The NCAA News - News and Features

April 20, 1998

Legislative assistance

1998 Column No.16
NCAA Bylaw 13.1.3

Telephone calls to prospects by institutional staff members

Divisions I and II institutions should note that in accordance with Bylaw 13.1.3.1, in sports other than Divisions I and II football, institutional staff members may not telephone a prospect (or the prospect's parents or legal guardians) prior to July 1 following the completion of the prospect's junior year in high school; thereafter, institutional staff members may not telephone a prospect (or the prospect's parents or legal guardians) more than once per week. Pursuant to Bylaw 13.1.3.1.1, in Divisions I-AA and II football, institutional staff members may not telephone a prospect (or the prospect's parents or legal guardians) prior to August 15 following the completion of the prospect's junior year in high school. Thereafter, telephone contact with a prospective student-athlete is limited to once per week outside of the contact period. During a contact period, telephone contact may be made with a senior prospect at the institution's discretion. Further, pursuant to 13.1.3.1.2, in the sport of Division I-A football, one telephone call to a prospect [or a prospect's relatives or legal guardian(s)] may be made during the month of May of the prospect's junior year in high school. Additional telephone calls to a prospect [or a prospect's relatives or legal guardian(s)] may not be made prior to September 1 of the beginning of the prospect's senior year in high school; thereafter, such telephone contact is limited to once per week outside of a contact period. During a contact period, such telephone contact may be made at the institution's discretion. Additionally, in the sport of Division I men's ice hockey, it is permissible for an institution to make one telephone call to a prospective student-athlete who is a resident of a foreign country during the month of July following the completion of the prospect's sophomore year in high school.

In all sports, staff members in Divisions I and II may not telephone a prospect (or the prospect's parents or legal guardians) during the conduct of the institution's intercollegiate athletics contests in that sport, which is defined as the time the institution's team reports on call at the site of the competition at the direction of the coach until the competition has concluded and the team has been dismissed by the coach. Thus, it is not permissible for an institution's coach to telephone a prospect [or the prospect's parent(s) or legal guardian(s)] from the competition site while the institution's team is engaging in pregame activities prior to the contest.

In addition, in Division I, institutional staff members may accept collect telephone calls and may utilize a toll-free (1-800) number to receive telephone calls placed by a prospective student-athlete (or the prospect's parents or legal guardians), provided the telephone calls are placed not earlier than July 1 following completion of the prospect's junior year in high school. In Division II, institutional staff members may accept collect telephone calls and may utilize a toll-free (1-800) number to receive telephone calls placed by a prospective student-athlete (or the prospect's parents or legal guardians) at any time.

Further, institutional staff members are not subject to the once-per-week limitation and, thus, may make unlimited telephone calls to prospective student-athletes during the following periods: (1) during the five days immediately preceding the prospect's official visit to that institution; (2) during the day of a permissible in-person, off-campus contact; (3) on the initial date for the signing of the National Letter of Intent and the two days immediately following the initial signing date; (4) in the sport of Division I football only, during the period 48 hours prior to and 48 hours after 8 a.m. on the initial signing date for the National Letter of Intent; and (5) subsequent to the prospect's signing of a National Letter of Intent with that institution. In addition, in Divisions I and II, institutional staff members may receive telephone calls placed by a prospect at the prospect's own expense at any time (including prior to July 1 following the prospect's junior year in high school). There is no restriction on the content of the conversation that may occur during telephone calls placed at the prospect's own expense.

Finally, in accordance with Bylaw 13.17.1.1, it is permissible for an institutional staff member at the United States service academies (i.e., Air Force, Coast Guard, Army and Navy) to make telephone calls to a prospective student-athlete for the purpose of recruitment at any time during a prospect's junior year in high school. Please note that the once-per-week restriction and any exceptions to the once-per-week restriction remain applicable.

NCAA Bylaws 13.02.5.1 and 13.1.3.5.2.2

Telephone contact by enrolled student-athletes -- Division III

Division III institutions should note that pursuant to Bylaw 13.02.5.1, it is permissible for an enrolled student-athlete to receive telephone calls made at the expense of a prospect subsequent to July 1 following the completion of the prospect's junior year in high school. Telephone calls made by enrolled students pursuant to an institution's regular admissions program directed at all prospective students shall be permissible. Further, in Division III, pursuant to Bylaw 13.1.3.5.2.2, an institution may permit an enrolled student-athlete to telephone a prospect at the institution's expense, provided the call is only for the purpose of recruitment and is with the full knowledge of the athletics department.

This material was provided by the membership services staff as an aid to member institutions. If an institution has a question or comment regarding this column, such correspondence should be directed to Kristen L. Davis or Lisa Roesler, membership services representatives, at the NCAA national office. This information is available on the Collegiate Sports Network.