When can women’s gymnastics coaches contact recruits? It’s always one of the first questions we receive from student-athletes and their families. At the Division 1 level, college coaches can call and send text messages, direct messages and emails to the student-athletes starting June 15 after sophomore year.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that coaches haven’t been recruiting before that point. College coaches conduct online evaluations ahead of time so that when they can reach out, they’re ready to make verbal offers to the top recruits on their list. In this section, we break down the different NCAA gymnastics recruiting rules for each division level.
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How to use the NCAA women’s gymnastics recruiting rules and calendar
The NCAA created a recruiting calendar that determines when and how college coaches can contact recruits. In many sports, early recruiting has increasingly become a problem, and this calendar is designed to limit the amount of contact between coaches and underclassmen. These regulations are especially important for NCAA women’s gymnastics, where recruiting is extremely competitive and the majority of schools are at the D1 level.
Plus, understanding the NCAA gymnastics recruiting rules and calendar as a student-athlete can be advantageous. Recruits will know the best times to contact a coach and get on their radar, maximizing their college opportunities.
When can gymnastics coaches contact college gymnastics recruits?
NCAA D1 gymnastics coaches can begin personally contacting recruits starting June 15 after their sophomore year. NCAA D2 coaches can personally contact recruits at any time.
On August 1, recruits are permitted to take unofficial and official visits to these colleges, and coaches can conduct off-campus contact.
Basically, recruiting takes off the summer after sophomore year for the top programs within D1 and D2.
D3 college coaches, on the other hand, are allowed to contact recruits at any point during high school. However, they usually recruit their top prospects during junior year and into senior year, as well.
Even though D1 coaches aren’t permitted to talk to athletes until June 15 after sophomore year, keep in mind that they’re still actively recruiting behind the scenes before this point.
First, they’ll send general questionnaires to underclassmen to discover which athletes are interested in their school. Then, they’ll conduct online evaluations, watch highlight films, and follow elite competitions to scout athletes and build their list of prospects. And—this is important—they also review emails they receive from student-athletes.
Coaches are regulated on when they can contact athletes, but recruits are allowed to reach out at any time. That’s why it’s so important to proactively send your recruiting profile to NCAA women’s gymnastics coaches at schools that you’re interested in, especially for D1 programs.
What are dead periods in college gymnastics recruiting?
An NCAA Dead Period is the most restrictive period on the recruiting calendar. During this time, coaches are prohibited from having any in-person contact with recruits and/or their families, meaning they can’t visit a gymnast recruit in their school or home, meet with them on campus or even say “hello” at a competition.
It’s important to note that this only affects in-person conversations. Gymnastics coaches can still text, call or email athletes during this time period, so it’s not like recruiting comes to a full stop. Campus and in-home visits don’t occur during this time.
It’s important to know when gymnastics dead periods happen so student-athletes can be sure to schedule their official and unofficial visits accordingly.
Download our guide to managing your recruiting here.
NCAA Division 1 women’s gymnastics recruiting rules
D1 sports must adhere to the strictest recruiting rules. Here are the NCAA women’s gymnastics recruiting rules for D1:
- Any time: College coaches can send recruits general materials, such as questionnaires, camp information, non-athletic information about the school and materials published by the NCAA.
- June 15 after sophomore year: Student-athletes can receive personal contact and recruiting materials from college coaches. That means coaches can call athletes, send text messages, direct messages and emails and even make verbal offers.
- August 1 before junior year: Recruits can begin taking unofficial and official visits to schools. Student-athletes can take unlimited official visits, with one visit permitted per school. Gymnastics coaches can also conduct off-campus contact with recruits at this time.
NCAA Division 2 women’s gymnastics recruiting rules
D2 college coaches have more relaxed recruiting rules compared to D1, especially around official and unofficial visits. All sports within D2 follow the same set of rules, which include:
- Any time: Coaches can send recruits general materials at any point, such as questionnaires, camp brochures, NCAA materials and non-athletic information about the school. Student-athletes are allowed to attend unofficial visits and aren’t restricted in the number of unofficial visits they can take. College coaches can officially call, text, email, direct message and conduct off-campus contact with an athlete and/or their family.
- June 15 after sophomore year: Student-athletes are also permitted to take official visits. Specifically, they can go on one visit per college, but can visit as many D2 schools as they like.
NCAA Division 3 women’s gymnastics recruiting rules
D3 has the most relaxed recruiting rules within the NCAA. These coaches don’t have limits on when they can contact recruits. There are only regulations in place for off-campus contact and official visits. Here is an overview of Division 3 recruiting rules:
- Any time: Student-athletes can receive printed materials—recruiting or generic. Coaches can call, email, text and send direct messages to student-athletes. Basically, if a D3 coach is interested in a student-athlete, they can reach out to them any time. Recruits can also go on an unofficial visit at any point and aren’t restricted in the number they take.
- After sophomore year: Coaches can contact student-athletes off campus.
- January 1 of junior year: Student-athletes can start taking official visits. They’re allowed one visit per college and can take as many official visits to D3 programs as they like.
2024-25 NCAA Division 1 gymnastics recruiting calendar
Throughout the year, the NCAA establishes periods when gymnastics coaches are prohibited from talking with a recruit and/or their family in-person on a recruiting calendar. These are referred to as dead periods and during this time, coaches won’t talk to recruits at their college campus, during a camp, or at the student-athlete’s high school.
Here are the dead period dates for NCAA D1 women’s gymnastics:
- November 11–14, 2024
- December 1–30, 2024
- April 16-20 (noon), 2025 (the day before the first day of the NCAA Division I Women’s Gymnastics Championships to noon on the day after the championships).
- June 1–15, 2025
2024-25 NCAA Division 2 gymnastics recruiting calendar
Like D1, D2 college coaches also abide by a recruiting calendar. During dead periods, these coaches aren’t allowed to talk to recruits and/or their parents/guardians in person.
The only dead period in D2 for women’s gymnastics is during the first two days of when athletes can sign their financial aid agreement, from November 11 (7 a.m.) to November 13 (7 a.m.), 2024.
When is National Signing Day for NCAA gymnastics?
College gymnastics coaches make verbal offers to recruits, but nothing is officially set in stone until you sign the financial aid agreement.
The financial aid agreement shows that the student-athlete is solidifying her commitment to the school and in return, the college is providing an offer for that academic year. In other words, signing a financial aid agreement marks the end of the recruiting process.
For NCAA D1 and D2 women’s gymnastics, the recruiting period starts on November 13, 2024 and ends on August 1, 2025.