November 2026 - January 2027 contact and dead periods by sport
The 2026-27 NCAA recruiting calendar sets contact dates by sport (June 15 after sophomore year or September 1 of junior year for most Division I sports) and recruiting periods that control in-person recruiting. From November 2026 through January 2027, most Division I sports stop in-person recruiting for signing week, November 9-12, 2026, and again around the holidays. These are the periods on the NCAA's 2026-27 Division I recruiting calendars.
How to read it: a dead period stops in-person recruiting and campus visits, but calls and email still follow your sport's contact rules. A recruiting shutdown stops everything, including calls, texts, and email. In a quiet period, coaches can meet you only on their own campus. In an evaluation period, they can watch you compete but cannot talk with you off campus. In a contact or recruiting period, in-person contact is allowed.
Golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, rowing, and field hockey are on the NCAA's Other Division I Sports calendar. All of them except field hockey include the November 9-12 signing-week dead period. The FBS and FCS calendars cover August through December 2026 only, so check ncaa.org for the January 2027 football periods.
Division II runs a contact period for most of the year. For sports other than football, a signing-date dead period runs from 7 a.m. November 9 to 7 a.m. November 11, 2026. Division II football has signing-date dead periods from 7 a.m. November 30 to 7 a.m. December 2, 2026 (for junior college transfers enrolling midyear) and from 7 a.m. February 1 to 7 a.m. February 3, 2027, plus a dead period from December 22, 2026 to January 1, 2027.
| Sport (Division I) | November 2026 | December 2026 | January 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Football (FBS) | Evaluation period through Nov 29; dead period from Nov 30 | Dead period all month, covering the Dec 2-4 early signing period | Not posted yet: the NCAA football calendar ends December 31 |
| Football (FCS) | Evaluation period through Nov 29; dead period from Nov 30 | Dead period Dec 1-3; contact period from Dec 4; quiet period Dec 18-20; dead period Dec 21-31 | Not posted yet: the NCAA football calendar ends December 31 |
| Men's basketball | Recruiting period, except dead period Nov 9-12 | Recruiting period, except dead period Dec 24-26 | Recruiting period (runs through April 30, 2027) |
| Women's basketball | Evaluation period (scholastic events only) | Evaluation period, except dead period Dec 24-26 | Evaluation period (runs through February 28, 2027) |
| Baseball | Quiet period; dead period Nov 9-12; recruiting shutdown Nov 24-29 | Quiet period; recruiting shutdown Dec 22-27 | Quiet period; dead period Jan 7-10 |
| Softball | Evaluation period through Nov 22, except dead period Nov 9-12; quiet period from Nov 23; recruiting shutdown Nov 25-29 | Quiet period; dead period Dec 9-12; recruiting shutdowns Dec 22-26 and from Dec 31 | Recruiting shutdown through Jan 2; evaluation period from Jan 3 (scholastic events only) |
| Men's soccer | Dead period Nov 9-12 | Dead period Dec 11-14 (Division I championship); quiet period Dec 23-25 | No dead, quiet, or shutdown period listed |
| Women's soccer | Dead period Nov 9-12 | Dead period from Dec 16 | Dead period through Jan 6 |
| Women's volleyball | Contact period, except dead period Nov 9-12 | Quiet period from Dec 1; dead period from Dec 17 | Dead period Jan 1; quiet period Jan 2-14; contact period from Jan 15 |
| Cross country and track and field | Contact period, except dead periods Nov 9-12 and Nov 21 | Contact period through Dec 13; dead period Dec 14-26; contact period from Dec 27 | Contact period |
| Men's lacrosse | Contact period through Nov 22, except dead period Nov 9-12; dead period Nov 23-29; quiet period from Nov 30 | Quiet period, except dead period Dec 9-13; dead period from Dec 24 | Dead period through Jan 3; contact period Jan 4-18 (no lacrosse evaluations); quiet period from Jan 19 |
| Women's lacrosse | Contact period with evaluation weekends Nov 6-8, 13-15, and 20-22; dead periods Nov 9-12 and Nov 18-20; recruiting shutdown Nov 24-29 | Contact period, except recruiting shutdowns Dec 22-26 and from Dec 31 | Recruiting shutdown through Jan 2; contact period from Jan 3 |
| Swimming and diving | Dead period Nov 9-12 | Recruiting shutdown from Dec 18 | Recruiting shutdown through Jan 7 |
| Men's wrestling | Dead period Nov 9-12 | Recruiting shutdown Dec 24-26 | No dead, quiet, or shutdown period listed |
Every 2026-27 signing date in one place
November 11 for most sports, November 11-18 for the basketball early period, December 2-4 for the football early period, and National Signing Day on February 3, 2027.
The short answer: the 2026-2027 recruiting calendar
The NCAA recruiting calendar runs on two kinds of dates: sport-specific contact ages, which are June 15 after sophomore year or September 1 of junior year for most D1 sports, and recruiting periods, which control what coaches can do in person during each stretch of the year. Signing runs from mid-November 2026 for most sports through spring 2027.
The single most useful move a family can make is to have film, transcript, target list, and outreach ready before the contact date for your sport, because the athletes coaches already know on day one are the ones who get the calls.
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What does each NCAA recruiting period allow?
Calls, texts, and email stay legal in every period except a recruiting shutdown, once you have passed your sport's contact age, which is why a dead period is not a dead recruiting month. Dead periods around signing windows and championship events are when inboxes matter most, because coaches are at their desks.
| Period | In-Person Contact | Off-Campus Evaluation | Calls / Email |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact period | Yes, on and off campus | Yes | Yes |
| Evaluation period | No conversations off campus | Yes, coaches can watch | Yes |
| Quiet period | On campus only | No | Yes |
| Dead period | None anywhere | No | Yes |
| Recruiting shutdown | None anywhere, no visits | No | No |
When can coaches contact you? Dates by sport
D1 contact rules for the Classes of 2027 and 2028. D2 coaches can call, text, and email at any time, with in-person contact from June 15 after sophomore year, and D3, NAIA, and JUCO programs can communicate at any time.
These dates govern coach-initiated contact. Athlete-initiated outreach is always allowed, and in gated sports like baseball and softball, the recruits who win the first week of their contact window are the ones whose emails, film, and showcase results were in the coach's system months earlier.
Rules shift year to year. The NCAA publishes current sport-by-sport calendars at ncaa.org, and a school's compliance office will always confirm what applies to your class. Cross country and track and field changed on October 7, 2026, when Division I moved off-campus contact up to June 15 after sophomore year.
Women's flag football is an NCAA emerging sport, added to the Emerging Sports for Women program in January 2026, so Division I programs follow the general dates above. Most college flag programs are NAIA, Division II, Division III, or junior college. The NAIA made flag football a championship sport starting in 2026-27, with its first national championship in spring 2027, and NAIA coaches have no recruiting calendar restrictions.
| Sport | Materials / First Contact | Calls and Off-Campus Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Football | June 15 after 10th grade | September 1 of 11th grade |
| Baseball | August 1 before 11th grade | August 1 (calls, visits); September 1 of 11th grade (off-campus) |
| Softball | September 1 of 11th grade | September 1 of 11th grade |
| Men's / Women's Basketball | June 15 after 10th grade | June 15 after 10th grade |
| Men's / Women's Soccer | June 15 after 10th grade | June 15 after 10th grade |
| Women's Volleyball | June 15 after 10th grade | June 15 after 10th grade (calls); August 1 before 11th grade (off-campus) |
| Men's / Women's Track and Field and Cross Country | June 15 after 10th grade | June 15 after 10th grade (calls and off-campus, from October 7, 2026) |
| Women's Flag Football (NCAA emerging sport) | June 15 after 10th grade | June 15 after 10th grade (calls); August 1 before 11th grade (off-campus) |
What is the D1 football recruiting calendar for 2026-2027?
The football-specific windows inside the NCAA recruiting calendar. The grade-by-grade football recruiting timeline covers each of these in depth.
| Window | What Happens | Who It Affects |
|---|---|---|
| June 15 after 10th grade | D1 coaches can send recruiting materials | Class of 2029 rising juniors (June 15, 2027) |
| September 1 of 11th grade | D1 calls, texts, and off-campus contact open | Class of 2028 juniors (September 1, 2026) |
| August 1-31, 2026 | FBS dead period: no in-person recruiting | All recruits |
| September 1 - November 29, 2026 | FBS fall evaluation period: coaches can watch games but cannot talk with recruits off campus | Juniors and seniors |
| November 30 - December 31, 2026 | FBS dead period, covering the early signing period | All recruits |
| December 2-4, 2026 | Division I early signing period | Class of 2027 seniors |
| February 3, 2027 | National Signing Day (regular period opens) | Class of 2027 seniors |
What is the D1 baseball recruiting calendar for 2026-2027?
Baseball runs on the August 1 rule rather than September 1, and the showcase circuit shapes the evaluation months. The baseball recruiting timeline breaks down each grade.
| Window | What Happens | Who It Affects |
|---|---|---|
| June 15, 2026 | D2 in-person contact and official visits open (D2 calls, texts, and emails are allowed any time) | Class of 2028 sophomores |
| July-August 2026 | National showcase peak: PG National, Area Code, East Coast Pro | Rising juniors and seniors |
| August 1, 2026 | D1 contact opens: calls, texts, emails, official visits | Class of 2028 rising juniors |
| October 2026 | PG WWBA World Championship (Jupiter): most-scouted team event | Uncommitted juniors and seniors |
| November 11, 2026 | First Division I and II signing day | Class of 2027 seniors |
What is the D1 softball recruiting calendar for 2026-2027?
Softball is a September 1 sport: no D1 recruiting communication until September 1 of junior year. The softball recruiting timeline covers the grade-by-grade plan.
| Window | What Happens | Who It Affects |
|---|---|---|
| June 15, 2026 | D2 in-person contact and official visits open (D2 calls, texts, emails, and materials are allowed any time) | Class of 2028 sophomores |
| Summer 2026 | Travel ball and exposure tournament peak | All classes |
| September 1, 2026 | D1 direct communication opens: calls, texts, emails, visits | Class of 2028 juniors |
| September-November 2026 | Offer and visit season for juniors | Class of 2028 |
| November 11, 2026 | First Division I and II signing day | Class of 2027 seniors |
| Spring 2027 | D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO fill remaining spots | Uncommitted seniors |
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What is the D1 women's volleyball recruiting calendar for 2026-2027?
Volleyball runs on two contact seasons: the fall high school season and the winter and spring club season. The women's volleyball recruiting hub covers film, measurables, and outreach.
| Window | What Happens | Who It Affects |
|---|---|---|
| August 1-31, 2026 | Quiet period: in-person contact on campus only | All recruits |
| September 1 - November 30, 2026 | Contact period during the high school season, except the November 9-12 signing-week dead period | Class of 2027 and 2028 |
| November 11, 2026 | First Division I and II signing day | Class of 2027 seniors |
| December 1, 2026 - January 14, 2027 | Quiet period, with a dead period from December 17 through January 1 around the Division I championship | All recruits |
| January 15 - July 31, 2027 | Contact period during the club season, with Monday-Thursday quiet periods in March and early April and a quiet period May 1 - June 3 | All recruits |
| June 15, 2027 | D1 calls, texts, and emails open for rising juniors | Class of 2029 |
What is the D1 track and field and cross country recruiting calendar for 2026-2027?
Cross country and track and field share one Division I calendar, and most of the year is a contact period. The track and field recruiting hub covers marks, event coaches, and outreach.
| Window | What Happens | Who It Affects |
|---|---|---|
| August 1 - December 13, 2026 | Contact period, except dead periods November 9-12 (signing week) and November 21 (Division I cross country championships) | Class of 2027 and 2028 |
| November 11, 2026 | First Division I and II signing day | Class of 2027 seniors |
| December 14-26, 2026 | Dead period around the coaches association convention | All recruits |
| December 27, 2026 - July 31, 2027 | Contact period, except dead periods March 12-13 and June 9-12 (Division I indoor and outdoor championships) | All recruits |
| June 15, 2027 | D1 calls, texts, emails, and off-campus contact open for rising juniors | Class of 2029 |
What happens in each month of the 2026-2027 recruiting year?
| Window | What Happens | What You Should Be Doing |
|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | Camps, showcases, and summer evaluations peak | Compete, collect verified measurables, update film |
| August 1, 2026 | D1 baseball contact opens for the Class of 2028 | Rising junior baseball players: outreach ready before the date |
| September 1, 2026 | Contact opens for Class of 2028 in football and softball | Juniors: send outreach the first week, not the first month |
| September-November 2026 | Fall evaluation and official visit season | Take visits, ask roster and scholarship questions directly |
| November 11, 2026 | Signing opens for every Division I and II sport except football | Committed seniors: review agreements and sign |
| December 2-4, 2026 | Football early signing period | Most FBS/FCS commits sign here |
| January-February 2027 | Football regular signing, winter dead periods | Unsigned seniors: widen to D2/D3/NAIA/JUCO now |
| February 3, 2027 | National Signing Day (football) | Sign, or execute the unsigned playbook |
| March-May 2027 | Spring evaluations, spring signing at Division II and remaining Division I programs, transfer portal churn | Late-cycle outreach with updated film |
| June 15, 2027 | Contact opens for Class of 2029 in June 15 sports, including basketball, soccer, volleyball, and track and field | Rising juniors: have your target list ready |
Be ready before your date hits
Every date on this calendar rewards preparation that happened earlier. The free Recruit Score tells you which divisions realistically fit your measurables, NextCommit builds your target list from 45,000+ verified coach contacts, and the AI email generator produces personalized outreach so your name is already familiar when your contact window opens.
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Written by
Preston Viltz
Co-founder and Head of Growth, NextCommit
Preston Viltz is a co-founder and Head of Growth at NextCommit. He played college baseball at Sacramento State, Lower Columbia College, and the University of Washington after graduating from Kentridge High School in 2018, and he ran his own recruiting outreach as a lightly recruited player, which is the process NextCommit was built to fix.
- Co-founder and Head of Growth, NextCommit
- College baseball: Sacramento State, Lower Columbia College, University of Washington
- Kentridge High School, Class of 2018
More guides by Preston and the editorial policy.
Sources
Where these numbers come from
- NCAA recruiting calendars Official contact, evaluation, quiet, and dead periods by sport and division.
- NCAA 2026-27 Division II Manual (Legislative Services Database) Bylaws 13.02.2 and 13.1.3.1: recruiting materials, calls, texts, and emails at any time since August 1, 2024 (Proposal NC-2025-14); Bylaw 13.1.1.1: no in-person contact before June 15 before junior year; Bylaw 13.3.1.2: official visits from the same date, checked October 8, 2026.
- NCAA athletics aid agreements and signing dates Signing periods and what replaced the NLI.
- NCAA recruiting: signing dates The 2026-27 initial and final signing dates by sport, checked October 18, 2026.
- NCAA recruiting rules for college-bound athletes Academic standards, recruiting rules, and definitions.
- NCAA signing dates sheet On October 18, 2026 the file posted under 2026-27 still listed the 2025-26 dates; the NCAA recruiting page lists the 2026-27 dates.
- NCAA 2026-27 Division I FBS recruiting calendar Fall 2026 dead, evaluation, and quiet periods for FBS football, August through December only (updated July 30, 2026).
- NCAA 2026-27 Division I FCS recruiting calendar Fall 2026 periods for FCS football, including the December 4 contact period, August through December only (updated July 30, 2026).
- NCAA 2026-27 Division I men's basketball recruiting calendar Recruiting period September 9, 2026 to April 30, 2027, with dead periods November 9-12 and December 24-26 (updated July 30, 2026).
- NCAA 2026-27 Division I women's basketball recruiting calendar Evaluation period October 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027, with a dead period December 24-26 (updated July 30, 2026).
- NCAA 2026-27 Division I baseball recruiting calendar Quiet period October 12, 2026 to February 28, 2027, dead periods November 9-12 and January 7-10, and recruiting shutdowns November 24-29 and December 22-27 (updated July 30, 2026).
- NCAA 2026-27 Division I softball recruiting calendar Evaluation, quiet, dead, and shutdown periods for November 2026 through January 2027 (updated July 30, 2026).
- NCAA 2026-27 Division I men's lacrosse recruiting calendar Contact, quiet, and dead periods for November 2026 through January 2027 (updated July 30, 2026).
- NCAA 2026-27 Division I women's lacrosse recruiting calendar Contact, evaluation, dead, and shutdown periods for November 2026 through January 2027 (updated July 30, 2026).
- NCAA 2026-27 recruiting calendar for other Division I sports Soccer, swimming and diving, wrestling, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, rowing, and field hockey periods (updated August 4, 2026).
- NCAA 2026-27 Division II recruiting calendar Signing-date dead periods for all sports and Division II football dead periods (updated July 30, 2026).
- NCAA 2026-27 Division I Manual (Legislative Services Database) Bylaws 13.4.1 and 13.1.3.1: materials, electronic correspondence, and calls from June 15 after sophomore year; Bylaw 13.1.1.1: off-campus contact from August 1 before junior year, with Bylaw 13.1.1.1.9 moving cross country and track and field to June 15 after sophomore year (adopted October 7, 2026); Bylaw 13.17.12: women's volleyball recruiting periods, checked October 11, 2026.
- NCAA 2026-27 Division I women's volleyball recruiting calendar Quiet, contact, and dead periods for August 2026 through July 2027 (updated July 30, 2026).
- NCAA 2026-27 Division I cross country and track and field recruiting calendar Contact and dead periods for August 2026 through July 2027 (updated July 30, 2026).
- NCAA: flag football added to the Emerging Sports for Women program January 16, 2026, effective immediately.
- NAIA: women's flag football approved as its 30th championship sport June 17, 2026: championship status from 2026-27 and a first national championship in spring 2027.
FAQ
Questions athletes and parents ask
When can D1 coaches contact recruits in 2026-2027?
It depends on the sport. Football coaches can send materials starting June 15 after sophomore year and can call and make off-campus contact from September 1 of junior year. Baseball coaches can initiate contact starting August 1 before junior year, while softball coaches must wait until September 1 of junior year. Men's and women's basketball and most soccer programs open around June 15 after sophomore year. In women's volleyball, calls and messages open June 15 after sophomore year and off-campus contact on August 1 before junior year; in cross country and track and field, calls, messages, and off-campus contact all open June 15 after sophomore year. Rules change, so verify current dates at ncaa.org.
What is the difference between a dead period and a quiet period?
In a dead period, coaches cannot have any in-person contact with recruits or families, on campus or off, though calls, texts, and email remain allowed if the athlete has reached the contact age for the sport. In a quiet period, coaches can meet recruits on their own campus but cannot evaluate or contact them off campus. Evaluation periods allow off-campus watching but no in-person conversation, and contact periods allow everything. A recruiting shutdown is stricter than a dead period: no recruiting of any kind, including calls, texts, and email.
When are the recruiting dead periods in November and December 2026?
Most Division I sports are in a dead period November 9-12, 2026, the Monday through Thursday of signing week. Holiday dead periods vary by sport: December 24-26 in men's and women's basketball, November 30 to December 31 in FBS football, December 14-26 in cross country and track and field, and December 17 to January 1 in women's volleyball. Baseball and softball add recruiting shutdowns around Thanksgiving and the holidays, when coaches cannot call or email recruits at all.
Can I email a college coach before June 15 or September 1?
Yes. The contact rules restrict what coaches can initiate, not what athletes can send. You can and should email coaches before your contact date so your film and measurables are already in their system. Coaches read those emails, track prospects, and respond through your club or high school coach until they are allowed to contact you directly.
Do D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO follow the same calendar?
No. Division II coaches can call, text, email, and send recruiting materials at any time (since August 1, 2024), and in-person contact and official visits start June 15 after sophomore year. D3 has no NCAA-mandated contact restrictions and coaches can communicate at any time, as can NAIA and JUCO programs. This is why athletes targeting those levels can build relationships earlier and why late-cycle recruiting stays open there long after D1 boards fill.
When are the signing dates for 2026-2027?
Football signs in two windows: the Division I early period from December 2 to 4, 2026 and National Signing Day on February 3, 2027, when the Division I and II regular period opens. Every other Division I and II sport can sign from November 11, 2026, the second Wednesday in November; Division I basketball's early period closes November 18 and its regular period opens April 14, 2027. Apart from those early windows, each school's scholarship policy sets the last signing day, and NAIA and junior colleges follow their own rules.