Prospective Student Athlete Area
From recruiting information to establishing which colleges and universities sponsor NCAA Bowling, use this information to learn more about becoming an NCAA Bowling student athlete.
What you will find below:
Recruiting Timeline
Frequently Asked Recruiting Timeline Questions
Recruiting Timeline Summary by High School Year
The information below was last updated: June 2024
Recruiting Timeline for Prospective Student Athletes
Frequently Asked Recruiting Timeline Questions
It is important to remember that each NCAA Bowling program is governed by its respective NCAA division, DI, DII, or DIII, recruiting rules and guidelines. As a prospective student athlete, use the information below to understand the rules of each division.
General Information:
When is a coach allowed to send me questionnaires, camp information, information about NCAA, and nonathletic publications?
Freshmen- Senior Year:
DI- yes
DII- yes
DIII- yes
Electronic Communication:
When is a coach allowed to send me recruiting materials and electronic correspondence (example: emails)?
Freshmen Year:
DI- no
DII- no
DIII- yes
Sophomore Year:
DI- no
DII- no
DIII- yes
Junior Year:
DI- yes, *June 15th preceding JR year.
DII- yes, *June 15th preceding JR year.
DIII- yes
Senior Year:
DI- yes
DII- yes
DIII- yes
Telephone Calls:
When may a coach have incoming and outgoing telephone calls with me?
Freshmen Year:
DI- no
DII- no
DIII- yes
Sophomore Year:
DI- no
DII- no
DIII- yes
Junior Year:
DI- yes, *June 15th preceding JR year.
DII- yes, *June 15th preceding JR year.
DIII- yes
Senior Year:
DI- yes
DII- yes
DIII- yes
Contact at Tournaments:
When will a coach be allowed to have off-campus contact with me, at tournaments?
NOTE: Some coaches may not be able to contact you until after competition is complete each day.
Freshmen Year:
DI- no
DII- no
DIII- no
Sophomore Year:
DI- no
DII- no
DIII- no
Junior Year:
DI- yes, August 1st preceding JR year
DII- yes, June 15th preceding JR year
DIII- yes, After completion of SO year
Senior Year:
DI- yes
DII- yes
DIII- yes
Unofficial Visit to Campus:
When may I visit a college campus at my own expense, unsolicited by the program, AND visit with the bowling coach and/or program?
NOTE: You may visit any campus at any time but the timeline below includes a visit with the bowling coach.
Freshmen Year:
DI- no
DII- no
DIII- no
Sophomore Year:
DI- no
DII- no
DIII- no
Junior Year:
DI- yes, August 1st preceding JR year
DII- yes, June 15th preceding JR year
DIII- yes, January 1st of JR year
Senior Year:
DI- yes
DII- yes
DIII- yes
Official Visit to Campus:
When may I visit a college campus at the expense of the bowling program, initiated by the program?
Freshmen Year:
DI- no
DII- no
DIII- no
Sophomore Year:
DI- no
DII- no
DIII- no
Junior Year:
DI- yes, August 1st preceding JR year
DII- yes, June 15th preceding JR year
DIII- yes, January 1st of JR year
Senior Year:
DI- yes
DII- yes
DIII- yes
Verbal Scholarship Offers:
When is a coach allowed to verbally offer me an athletic scholarship?
Freshmen Year:
DI- no
DII- no
DIII- not applicable
Sophomore Year:
DI- no
DII- no
DIII- not applicable
Junior Year:
DI- yes, June 15th preceding JR year
DII- yes, June 15th preceding JR year
DIII- not applicable
Senior Year:
DI- yes
DII- yes
DIII- not applicable
Signing Period:
When may I receive a Letter of Intent (NCAA DI & DII), Scholarship Offer, and/or Non-Binding Standardized Celebratory Form (NCAA DIII) from a bowling program?
Freshmen Year:
DI- no
DII- no
DIII- no
Sophomore Year:
DI- no
DII- no
DIII- no
Junior Year:
DI- no
DII- no
DIII- Post-acceptance
Senior Year:
DI- November of SR year - August 1
DII- November of SR year - August 1
DIII- Post-acceptance
Note: The specific day in November that the signing period opens for DI & DII varies each year.
For 2024 (HS class of 2025), the signing period begins November 13, 2024 and ends August 1, 2025.
Recruiting Timeline Summary by High School Year
It is important to remember that each NCAA Bowling program is governed by its respective NCAA division, DI, DII, or DIII, recruiting rules and guidelines. As a prospective student athlete, use the information below to understand how recruiting works in your respective year in high school.
Freshmen & Sophomore Year of High School:
General Information:
This includes sending you questionnaires, camp information, information about NCAA, and nonathletic publications about their college or university.
DI: yes
DII: yes
DIII: yes
Electronic Communication:
This includes sending you recruiting materials and electronic correspondence (example: emails).
DI: no
DII: no
DIII: yes
Telephone Calls:
This includes incoming and outgoing telephone calls with coach.
DI: no
DII: no
DIII: yes
Contact at Tournaments:
This includes off-campus contact with you, at tournaments.
DI: no
DII: no
DIII: no
Unofficial Visit to Campus:
This includes visiting a college campus at your own expense, unsolicited by the program, AND visit with the bowling coach and/or program while visiting campus. NOTE: You may visit any campus at any time but the information below includes a visit with the bowling coach.
DI: no
DII: no
DIII: no
Official Visit to Campus:
This includes visiting a college campus at the expense of the bowling program, initiated by the program.
DI: no
DII: no
DIII: no
Verbal Scholarship Offers:
This includes when a coach is allowed to verbally offer you an athletic scholarship.
DI: no
DII: no
DIII: not applicable
Signing Period:
This includes when you are eligible to receive a Letter of Intent (NCAA DI & DII), Scholarship Offer, and/or Non-Binding Standardized Celebratory Form (NCAA DIII) from a bowling program.
DI: November of your Senior year through August 1st (Letter of Intent)
DII: November of your Senior year through August 1st (Letter of Intent)
DIII: Post-acceptance to a Division III college or university (Non-Binding Standardized Celebratory Form)
Junior Year of High School:
General Information:
This includes sending you questionnaires, camp information, information about NCAA, and nonathletic publications about their college or university.
DI: yes
DII: yes
DIII: yes
Electronic Communication:
This includes sending you recruiting materials and electronic correspondence (example: emails).
DI: yes, June 15th preceding your Junior year
DII: yes, June 15th preceding your Junior year
DIII: yes
Telephone Calls:
This includes incoming and outgoing telephone calls with coach.
DI: yes, June 15th preceding your Junior year
DII: yes, June 15th preceding your Junior year
DIII: yes
Contact at Tournaments:
This includes off-campus contact with you, at tournaments.
NOTE: Some coaches may not be able to contact you until after competition is complete each day
DI: yes, August 1st preceding your Junior year
DII: yes, June 15th preceding your Junior year
DIII: yes, After completion of your Sophomore year
Unofficial Visit to Campus:
This includes visiting a college campus at your own expense, unsolicited by the program, AND visit with the bowling coach and/or program while visiting campus. NOTE: You may visit any campus at any time but the information below includes a visit with the bowling coach.
DI: yes, August 1st preceding your Junior year
DII: yes, June 15th preceding your Junior year
DIII: yes, January 1st of your Junior year
Official Visit to Campus:
This includes visiting a college campus at the expense of the bowling program, initiated by the program.
DI: yes, August 1st preceding your Junior year
DII: yes, June 15th preceding your Junior year
DIII: yes, January 1st of your Junior year
Verbal Scholarship Offers:
This includes when a coach is allowed to verbally offer you an athletic scholarship.
DI: yes, June 15th preceding your Junior year
DII: yes, June 15th preceding your Junior year
DIII: not applicable
Signing Period:
This includes when you are eligible to receive a Letter of Intent (NCAA DI & DII), Scholarship Offer, and/or Non-Binding Standardized Celebratory Form (NCAA DIII) from a bowling program.
DI: November of your Senior year through August 1st (Letter of Intent)
DII: November of your Senior year through August 1st (Letter of Intent)
DIII: Post-acceptance to a Division III college or university (Non-Binding Standardized Celebratory Form)
Senior Year of High School:
General Information:
This includes sending you questionnaires, camp information, information about NCAA, and nonathletic publications about their college or university.
DI: yes
DII: yes
DIII: yes
Electronic Communication:
This includes sending you recruiting materials and electronic correspondence (example: emails).
DI: yes
DII: yes
DIII: yes
Telephone Calls:
This includes incoming and outgoing telephone calls with coach.
DI: yes
DII: yes
DIII: yes
Contact at Tournaments:
This includes off-campus contact with you, at tournaments.
NOTE: Some coaches may not be able to contact you until after competition is complete each day
DI: yes
DII: yes
DIII: yes
Unofficial Visit to Campus:
This includes visiting a college campus at your own expense, unsolicited by the program, AND visit with the bowling coach and/or program while visiting campus. NOTE: You may visit any campus at any time but the information below includes a visit with the bowling coach.
DI: yes
DII: yes
DIII: yes
Official Visit to Campus:
This includes visiting a college campus at the expense of the bowling program, initiated by the program.
DI: yes
DII: yes
DIII: yes
Verbal Scholarship Offers:
This includes when a coach is allowed to verbally offer you an athletic scholarship.
DI: yes
DII: yes
DIII: not applicable
Signing Period:
This includes when you are eligible to receive a Letter of Intent (NCAA DI & DII), Scholarship Offer, and/or Non-Binding Standardized Celebratory Form (NCAA DIII) from a bowling program.
DI: November of your Senior year through August 1st (Letter of Intent)
DII: November of your Senior year through August 1st (Letter of Intent)
DIII: Post-acceptance to a Division III college or university (Non-Binding Standardized Celebratory Form)