Here is an article on the relaxation of some of the rules during this Dead Period:
Cleveland.com
There are four distinct windows in the calendar: Quiet Period, Dead Period, Evaluation Period, and Contact Period.
Recruiting rules, especially in softball changed to a date based contact time for D1 and D2 to be able to discuss recruiting with an athlete, athlete's parent, or coach. This was done in an effort to stop a lot of the "early" recruiting. If the athlete is within the allowable dates, the coach can have recruiting conversations with that player at any point that contact is allowed provided it is after that allowable contact time.
Cleveland.com
There are four distinct windows in the calendar: Quiet Period, Dead Period, Evaluation Period, and Contact Period.
Recruiting rules, especially in softball changed to a date based contact time for D1 and D2 to be able to discuss recruiting with an athlete, athlete's parent, or coach. This was done in an effort to stop a lot of the "early" recruiting. If the athlete is within the allowable dates, the coach can have recruiting conversations with that player at any point that contact is allowed provided it is after that allowable contact time.