Questions About Recruiting?
Here are the basics
**These rules apply to prospects (individuals who have started classes for the ninth grade including students enrolled in preparatory schools and two-year colleges) and prospects' parents and legal guardians.**
Freshman and Sophomore Year
Coaches and telephone calls
- Coaches may NOT call a freshman or sophomore.
- Educational information published by the NCAA (e.g., Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete)
- Questionnaire
- Camp Brochures
- Nonathletics MSU publications (e.g., official academic, admissions and student-services publications published by MSU available to all students)
- Coaches may NOT have any in-person, off-campus contact with a freshman or sophomore.
Junior Year
Coaches and telephone calls
- Coaches may NOT call a junior.
- Educational information published by the NCAA (e.g., Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete)
- Questionnaire
- Camp Brochures
- Nonathletics MSU publications (e.g., official academic, admissions and student-services publications published by MSU available to all students)
- Beginning September 1 at the beginning of the prospect's junior year in high school:
- General correspondence including letters, facsimiles, e-mail, text messages and instant messaging
- Media guide
- Business cards
- Game programs (may not be mailed but may be provided to prospects during visits to campus)
Coaches may make the following in-person, off-campus contacts with a prospect
- Coaches may NOT have any in-person, off-campus contact with a junior.
Senior Year
Coaches and telephone calls
- Coaches may make one telephone call per week beginning July 1 following the completion of the prospect's junior year in high school.
- Same as junior year.
- Coaches may have up to three in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts with a prospect.
- In-person, off-campus contact between a coach and prospect may not be made until the prospect's first day of class.
Visiting Campus
Prospects are allowed to visit campus at any time (at their own expense) except during dead periods. During a dead period, coaches MAY NOT have any contact with a prospect or the prospect's parents. In field hockey, there are two dead periods during the academic year: November 15-20 and February 5-8.
Commonly asked questions
Q: Is it permissible for a coach to call my parents if I am a freshman or sophomore in high school?
A: NO. The recruiting rules apply to both prospects and their parents.
Q: I am planning on attending Michigan State University's Field Hockey Camp during the summer. Am I allowed to talk to coaches during camp about attending MSU?
A: It is not permissible for MSU coaches to engage in any recruiting activities during camps.
For more information on NCAA rules and regulations visit the following website: http://www.msu.edu/user/msuncaa/
or contact MSU's Office of Compliance Services at (517) 432-5510.