CONTACT PERIOD
Everything is open — off-campus meetings, home visits, coaches at your games. Calls & texts too.
Baseball Aug 1–16 · Sept 11–Oct 11 · Mar 1–Jul 31
Softball Aug 1–9 · June 12–July 31
The Rules,
In Plain English.
When college coaches can contact your player, what every recruiting period actually allows, what to get done each year of high school, and the academic boxes to check — per the 2026–27 NCAA calendar.
When coaches can contact you
- NCAA D1 — Baseball AUG 1 SUMMER BEFORE JUNIOR YEAR calls, texts, DMs & official visits open
- NCAA D1 — Softball SEPT 1 JUNIOR YEAR all communication & visits open
- NCAA D2 JUNE 15 SUMMER AFTER SOPHOMORE YEAR earliest NCAA green light
- NCAA D3 · NAIA · JUCO ANYTIME ANY YEAR — EVEN FRESHMEN no contact restrictions — most coaches engage junior year
You can email a coach ANY time — send your profile early. The rules limit when they respond, not when your film gets watched.
The recruiting periods, decoded
2026–27 NCAA D1 calendar
EVALUATION PERIOD
Coaches can come watch you play — but can’t talk to you or your family off campus.
Baseball None this cycle — contact periods cover evaluations
Softball Aug 10–Nov 22 · Jan 3–May 31 (school events; select Oct–Nov weekends)
QUIET PERIOD
Conversations on campus only. No coaches at your games or showcases. Calls & texts still OK.
Baseball Aug 17–Sept 10 · Oct 12–Feb 28
Softball Nov 23–Jan 2
DEAD PERIOD
No in-person contact anywhere — not even on campus. Calls, texts and email stay open.
Baseball Nov 9–12 · Jan 7–10 · May 31–Jun 7 · Jun 19–21 · Jul 3–5
Softball Aug 28–Sept 3 · Nov 9–12 · Dec 9–12 · Jun 1–11
RECRUITING SHUTDOWN
Total blackout — no calls, texts, DMs, visits or mail. The only time coaches truly go silent.
Baseball Nov 24–29 · Dec 22–27
Softball Nov 25–29 · Dec 22–26 · Dec 31–Jan 2
Dates are the official NCAA D1 calendar, refreshed every August. D2/D3/NAIA/JUCO don’t run baseball or softball calendars — always open.
What to do, year by year
9TH BUILD
Grades count from day one — 16 NCAA core courses start now.
Start your profile, measure everything, film everything.
10TH GET SEEN
Camps, showcases, unofficial visits on your own dime.
June 15 after this year: D2 coaches can reach out.
11TH GO LIVE
Aug 1 (BSB) / Sept 1 (SB): D1 opens — calls & official visits.
Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Email every target.
12TH COMMIT
Offers become signed athletic-aid agreements (Nov window).
Finish core courses — EC certification clears you to play.
The academic checklist
- Register at eligibilitycenter.org (free profile — upgrade for D1/D2) ›
- 16 core courses — English, math, science mapped by your counselor
- Core GPA minimum: 2.3 for D1 · 2.2 for D2 · NAIA 2.0
- NAIA has its own center: play.mynaia.org — separate registration ›
- JUCO route: NJCAA/CCCAA/NWAC — open admission, no EC required
Rules per the 2026–27 NCAA recruiting calendar — always confirm with your school compliance office.
The Baseball Power Plant recruiting section updates its database twice a year — schools, divisions, conferences and coaching staffs. If a school you are looking for is missing, or a coach’s details have changed, please reach out to Baseball Power Plant at baseballpowerplant@gmail.com and we will add it to the next update.
The app puts this next to your player’s profile, film, and the school finder — and the Recruiting tab unlocks freshman year.
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