Sycamore Fans,

Do you ever wonder what the world of recruiting is like for our coaches? In particular, NCAA Division I coaches across the country? Here is a look inside NCAA recruiting rules and the type of rules our coaches must follow during the recruiting process.

RECRUITING 101

The NCAA defines a prospective student athlete (recruit) as any individual that has started classes for the ninth grade or any individual that, prior to the ninth grade, receives benefits from Indiana State University that are not available to the general public. In the sport of men's basketball, 7^th and 8^th graders are considered prospective student-athletes in regards to camp and clinic legislation.

A prospect is considered "recruited" if he/she or his/her relatives or spouse are telephoned on more than one occasion, contacted off-campus by an institutional staff member of ISU, or provided an official visit to the Indiana State University.   Additional definitions apply in the sport of men's basketball.

Steps in Recruiting

In order for an NCAA Division I coach to recruit off of ISU's campus, they must first successfully pass the NCAA Coaches' Certification Exam on or before July 31^st of each year. The NCAA provides a practice recruiting exam for coaches to test their knowledge prior to taking the exam and the Compliance Office reviews the new rules and provides the new legislation that usually takes effect August 1 of each year.

Once a coach successfully passes the recruiting certification exam, they may recruit off campus. This includes, but is not limited to, the following activities: Personally observing PSA's games and/or practice; speaking with the prospect's coach and/or guidance counselors; and evaluating the prospect's academic transcript.

When may a coach be involved in the above mentioned recruitment activities?  The answer varies by sport. The NCAA has defined certain time periods throughout the year establishing what type of recruiting activities a coach pay participate in. These recruiting periods are classified as:  Contact, Evaluation, Quiet, and Dead.

During a contact period, coaching staff members may contact (pre-arranged face to face contact) and/or evaluate prospects at off-campus sites.  During evaluation periods, coaching staff members may assess the academic qualifications and/or athletics ability of a prospect at off-campus locations.  In-person, off-campus recruiting contacts are not permitted during the evaluation period.  The coach may speak with counselors and high school coaches, but may not speak with prospects.  In addition, a coach may not have any activities/tests conducted on his/her behalf.

During a Quiet period, staff members are permitted to make in-person contacts with prospects only on ISU's campus.  Off-campus contacts and evaluations are not permitted during a quiet period.

During a Dead period, it is not permissible for any coaching staff member to have face to face contact or evaluate PSA's on or off-campus.  However, it remains permissible for a coach to write or call a prospect during a dead period.

Most sports have defined recruiting calendars (basketball, volleyball, football, track/cross country, baseball, and softball for example). Other sports such as golf and soccer do not have a defined recruiting calendar.

Communications

The NCAA has a large variety of rules governing the types, mode and frequency of communication between coaches, staff members and recruits and their relatives.  Whether it is general correspondence, text messages, phone calls, social media, instant messaging or anything else, the NCAA has a rule governing it.  These rules vary by sport, age of the recruit and time of the year.

Campus Visits

There are two types of visits a recruit can take to an NCAA school.  "Official visits and unofficial visits." An "official" visit by a recruit is a visit that is financed in part in whole by Indiana State University.  In all sports but men's basketball, official visits may not be made by high school students after their first day of classes in their senior year and thereafter.  In men's basketball, recruits can take official visits on or after January 1 of their junior year in high school beginning January 1, 2013.  Each recruit is limited to a maximum of five (5) official visits before they graduate high school.

Recruits who were NCAA "non-qualifiers" cannot take official visits during their first year at a two-year college.  During the official visit, Indiana State University may provide a prospect (and the prospect's parents/spouse) with meals, lodging, and complimentary admissions to University athletic events. Complimentary admissions to attend home athletic events at ISU issued through a pass list.

"Unofficial" visits are those which the recruit takes completely at their own expense.  No meals, lodging or transportation expenses can be paid for by ISU.  All such expenses are borne by the recruit or his/her parents.   Boosters cannot pay for these types of visits nor can they be involved in the recruiting process. These can be taken at any time and there is no limit on how many can be taken.

National Letter of Intent

The one aspect of the recruiting process most fans are aware of is the National Letter of Intent ("NLI").  An NLI is a one year contract between the recruit and the NCAA institution they plan to attend and play sports at.  It is NOT a contract between the recruit and the coach.  All NLI's must be accompanied by an athletic scholarship whose term of award is for at least one academic year.  Once signed, the agreement and scholarship are binding upon all parties.  Failure to abide by its terms will result in a variety of penalties.

Each sport has a pre-determined period of time during each year in which their recruits can sign NLI's for the upcoming year.  ISU coaches cannot be present at the signing of an NLI, nor can they comment about a recruit's athletic abilities until after the NLI is signed and processed.