College soccer coaches will be permitted to text recruits from the high school graduating class of 2015 without restrictions, according to a new rule going into effect on Aug. 1.

The rule was initially slated to go into practice last year, but the Division I Board of Directors suspended the rule last April. The decision did not affect men’s or women’s basketball, which has had it in place for the past year.

For 2016 recruits, coaches can begin texting on Sept. 1. This represents a stark change in the NCAA’s approach to how coaches and prospective student-athletes will interact during future recruiting cycles. Previously, text messages were not permitted until after a player signed the National Letter of Intent.

While most of the top recruits for the 2015 class have already been settled in the girls class, there are a few undecided members of the top 25 on the boys side. Unlimited electronic communication, in theory, could help these players get a better feel for coaches and how they interact with players. It could also lead to an overzealous recruiting approach that turns soccer recruiting into a circus.

These issues remain to be seen, as the coming rule change is new territory for college soccer recruiting. 

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

Gatorade Girls State HS Players of the Year

TDS Girls Regional Rankings: Class of 2026

ECNL Boys Playoffs: U17 Players to Know