Recruiting Tip: Understanding the Volleyball Recruiting Calendar for 2013-2014
There is a lot of confusion when it comes to the contact rules between college coaches and student athletes. As a college volleyball recruiting expert, I find myself answering these questions on a daily basis. Understanding these rules are imperative to creating a strategy for your student athlete to be successful in the recruiting process.
This article focuses on the upcoming recruiting calendar for 2013-2014 for women’s volleyball and sand volleyball. Before I list the dates, let me first explain the definitions of a Contact, Contact Period, Evaluation Period, Quiet Period, Signing Day and a Dead Period.
Contact – A contact transpires anytime a college coach says more than hello during a face-to-face connection with a college bound or high school student athlete or his/hers family off the college’s campus.
Contact Period – Amid a contact period, college coaches may have face-to-face interactions with college bound student athletes, their parents, and they may watch a student athlete compete, visit their high school, send an email, or call a student athlete and/or their parents.
Evaluation Period – In the time of an evaluation period, college coaches may watch college bound student athletes compete, practice, visit their high schools, and/or call them. A college coach may not have face-to-face interaction with a college bound student athlete, or their parents off the college’s campus during an evaluation period.
Quiet Period – Throughout a quiet period, college coaches may not have any face-to-face interaction with a college bound student athlete or their parents. The may not evaluate a student athlete off campus, or visit their high school. Coaches may email and call student athletes during the course of a Quiet Period.
Dead Period – During the dead period, college coaches may not have face-to-face contact with student athletes or their family, compete, or visit their high school. Coaches may still communication via email, and telephone during a dead period.
NCAA Division 1 Women’s Volleyball and Women’s Sand Volleyball Recruiting Calendar
August 1st – December 1, 2013 is a contact period, except November 11th-14th, these dates fall on a Dead Period.
November 13th – November 20th is the Early Signing Period.
December 2nd – December 17th is the Quiet Period.
December 18th-31st is a Dead Period. There are 2 exceptions to the Dead Period. Coaches who are attending the AVCA Annual Awards Banquet may have “incidental” contact with 2 year college prospects who are being honored; however, there must be no discussions regarding recruiting. The second exception is during the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Volleyball Championship. The coaches are able to attend an event within a 30 mile radius of the National Championship in Seattle, Washington between December 19-22nd. The coaches are only able to attend 1 day of the event.
January 1 – July 31st is another Contact Period.
January 1-17th 2014 is the Quiet Period.
April 14-17th 2014 is the Dead Period following the Signing Day.
May 1-23rd 2014 is the Quiet Period.
You may refer back to this article throughout the next year to help you with interpreting the dates. It is especially important to know when coaches can and cannot interact with you, as you will need to be aware if you plan to take any trips to visit college campuses. If you are interested in receiving more tips on college recruiting, subscribe to my blog. You may also send an email to [email protected], and I will set up a FREE consultation with your family.
