We will be reviewing NCAA recruitment rules and guidelines. Much of the discussion regarding recruiting revolves around letters and what materials can be sent to the prospective student athlete. 

See the rule below but basically the only letters or recruiting materials that may be allowed prior to end of your sophomore season is either sending out a questionnaire or camp invitations.  No other method of contact from the school to the prospective student athlete is allowable and therefore shouldn't be expected. 

If it is prior to the end of your sophomore season and someone is claiming they have received numerous recruiting letters or someone is telling you you should have, it just isn't true.  Below are the rules regarding recruiting materials, what is allowable and in what form it can be distributed.


NCAA Bylaw 13.4.1- Recruiting Materials

In sports other than men’s basketball, recruiting materials may not be provided to a prospect until September 1 of the prospect’s junior year in high school. In men’s basketball, recruiting materials may not be provided to a prospect until the conclusion of the prospect’s sophomore year in high school.  

The following items may be provided to prospects:

1. General Correspondence (including electronic transmissions and facsimiles). There are no restrictions regarding colors or styles of institutional letterhead but any attachments (page 2 and so forth) must be on white paper with black ink.

2. Business Cards. Cannot be magnetic.

3. Camp Brochures**

4. Electronic Transmissions (e-mail,, fax, Facebook messages). Attachments may not be animated or include audio (no game clips) and there may not be a cost associated with this service (e.g., subscription fee).

5. NCAA Educational Information**. For example the NCAA Guide for the College Bound Student-Athlete.

6. Pre-enrollment information. May be sent after the NLI is signed or the prospect has been officially admitted to the school.

7. Game Programs. May only be handed to prospects on unofficial or official visits. They may not be mailed.

8. Athletics Publications. Either a recruiting brochure or a media guide. Not both

9. Non-Athletics Publications Available to all Students. Official academic and admissions brochures/materials.

10. Questionnaires**

11. Schedule Cards.

12. Student-Athlete Handbook. May be sent after the NLI is signed or the prospect has been officially admitted to . The handbook may contain only one color of printing throughout the publication, including the cover.

**Note that items 3, 5 and 10 may be provided to a prospect prior the beginning of the prospect’s junior year in high school.