Coaches can now pick up their smartphones without trepidation.

Starting Friday, Division I men's basketball coaches will be able to send unlimited texts and make unlimited calls to recruits who have wrapped up their sophomore year of high school. The NCAA also will also allow coaches to send private messages to prospective players through social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

It all means that sending a recruit an LOL (laugh out loud) will no longer get you a TTYL (talk to you later) from the NCAA.

The NCAA is allowing coaches to text, tweet and talk to their hearts' content because, as Missouri athletic director Mike Alden put it, the organization "recognized the evolving nature of communication with students."

In essence, coaches finally can get with the times without getting into trouble.

"I really believe it will help. I'm excited about it. And I think it's going to be good, more so than the texts, just the ability to call and making sure to have that direct verbal communication," Memphis coach Josh Pastner said.

The new rule was adopted by the Division I Board of Directors last October after being recommended by its leadership council. The NCAA realized coaches were having a tougher time than ever building relationships with recruits who already know their way around social media and then some.

What was even more worrisome was that while coaches had their thumbs tied behind their backs, third parties were using new technology to get to recruits more easily than ever.