Recruiting Timeline
The most comprehensive lacrosse recruiting timeline available — built from official NCAA rules, coach research, and real recruiting data.
Create a SportsRecruits Profile
The platform coaches use to search and discover athletes — powers IWLCARecruits & IMLCARecruits.
Build Your School List on Recruit Plan
Data from 500+ programs — fit scores, academics, scholarships. Stop guessing.
Anytime — No Calendar Restrictions
The NAIA has no recruiting calendar restrictions. Coaches can contact you, schedule visits, and offer scholarships at any point in your high school career with no required waiting period.
NAIA offers competitive athletics, real scholarship money, and a more personal athletic experience than many NCAA programs. Register with the NAIA Eligibility Center separately from the NCAA.
Freshman–Junior Year
Athlete Actions
- Create your SportsRecruits profile — NAIA coaches use the same platform to discover athletes
- Use Recruit Plan to identify NAIA programs that match your athletic level, academics, and geography
- NAIA coaches can contact, offer, and recruit at any time — no restrictions apply
- Register with the NAIA Eligibility Center (different from the NCAA Eligibility Center)
- Attend prospect days and clinics at NAIA target schools — search Recruit Plan's camp directory
- Average NAIA roster is smaller than NCAA — more playing time and personal development
Create a SportsRecruits ProfileThe platform coaches use to search and discover athletes — powers IWLCARecruits (women) & IMLCARecruits (men). sportsrecruits.com
Build Your School List on Recruit PlanData from 500+ programs — academics, fit scores, scholarships, roster size. Stop guessing.
Start My Profile →Find Prospect Days & ClinicsBrowse our comprehensive list of lacrosse camps, prospect days, and clinics on Recruit Plan.
View All Camps →Coach Rules: ✅ NAIA coaches operate with full freedom — no contact, visit, or offer restrictions at any point.
Recruit Plan Insight
“NAIA is legitimately overlooked by most families. Real scholarship money, competitive play, and a campus experience where athletes are seen as people rather than recruiting assets. Often a better fit than a non-scholarship D2 or D3 spot.”
Junior–Senior Year
Athlete Actions
- Campus visits are flexible and personal — NAIA programs typically offer an intimate recruiting experience
- Ask about the specific scholarship upper limit for your sport at each school
- NAIA financial packages can combine athletic + academic + need-based aid
- Evaluate the coaching staff: NAIA coaches tend to have longer tenures and deeper player relationships
- NAIA does not use the NLI — commitment is handled directly through the institution
- Consider NAIA alongside D2 and D3 options in a comprehensive search
Coach Rules: NAIA coaches recruit with maximum flexibility and generally offer a more personalized process than NCAA programs.
Recruit Plan Insight
“Many NAIA programs compete at an exceptionally high level within their conference. Athletes get quality coaching, real scholarship support, and a college experience where they matter beyond their stats.”
The Perfect Coach Email: What to Include Every Time
Coaches receive hundreds of emails. Make yours easy to evaluate immediately. Send every 2–3 weeks with a new update — game results, new film, academic news.
Recruit Plan Insight
“Follow up every 2–3 weeks — not every day. Share something new each time: a game result, updated film, a grade improvement. Coaches are watching who stays consistent.”
High-Academic Schools
If you are interested in NESCACs, Ivies, or other academically selective programs, include a link to your transcript on your SportsRecruits profile and reference that link in every email you send to those coaches.
Highlight Film: What Coaches Actually Want to See
Do This
- Update your reel every season — fall club, spring HS
- Show both club AND high school competition footage
- Lead with your 3–4 best plays in the first 60 seconds
- Keep it 3–5 minutes max — coaches won't watch 10
- Include the full field view so coaches can see your reads
- Include your jersey number clearly in the description
Avoid This
- Do NOT use prospect day or clinic footage — coaches recognize it
- Don't open with warm-ups or sideline shots
- Avoid music that overrides the crowd noise
- Don't use slow-motion for every clip — it pads run time
- Never send a film link that requires a login or download
Recruit Plan Insight
“Upload to Hudl or YouTube (unlisted). Always include your IWLCA/IMLCARecruits profile link alongside the film link — it gives coaches your academic data in one click.”
Recruiting Periods Explained
NCAA official definitions — these rules govern every interaction between coaches and prospects.
Coaches can have face-to-face contact with you or your parents off-campus, watch you compete, and visit your high school. All forms of communication are fully open.
Coaches can watch you compete and be present at your school, but cannot have face-to-face conversations with you off-campus. They are assessing your play and academics from a distance.
In-person contact is only permitted on the coach's campus. They cannot attend your games, visit your school, or meet you off-campus. Phone, email, and text communication remain open.
No in-person contact anywhere — coaches cannot watch you play or visit your school. Phone calls, texts, and emails are still allowed. Unofficial and official visits are prohibited.
The most restrictive period. Absolutely no form of recruiting is permitted — no contacts, no evaluations, no visits (official or unofficial), no correspondence, and no phone calls. This is a complete communication blackout. In 2025–26, shutdown periods include Dec 22–26, Dec 31–Jan 2, and other designated dates. Check your specific sport's official NCAA recruiting calendar.
Always verify dates with your sport's official NCAA recruiting calendar.