Florida Tech Panthers

A prospective student-athlete (sometimes referred to as a "prospect" or "recruit") is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. In addition, a student who has not started ninth grade becomes a prospective student-athlete if Florida Tech provides that individual (or their relatives or friends) with any financial assistance or other benefits not provided to prospective students generally.

A prospective student-athlete becomes a "recruited prospective student-athlete" once a Panther staff member or athletics representative: (a) provides the prospect with an official visit; (b) has an arranged, in-person, off-campus encounter with the prospect or their parent(s), relative(s) or legal guardian(s); (c) initiates or arranges telephone contact with the prospect or their family on more than one occasion for the purpose of recruitment; or (d) issues the prospect a National Letter of Intent or written offer of athletically-related financial aid.

Recruiting occurs whenever a member of the Panther athletics staff or an athletics representative encourages a prospective student-athlete to enroll at Florida Tech and compete in athletics.

No alumni, boosters or representatives of the university's athletics interests can be involved in recruiting prospective student-athletes. Only coaches and staff members are permitted to recruit. This restriction does not apply to recruiting by alumni as part of the university's regular admissions program that applies to all prospective students.

A contact is any face-to-face encounter between a prospect (or their parent/relative/legal guardian) and a Florida Tech staff member or athletics representative during which any dialogue occurs beyond an exchange of a greeting. Any such encounter that is prearranged, or that takes place on the grounds of the prospect's educational institution or at the site of organized competition or practice, is considered a contact regardless of whether any conversation occurs.

An evaluation is any off-campus activity designed to assess the academic qualifications or athletic ability of a prospect — including any visit to a prospect's educational institution during which no contact occurs, or the observation of a prospect participating in any practice or competition.

An official visit is a campus visit financed in whole or in part by Florida Tech. A prospect may make only one (1) official visit to any particular school. During an official visit (which may not exceed 48 hours), a prospect may receive round-trip transportation to campus, meals, lodging, and five complimentary admissions to campus athletics events.

An unofficial visit is a campus visit made at the prospect's own expense. A prospect may visit Florida Tech at any time (except during a recruiting dead period) and there is no limit to the number of unofficial visits a prospect may make.

High school students are welcome to visit Florida Tech and the Department of Athletics at any time. However, there are certain dates throughout the year — called Dead Periods — when coaches and athletics staff are not able to have contact with prospects. These often surround National Letter of Intent signing periods and sport championships. Please contact the coaching staff of your sport prior to visiting to ensure contact is permitted.

Per NCAA regulations, college coaches are not permitted to call prospective student-athletes before June 15th immediately preceding the prospect's junior year in high school. However, a high school student may call a coach at any time regardless of their year in school. Although a coach may not be able to return the call, prospects may call at their own expense at any time.

Per NCAA regulations, college coaches are not permitted to send electronic correspondence — including text messages, instant messages or emails — to prospective student-athletes before June 15th immediately preceding the prospect's junior year in high school.

The National Letter of Intent (NLI) has been replaced by a direct athletic grant-in-aid agreement between scholar-athletes and their institution, which is binding for one academic year. In NCAA Division II, these grants are renewed annually. While automatic NLI penalties no longer apply, scholar-athletes remain bound by their grant-in-aid terms, and any release must be processed through the issuing institution, making it essential to fully understand the agreement before signing.