What Is The NCAA Dead Period? | When Is The Dead Period? (2024)

The most restrictive of all the recruiting periods is the NCAA Dead Period. During the dead period, coaches may not have any in-person contact with recruits and/or their parents. In other words, coaches are not allowed to talk to recruits at their college campus, the athlete’s school, an athletic camp or even the grocery store.

While the term “dead period” makes it seem like all recruiting stops during this time, that’s actually not the case. Athletes and coaches are still allowed to communicate via phone, email, social media and other digital communication channels. While NCAA Division 1 programs are prohibited from conducting any in-person recruiting, D1 college coaches can still contact student-athletes via digital forms of communication during the dead period. In this video, we debunk common misconceptions around the NCAA recruiting dead period and contact rules.

Take a look at our NCAA recruiting rules to learn more about the different ways athletes and coaches can communicate. The goal of the NCAA Dead Period is to give athletes a little bit of time and breathing room to think about what school they want to sign with.

Learn how college coaches continue to recruit during the most restrictive recruiting period on the NCAA recruiting calendar.

Managing Your Recruiting During a Dead Period

While recent developments surrounding the coronavirus pandemic impact more than just sports and recruiting, we’re dedicated to helping student-athletes and their familiesnavigate the changing landscape of recruitingduring this time.

To help student-athletes manage their recruiting, we’ve created a recruiting guide for all college-bound athletes to follow during the next few weeks. Whether you’re wondering how to efficiently use your downtime due to a canceled sports season, need to work on your time-management skills as you transition from high school classes to online learning or are trying to figure out strategies to stay healthy and positive—physically and mentally—during this time, check out our tips for managing your athletic recruiting process below.

Download our guide to managing your recruiting here.

Use this guide to help you stay on track athletically and academically during a dead period.

Update your NCSA recruiting profile.

Give your profile a fresh look by uploading a new highlight/skills video and a recent transcript. You can also add your GPA, test scores and key athletic stats to make sure coaches see and evaluate your most recent accomplishments.

Draft a new personal statement.

This is a great time to show college coaches your character. Stand out from the crowd by demonstrating your commitment to your sport and that you’re taking on this new challenge head-on.

Research college rosters.

College rosters provide insights on the types of athletes coaches want to recruit, where they recruit and if they’re recruiting your position soon.

Add colleges to your target list.

Make sure you have a good mix of safety, target and dream schools. If you’re not sure where to start, check out your Coach Activity Report or your Top Matches for schools that may be a good fit.

Take a virtual college tour.

The best way to narrow down your preferences and figure out what you want your college experience to be like is by checking out a college campus—and it’s easy to do online!

Connect with coaches on social media.

Following a coach or athletic program on Twitter or Instagram is a great way to get regular updates and a behind-the-scenes look at what competing on a college team is really like.

Email college coaches.

Coaches are relying on digital communication more than ever, and messaging coaches is one of the best ways to stay in touch during this time. Check out our email tips to see how you can stand out in a crowded inbox.

Maximize your academic scholarship opportunities.

Dedicate some time each week for online learning and extra test prep. A high GPA and ACT/SAT scores can improve your admissions chances and ensure you’re NCAA eligible.

Maintain a regular workout schedule.

Sticking to your regular training routine can be difficult if you’re not in season, but make sure you’re getting some exercise in each day. Try walking/running, online or app-based video classes and even some creative workouts so you’ll be prepared once practice starts again!

Rest and recharge.

Whether it’s connecting with friends and family via video chat, getting creative with your workouts or just streaming your favorite show (we won’t judge!), set aside some time each day to help manage your stress and avoid burnout.

Insider Tip: Take a look at the upcoming official and unofficial visits you have lined up. Check those dates against your sport’s dead period. If any of your visits fall within the dead period window, reschedule them if possible. If you visit a school during this time, you will not be able to speak or meet with the coach. Meeting with the college coach is one of the most important aspects of an official or unofficial visit, so you want to make sure you’re visiting at a time that this is possible. Learn more about official visits and unofficial visits.

When is the NCAA Dead Period?

While the recruiting calendar varies by sport, the dead period usually takes place during the early signing period (for sports that have an early signing period), as well as at the beginning of the regular signing period. We’ve included the dates for each sport’s dead period below. Division III schools do not have designated dead periods.

Find your sport at the DI or DII level

Division I Bowl Subdivision Football Dead Periods

• August 1-31, 2023
  • Except: The 48 hours before a home game in August or September 1-2 through the 48 hours after the conclusion of the game is considered a quiet period
• November 27-30, 2023
• December 18, 2023 – January 11, 2024
  • Except: The seven days immediately before the first day of classes of the institution’s second academic term that are not part of the contact period (applicable only to prospective student athletes who intend to enroll midyear) is a quiet period
• February 5 – March 3, 2024
• June 24 – July 24, 2024

Division I Championship Subdivision Dead Periods

• August 1-31, 2023
  • Except: The 48 hours before a home game in August or September 1-2 through the 48 hours after the conclusion of the game is considered a quiet period
• November 27-30, 2023
• December 18, 2023 – January 11, 2024
  • This is a dead period, except for the seven days immediately before the first day of classes of the institution’s second academic term that are not part of the contact period (applicable only to prospective student athletes who intend to enroll midyear) is a quiet period
• February 5 – March 3, 2024
• May 26-29, 2024

Division I Baseball Dead Periods

• November 6–9, 2023
• January 4–7, 2024
• May 27–June 3, 2024
• June 15–17, 2024
• July 3–5, 2024

Division I Men’s Basketball Dead Periods

• August 6–20, 2023
• November 6–9, 2023
• December 24–26, 2023
• April 4–11, 2024 (noon)
• May 16–24, 204
• July 6-25, 2024
  • Except: July 11–14, 2024 is an evaluation period (NCAA certified events, institutional camps and permissible governing body events only)
  • Except: July 22–25, 2024 is an evaluation period (NCAA College Basketball academy only)

Division I Women’s Basketball Dead Periods

• December 24–26, 2023
• April 4–8, 2024
• July 11–12 2024

Division I Men’s/Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field Dead Periods

• November 6–9, 2023
• November 18, 2023
• December 11, 2023 – January 1, 2023
• March 8–9, 2024
• June 5–8, 2024

Division I Men’s Golf Dead Periods

• November 6–9, 2023
• November 24–26, 2023
• December 5–7, 2023 (12:01 am): the NCAA explains that a dead period is in effect from the first official day of the Golf Coaches Association of America Convention until 12:01 am on the day after the convention ends
• December 23, 2023 – January 1, 2024

Division I Men’s Lacrosse Dead Periods

• August 15-31, 2023
• November 6–9, 2023
• November 20 – November 26, 2023
• December 24, 2023 – January 7, 2024
• May 24 – 28 (noon), 2023
• July 2-6, 2024

Division I Women’s Lacrosse Dead Periods

• August 28-September 3, 2023
• November 6-9, 2023
• November 15-16, 2023
• December 22-26, 2023
• December 31, 2023 – January 2, 2024
• May 24-26, 2024
  • During the Women’s Lacrosse Championship, coaches can evaluate athletes at one event, as long as it’s hosted within a 100-mile radius of the championship site. Coaches are not permitted to attend any evaluation event that occurs two hours before, during, or two hours after the semifinals competition and final game.
• Except: July 2-6, 2024: Dead period

Division I Women’s Volleyball Dead Periods

• November 6–9, 2023

Division I Women’s Beach Volleyball Dead Periods

• November 6–9, 2023
• December 13–31, 2023
  • Except for coaches attending the AVCA annual awards banquet may have incidental contact w/ two-year college prospective student-athletes being honored at the banquet, provided no recruiting conversation occurs.
• May 1–5, 2024
  • Except: An institution’s authorized coaching staff members (see Bylaw 11.7.6) may evaluate on only one day and may attend only one event on that day during this period. Such an event shall occur within a 30-mile radius of the site of the championship. Coaches from the same institution who attend such an event shall attend the same event on the same day. Coaches shall not attend events that occur at the same time that any intercollegiate competition in conjunction with the NCAA championship occurs.

Division I Softball Dead Periods

• November 6–9, 2023
• December 6–9, 2023
• May 28 – June 7, 2024: Dead period; these dates are based on the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Softball Championship. The dead period remains in effect until the day following the final day of competition.

Division I All Other Sports Dead Periods

Women’s Gymnastics Dead Periods

• November 6–9, 2023, or the Monday through Thursday of the initial week for the fall signing of the National Letter of Intent
• December 1-30, 2023
• April 17–21 (noon), 2024, which is the day before the first day of the NCAA Division I Women’s Gymnastics Championships through noon on the day after the championships
• June 1-15, 2024

Men’s Ice Hockey Dead Periods

• November 6–9, 2023, which is the Monday through Thursday of the initial week for the fall signing of the National Letter of Intent
• April 10–14 (noon), 2024, or the Wednesday prior to the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship through noon on the Sunday after the game

Women’s Ice Hockey Dead Periods

• November 6–9, 2023, which is the Monday through Thursday of the initial week for the fall signing of the National Letter of Intent
• April 10–14 (noon), 2024 (the day prior to the NCAA Division I Women’s Ice Hockey Championship to noon on the day after the match)

Men’s SoccerDead Periods

• November 6–9, 2023 (Monday through Thursday of the initial week for the signing of the National Letter of Intent)
• December 8–10, 2023 (Friday through Sunday of the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship)

Women’s Soccer Dead Periods

• November 6–9, 2023 (Monday through Thursday of the initial week for the signing of the National Letter of Intent)
• December 15, 2023 – January 5, 2024

Wrestling Dead Periods

• November 6–9, 2023 (Monday through Thursday of the initial week for the signing of the National Letter of Intent)
• March 20–24 (noon), 2023 (The day before the first day of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships to noon on the day after the championships)
• July 29 – August 4, 2024 (The Monday before the National Wrestling Coaches Association Convention through the day of adjournment of the convention)

All Other Sports

• November 6–9, 2023 (Monday through Thursday of the initial week for the fall signing of the National Letter of Intent)
  • Except: When the dead period occurs during the U.S. Diving National Championships, authorized coach staff members are allowed to watch recruits participating in that competition.
  • Except: When the dead period occurs during the North American Cup Fencing Championship, authorized coach staff members are allowed to watch recruits participating in that competition.
  • Except: When the dead period occurs during the Junior Olympic Rifle Championships, authorized coach staff members are allowed to watch recruits participating in that competition.

Division II Football Dead Periods

• December 18 (7 a.m.) – 20 (7 a.m.), 2023 is a dead period for junior college recruits only who intend to enroll midyear
• January 8–10, 2024 is a dead period
• February 5 (7 a.m.) – February 1 (7 a.m.), 2024 is a dead period

Division II Men’s Basketball Dead Periods

• November 6 (7 am) – 8 (7 am), 2023
• April 4–9(noon), 2024

Division II Women’s Basketball Dead Periods

• November 6 (7 am) – 8 (7 am), 2023
• April 4 – 10 (noon), 2024: During the Thursday before the start of the NCAA D1 Women’s Basketball Championship game to noon Wednesday after the game.

Division II All Other Sports Dead Periods

Men’s lacrosse dead periods

• November 6 (7 a.m.) – 8 (7 a.m.), 2023
• December 4–12 (noon), 2023
• May 23–28 (noon), 2024

Men’s wrestling and women’s wrestling dead periods

• July 24 – 30, 2023 (the Monday before the National Wrestling Coaches Association Convention through the day of adjournment of the convention).
• November 6 (7 a.m.) – 8 (7 a.m.), 2023 (during the 48 hours prior to 7 am on the initial date for the signing of the NLI).

Other sports dead periods

• November 6 (7 a.m.) – 9 (7 a.m.), 2023
  • Except: When the dead period occurs during the U.S. Diving National Championships, authorized coach staff members are allowed to watch recruits participating in that competition.
  • Except: When the dead period occurs during the North American Cup Fencing Championship, authorized coach staff members are allowed to watch recruits participating in that competition.
  • Except: When the dead period occurs during the Junior Olympic Rifle Championships, authorized coach staff members are allowed to watch recruits participating in that competition.