College Recruiting Rules for 2025/2026 - A Guide for Baseball and Softball Athletes and Parents
- Mike Brooks
- Jul 20
- 5 min read
The college recruiting process can be overwhelming, confusing, and constantly changing. We've put together this guide to help you navigate the 2025/26 NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA recruiting rules for baseball and softball. We want to provide you with all the information you need to understand these rules, make informed decisions, and ultimately achieve your goals of playing at the collegiate level.
Each organization has its own set of rules and regulations regarding player recruitment, and it's essential to stay informed and prepared.
NCAA
The NCAA recruiting calendar regulates when and how college coaches can communicate with prospective student-athletes and their families. Recruiting periods are defined times during the year when college coaches can contact potential student-athletes. The NCAA has strict regulations regarding these periods to ensure an equal playing field for all colleges and universities.
The NCAA has implemented changes to baseball and Softball recruiting rules, primarily affecting Division I, to curb early recruiting and promote a more balanced evaluation process. Key changes include limiting contact between coaches and recruits until August 1st of the player's junior year and reducing the size of the roster. These changes aim to create a more level playing field, allowing players more time to develop before making college decisions.
Here's a breakdown of the significant changes:
1. Restrictions on Communication:
No contact until junior year: NCAA Division I coaches are prohibited from initiating contact with recruits (or their families) before August 1st of the player's junior year. This includes all forms of communication, such as calls, texts, emails, and social media. Third-party restrictions:
This rule also applies to third parties, such as high school coaches, travel ball coaches, and recruiting advisors, who act as intermediaries between the student-athletes and the institutions.
Official and Unofficial Visits: Official and unofficial visits cannot take place before September 1st of a player's junior year.
Camps: Recruiting conversations between recruits and college coaches during camps are forbidden prior to September 1st of the athlete's junior year of high school.
NCAA DIVISION 1 RECRUITING PERIODS
Recruiting Period:
For Division 1, this period starts on August 1st of the player's junior year of high school and lasts until the player signs a National Letter of Intent (NLI) or until July 31st after the player's senior year of high school. For Division 2, the Recruiting period begins on June 15 after the sophomore year.
Contact Period:
The contact period is the most active time for recruiting. During this period, college coaches can contact recruits and their parents in person, watch them play or practice, and visit their high schools. Coaches can also communicate with recruits via phone calls, text messages, emails, and social media.
Baseball - Aug 1-17, 2025 / Sept 12-Oct 12, 2025 / March 1-July 31, 2026 (see exceptions for Dead Period).
Softball - Aug 1-10, 2025 / June 6-July 31, 2026.
Quiet Period:
During the quiet period, coaches are not permitted to watch athletes compete or visit their high schools. Coaches can only meet with athletes or their parents on the college's campus. However, coaches can still communicate with recruits via phone calls, text messages, emails, and social media.
Baseball - Aug 18-Sept 11, 2025 / Oct 13, 2025-Feb 28, 2026 (see exceptions in Dead period and Recruiting Shutdown).
Softball - Nov 24, 2025-Jan 2, 2026 (see exceptions in Dead period and Recruiting Shutdown).
Dead Period:
A dead period is the most restrictive time for recruiting. During a dead period, college coaches are prohibited from having any in-person contact with recruits and their parents, either on or off the college campus. Coaches are not allowed to watch recruits play, practice, or visit their high schools. However, coaches can still communicate with recruits via phone calls, text messages, emails, and social media.
Baseball - Nov 10-13, 2025 / Jan 8-11, 2026 / May 25-June 1, 2026 / June 20-22, 2026 / July 3-5, 2026.
Softball - Aug 28-Sept 23, 2025 / Nov 10-13, 2025 / Dec 10-13, 2025 / May 26-June 5, 2026.
Evaluation Period:
During the evaluation period, coaches can watch athletes compete or visit their high schools, but cannot have face-to-face contact with them or their parents off the college's campus. Coaches can still communicate with recruits via phone calls, text messages, emails, and social media.
Baseball - NA.
Softball - Aug 11-Nov 23, 2025 / Oct 18-19, 25-26 / Nov 1-2, 8-9, 15,16, 22-23 / Jan 3-May 25, 2026 / High School regional and state championships.
Recruiting shutdown:
A recruiting shutdown is a rare and special time for recruiting. During a recruiting shutdown, college coaches are prohibited from having any recruiting contact or evaluations with recruits and their parents, either in person or electronically. Coaches are prohibited from communicating with recruits via phone calls, text messages, emails, or social media. A recruiting shutdown is a time to respect both coaches and recruits' holidays and family time.
Baseball - Nov 25-30, 2025 / Dec 22-27, 2025.
Softball - Nov 26-30 / Dec 22-26 / Dec 31, 2025-Jan 2, 2026.
See Current NCAA Baseball Division 1 Calendar
See Current NCAA Softball Division I Calendar
NCAA DIVISION 2
NCAA recruiting rules for Division 2 schools are less restrictive than those for Division 1 schools.
Coach communication, off-campus contact, and official visits can begin June 15 after sophomore year.
General materials: Athletes can get all types of communications, including camp brochures, questionnaires, NCAA materials, and non-athletic recruiting publications at any time.
Printed recruiting materials: At any time, coaches can begin mailing out printed recruiting materials, such as camp brochures, questionnaires, or general school brochures, which are available to all students.
Telephone calls: At any time, coaches can initiate calls using FaceTime, Skype, or other video conferencing services with athletes.
Off-campus contact: College coaches can have off-campus communications with athletes and/or their parents starting June 15 prior to the athlete’s junior year.
Official visits: Athletes may start taking official visits starting June 15 prior to their junior year.
NCAA DIVISION 3
Compared to Division 1 and Division 2 schools, NCAA Division 3 schools have more relaxed recruiting rules for baseball and softball. Student-athletes can receive recruiting materials at any time, and college coaches can make unlimited calls to them. Coaches may communicate with athletes off-campus after their sophomore year, and athletes can make as many unofficial visits as they want with their parents. After January 1 of their junior year, athletes can begin taking official visits. There are no dead periods for D3 schools, and the contact period is effectively year-round.
NAIA
Unlike the NCAA, the NAIA does not regulate or limit the contact and communication between a coach and a current high school athlete, nor does it regulate campus visits and tryouts. The NAIA does not restrict contact and communication for coaches, and there is no recruiting calendar.
JUNIOR COLLEGE
Junior college coaches may contact potential student-athletes at any time as long as they have not signed a letter of intent with another Junior College. There are no calendar restrictions on baseball or softball recruiting.
In Conclusion:
Understanding the various college recruiting rules and guidelines is essential for athletes and parents embarking on the recruitment journey. By familiarizing yourself with the various periods and adopting effective communication strategies, you can navigate the process with confidence. Remember to set realistic expectations and focus on personal growth throughout the journey.
Make sure your DIAMOND PLAYERS RECRUITS PROFILE is complete and up to date. Access our Resource Center for additional in-depth recruiting information, including college site links, articles, and resources to enhance your knowledge and improve your game. Good luck as you pursue your dreams of playing at the “NEXT LEVEL”
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