By Rex Grayner, SVP of Business Development, Hurricane Junior Golf Tour
December feels different in junior golf.
The calendar slows down. Tournament volume drops. Recruiting noise fades. And for many families, that quiet creates uncertainty.
But this pause is not accidental. It is built into both the competitive schedule and the college recruiting calendar. With only six tournaments remaining on the 2025 HJGT schedule, this is the moment to stop reacting to the season behind you and start planning for the one ahead.
Families who understand this window use it well. Families who do not often mistake silence for stagnation.
Where we are right now on the recruiting calendar
At the time of publication, Division I college golf programs are in a quiet period.
A quiet period is defined as a period of time when it is permissible for authorized athletics department staff members to make in-person recruiting contacts only on the member institution’s campus. No in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts or evaluations may be made during this period.
In practical terms, coaches are not out watching tournaments. They are not evaluating players in person off campus. Most recruiting activity is limited to on-campus interactions and remote communication.
That quiet period is followed by a dead period from December 23 through January 1.
A dead period is more restrictive. During a dead period, it is not permissible for coaches to make any in-person recruiting contacts or evaluations, either on or off campus. Official and unofficial visits are also not allowed.
This matters. December is quiet by design.
It is worth noting that this dead period length applies to Division I men’s golf. Division I women’s golf has a shorter dead period, running from December 24 through December 27, before recruiting activity resumes under the contact period rules.
As with all recruiting calendars, these dates apply only to Division I programs. Division II, Division III, and NAIA golf programs follow different timelines.
Why winter is not the time to panic
After a long fall season, many families enter December feeling like something must change. A tough finish. A missed opportunity. A stretch of inconsistent play.
The instinct is to fix everything at once.
Winter is not the time for emotional decisions. It is the time for evaluation.
Instead of reacting to individual rounds, step back and look for patterns. How did scoring trend across the fall. How did the player handle pressure. Did performance improve as competition strengthened. Where did the game hold up. Where did it break down.
Those answers matter far more than one bad weekend.
What changes on January 2
December is quiet. But it is not the end of recruiting momentum.
On January 2, 2026, the Division I contact period resumes.
A contact period is defined as a period of time when authorized athletics department staff members are permitted to make in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts and evaluations.
This is when live evaluation opportunities reopen. This is when spring events and schedules matter more. This is when preparation turns into visibility.
Winter should be viewed as preparation for that restart, not a gap where nothing counts.
Resetting expectations
One of the most productive uses of December is resetting expectations.
Freshmen and sophomores are not behind if nothing is happening right now. They should be focused on development, fundamentals, and building a foundation that supports future recruiting.
Juniors should be positioning themselves for evaluation once the contact period resumes. That means understanding where their game fits, which college levels align best, and which events actually support those goals.
Seniors should be narrowing focus, not forcing outcomes. December is about fit, academics, and long-term development, not chasing every possible option.
When expectations align with reality, stress drops and decisions improve.
Training with purpose, not panic
Winter training should reflect the player’s stage of development.
With limited events remaining and Division I recruiting activity restricted through the end of the year, this becomes a true development block. Strength, mobility, and durability matter. So does mental preparation.
Confidence, routines, and self-awareness often separate players who make jumps from those who stall.
The goal is not to look good in December. The goal is to be ready when evaluation opportunities return.
Using the quiet and dead periods wisely
While coaches are not evaluating in person, families can still make meaningful progress.
This is the ideal time to update player resumes and tournament schedules. To review video and scoring trends. To clean up communication plans and academic information. To ensure everything is accurate and easy for a coach to understand when contact resumes.
Most families underestimate how valuable this work is. Coaches value clarity. Winter is when clarity gets built.
Building a smarter spring and summer plan
By the time spring arrives, the best events are full and calendars fill quickly. Families who wait often overschedule or chase exposure instead of development.
December is when smart schedules are built.
Choose events that align with recruiting goals. Match competition level to growth, not ego. Understand where live evaluation opportunities exist once the contact period resumes.
Good schedules reduce pressure. Bad schedules create it.
The family reset
Winter is also about the home environment.
December sets the tone for how families approach the next year. Shifting the focus from results to preparation changes conversations. Giving players more ownership builds confidence. Creating space for rest and reset prevents burnout.
This season is quieter because it is meant to be.
Closing
December is not a dead zone. It is a reset.
With only six tournaments left on the 2025 HJGT schedule, a quiet period underway, a dead period approaching from December 23 through January 1, and the contact period resuming January 2, this is the moment to reflect, realign, and prepare.
The noise will return soon enough. The advantage belongs to families who used the quiet wisely.
*********
For reference, view the complete NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Recruiting Calendar at:
https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/compliance/recruiting/calendar/2025-26/2025-26D1Rec_MGORecruitingCalendar.pdf
For other sports, including Division I Women’s Golf, visit:
https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/compliance/recruiting/calendar/2025-26/2025-26D1Rec_OtherSportsRecruitingCalendar.pdf
