Contact, Quiet, and Dead Periods

What are the dates for each period? Are the dates different or do they possibly mean different things for the various levels (D1. D2, D3, Juco, NAIA)?

The OP is correct on what each means mostly.  Contact period still is age dependent on level of contact initiated by coach.  But they can come watch anything.  I've never heard of a showcase during dead period because no one would go.

The various levels used to be almost identical but Covid changed that a little.  In juco, it actually depends on the conference.  Some have extended periods and even where you can go recruit.  You would need to check websites for various levels and in juco conferences.

Here are the Calendar's for D1/D2

https://www.ncaa.org/student-a...recruiting-calendars

@PitchingFan posted:

The OP is correct on what each means mostly.  Contact period still is age dependent on level of contact initiated by coach.  But they can come watch anything.  I've never heard of a showcase during dead period because no one would go.

The various levels used to be almost identical but Covid changed that a little.  In juco, it actually depends on the conference.  Some have extended periods and even where you can go recruit.  You would need to check websites for various levels and in juco conferences.

What is the age for contact period? Does that mean a coach can't come up to a player during a contact period at an event if they are 15? 16? Does age apply to the quiet period if attending a camp on the campus?

This is a good article on it.

https://usatodayhss.com/2017/w...hes-contact-athletes

At a camp, other than dead period which should never happen, a coach can talk to players.

@PitchingFan posted:

This is a good article on it.

https://usatodayhss.com/2017/w...hes-contact-athletes

At a camp, other than dead period which should never happen, a coach can talk to players.

Thanks! Very helpful.

D2 calendar for baseball isn't on that page, not sure where it exists.

On the D1 side, this is the grey zone to me:

The bold area reads to me like a coach in a quiet period can't attend anything off campus, from games to showcases. Correct?

This link has the calendars for each level:

https://www.ncsasports.org/bas...iting-rules-calendar

Here are the definitions by level where you can see that D1 is the most restrictive where as NAIA has no restrictions at all:

Division 1 baseball recruiting calendar

Contact period: College coaches may have in-person contact with student-athletes and their parents on or off campus. Coaches may also visit their high school or watch them compete. Campus visits by the recruit and their parents are also allowed. Coaches may write and phone during this period:

• Aug. 1 – Aug. 16, 2020
• Sept. 11 – Oct. 11, 2020
• March 1 – May 30, 2021
• June 8 – June 18, 2021
• June 22 – July 2, 2021
• July 6, 2021 – July 31, 2021

Dead period: At no time may a college coach have in-person contact on or off campus with student-athletes and/or their parents. The coach may write or telephone during this period:

• Nov. 9 – Nov. 12, 2020
• Jan. 7 – Jan. 10, 2021
• May 31 – June 7, 2021
• June 19 – June 21, 2021
• July 3 – July 5, 2021

Quiet period: A college coach is not allowed to have any in-person contact with a student-athlete or their parents off the college campus. They also may not watch them compete or visit their high school. Coaches may write or telephone during this period and student-athletes and their parents may visit a college campus during this time:

• Aug. 17, 2020 – Sept. 10, 2020
• Oct. 12, 2020 – Nov. 8, 2020
• Nov. 13, 2020 – Jan. 6, 2021
• Jan. 11, 2021 – Feb. 28, 2021

See the full D1 baseball recruiting calendar here.

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Division 2 baseball recruiting calendar

Treat all dates that are not part of the dead period as a contact period.

Dead period: At no time may a college coach have in-person contact on or off campus with student-athletes or their parents. The coach may write or telephone during this period.

• Nov. 9, 2020 (7 am) – Nov. 11, 2020 (7 am)
• This period outlines the 48 hours prior to 7 a.m. on the dates for signing the National Letter of Intent.

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Division 3 baseball recruiting calendar

For D3 schools, there are no dead periods. The contact period is effectively year-round.

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NAIA and junior college recruiting calendar

The NAIA and junior colleges do not regulate contact and communication for coaches. There is no recruiting calendar for either.

You might need a very tall building to explain this during an elevator ride.
I think the most confusing part is the Recruiting Calendar vs the Recruiting Guide.
The "Recruiting Calendar" is really for college coaches, not for recruits. Among other things, it forces them to take some time off from recruiting. Each NCAA division has its own calendar.
The "Recruiting Guide" is more about the high school recruits. It defines all the different types of contact allowed for each high school grade.
It’s the combination of the two that dictates who can be contacted when and how and where. It's a confusing system.

In my experience, these dates and definitions are more along the lines of suggestions than rules for college coaches

For what it's worth, here's the way we explain the various recruiting periods (included on our recruiting calendars that we provide via our website for all sports - we cover all D1 and D2 sport calendars for the current and upcoming month).

"Contact Period – Coaches can have in-person, face-to-face interaction with prospects and/or family members at any location and can evaluate prospect’s academic and athletic qualifications by visiting their school to speak with teachers and coaches, to review film, and can observe practice and competition.

Evaluation Period – Coaches can evaluate prospect’s academic and athletic qualifications by visiting their school to speak with teachers and coaches, to review film, and can observe practice and competition, but no in-person, face-to-face interaction with prospect’s and/or their family members away from campus is permitted.

Recruiting Period – (Men’s Basketball Only) This is essentially the same as a Contact Period.  Coaches can have in-person, face-to-face interaction with prospects and/or family members at any location and can evaluate prospect’s academic and athletic qualifications by visiting their school to speak with teachers and coaches, to review film, and can observe practice and competition.

Recruiting Shutdown – (Women’s Basketball Only) This is a period when no form of recruiting is permissible.  Coaches are not allowed to have off-campus contacts or evaluations, can’t have recruits make official or unofficial visits to campus or participate in camps or clinics, and can’t have any type of written or electronic communication with recruits.

Quiet Period – Coaches can have in-person, face-to-face interaction with prospects and/or their family members only on their campus.  No off-campus evaluation or contact is permitted.

Dead Period – Coaches are not allowed to have in-person face-to-face interaction at any location with prospects or their family members.  Contact is prohibited even if the prospect and/or family members arrive unexpectedly on campus."

So, does this mean during the quiet period there can be no "hey, coach, have your kid call me at this time" stuff going on? 

Phone calls, text messages and emails can be made/exchanged at any time once it first becomes permissible for that athlete.  That's regardless of the type of recruiting period.