[Federated provision, FBS and FCS, divided vote]

13.02 Definitions and Applications.

[13.02.1 through 13.02.3 unchanged.]

13.02.4 Contact. A contact is any face-to-face encounter between a prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete's family members and an institutional staff member or athletics representative during which any dialogue occurs in excess of an exchange of a greeting. Any such face-to-face encounter that is prearranged (e.g., staff member takes a position in a location where contact is possible) or that takes place on the grounds of the prospective student-athlete's educational institution or at the site of organized competition or practice involving the prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete's high school, preparatory school, two-year college or all-star team shall be considered a contact, regardless of whether any conversation occurs. However, an institutional staff member or athletics representative who is approached by a prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete's family members at any location shall not use a contact, provided the encounter was not prearranged and the staff member or athletics representative does not engage in any dialogue in excess of a greeting and takes appropriate steps to immediately terminate the encounter.

[13.02.5 through 13.02.6 unchanged.]

13.02.7 Evaluation. Evaluation is any off-campus activity designed to assess the academic qualifications or athletics ability of a prospective student-athlete, including any visit to a prospective student-athlete's educational institution (during which no contact occurs) or the observation of a prospective student-athlete participating in any practice or competition at any site.

[13.02.7.2 renumbered as 13.02.7.1, unchanged.]

[13.02.8 through 13.02.10 unchanged.]

13.02.11 Recruiting-Person Days -- Football.  In football, a recruiting-person day is defined as one coach engaged in an off-campus recruiting activity of a football prospective student-athlete on one day (12:01 a.m. to midnight); two coaches engaged in recruiting activities on the same day shall use two recruiting-person days. Football staff members shall not exceed 140 (180 for U.S. service academies) recruiting-person days during the spring contact period. 

13.02.11.1 Exception -- After Commitment. Recruiting activity involving only a prospective student-athlete who has signed a National Letter of Intent or the institution’s written offer of admission and/or financial aid or for whom the institution has received a financial deposit in response to its offer of admission shall not be counted as a recruiting-person day.

[13.02.11 through 13.02.20 renumbered as 13.02.12 through 13.02.21, unchanged.]

[Federated provision, FBS and FCS, divided vote]

13.1 Contacts and Evaluations. Recruiting contacts (per Bylaw 13.02.4) and telephone calls by institutional staff members or representatives of the institution's athletics interests are subject to the provisions set forth in this bylaw. [D]

13.1.1 Contactable Individuals.

13.1.1.1 Time Period for Off-Campus Contacts -- General Rule. Off-campus recruiting contacts shall not be made with an individual (or the individual's family members) before August 1 at the beginning of the individual's junior year in high school. U.S. service academy exceptions to this provision are set forth in Bylaw 13.16.1. [D]

13.1.1.1.1 Exception -- Baseball and Football. In baseball and football, off-campus recruiting contacts shall not be made with an individual (or the individual's family members) before July 1 following the completion of the individual's junior year in high school, or the opening day of classes of the individual's senior year in high school (as designated by the high school), whichever is earlier. [D]

[13.1.1.1.2 through 13.1.1.1.3 unchanged.]

13.1.1.1.4 Exception -- Football. In football, off-campus recruiting contacts shall not be made with an individual (or the individual's family members) before January 1 of the individual's junior year in high school. Contacts that occur during a prospective student-athlete's junior year may occur only at the prospective student-athlete's educational institution.

[13.1.1.1.5 renumbered as 13.1.1.1.6, unchanged.]

[13.1.1.2 through 13.1.1.3 unchanged.]

13.1.2 Permissible Recruiters.

[13.1.2.1 through 13.1.2.5 unchanged.]

13.1.2.6 Head Coach Restrictions -- Bowl Subdivision Football.

13.1.2.6.1 Assistant Coach Publicly Designated as Institution's Next Head Coach. In bowl subdivision football, an institution's assistant coach who has been publicly designated by the institution to become its next head coach shall be subject to the recruiting restrictions applicable to the institution's head coach.

13.1.2.6.2 Off-Campus Contact. In bowl subdivision football, the head coach may make in-person, off-campus contact with a prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete's family members only during one calendar day. It is permissible for this contact to occur both at the site of the prospective student-athlete's educational institution and away from the institutional grounds. In football, during a prospective student-athlete's junior year of high school, the head coach may make in-person, off-campus contact only during one calendar day at the prospective student-athlete's educational institution. During a prospective student-athlete's senior year of high school, the head coach may make in-person, off-campus contact only during one calendar day at any location. During such contact, the head coach may be accompanied by assistant coaches, who otherwise are required to observe the restrictions contained in the bylaws. [D]

13.1.2.6.3 Spring Evaluation Contact Period. In bowl subdivision football, during the April 15 through May 31 evaluation spring contact period, the head coach (and any assistant coach who has been publicly designated by the institution to become the next head coach) shall not engage in off-campus recruiting activities, participate in an off-campus coaching clinic, visit a prospective student-athlete's educational institution for any reason, meet with a prospective student-athlete's coach at an off-campus location, or attend or speak at a banquet or meeting that is designed to recognize prospective student-athletes (e.g., high school awards banquet, high school all-star banquet). In addition, the head coach (or any assistant coach who has been publicly designated by the institution to become the next head coach) shall not make an in-person, off-campus contact with a prospective student-athlete during the April 15 through May 31 evaluation spring contact period at any location, even if the prospective student-athlete has signed a National Letter of Intent or the institution's written offer of admission and/or financial aid or the institution has received the prospective student-athlete's financial deposit in response to its offer of admission. [D]

[13.1.2.7 through 13.1.2.8 unchanged.]

13.1.3 Telephone Calls.

13.1.3.1 Time Period for Telephone Calls -- General Rule. Telephone calls to an individual (or the individual's family members) may not be made before June 15 at the conclusion of the individual's sophomore year in high school (subject to the exceptions below). Thereafter, an institution may make telephone calls to the prospective student-athlete at its discretion. [D]

[13.1.3.1.1 through 13.1.3.1.2 unchanged.]

[13.1.3.1.3 renumbered as 13.1.3.1.2, unchanged.]

[13.1.3.1.4 through 13.1.3.1.10 renumbered as 13.1.3.1.3 through 13.1.3.1.9, unchanged.]

[13.1.3.2 unchanged.]

[13.1.3.1.3.1 renumbered as 13.1.3.1.2.0, unchanged.]

13.1.3.3 Exceptions.

[13.1.3.3 unchanged.]

13.1.4 Visit to Prospective Student-Athlete's Educational Institution. Visits to a prospective student-athlete's educational institution that will occur during that portion of the day when classes are being conducted for all students must receive the approval of the executive officer (or the executive officer's designated representative) of the prospective student-athlete's educational institution. A coaching staff member may not visit a prospective student-athlete's educational institution during a dead period or recruiting shutdown. [D]

[13.1.4.1 unchanged.]

13.1.4.2 Football and Women's Basketball. In football and women's basketball, institutional staff members may visit a prospective student-athlete's educational institution on not more than one calendar day during a particular week within a contact period, regardless of the number of prospective student-athletes enrolled in the institution or whether any prospective student-athlete is contacted on that day. [D]

13.1.4.2.1 Visits During Contact Period -- Football. In football, one contact per prospective student-athlete is permitted during each week of the contact period as specified in Bylaw 13.17.5 either at the prospective student-athlete's educational institution or any other location (e.g., prospective student-athlete's home). A visit to the prospective student-athlete's educational institution and any other location (e.g., prospective student-athlete's home) during the same calendar day shall be considered one contact an institution may only visit a prospective student-athlete's educational institution once per week during a contact period as specified in Bylaw 13.17.5. A visit to a prospective student-athlete's educational institution counts as an evaluation for all prospective student-athletes in the sport at the educational institution. [D]

[13.1.4.2.2 through 13.1.4.2.3 unchanged.]

[13.1.4.3 through 13.1.4.4 unchanged.]

13.1.5 Contacts.

[13.1.5.1 through 13.1.5.2 unchanged.]

13.1.5.3 Football. In football, after January 1 of a prospective student-athlete's junior year each institution shall be limited to six in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts eight recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations combined) per prospective student-athlete at any site, which shall include contacts made with the prospective student-athlete's family members but shall not include contacts made during an official visit per Bylaw 13.6 or an unofficial visit per Bylaw 13.7.5. Football staff members shall not exceed 140 (180 for U.S. service academies) recruiting-person days during the spring contact period.  [D]

13.1.5.3.1 Exception -- Fall Evaluation Period. The one evaluation per prospective student-athlete per year during the fall evaluation period shall not count as a recruiting opportunity.

13.1.5.3.2 Additional Restrictions -- One Recruiting Opportunity Per Week. An institution is limited to one recruiting opportunity per prospective student-athlete during each week of a contact period as specified in Bylaw 13.17.5

13.1.5.3.3 Additional Restrictions -- Junior Year Recruiting Opportunities During January/February Contact Period. During a prospective student-athlete's junior year in high school each institution shall be limited to two recruiting opportunities per prospective student-athlete during the January/February contact period. Contacts that occur during a prospective student-athlete's junior year may occur only at the prospective student-athlete's educational institution.

13.1.5.3.4 Additional Restrictions -- Junior Year Recruiting Opportunities During Spring Contact Period.  During a prospective student-athlete's junior year in high school each institution shall be limited to one recruiting opportunity per prospective student-athlete during the spring contact period. Contacts that occur during a prospective student-athlete's junior year may occur only at the prospective student-athlete's educational institution.

[13.1.5.4 through 13.1.5.10 unchanged.]

[13.1.6 unchanged.]

13.1.7 Evaluations.

[13.1.7.1 through 13.1.7.3 unchanged.]

13.1.7.4 Evaluations -- Football. In football, institutional staff members shall be limited to three evaluations during the academic year during which the prospective student-athlete competes or practices on any team. Not more than one evaluation may be used during the fall evaluation period and not more than two evaluations may be used during the April 15 through May 31 evaluation period. An authorized off-campus recruiter may use one evaluation to assess the prospective student-athlete's athletics ability and one evaluation to assess the prospective student-athlete's academic qualifications during the April 15 through May 31 evaluation period. If an institution's coaching staff member conducts both an athletics and an academic evaluation of a prospective student-athlete on the same day during the April 15 through May 31 evaluation period, the institution shall be charged with the use of an academic evaluation only and shall be permitted to conduct a second athletics evaluation of the prospective student-athlete on a separate day during the evaluation period.one evaluation per prospective student-athlete per year during the fall evaluation period.  [D]

[13.1.7.4.2 renumbered as 13.1.7.4.0, unchanged.]

[13.1.7.4.3 renumbered as 13.1.7.4.0, unchanged.]

13.1.7.4.41 Evaluation Days. In football, each institution is limited to 42 33 (54 42 for U.S. service academies) evaluation days (see Bylaw 13.02.7.2) during the fall evaluation period and 168 (216 for U.S. service academies) evaluation days during the spring evaluation period. [D]

[13.1.7.4.4 through 13.1.7.4.5 renumbered as 13.1.7.4.1 through 13.1.7.4.2, unchanged.]

[13.1.7.5 through 13.1.7.7 unchanged.]

13.1.7.8 Evaluations in Team Sports. In team sports, an institution shall use an evaluation for each prospective student-athlete participating in a practice or contest observed by the institution's coach, except an evaluation that occurs on the same day as a permissible contact (see Bylaw 13.1.5.7). An institution's coach who is attending an event in which prospective student-athletes from multiple educational institutions participate in drills (e.g., combine) shall use an evaluation only for each prospective student-athlete participating in the event that the coach observes engaging in the drills. In football, an observation that occurs during a permissible contact period shall count only as a contact per Bylaw 13.02.4.1.

[13.1.7.9 through 13.1.7.18 unchanged.]

[13.1.8 through 13.1.10 unchanged.]

[Federated provision, FBS and FCS, divided vote]

13.4 Recruiting Materials.

13.4.1 Recruiting Materials and Electronic Correspondence -- General Rule. An institution shall not provide recruiting materials, including general correspondence related to athletics, or send electronic correspondence to an individual (or the individual's family members) until June 15 at the conclusion of the individual's sophomore year in high school. [D]

13.4.1.1 Exception -- Baseball, Football, Lacrosse and Softball. In baseball, football, lacrosse and softball, an institution shall not provide recruiting materials, including general correspondence related to athletics, or send electronic correspondence to an individual (or the individual's family members) until September 1 at the beginning of the individual's junior year in high school. If an individual attends an educational institution that uses a nontraditional academic calendar (e.g., Southern Hemisphere), an institution shall not provide recruiting materials, including general correspondence related to athletics, or send electronic correspondence to the individual (or the individual's family members) until the opening day of classes of the individual's junior year in high school. [D]

[13.4.1.2 through 13.4.1.9 unchanged.]

[13.4.2 unchanged.]

[Federated provision, FCS only]

13.11 Tryouts.

[13.11.1 unchanged.]

13.11.2 Permissible Activities.

[13.11.2.1 unchanged.]

13.11.2.2 On-Campus Evaluations -- Championship Subdivision Football. In championship subdivision football, an institution may conduct an evaluation of a prospective student-athlete on its campus or at a site at which it normally conducts practice or competition, under the following conditions:

(a) For a high school or preparatory school prospective student-athlete, the evaluation may only occur during the prospective student-athlete's junior or senior year;

(b) The evaluation may be conducted only after the conclusion of the prospective student-athlete's season;

(c) The on-campus evaluation may be conducted only during the prospective student-athlete's unofficial visit;

(d) The on-campus evaluation may only be conducted in June;

(e) Not more than one on-campus evaluation per prospective student-athlete per institution shall be permitted (applied separately to the time period in which a prospective student-athlete completes high school or preparatory school eligibility and to the time period after the prospective student-athlete enrolls full time in a collegiate institution);

(f) Before participating in an on-campus evaluation, a prospective student-athlete is required to undergo a medical examination or evaluation administered or supervised by a physician (e.g., family physician, team physician). A nurse practitioner whose state medical licensure allows for health care practice independent of physician supervision may complete the medical examination without supervision by a physician. The examination or evaluation shall include a sickle cell solubility test unless documented results of a prior test are provided to the institution. The examination or evaluation must be administered either within six months before participation in the on-campus evaluation or within six months before the prospective student-athlete's initial participation in practice, competition or out-of-season conditioning activities during the immediately completed season. In addition, the medical examination or evaluation may be conducted by an institution's regular team physician or other designated physician as a part of the on-campus evaluation;

(g) The duration of the on-campus evaluation activities (other than the medical examination or evaluation) shall be limited to one hour;

(h) The evaluation may only be conducted by a countable coach;

(i) The evaluation may only include noncontact activities and the prospective student-athlete may not wear any protective equipment; and

(j) The institution may not provide any equipment or apparel to a prospective student-athlete.

[13.11.2.3 through 13.11.2.7 renumbered as 13.11.2.4 through 13.11.2.8, unchanged.]

[13.11.3 unchanged.]

[Federated provision, FBS and FCS, divided vote]

13.12 Sports Camps and Clinics.

13.12.1 Institution's Sports Camps and Clinics.

13.12.1.1 Definition. An institution's sports camp or instructional clinic shall be any camp or clinic that is owned or operated by a member institution or an employee of the member institution's athletics department, either on or off its campus, and in which prospective student-athletes participate.

[13.12.1.1.1 through 13.12.1.1.4 unchanged.]

13.12.1.1.5 Football. In bowl subdivision football, an institution's camp or clinic may be conducted only during 10 days in the months of June [or any days (other than during a dead period) of a calendar week (Sunday through Saturday) that includes days in June (e.g., May 28-June 3)] and July. In championship subdivision football, an institution's camp or clinic may be conducted only during June [or any days (other than during a dead period) of a calendar week (Sunday through Saturday) that includes days in June (e.g., May 28-June 3)] and July. [D]

[13.12.1.1.6 through 13.12.1.1.7 unchanged.]

[13.12.1.2 through 13.12.1.7 unchanged.]

13.12.2 Employment at Camp or Clinic.

[13.12.2.1 through 13.12.2.2 unchanged.]

13.12.2.3 Athletics Staff Members. A member institution's athletics staff member may be involved in sports camps or clinics unless otherwise prohibited in this section. [D]

[13.12.2.3.1 through 13.12.2.3.3 unchanged.]

13.12.2.3.4 Institutional or Noninstitutional, Privately Owned Camps/Clinics -- Bowl Subdivision Football. In bowl subdivision football, an institution's coach (including a graduate student coach who has successfully completed the rules education requirement per Bylaw 11.5.1) may be employed (either on a salaried or volunteer basis) in any capacity (e.g., counselor, guest lecturer, consultant) only by the institution's camps or clinics or another four-year, NCAA member institution's camps or clinics. A noncoaching athletics department staff member with responsibilities specific to football may be employed only by the institution’s camps or clinics. Employment in such a camp or clinic is limited to 10 days in the months of June [or any days (other than during a dead period) of a calendar week (Sunday through Saturday) that includes days in June (e.g., May 28-June 3)] and July. It is not permissible for a football coach to be employed at a noninstitutional, privately owned camp or clinic. It is not permissible for a noncoaching staff member with responsibilities specific to football to be employed at other institutional camps or clinics or at noninstitutional, privately owned camps or clinics. [D]

13.12.2.3.5 Institutional or Noninstitutional, Privately Owned Camps/Clinics -- Championship Subdivision Football. In championship subdivision football, an institution's coach or noncoaching athletics department staff member with responsibilities specific to football may be employed (either on a salaried or volunteer basis) in any capacity (e.g., counselor, guest lecturer, consultant) only by the institution's camps or clinics or another four-year, NCAA member institution's camps or clinics. Employment in such a camp or clinic may occur only in June [or any days (other than during a dead period) of a calendar week (Sunday through Saturday) that includes days in June (e.g., May 28-June 3)] and July. It is not permissible for a football coach or noncoaching athletics department staff member with responsibilities specific to football to be employed at a noninstitutional, privately owned camp or clinic. [D]

[13.12.2.3.6 through 13.12.2.3.10 unchanged.]

[13.12.3 through 13.12.4 unchanged.]

[Federated provision, FBS and FCS, divided vote]

13.17 Recruiting Calendars.

[13.17.1 through 13.17.4 unchanged.]

13.17.5 Football.

13.17.5.1 Bowl Subdivision Football. The following periods of recruiting activities shall apply to bowl subdivision football:

(a) August 1-31 [except for (1) below]: Dead Period

(1) Forty-eight hours before a home contest (on the institution's campus or in a facility normally used for its home games) that occurs in August or September 1 or 2 through 48 hours after the conclusion of the contest: Quiet Period

(b) September 1 through the Sunday immediately following the last Saturday in November: Evaluation Period

(c) The Monday through Thursday immediately following the last Saturday in November: Dead Period

(d) The Friday immediately following the last Saturday in November through the Saturday before the initial date for the early signing period of the National Letter of Intent for high school prospective student-athletes and the initial date of the midyear college transfer National Letter of Intent signing period: Contact Period

(e) The Sunday before the initial date for the early signing period of the National Letter of Intent for high school prospective student-athletes and the initial date of the midyear college transfer National Letter of Intent signing period: Quiet Period

(f) The Monday before the initial date for the early signing period of the National Letter of Intent for high school prospective student-athletes and the initial date of the midyear college transfer National Letter of Intent signing period through the Thursday of the week of the annual American Football Coaches Association Convention [applicable to all prospective student-athletes (see Bylaw 13.02.5.5.1.1)] [except for (1) through (3) below]: Dead Period

(1) For national service academies, the calendar week (Sunday-Saturday) following the Army vs. Navy game (Monday-Thursday of the initial week of the midyear junior college NLI signing period remains a dead period for junior college prospective student-athletes who intend to enroll midyear. If the calendar week following the Army vs. Navy game coincides with the week that includes the early signing period of the National Letter of Intent for high school prospective student-athletes, Monday-Thursday of that week shall remain a dead period for all high school prospective student-athletes): Contact Period

(2) For transfer prospective student-athletes who intend to enroll midyear, the Wednesday before the first Saturday in January through the following Sunday: Quiet Period

(3) For national service academies, the Friday, Saturday and Sunday before the contact period resumes in January: Quiet Period

(g) The Friday immediately following the conclusion of the annual American Football Coaches Association Convention through the Saturday before the initial date for the regular signing period of the National Letter of Intent: Contact Period

(h) The Sunday before the initial date for the regular signing period of the National Letter of Intent: Quiet Period

(i) Monday before the initial date for the regular signing period of the National Letter of Intent through the first Sunday in March [except for (1) below]: Dead Period

(1) For national service academies, the Friday immediately following the initial date for the regular National Letter of Intent signing period through the first Sunday in March: Quiet Period

(j) The Monday immediately following the first Sunday in March through April 14: Quiet Period

(k) April 15 through the Saturday before the last Monday in May: Contact Period

(l) The Sunday before the last Monday in May through the Wednesday immediately following the last Monday in May: Dead Period

(m) The Thursday immediately following the last Monday in May through July 31 [except for (1) below]: Quiet Period

(1) The Monday before the last Wednesday in June through July 24: Dead Period

13.17.5.2 Championship Subdivision Football. The following periods of recruiting activities shall apply to championship subdivision football:

(a) August 1-31 [except for (1) below]: Dead Period

(1) Forty-eight hours before a home contest (on the institution's campus or in a facility normally used for its home games) that occurs in August or September 1 or 2 through 48 hours after the conclusion of the contest: Quiet Period

(b) September 1 through the Sunday immediately following the last Saturday in November: Evaluation Period

(c) The Monday through Thursday immediately following the last Saturday in November: Dead Period

(d) The Friday immediately following the last Saturday in November through the Saturday before the initial date for the early signing period of the National Letter of Intent for high school prospective student-athletes and the initial date of the midyear college transfer National Letter of Intent signing period: Contact Period

(e) The Sunday before the initial date for the early signing period of the National Letter of Intent for high school prospective student-athletes and the initial date of the midyear college transfer National Letter of Intent signing period: Quiet Period

(f) The Monday before the initial date for the early signing period of the National Letter of Intent for high school prospective student-athletes and the initial date of the midyear college transfer National Letter of Intent signing period through the Thursday of the week of the annual American Football Coaches Association Convention [applicable to all prospective student-athletes (see Bylaw 13.02.5.5.1.1)] [except for (1) below]: Dead Period

(1) For transfer prospective student-athletes who intend to enroll midyear, the Wednesday before the first Saturday in January through the following Sunday: Quiet Period

(g) The Friday immediately following the conclusion of the annual American Football Coaches Association Convention through the Saturday before the initial date for the regular signing period of the National Letter of Intent: Contact Period

(h) The Sunday before the initial date for the regular signing period of the National Letter of Intent: Quiet Period

(i) Monday before the initial date for the regular signing period of the National Letter of Intent through the first Sunday in March: Dead Period

(j) The Monday immediately following the first Sunday in March through April 14: Quiet Period

(k) April 15 through the Saturday before the last Monday in May: Contact Period

(l) The Sunday before the last Monday in May through the Wednesday immediately following the last Monday in May: Dead Period

(m) The Thursday immediately following the last Monday in May through July 31: Quiet Period

[13.17.6 through 13.17.13 unchanged.]