Recruiting: Early Recruiting Period
There is a proposal that will be submitted by Division II conferences to be reviewed during the 2005-2006 legislative cycle. This proposal would permit an institution, in all sports other than football, to engage in the following recruiting activities: (1) one in-person, off-campus contact with a prospective student-athlete during April of the prospect's junior year that must occur on the high-school campus (subject to recruiting calendar restrictions); and (2) one telephone call during March of the prospect's junior year in high school with subsequent telephone calls subject to current sports-specific limitations.
Rationale In Support of this Proposal:
- This proposal would simplify the recruiting process
- This proposal would create consistency and even the playing field with Division I.
- This proposal would provide an earlier opportunity to contact prospective student-athletes and educate student-athletes and parents on NCAA rules and regulations.
Rational Opposed to this Proposal:
- This proposal might be considered intrusive to prospects that have not been considered recruitable prior to this time period (i.e. juniors). It would make the recruiting process much longer for prospects and coaches.
- This proposal would incur additional expenses by a coaching staff member making an off-campus visit before what is currently allowed.
- This proposal will demand more commitment on behalf of part-time coaches. It creates an unfair advantage to those coaches who are not employed full-time and do not have assistants who are full-time.
