NCAA Recruiting Calendars Explained for Canadian Athletes
- Collegiate Goals Editorial Team
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
The NCAA recruiting calendar tells you when coaches can and cannot contact you, watch you play, or host you on campus. For Canadian athletes, understanding the NCAA recruiting calendar means you can time your emails, campus visits, and highlight video drops for the moments when coaches are allowed to respond. In short, the NCAA recruiting calendar helps you reach coaches at the right time and avoid wasted effort.
What is the NCAA recruiting calendar
The NCAA recruiting calendar is the schedule of contact, evaluation, quiet, and dead periods that control coach interactions. Each sport has its own calendar and it resets every academic year. Here is what the terms mean in plain English:
Contact period
Coaches can communicate with you, evaluate you in person, and host off campus or on campus meetings. This is your green light for emails, calls, and campus visit requests.
Evaluation period
Coaches can watch you play and evaluate you at games, showcases, and tournaments, but direct in person contact is limited. Keep your schedule and film flowing so they can see progress.
Quiet period
Coaches can communicate electronically and host on campus visits, but they cannot watch you in person off campus. Use this time for video updates, academic info, and planned campus visits.
Dead period
No in person contact on or off campus. Coaches may still communicate by email or message if your sport rules allow, but do not expect visits. Focus on film, grades, and your next touchpoint plan.
Key differences for Canadians
Travel and timing Many American showcases happen while Canadian school calendars and club seasons differ. Map your best exposure windows to contact or evaluation periods, then plan cross border events during those windows.
Time zones and response lag
Email early in the day and use short subject lines. Add your WhatsApp or FaceTime details in your signature so coaches have easy options to respond.
Transcripts and core courses
Have your updated transcript ready before big evaluation windows. Keep your core course plan and GPA current so a coach can verify academics quickly. If you need structure, use our province based Core Course Trackers to stay NCAA ready:
Visa planning
If interest is heating up, review F 1 student visa basics early so you are not scrambling during a dead period. Pair this blog with our Eligibility Center guide to keep paperwork aligned:
How to use the recruiting calendar month by month
This simple rhythm works across most sports. Always confirm the exact calendar for your sport on the NCAA site, then follow this workflow.
Before contact opens
Build your target school list and collect coach emails. Finish a tight 3 to 5 minute highlight video that shows your best actions early. Post it unlisted and keep the link stable. If you have questions about SAT or ACT policies, double check here and add scores if a school still expects them:
When contact opens
Send a short first email. Include GPA, expected graduation year, position or event, height or measurables, team name, academic interest, and one highlight link. Ask a simple question to invite a reply. If the coach replies, follow their instructions and keep your updates short.
During evaluation periods
Share your schedule graphic seven to ten days before each event and again the day prior. After each event, send one clip that shows a college skill. Update coaches on grades and coursework. If your sport allows unofficial visits, propose one with two or three date options.
During quiet periods
Book on campus visits if allowed for your grade. Share academic updates, training plans, and a refreshed highlight clip. Review your core courses and GPA so you can answer eligibility questions quickly. If you need help organizing courses, grab your tracker by province here:
During dead periods
Do not push for visits. Instead, prepare your next highlight edit, verify transcripts, and confirm your next event schedule. This is also a good time to study the difference between Division I and Division II expectations so you target the right level:
Email timing that matches the calendar
First touch
Send during a contact period or just before, so the coach can reply as soon as the window opens.
Follow ups
Five to seven days after your first message. Then one update per evaluation window with something new to share.
Visit requests
Quiet or contact periods are best. Offer weekday and weekend options, share your academic interest, and confirm that you will bring an unofficial transcript.
Video updates
One new highlight reel per major showcase block. Keep links consistent so coaches do not chase files.
Common mistakes Canadians can avoid
Sending long emails during dead periods
Coaches cannot meet, so long asks fall flat. Keep it short and prepare for the next window.
Missing academic proof
Have an unofficial transcript and course list ready before evaluation weekends. If you are not sure how to present it, our NCAA Ready Checklist lays it out step by step and links to the tools you need.
Not aligning CHL or junior hockey rules with NCAA eligibility
Hockey families should review current guidance before signing forms. Start here for context on recent CHL related rule changes:
Burying your highlight video
Put the link near the top of your email. Coaches scan fast. They should see your year, position, GPA, and video in the first two lines. For help making a coach friendly edit, read our highlight video guide:
A short personal story from our journey
When my son started taking calls with college coaches, we learned quickly that timing matters. During one quiet period, we sent a detailed visit request and got silence. The same coach replied in under an hour when the contact window opened, and we booked the visit that week. Our takeaway was simple. Match your asks to the calendar and respect how coaches work. It saves time and keeps the conversation moving.
Your simple action plan
Look up your sport specific NCAA recruiting calendar today.
Map your next eight weeks into contact, evaluation, quiet, and dead periods.
Prepare one short email, one highlight link, and one updated transcript.
During evaluation windows, send schedule graphics and one new clip.
Before every contact window, review your core courses and GPA so you can answer academic questions on the spot. If you need structure, choose your province tracker here:
FAQ
When do coaches start contacting Canadian athletes?
It varies by sport and grade rules, but most meaningful conversations begin as soon as your sport’s contact window opens. Prepare your first message before the window so a coach can reply right away.
Can I visit a campus during a quiet period?
Yes, quiet periods allow on campus visits, but coaches cannot watch you off campus. Book tours, meet academic advisors if possible, and keep your questions ready.
What should be in my first email to a coach?
Year, position or event, GPA, highlight link, team name, and one line on why their program fits you. Keep it to six or seven lines total.
How often should I send updates?
About once per evaluation window or after a major performance. Share something new and helpful, like verified stats, a fresh clip, or a better transcript.
How do I handle different rules in hockey or other unique cases?
Always check the current guidance for your sport, then plan around the calendar. If your path includes junior or CHL decisions, read our hockey rule explainer first, then confirm details with the program recruiting you.
Conclusion
Mastering the NCAA recruiting calendar is one of the most valuable skills a Canadian athlete can develop. When you know exactly when to reach out, visit, and send updates, you avoid wasted effort and put yourself in the best position to be noticed by coaches. Every contact period, evaluation window, and quiet period is an opportunity to move your recruitment forward but only if you plan ahead.
Pair your calendar strategy with solid academics, a professional highlight video, and the right eligibility tools. Start by mapping your sport’s official NCAA recruiting calendar, then use it to guide your emails, visits, and video updates. The right timing can make the difference between being overlooked and being on a coach’s shortlist.
If you need help staying organized, download our NCAA Ready Checklist and choose your province-specific Core Course Tracker to ensure you’re NCAA-ready from day one.
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