What constitutes "being recruited"?

...nice ride....

Your son (and you) are now head of a Public Relations firm.  The answer is all four.

Before I even read your post, I just wanna say ... that's a very good headline. I suspect it will elicit lots of opinions, and that's a good thing.

So who's asking?

JP's a 2016, and same kinds of stuff, plus a D1 verbal which he declined. If a school asks on a form, he'd leave it blank. In person, he'd just tell the coach who he's talking to.

Others will likely disagree, and we're still learning.

Wanting to know for the same reasons you state - how to fill in a questionnaire or respond to a coach that asks. Like yours, my son has left these fields blank so far, but is unsure if this is the best approach.  Also Field Level requests the information, for what purpose I'm not exactly sure.  Definitely in the learning phase, and would love to hear what others think/have done.

Sometimes it's hard to determine if you're son is being "recruited" or if the school is laying the groundwork to recruit your son to their camp. Here's what I've seen. A school somehow finds mailing address of kid and sends an email saying they've identified son as a potential prospect, etc.... You assume they've seen kid, heard about kid, etc... Later you get an email inviting to camp. At this point you don't really know what the intent is.

This is both easy to remember and true in every sense:

You are being recruited when the coach calls you and tells you that you are being recruited.  Everything else is interest and not recruitment.

Agree lefty,

You will know, but that doesn't mean that you still don't have to do the dance. A lot of schools will be recuriting you if you have the talent. You will know when they are serious.

If I may give a plug to one of our advertisers, here is what Rick at Informed Athlete says on his web site:

How does the NCAA define whether a prospect is considered a recruited athlete?

A prospect is considered a recruited athlete if the college takes one of the following actions:

• If they provide the prospect with an official visit.
• If they have an off-campus contact with the prospect or the prospect’s parents or legal guardians.
• If they offer the prospect a National Letter of Intent or an athletic scholarship agreement.
• If they initiate a telephone conversation with the prospect or his parents or legal guardians more than one time.

Ironically, a coach can have frequent e-mail conversations with a prospect but that athlete will still not be defined as a recruited athlete if the coach does not use any of the four actions above to encourage the prospect to attend the college and join their athletic program.

Very helpful, thank you.   For a 2016 grad, it seems that only the last one (multiple telephone calls initiated by the college) or a verbal scholarship offer would apply?  While an older athlete should know if they are being recruited, it does seem less clear for younger athletes.

Nice name!  Welcome.

I think that where your son now is at ( 2016),  which for him and most is at the beginning of the process,  there are things that are confusing. 

Trust me by the time your son graduates HS you will know the answer to your question!

For now, the info provided above is what I always considered what the NCAA defines as being recruited.  However, there are things that will occur during the HS recruiting years that definitely do mean a coach is seriously recruiting your player. You will know it when it happens.

Enjoying the Ride,

I strongly suggest you & your son read this Guide published by our friends (yes...that is sarcasm) at the NCAA.   http://www.ncaapublications.co...ctdownloads/CBSA.pdf

It IS less clear for sophomores because the contact (recruiting term in the Guide) methods are limited by the NCAA on page 22,   Most people get around the sophomore contact issue by using their travel or high school coach act as a proxy.  At this stage if you are garnering interest you are on the right path toward recruitment.

Although I probably don't need to say it....I will.....enjoy the ride!

Aren't numbers 1 and 2 clear violations by those coaches? My understanding is that a coach can not directly contact a prospect that is in his sophomore year(a 2016).

Regarding number 1., the D3 rules allow a coach to call or email a prospective student athlete at any age or grade level.