NCAA cross country and track and field recruiting calendar 2026-27
Which days college cross country and track and field coaches can watch and meet recruits, in plain English. The dates are read from the NCAA's own Division I calendar, last updated July 30, 2026.
Today, November 4, 2026
Contact period
Coaches can meet recruits in person, on or off campus.
Aug 1 to Nov 8
Next: dead period starts Nov 9, in 5 days.
Coaches can be at the school, at games and at the family's home. Be ready with film, grades and your page link.
2026-27, day by day
Division I Cross Country and Track and Field, 2026-27
NCAA calendar (PDF)NCAA calendar updated July 30, 2026
- Contact period
- Dead period
Show all 11 periods as a list
| Period | Dates | Calendar days |
|---|---|---|
| Contact period | Aug 1 to Nov 8 | 100 |
| Dead period | Nov 9 to Nov 12 | 4 |
| Contact period | Nov 13 to Nov 20 | 8 |
| Dead period | Nov 21 | 1 |
| Contact period | Nov 22 to Dec 13 | 22 |
| Dead period | Dec 14 to Dec 26 | 13 |
| Contact period | Dec 27 to Mar 11 | 75 |
| Dead period | Mar 12 to Mar 13 | 2 |
| Contact period | Mar 14 to Jun 8 | 87 |
| Dead period | Jun 9 to Jun 12 | 4 |
| Contact period | Jun 13 to Jul 31 | 49 |
What each period means
These limit when coaches can meet or watch recruits in person. They do not stop a family from emailing a coach.
Contact period
Coaches may meet recruits and families in person on or off campus, watch them play, and visit their schools.
What a family does
Coaches can be at the school, at games and at the family's home. Be ready with film, grades and your page link.
Dead period
Coaches may not meet recruits in person or watch them play, on or off campus, and campus visits are not allowed. Calls, texts and emails follow separate NCAA rules.
What a family does
A good time to build the page, add film and update stats. Email coaches so your athlete is in front of them when they are free to look.
Be easy to find while coaches are looking
Put your athlete's season, stats and film on one page a coach can open in ten seconds, then email the coaches who recruit their position. It is free to start.
Questions families ask
What is a contact period in college cross country and track and field recruiting?
Coaches may meet recruits and families in person on or off campus, watch them play, and visit their schools. In 2026-27 it runs Aug 1 to Nov 8, Nov 13 to Nov 20, Nov 22 to Dec 13, Dec 27 to Mar 11, Mar 14 to Jun 8, Jun 13 to Jul 31.
What is a dead period in college cross country and track and field recruiting?
Coaches may not meet recruits in person or watch them play, on or off campus, and campus visits are not allowed. Calls, texts and emails follow separate NCAA rules. In 2026-27 it runs Nov 9 to Nov 12, Nov 21, Dec 14 to Dec 26, Mar 12 to Mar 13, Jun 9 to Jun 12.
Can I email a college cross country and track and field coach during a dead period?
Yes. These periods limit when coaches may meet or watch recruits in person. They do not stop a family from emailing a coach, and a coach who is not allowed to meet your athlete in person can still read their page.
Does this calendar apply to Division II and Division III?
No. The NCAA publishes recruiting calendars for Division I. Division II and Division III follow their own recruiting rules, so ask the college's compliance office.
Where do these dates come from?
They are read from the NCAA's own 2026-27 Division I cross country and track and field recruiting calendar, last updated July 30, 2026, and checked against the dates the NCAA prints beside each calendar. Rules change, so check with a school's compliance office before you plan around a date.
Other sports
Sources: the NCAA's 2026-27 Cross Country and Track and Field recruiting calendar. This is general information, not legal or compliance advice. NCAA rules change, so confirm with the college's compliance office. Read the full rules at NCAA.org.