit for you. Athletes and families are contacting programs, emailing, calling, or visiting them as early as eighth grade or freshman year of high school. This is an excellent time to start contacting coaches. Coaches like to know who they can expect to see play out on the field or court during home games and tournaments.
There are two types of coaches: those who respond to emails and those who do not. It is important to send a clear message in your email that it is a request from so and so at such and such school. Also include a link to something that shows how and why your game might be a benefit to their team (for example, www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMlGIZVZmQ8). If you don't get a response after sending this email, then move on to the next coach.
Some schools may prefer that you call them first before sending an email. This is fine, but make sure to follow up with an email just in case they don't reply within a few days. Some coaches may not check their mail until it has been processed by a secretary or assistant coach. Keep in mind that some coaches may have many inquiries from different players about openings on their teams so please keep your requests short and sweet!
June 15: Beginning June 15, after the athlete's sophomore year, D2 coaches can engage prospects via electronic messages, recruiting materials, phone calls, and in-person, off-campus recruiting interactions. The only time that coaches cannot communicate with prospects is during the early signing period in December.
Coaches are able to receive electronic communications from prospects at any time throughout the year, including during school days and weekends. If a prospect wants to avoid receiving communication from coaches, they can opt out by contacting D2 headquarters. Prospects have up to 24 hours to notify D2 headquarters if they do not want to be included in the future database.
In addition to being able to communicate with prospects, D2 coaches will also be able to attend summer events for prospects. These events include camps, open houses, and other opportunities for prospects to meet with coaches. Coaches are required to wear a face mask when at an event where fans are present. Fans should expect to see coaches wearing masks too.
The NCAA announced in April that it was extending its ban on on-campus recruiting visits by athletes' families until August 31. Previously, the family visits ended after the end of the spring semester, which for most schools was May 20.
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