NCAA Fencing For Prospective Student Athletes
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Learn the Rules for NCAA Fencing Recruitment #
Navigating the college recruiting process can be exciting — and a little overwhelming. USA Fencing is here to help. It’s important to understand that all communication between fencers and college coaches must follow NCAA rules. These rules protect both athletes and institutions, and breaking them — even accidentally — can affect a student’s eligibility to compete at the collegiate level.
Summer Nationals Reminders
As Summer Nationals near each year, NCAA fencing coaches begin receiving questions from prospects about what they can and can’t do at this annual tournament when it comes to recruiting.
Here's what each group needs to know:
- Rising seniors: All NCAA coaches are allowed to talk to you about their schools and recruiting.
- Rising juniors:
- Division I NCAA coaches are not permitted to talk with you in person until August 1st. This means that they are not allowed to meet with you at Summer Nationals. They are permitted to exchange emails, phone calls, etc.
- Division II NCAA coaches are permitted to talk with you in person. The rule states that in-person contact is allowed after June 15th, preceding your junior year, and Summer Nationals falls after that date.
- Division III NCAA coaches are permitted to talk with you in person.
- Rising sophomores or younger: NCAA coaches in all divisions are not permitted to talk with you at Summer Nationals.
One other reminder: When meeting with coaches, these meetings must take place either on a day when you're not competing or once you're done competing on a given day. This means you can't meet with coaches the morning before you compete.
College Connect: The Official College Recruitment Platform by USA Fencing
Access College Connect, opens in a new tabCollege Connect is USA Fencing’s official platform for athletes who want to compete at the collegiate level. Whether you're just starting to explore your options or actively connecting with coaches, College Connect gives you the tools to showcase your fencing accomplishments, learn about programs across the country, and start meaningful conversations with college recruiters. If you're serious about fencing in college, this is where your journey begins.
Quick Links
Key Dates NCAA Fencing Recruiting#
The NCAA sets specific recruiting timelines for each division. Reminder: Don't be discouraged if a coach doesn’t respond to your message, it may be because NCAA rules don’t yet permit them to do so.
Division I
June 15 after Sophomore year:
- Coaches may begin recruiting communication (calls, emails, direct messages
August 1 before Junior year:
- Coaches may begin in-person recruiting contact, including off-campus meetings and official/unofficial visits.
Official visits:
- May begin August 1 before junior year and can be funded by the college.
Unofficial visits:
- Can occur any time, but recruiting conversations are not allowed during those visits until August 1 before junior year.
Division II
Athletes entering 9th grade:
- Coaches may begin recruiting communication (calls, emails, direct messages).
June 15 before junior year (13.1.1):
- Coaches may begin in-person recruiting contact, including off-campus meetings and official/unofficial visits.
Official visits:
- May begin June 15 before junior year and can be funded by the college.
Unofficial visits:
- Can occur any time, but recruiting conversations are not allowed during those visits until June 15 before junior year.
Division III
During Sophomore year:
- Coaches may begin recruiting communications and off-campus contact with the athlete
January 1 of Junior year:
- Official visits (funded by the school) may begin.
Unofficial visits:
- Can happen at any time, and recruiting conversations may take place earlier than in Divisions I and II.