EARLY RECRUITING

"GREY AREAS" OF NEW NCAA RULE

NO CONTACT or COMMUNICATION with a college coach before Sept. 1 of prospective student-athlete's junior year in high school

• Do NOT call or contact a college coach before Sept. 1 of PSA's junior year
• NO recruiting messages to a college coach via a club/high-school coach or any third party before Sept. 1 of PSA's junior year
• NO recruiting conversations during a camp or clinic
• NO unofficial visits before Sept. 1 of PSA's junior year

Question:  What is a college coach permitted to say if a PSA initiates a call or contact with an institution's coach prior to Sept 1 of the PSA's  junior year?

Answer:  The coach may NOT engage in any recruiting conversations.  However, the coach may confirm the PSA's  age, explain the recruiting rules and then must end the call or contact.

RECRUITING MESSAGES

Question:  May an institution's coach send recruiting messages through a PSA's high school/club coach or another third party?  

Answer: ​ NO.  If a coach cannot contact a prospective student-athlete directly, then he or she can NOT send recruiting messages indirectly through a high school/ club coach or another third party.

EVALUATION CONVERSATIONS

 Question:  May an institution's coach have evaluation conversations (e.g., athletics ability) with a PSA's  high school/club coach before Sept 1 of the PSA's  junior year?

Answer:  Yes.  However, these conversations should NOT be used to indirectly send recruiting messages (e.g. verbal offer of aid) to a prospective student-athlete.   

Permissible:  Evaluation topics with high school/club coach:

• High school/club coach's evaluation of the PSA's academics, athletic skills, speed, agility, personality, character, work ethic, coachability...
• Institution's coach expression of interest in the PSA

Impermissible:  Evaluation topics with high school/club coach:

• Confirming a PSA is on institution's recruiting list, including ranking on list
• Requesting the high school/club coach tell the PSA to:

                  1.  Send transcript, report card or board scores

                2. Attend a camp where college coach will be present

• Asking if the PSA is interested in the school, including level of interest ​
• Any discussion with high school/club coach of potential financial aid or athletic scholarship offers
• ​Setting up future phone calls or visits for the PSA

Question:  May a college coach have an evaluation conversation with a high school/club coach with the PSA listening to the conversation?

Answer:  No.  This would be using a high school/club coach to circumvent the recruiting rule prohibiting contact with a PSA until Sept. 1 of junior year.

Question:  May an institution's coach ask a high school/club coach to inform his or her team of the recruiting legislation?

Answer:  Yes.

Question:  During an institutional camp or clinic, may a coach have recruiting conversations with a lacrosse PSA prior to Sept. 1 of his or her junior year?

Answer:  NO.  

Question:  During an institution camp or clinic, may a coach provide a campus tour to a lacrosse PSA prior to Sept. 1 of his or her junior year?

Answer:  Yes.  A campus tour would be permissible; however, no recruiting conversations may occur.

Question:  During an institution camp or clinic, may a coach provide an informational session about recruiting process and the student-athlete experience to a lacrosse PSA prior to Sept. 1 of his or her junior year?

Answer:  Yes.  A general informational session would be permissible; however, no institution-specific information may occur at these informational sessions.  Recruiting conversations are not permissible.

Question:  Are institution's coaches still permitted to make calls related to camps and clinics logistics prior to Sept. 1 of the PSA's junior year?

Answer:  Yes.  The content of the call must be limited to camp logistics and may not include recruiting content.

Question:  May a younger sibling (a PSA who is not yet a junior) accompany an older sibling on an unofficial or official visit?

Answer:  Yes, provided no recruiting conversations occur with the younger sibling.