NCAA bans photoshoots for recruits on unofficial visits

Photoshoots have become a big part of recruiting visits. Prospects like to take photos in the team uniform (sometimes in various combos) and share the photos to engage with fans on social media. The NCAA is now putting a limit on photoshoots.

A new NCAA rule bans unofficial visitors from taking professional photoshoots while on a campus visit. Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic points out that nothing will stop parents or relatives from snapping a few photos on their own devices.

I’ve been told this would not prohibit a mom from taking a photo on their phone of her son on his visit, of course. It’s just, like, banning the use of professional photographers and coordinated photoshoots.

— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) October 4, 2023

While the new rule may sound like the NCAA acting as the fun police, Auerbach and some of her media peers have shared that the professional photoshoots have become a strain on coaching staffs.

I know everybody is making fun of this, but this idea didn’t just come out of thin air. Coaches and recruiting staffers HATE doing these photoshoots and have complained about the administrative strain that comes from them https://t.co/wr6WsE0aFx

— Matt Brown (@MattBrownEP) October 4, 2023

Prospects are unofficial visitors when the school is not paying for the prospect’s transportation, lodging and dining. Schools can host a prospect on an official visit one time, except in cases of coaching changes. A program can host 56 official visitors per year. Earlier this year, the NCAA removed the limit for the number of total official visits a prospect can take before signing.

Featured image via DJ Lagway on Instagram @djlawgway