Compliance > Prospective Student-Athletes > Important Terms and Definitions

Who is a Prospective Student Athlete?
  • Commonly referred to as a “prospect,”
  • Any student who has started classes for 9th grade
  • He/she retains this status until prospect is enrolled full-time at a 4-year collegiate institution or has participated in a practice or competition prior to the term of enrollment

What is an Official Visit?
  • A visit to a college campus paid in whole or in part by the college.
  • Official visits can be no longer than 48 hours.
  • A prospective student athlete is limited to 5 official visits. (one per university)

What is an Unofficial Visit?
  • A visit made to a college campus at the prospect's expense.
  • The college may provide free tickets to an on-campus athletics event in which the college team competes.
  • Transportation to view off-campus practice or competition sites within 30-mile radius are also allowable.
  • There is no limit on the number of unofficial visits a prospect can make.

What is a National Letter of Intent?
  • Official documentation administered by the Collegiate Commissioners Association and used by universities to establish a prospect's commitment to attend a certain university.

What is a Recruiting Contact?
  • Any face-to-face, off-campus encounter between a prospect, prospect's parents (or legal guardian) or relative and a college staff employee or athletics representative;
  • It is considered a contact if the conversation goes beyond a greeting.
  • A contact also occurs if a coach has any contact with you or your parents at your high school or any location where you are competing or practicing.

What is a Contact Period?
  • During this time, a college coach may have any in-person contact with you and/or your parents on or off the college's campus.
  • The coach may also watch you play or visit your high school.
  • You and your parents may visit a college campus and the coach may write and telephone you and your parents during this period.

What is a Dead period?
  • The college coach may not have any in-person contact with you or your parents at any time during this period.
  • The coach may write and telephone you and your parents during this period.

What is a Recruiting Evaluation?
  • Any off-campus activity designed to assess a prospect's academic qualifications or athletic ability. (Reviewing transcripts on the high school campus or watching practices / games)

What is an Evaluation Period?
  • The college coach may watch you play or visit your high school, but cannot have any in-person conversations with you or your parents off the college's campus.
  • You and your parents may visit a college campus and the coach may write and telephone you and your parents during this period.

Davidson College