NCAA Recruiting Rules for Volleyball

College volleyball programs at the Division I level are subject to the same rules as other sports, according to the NCAA, although football and basketball programs have additional rules. High school students who plan to attend college and play volleyball are only allowed to have certain contact with college programs during specific time periods.

  1. High School Seniors

    • A college coach can't contact a player until Sept. 1 of the volleyball player's senior year of high school, according to the NCAA. This includes calls, texts, and e-mails. Coaches can talk to a student athlete before Sept. 1 if the player makes contact and reaches a coach directly, but a coach can't make a return phone call. A coach can also talk to a potential volleyball recruit if the player makes an unofficial campus visit. Beginning July 5 (shortly after a high school senior graduates), a college coach can have unlimited text and e-mail communication with a player; they can also make one phone call per week.

    High School Juniors

    • After the last tournament of a player's junior season in high school, a coach can speak to a player in person at the event, according to the NCAA. Players can call coaches and speak to them directly, but a coach can't return phone calls from potential recruits.

    High School Sophomores and Freshmen

    • During a high school volleyball player's freshman and sophomore years, recruiting materials—such as questionnaires and camp brochures—can be sent to a player. The questionnaires and brochures are sent out as programs begin to look at young players and put them in their school databases; this is not a part of the formal recruiting process. No other contact can be made with a student, but a student is allowed to contact a college coach. Students typically register with the NCAA Clearing House as a sophomore, although some wait until the junior year, to make sure they will meet university academic guidelines.

    Dead and Quiet Periods

    • The NCAA Women’s Volleyball Recruiting Calendar has specific dates when communication is regulated each year. Potential recruits may not have in-person contact with coaches during dead periods. During quiet periods coaches can't contact players via phone or e-mail, but they are allowed to talk to recruits if the student visits campus. During the evaluation period, a coach can visit a high school to watch a student perform, but can't talk to the player. For volleyball players, limited contact periods end about the time the school year ends. Volleyball rules permit an exception to the standard dates for high school students who play the sport in the winter.