NCAA Contact Periods, Explained

The NCAA divides the recruiting calendar into four period types. Knowing which one you’re in explains why a coach might go quiet for weeks, and it protects you from reading silence as disinterest.

The four period types

• Contact period — coaches can have in-person contact with athletes and parents on or off campus, and phone/email contact is unrestricted.
• Evaluation period — coaches can watch athletes compete or visit their school, but off-campus in-person contact is not allowed.
• Quiet period — all recruiting contact must happen on the college’s campus only; no off-campus contact of any kind.
• Dead period — no in-person contact at all, on or off campus. Phone and email contact are still allowed unless a specific rule says otherwise.

Why this matters for your inbox

Division and sport-specific calendars change these windows every year, and a coach who can’t legally initiate contact yet may still be very interested — they’re just waiting for the period to open. Don’t mistake a dead period for a lost opportunity.

Where to check current dates

Always confirm the current calendar on NCAA.org for your specific division and sport before assuming a coach’s silence means anything.