NCAA approves rule change allowing unlimited official visits for recruits

Recruiting just got a bit more interesting.

On Thursday, the NCAA Division I council approved new recruiting rules changes regarding official and unofficial visits. Effective July 1, recruits will no longer have a limit on the number of official visits they can make to other schools. They can make one official visit per school — with an exception for a second visit in the event of a coaching change — but the five-visit limit overall has been removed.

“For young people considering where to go to college, visits to campus — both official and unofficial — are an integral part of the decision-making process,” said Lynda Tealer, chair of the D1 council. “This was an opportunity to modernize NCAA rules in a way that provides greater and more meaningful opportunities for prospects going through the recruitment process.”

Official visits may last no longer than a two-night stay, during which schools will be permitted to cover travel costs, transportation, meals, and reasonable entertainment for up to two family members accompanying a recruit on the visit.

What the change means

It’s an interesting rule change, with the ability to somewhat level the field a bit.

Recruits interested in their in-state school may not have been able to take an official visit before in order to prioritize seeing schools further away. That’ll no longer be the case. Perhaps there’s an instance where a school finishes as the No. 6 team in a list of 5 finalists and misses out on a visit. Now, they’d have the chance to push themselves back into the picture.

Of course, it could have the opposite effect. Programs with large recruiting budgets will be able to handle the increased visit volume. Schools with smaller budgets might struggle to keep up.