Cross Country/Track and Field NCAA Division I Cross Country/Track and Field Recruiting Calendar

Recruiting Calendar Working Group Group Chair: Dan Waters – University of Alabama Members: Brett Halter – Missouri Ricardo Santos – Iona (Cross Country Committee Representative) Jesse Parker – Sam Houston State Jeff Bovee – Illinois State Amy Horst – Loyola (Cross Country Committee Representative)

Concerns Addressed by the Committee Pressure of summer recruiting Dead period in August Signing period Start of summer contact period Phone calls to Junior PSA’s

Improvements Simplification – one signing date Captures all event areas Gives cross country runners the freedom to finish their season without added pressures Coach’s off time is protected by longer dead period in December

Improvements Open signing period Eliminating the April signing period, and leaving it open, allows athletes to sign early. This way they can start the process of getting their admission forms/paperwork compiled. Can sign anyone you want at anytime (after November X) Alleviates stress for PSA, coaches, and administration Changing the dead period in August to an evaluation period Allows coaches to still coach their athletes in August as well as evaluate high school talent during this period Creates a more relaxed recruiting period protecting vacation time Extended by a week

Limitations Consistencies Dead period – Athletes that compete in football as well as track and field. If they come to visit for football in December, track would not be able to talk to them. Still not restricted enough. Concerned that with open signing period, athletes will become even more indecisive. Why are we constantly changing? Dead period maintained around National Championships

Additional Thoughts Perfect time to change since we can now call juniors Calling juniors in the spring could help in deciding who you may or may not want to recruit Summer should be more relaxed Best of both worlds (Nov/April vs Feb) with open signing date What other sports would be interested in open signing dates? Soccer

Cross Country/Track and Field NCAA Division I Cross Country/Track and Field Recruiting Calendar August 1, 2016 – July 31, 2017

Start date will always remain August 1 (See NCAA Division I Bylaw 13.17.8 for Cross Country/Track and Field Calendar Formula) (a.) August 1 – 21, 2016: Start date will always remain August 1 Duration will be the first 21 days of August Contact period will begin different week 2016: Monday 2017: Tuesday 2018: Wednesday 2019: Thursady Evaluation Period (13.02.5.2) – An evaluation period is a period of time when it is permissible for authorized athletics department staff to be involved in off- campus activities designed to assess the academic qualifications and playing ability of prospective student-athletes. No in-person, off campus recruiting contacts shall be made with the prospective student-athlete during an evaluation period.

(b.) August 22, 2016 – July 31, 2017: [except (1) – (5) below] November 7 – 10, 2016: Contact Period (13.02.5.1) – A contact period is a period of time when it is permissible for authorized athletics department staff members to make in-person, off-campus, recruiting contacts and evaluations Dead Period (13.02.5.5) – A dead period is a period of time when it is not permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts or evaluations on or off the institution’s campus or to permit official or unofficial visits by prospective student-athletes to the institution’s campus. It remains permissible, however, for an institutional staff member to write or telephone a prospective student-athlete during a dead period.

(b.) Continued December 12, 2016 – January 1, 2016: -Future years begin on the second Monday of December and end the first Sunday of January (4) March 10 – 11, 2017: NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships - Per competition schedule (5) May 25 – 27, 2017: NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Regionals (6) June 7 – 10, 2017: NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Dead Period (13.02.5.5)

(c.) September 1, 2016: - In future years this date remains the same (d.) November 9, 2016 – July 31, 2017: - Future dates per NLI guidelines Can begin calling, texting, and emailing juniors. National Letter of Intent signing Period (13.02.12) - The National Letter of Intent referred to in this bylaw is the official document administered by the Collegiate Commissioners Association and used by the subscribing member institution to establish the commitment of a prospective student-athlete to attend a particular institution.

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