Parents, your enthusiasm can accidentally kill a scholarship offer. There are times when a coach is legally prohibited from talking to you. If you show up at a facility during a Dead Period and try to "pitch" your kid, you aren't being an advocate—you’re being an NCAA violation.

Learn the calendar. Know when to push and when to disappear. An overzealous parent during a restricted period makes a coach wonder: "Is this parent going to be a nightmare for the next four years?" If the answer is yes, the offer goes to someone else.

Don’t know the “dead period” for your sport? Check the NCAA recruiting calendars webpage. The calendars are broken down by division and sport, listing exact dates.