This page is designed to provide a quick reference of NCAA Division III recruiting rules. It is not to serve as a substitute for the legislation within the NCAA Division III Manual.

NCAA Division III recruiting rules apply to athletics based recruiting and are not meant to limit an institution's admissions office from the recruitment of prospective students generally.

Bylaw 13.02.3 - Contact: There are no restrictions on the number of off-campus contacts. Off-campus contacts are not permitted until the conclusion of the prospect's junior year of high school. Please note contact restrictions at practice and competition sites per Bylaw 13.1.4. (contact restrictions at specified sites).

Bylaw 13.1.5 - Evaluations: There are no restrictions on the number or timing on the observation of a prospect participating in practice or competition.

Campus visits in which athletics recruitment is involved:

o Bylaw 13.6 - Official visits. Each institution is permitted to finance the expenses of one visit per prospect. There are restricted allowances on transportation, meals, lodging, and entertainment detailed within the legislation. Official visits can take place beginning on January 1st of the prospect's junior year in high school. An additional paid visit would be permitted beginning October 15 after the prospect's completion of high school, which is typically used by two- and four-year college prospects.

o Bylaw 13.7 - Unofficial visits. A prospect may visit a member institution's campus at his or her own expense an unlimited number of times and there are no restrictions on the timing of these unofficial campus visits.

Communications:

o Bylaw 13.4.1 - Recruiting materials and letters. There are no restrictions on the timing of providing recruiting materials or letters to prospects. Institutions are permitted to provide any official academic, admissions, athletics and student-services publications or videotapes published or produced by the institution and other information of a general nature that is available to all students.

o Bylaw 13.02.10.1 - Timing of Telephone calls. There are no restrictions on the number or timing on telephone calls to prospects.

o Bylaw 13.02.11 - Electronic Transmissions: Text messages/instant messenger/social networking sites. Electronically transmitted correspondence that may be sent to a prospective student-athlete (or his or her parents/legal guardians) by, or on behalf of, a member of the institution's athletics department staff is limited to electronic mail, text messages, private communication through a social networking site, and facsimiles. An enrolled student-athlete may send private electronic correspondence (e.g. electronic mail, text messages, private communication through a social networking site, and facsimiles) to a prospective student-athlete for recruitment purposes. It is important that that the communication is private between the sender and the recipient (e.g. no commenting on a post published by the prospective student-athlete).

o Bylaw 13.02.11.1 - Timing of Electronic Transmissions. There are no restrictions on the number or timing for sending e-mails, text messages and facsimiles to prospects.

Bylaw 13.1.1.2 - Four-year college prospects: Athletics recruitment of an NCAA or NAIA four-year college student-athlete is not permitted without first obtaining written permission from the student's current institution to do so, regardless of who makes the initial contact. A student-athlete transferring from a Division III institution to another Division III institution can sign the self-release form for proper permission.