NCAA LSDBi

Division I Proposal - 2026-43

RECRUITING -- WOMEN'S LACROSSE -- FIRST OPPORTUNITY FOR RECRUITING ACTIVITIES

Status: Adopted Final

Intent: In women's lacrosse, to establish 12:00 pm Eastern time on September 1 of an individual's junior year of high school as the time for recruiting activities to begin on the first permissible date.

Bylaws: Amend 13, as follows:

13 Recruiting

[13.01 through 13.02 unchanged.]

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 13.16.2. [D]

[13.1.1.1.1 through 13.1.1.1.4 unchanged.]

13.1.1.1.5 Exception -- Lacrosse. In lacrosse, off-campus recruiting contacts shall not be made with an individual (or the individual's family members) before September 1 (12 p.m. Eastern time for women's lacrosse) at the beginning 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 or residence. [D]

[13.1.1.1.6 unchanged.]

[13.1.1.2 through 13.1.1.4 unchanged.]

[13.1.2 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 unchanged.]

13.1.3.1.2 Exception -- Lacrosse and Softball. In lacrosse and softball, telephone calls to an individual (or the individual's family members) may not be made before September 1 (12 p.m. Eastern time for women's lacrosse) 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), telephone calls to the individual (or the individual's family members) may not be made before the opening day of classes of the individual's junior year of high school. Thereafter, an institution may make telephone calls to the prospective student-athlete at its discretion. [D]

[13.1.3.1.3 through 13.1.3.1.10 unchanged.]

13.1.3.2 Additional Restrictions.

[13.1.3.2.1 through 13.1.3.2.5 unchanged.]

13.1.3.2.6 Telephone Calls From an Individual -- Lacrosse and Softball. In lacrosse and softball, an institutional staff member may not receive telephone calls from an individual (or the individual's family members) before September 1 (12 p.m. Eastern time for women's lacrosse) at the beginning of the individual's junior year in high school. [D]

[13.1.3.2.7 through 13.1.3.2.8 unchanged.]

[13.1.4 unchanged.]

13.1.5 Contacts.

[13.1.5.1 through 13.1.5.5 unchanged.]

13.1.5.6 Lacrosse and Softball. In lacrosse and softball, each institution is limited to seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations combined) per prospective student-athlete per year (see Bylaw 13.1.5.8). Beginning September 1 (12 p.m. Eastern time for women's lacrosse) at the start of a prospective student-athlete's junior year of high school, not more than three of the seven opportunities may be off-campus contacts each year, including contacts with the prospective student-athlete's family members. A contact made during an official visit per Bylaw 13.6 or an unofficial visit per Bylaw 13.7.5 does not count as a recruiting opportunity. [D]

[13.1.5.7 through 13.1.5.11 unchanged.]

[13.1.6 through 13.1.10 unchanged.]

[13.2 unchanged.]

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 unchanged.]

13.4.1.2 Exception -- Lacrosse and Softball. In 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 (12 p.m. Eastern time for women's lacrosse) 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]

[13.4.1.3 through 13.4.1.11 unchanged.]

[13.4.2 unchanged.]

[13.5 unchanged.]

13.6 Official (Paid) Visit.

[13.6.1 unchanged.]

13.6.2 Limitations on Official Visits.

13.6.2.1 First Opportunity to Visit.

[13.6.2.1.1 unchanged.]

13.6.2.1.2 Baseball, Lacrosse and Softball. In baseball, lacrosse, and softball, a prospective student-athlete may not be provided an expense-paid visit earlier than September 1 (12 p.m. Eastern time for women's lacrosse) of the prospective student-athlete's junior year in high school. If a prospective student-athlete attends an educational institution that uses a nontraditional academic calendar (e.g., Southern Hemisphere), the prospective student-athlete may not be provided an expense-paid visit earlier than the opening day of classes of the prospective student-athlete's junior year in high school. [D]

[13.6.2.1.3 through 13.6.2.1.7 unchanged.]

[13.6.2.2 through 13.6.2.5 unchanged.]

[13.6.3 through 13.6.9 unchanged.]

13.7 Unofficial (Nonpaid) Visit.

13.7.1 First Opportunity to Visit.

[13.7.1.1 unchanged.]

13.7.1.2 Baseball, Lacrosse and Softball. In baseball, lacrosse and softball, an unofficial visit with athletics department involvement (e.g., contact with athletics department staff, athletics-specific tour, complimentary admission) shall not occur with an individual (or the individual's family members) before (12 p.m. Eastern time for women's lacrosse) 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 unofficial visit with athletics department involvement (e.g., contact with athletics department staff, athletics-specific tour, complimentary admission) shall not occur earlier than the opening day of classes of the individual's junior year in high school.

[13.7.1.3 through 13.7.1.6 unchanged.]

[13.7.2 through 13.7.5 unchanged.]

[13.8 through 13.11 unchanged.]

13.12 Sports Camps and Clinics.

13.12.1 Institution's Sports Camps and Clinics.

[13.12.1.1 through 13.12.1.4 unchanged.]

13.12.1.5 Recruiting Calendar Exceptions. Generally, the interaction during sports camps and clinics between prospective student-athletes and those coaches employed by the camp or clinic is not subject to the recruiting calendar restrictions. However, an institutional staff member employed at any camp or clinic (e.g., counselor, director) is prohibited from recruiting any prospective student-athlete during the time period that the camp or clinic is conducted (from the time the prospective student-athlete reports to the camp or clinic until the conclusion of all camp activities). The prohibition against recruiting includes extending written offers of financial aid to any prospective student-athlete during the prospective student-athlete's attendance at the camp or clinic (see Bylaw 13.9.3.1). Other coaches who attend the camp or clinic as observers must comply with appropriate recruiting contact and evaluation periods. In addition, institutional camps or clinics may not be conducted during a dead period or a recruiting shutdown.

[13.12.1.5.1 unchanged.]

13.12.1.5.2 Exception -- Recruiting Conversations -- Baseball, Lacrosse and Softball. In baseball, lacrosse and softball, recruiting conversations during an institutional camp or clinic (including a camp or clinic that involves only individuals who are not yet prospective student-athletes) are not permitted between an institution’s coach and a participating individual before September 1 (12 p.m. Eastern time for women's lacrosse) at the beginning of the individual’s junior year in high school.

[13.12.1.5.3 through 13.12.1.5.8 unchanged.]

[13.12.1.6 through 13.12.1.7 unchanged.]

[13.12.2 through 13.12.4 unchanged.]

[13.13 through 13.18 unchanged.]

Source: NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Oversight Committee

Effective Date:August 1, 2026

Proposal Category: Amendment

Topical Area: Recruiting

Rationale: The proposal supports prospective student-athlete and coach well-being by commencing recruiting activities at reasonable hours rather than the middle of the night. This proposal is overwhelmingly supported by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association and the Women's Lacrosse Oversight committee's student-athlete representatives.

Division I Commitment addressed by proposal: The Commitment to Responsible Recruiting Standards.

Is the proposal consequential or nationally significant?: The date and time for first permissible recruiting activities is nationally significant.

Is the proposal enforceable and how do the merits outweigh monitoring burdens?: This proposal does not change the monitoring burden.

How does the proposal support student-athlete success/well-being?: This proposal supports student-athlete well-being by establishing a reasonable time to begin recruiting activities.

Estimated Budget Impact: None.

Impact on Student-Athlete's Time (Academic and/or Athletics): None.

History

Apr 9, 2026: In Progress The Women's Lacrosse Oversight Committee introduced the proposal. The committee recommends that the Cabinet adopt the proposal as expedited legislation during its June 23-24, 2026, meeting.
Jun 24, 2026: Adopted Final Adopted by the cabinet as expedited legislation.

Legislative References

Division Number Title
I 13 Recruiting
I 13.1 Contacts and Evaluations.
I 13.1.1 Contactable Individuals.
I 13.1.1.1 Time Period for Off-Campus Contacts -- General Rule.
I 13.1.1.1.5 Exception -- Lacrosse.
I 13.1.3 Telephone Calls.
I 13.1.3.1 Time Period for Telephone Calls -- General Rule.
I 13.1.3.1.2 Exception -- Lacrosse and Softball.
I 13.1.3.2 Additional Restrictions.
I 13.1.3.2.6 Telephone Calls From an Individual -- Lacrosse and Softball.
I 13.1.5 Contacts.
I 13.1.5.6 Lacrosse and Softball.
I 13.4 Recruiting Materials.
I 13.4.1 Recruiting Materials and Electronic Correspondence -- General Rule.
I 13.4.1.2 Exception -- Lacrosse and Softball.
I 13.6 Official (Paid) Visit.
I 13.6.2 Limitations on Official Visits.
I 13.6.2.1 First Opportunity to Visit.
I 13.6.2.1.2 Baseball, Lacrosse and Softball.
I 13.7 Unofficial (Nonpaid) Visit.
I 13.7.1 First Opportunity to Visit.
I 13.7.1.2 Baseball, Lacrosse and Softball.
I 13.12 Sports Camps and Clinics.
I 13.12.1 Institution's Sports Camps and Clinics.
I 13.12.1.5 Recruiting Calendar Exceptions.
I 13.12.1.5.2 Exception -- Recruiting Conversations -- Baseball, Lacrosse and Softball.
References