Recruiting has been one of many areas in college athletics that has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 shutdown, and even more uncertainty will almost surely carry into a typically critical summer recruiting period.
The NCAA DI Council approved a few blanket waiver requests today, and released a statement regarding some flexibility in regards to recruiting.
The recruiting portion of the release that will be of most interest to coaches reads in part:
"The committee also granted waivers of recruiting rules effective May 11 to make them more flexible during the dead period the group imposed, which currently lasts through May 31. For example, any school staff member may participate on recruiting calls between a countable coach and a recruit. In normal circumstances, only coaches, and a few others in limited situations, may communicate with uncommitted prospective student-athletes via telephone or video calls.
The committee also lifted the restriction on the number of uncommitted prospective student-athletes (and their family members) who may participate in a recruiting call with a countable coach.
Additionally, current student-athletes may now participate in recruiting calls with coaches, as long as that time counts against the eight hours of countable athletics related activity that the committee permitted in all sports earlier this spring.
Finally, committed prospective student-athletes may participate in virtual team activities after completion of all academic requirements for high school graduation or transfer to a Division I school. Uncommitted prospects could on one occasion observe such activities but not participate."
The release also states that the group is set to make a final decision on an extension of the recruiting dead period, which originally began back in March. The extension they're looking at would extend the current end date from May 31 and move it to go through June 30, and a final call will come during their next meeting set for May 13th.
See the full release from the NCAA here.
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