NCAA Softball Quiet Period, 2026-27
Division I softball has one quiet period in 2026-27: Nov 23, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027. It is the campus-visit window — coaches cannot come to you, but you can go to them.
From the NCAA's published Division I softball calendar ·
Quiet period dates for 2026-27
NCAA Division I softball. These are the days this period actually governs — where the NCAA overlays a stricter window on top, the stricter one is shown on its own page.
| Dates | Length | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 23 – Nov 24, 2026 | 2 days | All softball activity |
| Nov 30 – Dec 8, 2026 | 9 days | All softball activity |
| Dec 13 – Dec 21, 2026 | 9 days | All softball activity |
| Dec 27 – Dec 30, 2026 | 4 days | All softball activity |
What a quiet period means
A quiet period is when in-person recruiting contact is permitted only on the college's own campus. No off-campus contact or evaluation may take place.
Coaches can
- Meet you in person on their own campus
- Host official and unofficial visits
- Call, text, email and DM you
Coaches cannot
- Meet you anywhere off their campus
- Watch you play or practise off campus
What you can do right now
None of these periods restrict you. An athlete may email, call, text or DM a college coach on any day of the year, in any division. The calendar only limits what a coach may do in return.
- Book campus visits — this period is built for them, and it lands over the winter break when you are out of school
- Ask to meet the staff while you are on campus
- Keep emailing as normal
Checking today's recruiting period…
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2026-27 quiet period for college softball?
NCAA Division I softball has one quiet period in 2026-27: Nov 23, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027. Note that stricter windows sit inside it — 3 recruiting shutdowns and a dead period — so not every day within it allows the same activity.
Can I visit a college during a quiet period?
Yes, and it is the best use of the window. On-campus contact is exactly what a quiet period permits, which is why it is placed over the winter holidays when families can travel. Check the dates carefully though: the shutdowns and the dead period inside it do stop visits.
Can a coach come to my game during a quiet period?
No. Off-campus evaluation is not permitted during a quiet period. A coach cannot watch you play away from their own campus until the next evaluation or contact period opens.
Source
These dates are transcribed from the NCAA's own published calendar, not from a summary or a previous season. Confirm against the NCAA before acting on a date that matters.
- 2026–27 NCAA Recruiting Calendar — Division I Softball
Document updated Jul 30, 2026 · Retrieved
- 2026–27 NCAA Recruiting Calendar — Division II (all sports)
Document updated Jul 30, 2026 · Retrieved
- 2026-27 NCAA Signing Dates
Retrieved
The other periods
Dead period
A dead period is a stretch when a college coach may not make in-person recruiting contact or evaluate you in person — anywhere, on or off their campus — and may not host official or unofficial visits.
Recruiting shutdown
A recruiting shutdown is the strictest period on the calendar: no recruiting of any form is permitted — no contact, no evaluation, no official or unofficial visits, no correspondence, and no making or receiving phone calls.
Contact period
A contact period is the least restricted stretch of the year: a coach may make in-person recruiting contact off campus and evaluate you in person.
Evaluation period
An evaluation period is when a coach may assess your academic qualifications and playing ability off campus — they can watch you play, but they may not make in-person contact with you while they do.