Recruiting Timeline for the Class of 2028

These are the latest recruiting dates Path To Sign has on record — please verify them on your own as well.

1. GuidanceNow

   You can reach out anytime

   Athlete-initiated emails and recruiting questionnaires are allowed at ANY time, in ANY division. Coaches just can't always respond until their contact window opens — so get on their radar early.

2. Key dateD1

   June 15 — D1 contact opens

   June 15 after sophomore year — Division I coaches can begin direct two-way contact (calls, texts, emails, DMs) and may extend verbal offers. You can email coaches anytime before this; they just can't respond until June 15. This is a Division I rule: D2 is more permissive (some electronic contact is allowed earlier, and contact opens broadly after sophomore year) and D3 coaches can contact you anytime — see the division notes for those.

   Last verified May 30, 2026

   Source: NCAA Division I recruiting rules (Bylaw 13) + official NCAA D1 recruiting calendar (ncaa.org / ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/compliance/recruiting/calendar)

3. GuidanceNow

   The summer after sophomore year ramps up

   Once June 15 hits, D1 contact ramps fast for top prospects — calls, texts, and early offers. Be ready to respond promptly and keep your profile and film current.

4. Key dateNowD1D2

   August 1 — D1/D2 official visits open

   August 1 before junior year — Division I and Division II recruits can begin taking official visits. This date applies to D1 and D2 only: Division III official visits open January 1 of junior year, and NAIA/JUCO set their own pace. If you're targeting D3, use January 1 of junior year as your marker — not August 1.

   Last verified May 30, 2026

   Source: NCAA Division I recruiting rules (Bylaw 13) + official NCAA D1 recruiting calendar (ncaa.org / ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/compliance/recruiting/calendar)

5. GuidanceNow

   Junior year is the peak window

   This is the busiest stretch of recruiting: consistent coach emails, ID camps, and major showcases. Keep outreach steady and follow up — quiet threads go cold fast.

6. GuidanceNow

   Schedule official and unofficial visits

   Structured official visits run from late summer of junior year onward (D1/D2). Pair them with unofficial visits and camps to see programs in person before you decide.

7. GuidanceNow

   Many initial commitments happen now

   A lot of recruits make initial commitments during junior year. There's no prize for being early — prioritize the right academic, athletic, and financial fit over speed.

8. Key dateD1D2

   Senior year — signing window

   Senior year — D1 and D2 recruits sign a Written Offer of Athletics Aid (this replaced the National Letter of Intent in 2024). Soccer has a single signing window with no separate early period: it opens about the second Wednesday of November and runs into the following summer.

   Your signing window opens around November 10, 2027.

   Last verified May 30, 2026

   Source: NCAA official announcement Oct 9, 2024 (NLI eliminated, replaced by written offer of athletics aid; ncaa.org/news); signing dates per NCAA formula — 2nd Wednesday of November initial, Aug 1 final

9. GuidanceNowD2

   D2 can start electronic contact earlier

   D2 programs may begin some electronic contact earlier than D1. Treat this as a nuance, not a fixed date — confirm the current rule with each program before assuming a timeline.

10. GuidanceNowD3

    D3 is the most flexible

    D3 coaches can contact you anytime, and official visits open January 1 of junior year — not the August 1 D1/D2 date (confirm per program). With no athletic scholarships, D3 recruiting leans heavily on fit and academic aid.

11. GuidanceNowNAIAJUCO

    NAIA and JUCO set their own pace

    NAIA and JUCO programs have no fixed contact dates — timelines vary by program and can run later than the NCAA calendar. Reach out directly and ask each coach how their recruiting works.

See another graduating class

Pick your high-school graduation year to see the milestones that apply to you right now.