NCAA: Recruits can now take unlimited official visits

High school recruits were previously limited to five official visits. In a few months, that will no longer be the case.

The NCAA Division I Council announced Thursday that prospects can take unlimited official visits. This policy will go into effect on July 1.

“For young people considering where to go to college, visits to campus — both official and unofficial — are an integral part of the decision-making process,” said Lynda Tealer, the executive associate athletics director at Florida and chair of the Division I Council. “This was an opportunity to modernize NCAA rules in a way that provides greater and more meaningful opportunities for prospects going through the recruitment process.”

Recruits are still only allowed to use one official visit for each school. But similar to before this ruling, players can take a second official visit to a program if a head coaching change occurs after their previous official.

The Division I Council also clarified what an official visit entails.

“Official visits may last no longer than a two-night stay, during which schools will be permitted to cover travel costs, transportation, meals and reasonable entertainment for up to two family members accompanying a prospect on that visit,” its statement said.

Recruiting calendar changes were also considered

Before the Division I Council gathered on April 12, the NCAA’s Division I Football oversight committee proposed multiple changes to the recruiting calendar. Those items can be found below.

• Schools would have 33 evaluation days (42 for U.S. service academies) during the months of September, October and November to be picked by the school. Only authorized off-campus recruiters could visit a prospect’s high school and on just one calendar day during this period.
• The Monday of the week that includes the initial date for the regular signing period of the National Letter of Intent through the first Sunday in March would be a dead period.
• For service academies, the Friday immediately after the initial date for the regular signing period of the National Letter of Intent through the first Sunday in March would be a quiet period.
• At the discretion of the membership school, coaches would have 140 recruiting person days (180 for U.S. service academies) from April 15 through the Saturday preceding Memorial Day for a contact period.
• The Sunday before Memorial Day and the next three calendar days would be a dead period.

Oversight committee also proposed off-campus recruiting changes

Those proposals can be found below:

• Off-campus recruiting contacts can’t be made with an individual or their family before Jan. 1 of the individual’s junior year in high school.
• A school would be limited to eight off-campus, in-person contacts with a prospective student-athlete and the prospect’s family members for the prospect’s junior and senior years combined and contact can only occur once per week.
• Contacts that occur during the prospective student-athlete’s junior year in high school could occur only at the prospect’s high school.
• Schools would be allowed up to two off-campus contacts during the January contact period of a prospect’s junior year of high school. A school would also be allowed one off-campus contact during the spring contact period of a prospect’s junior year of high school.
• The head football coach could make only one off-campus contact during the prospect’s junior year and one off-campus contact during the prospect’s senior year in high school with them or their family members. The model would not change the off-campus recruiting prohibition of FBS head coaches during the spring contact period.