Expectations of a NCAA Division I Student-Athlete

1
Expectations of a NCAA Division I
Student-Athlete

• Presented by
• Mitzi Clayton
• Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance
• University of Missouri

2
OVERVIEW

• Initial-Eligibility
• Amateurism
• Recruiting
• Continuing Eligibility
• Athletics Aid
• Life as a Collegiate Student-Athlete

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INITIAL-ELIGIBILITY
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Four Parts of Initial Eligibility

• 1. Graduation from high school.
• 2. Minimum core grade-point average.
• 3. Minimum ACT or SAT test score.
• 4. Completion of 16 core courses.
• NCAA Bylaw 14.3.1.1

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Core Course Definition

• 1. Qualifies for graduation credit in English,
  math, science, social studies, foreign language,
  nondoctrinal religion, philosophy
• 2. Considered college preparatory for entrance
  into a four-year college
• 3. Taught by a qualified instructor and
• 4. At or above regular academic level.

NCAA Bylaw 14.3.1.2
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Use of Non-Traditional CoursesInternet, Distance
Learning, Independent Study, Individualized
Instruction, Correspondence

• 1. Must meet definition of NCAA core course
• 2. Instructor and student have access to one
  another for teaching, evaluating, assisting
• 3. Evaluation of work is conducted by appropriate
  academic authorities and
• 4. Acceptable for all students, and is placed on
  the high school transcript.

NCAA Bylaw 14.3.1.2.2
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2008 Division I Requirements 16 Core Courses

• 4 years of English
• 3 years of math (at Algebra I or higher)
• 2 years of science (one must be a lab)
• 1 year of additional English, math or science
• 2 years of social science
• 4 years of additional core course units from any
  of the above areas

NCAA Bylaw 14.3.1.1
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Division I Initial-Eligibility Index

• NOTE This is an abbreviated version of the full
  scale.

Core GPA SAT ACT (Sum Score)
3.550 400 37
3.000 620 52
2.750 720 59
2.500 820 68
2.250 920 77
2.000 1010 86
NCAA Bylaw 14.3.1.1.1
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Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

• Use of a nonstandard ACT and/or SAT test. NCAA
  Bylaw 14.3.1.3.3
• Use of courses taken after high-school
  graduation. NCAA Bylaw 14.3.1.2.1.1
• Use of courses specifically designed for students
  with disabilities. NCAA Bylaw 14.3.1.2.5

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How to Prepare for Qualifier Status

• Carefully (and strategically!) choose courses
• Core course lists are available at
  www.ncaaclearinghouse.net
• Junior Year take ACT or SAT
• Report test score to Clearinghouse (Code 9999)
• NEW! All ACT/SAT test scores must be sent
  directly to Clearinghouse by ACT/SAT NCAA Bylaw
  14.3.1.3.4

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How to Prepare for Qualifier Status

• After Junior Year register with Clearinghouse
  (50.00)
• Have HS Counselor send a 6th semester transcript
  to the Clearinghouse
• Senior Year course selection is key
• Retake ACT or SAT, if necessary
• After Senior Year have HS Counselor send a final
  transcript to the Clearinghouse with proof of
  graduation

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Transcript Accuracy is Key

• Once the Clearinghouse receives a
  final transcript, a revised transcript will not
  be used.
• All transcript changes after graduation must be
  handled through the initial-eligibility waiver
  process.

NCAA Bylaw 14.3.1.2.1
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What is the NCAAs jurisdiction?

• NCAA Working Group on Initial Eligibility Trends
• Does it include the pre-collegiate environment?
• The NCAA has the right to establish initial
  eligibility standards, verify core courses and
  validate the institutions they attend.
• In June 2006, 15 schools were invalidated. In
  March 2007, 4 more schools were invalidated and
  200 more schools are expected to be placed under
  review.
• Even if a school is not invalidated, individual
  student-athletes academic record could be
  invalidated based on an individual review.

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Core-Curriculum Time Limitation

• Prospect must complete core courses not later
  than the date he/she is expected to graduate
  based upon his initial enrollment in 9th grade.
• EXCEPTION May use one core course after high
  school graduation

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AMATEURISM
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Definitions

• Amateurism student-athletes shall be amateurs in
  an intercollegiate sport, and their participation
  should be motivated primarily by education and by
  the physical, mental and social benefits to be
  derived. Student participation in
  intercollegiate athletics is an avocation, and
  student-athletes should be protected from
  exploitation by professional and commercial
  enterprises. NCAA Bylaw 2.9
• Professional Athlete an athlete who receives any
  kind of payment, directly or indirectly, for
  athletics participation.
• NCAA Bylaw 12.02.3

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What is the Amateurism Clearinghouse?

• New for all student-athletes entering a Division
  I or II institution after 8/1/07
• Streamlined with the Initial Eligibility
  Clearinghouse.
• Determines whether a prospective student-athlete
  (both domestic and international) is an amateur.

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General Information

• Students will complete an online
  questionnaire about their athletics history
  (www.ncaaclearinghouse.net)
• Online registration will be part of the existing
  process that certifies academic eligibility
• No additional fee (50.00)
• Elite athletes will be reviewed automatically by
  the NCAA staff.

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What types of questions will be asked?

• Contracts with a professional team
• Salary for participating in athletics
• Prize money above actual and necessary expenses
• Play with professionals
• Educational expenses from individual or entity
  other than the prospects parents

• Preferential treatment based on athletics
  participation or reputation
• Tryouts, practice, or competition with a
  professional team
• Benefits from an agent or prospective agent
• Agreement to be represented by an agent
• Organized-competition rule

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RECRUITING
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Recruiting Definitions

• Contact any face-to-face encounter between a
  prospect or prospects relative or legal guardian
  and an institutional staff member or athletics
  representative during which any dialogue occurs
  in excess of an exchange of greetings. NCAA
  Bylaw 13.02.3
• Evaluation any off-campus activity designed to
  assess the academic qualifications or athletics
  ability of a prospect. NCAA Bylaw 13.02.6
• Telephone calls all electronically transmitted
  human voice exchange. NCAA Bylaw 13.02.14

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Recruiting Definitions

• Official Visit an official visit to a member
  institution by a prospective student-athlete is a
  visit financed in whole or in part by the member
  institution. NCAA Bylaw 13.02.15.1
• Unofficial Visit an unofficial visit to a member
  institution by a prospective student-athlete is a
  visit made at the prospective student-athletes
  own expense. NCAA Bylaw 13.02.15.2

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Football Recruiting

• Recruiting Materials/E-Mails/ September 1st of
  junior year NCAA Bylaw 13.4.1
• Telephone Calls 1 call between April 15 - May 31
  during junior year and 1 per
  week starting September 1st
  of senior year (Unlimited calls during contact
  periods) NCAA Bylaw 13.1.3.1.1
• Off-Campus Contact Last Sunday following the
  last Saturday in November (6 during Senior Year)
• NCAA Bylaws 13.1.1.1.1 and 13.1.6.2
• Evaluations 1 in fall and 2 from April 15-May 31
  NCAA Bylaw 13.1.8.4
• Official Visit Opening day of classes of senior
  year NCAA Bylaw 13.6.2.2.1

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Mens Basketball

• Recruiting Materials/E-Mails June 15th following
  sophomore year NCAA Bylaw 13.4.1
• Telephone Calls 1 per month beginning June 15th
  following sophomore year and 2 per week after
  August 1 of senior year NCAA Bylaw 13.1.3.1.2
• Off-Campus Contact September of senior year (3
  during senior year) NCAA Bylaws 13.1.1.1.2 and
  13.1.6.3
• Evaluations 7 recruiting opportunities
  (opportunities contacts evaluations) NCAA
  Bylaw 13.1.8.5
• Official Visit Opening day of classes of senior
  year NCAA Bylaw 13.6.2.2.1

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Womens Basketball

• Recruiting Materials/E-Mails September 1st of
  junior year NCAA Bylaw 13.4.1
• Telephone Calls 1 during each of the months of
  April and May, 1 between June 1-20 following the
  junior year 1 between June 21 - 30 3 during the
  month of July following the junior year and 1
  per week during the senior year NCAA Bylaw
  13.1.3.1.3
• Off-Campus Contact September of senior year (3
  during Senior Year) NCAA Bylaws 13.1.1.1.2 and
  13.1.6.4
• Evaluations 5 recruiting opportunities
  (opportunities contacts evaluations) NCAA
  Bylaw 13.1.8.6
• Official Visit Opening day of classes NCAA
  Bylaw 13.6.2.2.1

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All Other Sports

• Recruiting Materials/E-Mails September 1st of
  junior year NCAA Bylaw 13.4.1
• Telephone Calls 1 per week following July 1st of
  the junior Year NCAA Bylaw 13.1.3.1
• Off-Campus Contact July 1st following junior
  year (No more than 3) July 15th in Gymnastics
  NCAA Bylaw 13.1.1.1 and 13.1.6.1
• Evaluations 7 recruiting opportunities
  (opportunities contacts evaluations) NCAA
  Bylaw 13.1.6.1
• Official Visit Opening day of classes of senior
  year NCAA Bylaw 13.6.2.2.1

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Recruiting Unofficial Visit

• Prospect pays all expenses NCAA Bylaw 13.7.2.1
• Institution may provide three complimentary
  admissions to an on-campus athletics
  event NCAA Bylaw 13.7.2.1
• Prospect may take an unofficial visit at any time
  (except during a dead period or in mens
  basketball, during the month of July) NCAA
  Bylaws 13.7.1, 13.7.1.1, and 13.7.1.2
• Prospect may make as many unofficial visits as
  he/she wishes NCAA Bylaw 13.7.1

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Recruiting Official Visit

• Institution finances all or part of the visit
  NCAA Bylaw 13.6
• Maximum of 5 visits per prospect NCAA Bylaw
  13.6.2.2
• One visit per school NCAA Bylaw 13.6.2.1
• Maximum 48 hours in length NCAA Bylaw 13.6.3
• Academic requirements for visit
• Test score (SAT, ACT, PLAN, PSAT) NCAA Bylaw
  13.6.2.2.2.1
• HS or College Transcript NCAA Bylaw
  13.6.2.2.2.2
• NEW! Must register with the Clearinghouse and be
  placed on the institutions IRL

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National Letter of Intent

• National Letter of Intent (NLI)
• Binding one-year agreement
• Prospect must attend that institution
  for one year
• Institution must provide prospect with athletics
  financial aid in conjunction with the NLI
• Athletic aid is for one year only, renewed on a
  year-to year basis
• One year basic penalty sit a year lose a year

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Post-NLI Signing

• No limit on contacts or evaluations NCAA Bylaw
  13.1.6.8
• Still no more than one visit per week to HS in
  football and mens basketball during a contact
  period NCAA Bylaw 13.1.6.8
• Still no contact on- or off-campus during dead
  period (except WBB) NCAA Bylaws 13.1.6.8 and
  13.1.6.8.1
• Unlimited telephone calls NCAA Bylaw
  13.1.3.3.3
• Practice/Competition site restrictions remain
  NCAA Bylaw 13.1.6.8

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Important Telephone Numbers Web Sites

• NCAA Clearinghouse
• 877/262-1492
• 877/861-3003 24-hour automated line
• 319/337-1556 Fax
• www.ncaaclearinghouse.net
• NCAA National Office
• 317/917-6222
• 800/638-3731 Hotline
• 317/917-6622 Fax
• www.ncaa.org
• College Bound Student-Athlete Guide
• http//www.ncaa.org/library/general/cbsa/2007-08/2
  007-08_cbsa.pdf

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CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY
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What it takes to stay eligible

• 6 hours a semester
• 18 hours an academic year
• 24 hours prior to 3rd semester
• The 40/60/80 rule
• Term-by-term GPA requirements
• Goal is to graduate in five years
• The rates APR, GSR, Federal Graduation Rates

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Athletics Aid

• Summer aid to incoming recruits
• Equivalency versus Head Count
• Outside aid based on athletics may count towards
  the SA and sport limitation
• Institutional (non-athletics) aid may necessitate
  a reduction in athletics aid
• Awarded on a year-by-year basis

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Life as a Student-Athlete

• Practice Requirements
• Academic Support Services
• Community Service
• Life Skills Programming
• Social Conduct
• Year-Round Drug Testing

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Questions?