To be considered by NCAA recruiters, for the first two years of secondary education, the student must be meeting the school district's core graduation requirements in a timely and satisfactory manner, as confirmed by the high school's guidance personnel. These requirements must be in line with the academic benchmarks the NCAA sets forth. Upon commencing the junior year, the student must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center, certifying academic progress and ongoing amateur-athlete status. During the final two years of high school, the student must maintain a grade point average and achieve an SAT score that can be indexed at an acceptable level on a sliding scale.
The NCAA defines contact as a face-to-face interaction between a coach, or staffer, and the student, or parent, that occurs away from the college campus. The definition further specifies that the coach or a representative from the college's athletics department initiates contact. Under NCAA regulations, contact may only take place during designated contact periods. Viewing an ice hockey game in which the student plays constitutes contact -- whether or not there is any conversation -- if it is done during the contact period. Hockey players under consideration will begin receiving mailings and telephone calls after their sophomore year in high school. These do not constitute contacts.
Evaluation encompasses activities that collegiate representatives execute in order to gain information regarding the student's athletic abilities and academic achievement. Examples of such practices include visiting the high school, meeting with the athlete's coaches and counselors, reviewing transcripts and observing the student during practice or at hockey games. As long as these inquiries take place within the confines of the evaluation period, and no contact with student or parent exists, then the NCAA will not count them as contacts.
A quiet period allows for no off-campus recruitment activities by the athletic staff. The student is free to interview or meet with coaches insofar as such conferences are at the college or university of interest. Dead periods are more restrictive. No recruiting contacts or evaluations can occur during this time frame at any location. Furthermore, the college coaches may not appear at any athletic function or academic exercise or speak at any event at which the student may attend. Dead periods for both men's and women's hockey are programmed during the April and November weeks when letters of intent are signed.
While a student may have an unlimited opportunity -- other than during dead periods -- to meet with institutional representatives on an unofficial basis, the NCAA does recognize an invitation from the college to the student to make an official visit to the campus. The college underwrites this trip in terms of travel expenses, meals and hotel accommodations.
When a student-athlete comes to an agreement with the head ice hockey coach at a college or university about playing for the collegiate team, then that student must sign a letter of intent. Hockey players have two weeks when they can sign this contract. Of course, this document has stipulations -- most important that the student gain admission to the institution. If the parties agree to a relationship outside of the letter of intent period, then the athlete can issue a verbal commitment to the school. Although this pledge is not binding, it does wave off other college coaches from further recruiting.