Following years of work with the CSCAA, the NCAA has adopted non-controversial legislation creating a recruiting calendar for the sport of swimming and diving.  The calendar, which was adopted on April 13th will institute a six-week shutdown period prohibiting all recruiting activity.  The legislation followed more than a decade of effort from the CSCAA.

CSCAA Executive Director celebrated the decision, noting that swimming and diving coaches had been “on the clock 24x7” since the NCAA’s decision to expand recruiting to high school sophomores and juniors in 2018.  “This is a tremendous win for our coaches, their families and their mental health,” Barany explained, adding, “that it also benefits recruits, club coaches, and parents who have asked for a break from the incessant nature of recruiting.” 

The new recruiting calendar, which takes effect immediately, provides six weeks of recruiting shutdown periods. Those weeks are as follows: one week in August (starting the third Sunday of the month), the final 14 days in Decembers (18th-31st), the first week in January (1st-7th) and two weeks in February during the two most popular conference championship weeks.

The rationale behind the new calendar followed decades of effort from coaches and the CSCAA. For years the CSCAA had gathered feedback and built consensus among its members. “Our members have long clamored for some sanity in the recruiting process and this effort began with the Executive Directors that came before me, both Joel Shinofield and Greg Earhart were a big part of this lift.” Barany noted. “A later start date to the recruiting process is an equally, if not more important element of recruiting reform. So, we will keep working. In the meantime, we appreciate that the NCAA was able to see that our proposals enjoyed widespread support and this is a significant first towards providing our coaches some much-needed relief.”

"I am excited to see that the effort the CSCAA put in to help advocate for a regulated recruiting calendar has come to fruition,” said CSCAA President, Mandy DiSalle (University of Cincinnati’s Head Men and Women’s Coach). “We have worked tirelessly on behalf of our coaches to align recruiting efforts with other NCAA sports and this change is so important to help coaches continue to strive towards success in the pool and sustainable careers.”

With the win, the CSCAA will now turn its attention towards evolving the NCAA Championship meets.  The CSCAA will convene a session at next month’s annual meetings in Orlando.  “This is something that has been top of mind for our coaches and we’re excited to continue this conversation at the Annual Meetings.”

The 2023 CSCAA Annual Meetings & Convention will be held May 7-10, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. The DoubleTree Resort at the Entrance of Universal Studios will host the event and the CSCAA is excited to bring these important meetings to a family-friendly property. The DoubleTree Resort is a Universal Orlando Partner Hotel, a short walk from Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Florida, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Universal’s Island of Adventure. Universal’s Volcano Bay, the Orlando International Premium Outlets, and the Mall at Millenia are within two miles. Bring your loved ones and share the magic!

About the CSCAA

Founded in 1922, the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) – the first organization of college coaches in America - is a professional organization of college swimming and diving coaches dedicated to serving and providing leadership for the advancement of the sport of swimming & diving at the collegiate level.