Freshman to senior year

Softball recruiting timeline & contact rules

A plain-English summary, organized by grade so it works for any graduating class. Rules checked Oct 19, 2026. Rules change, so confirm details on the linked sources and with each school's compliance office.

You can reach out anytime

These limits are on coaches contacting you, not on you contacting them. At any grade you can email coaches, send video, fill out questionnaires and go to camps.

Softball is different from baseball in D1

In Division I softball, almost everything starts on one date: 1 p.m. Central time on September 1 of junior year. That covers calls, texts and emails from coaches, recruiting materials, off-campus contact, official visits, and unofficial visits that involve the athletics department (a tour, a talk with coaches, free tickets). Before then, a D1 coach who gets your call can only confirm your age and explain the rule.

When coaches can contact you, by division

D1: calls, electronic messages, recruiting materials, off-campus contact, official visits and athletics-involved unofficial visits all begin at 1 p.m. Central time on September 1 of junior year. Each school gets seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations combined) per player per year, and no more than three of them can be off-campus contacts. Contacts during an official or unofficial visit don't count. In-person recruiting must also fit the yearly NCAA D1 softball recruiting calendar.
D2: recruiting materials may be sent anytime. Calls, electronic messages, in-person off-campus contact and official visits can begin June 15 after sophomore year.
D3: coaches may call, write and message you anytime. Off-campus, in-person contact is allowed once you've completed sophomore year, and official visits can begin January 1 of junior year.
NAIA: no grade-based limits on when coaches can contact you or when you can visit. Register with the NAIA Eligibility Center.
JUCO (NJCAA): no recruiting calendar. A school-paid visit requires you to have finished junior year.

Grade by grade

Freshman and sophomore years: build a target list in the directory, fill out questionnaires, email coaches with video, and keep your grades up (see GPA & academics). D3 and NAIA coaches can reply now, and D2 can send materials.
Summer after sophomore year: D2 contact opens June 15. D3 off-campus contact opens once sophomore year is done.
Junior year: D1 opens at 1 p.m. Central on Sept. 1. D3 official visits can start Jan. 1. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center before any D1 or D2 official visit.
Senior year: a D1 school can't give you a written offer of athletics aid before Aug. 1 of senior year. See Scholarships & offers.

D1 roster limits and transfers

Since July 1, 2025, D1 schools that opted into the House settlement have a 25-player softball roster limit. Roster limits explained.
The 2027 D1 softball transfer window is scheduled for June 14–28, 2027. College transfers compete with high school recruits for the same spots.
Keep D2, D3, NAIA and JUCO on your list too. Find programs at every level in the free directory.