Presented by:
Andrea Benna
Assistant Director of Compliance for Eligibility and Recruiting
University of Missouri

Initial-Eligibility

Amateurism

Recruiting

Continuing Eligibility

Athletics Aid

Life as a Collegiate Student-Athlete
1.
Graduation from high school
2.
Minimum core grade point average
3.
Minimum corresponding ACT or SAT score
4.
Completion of 16 core courses
NCAA Bylaw 14.3.1.1

Three Categories of Eligibility
◦ Qualifier: eligible for athletics aid, practice, and
competition during first year of enrollment
 Minimum 2.300 core GPA
◦ Academic Redshirt: eligible for athletics aid in first year
of enrollment and for practice during first term of
enrollment
 Minimum 2.000 core GPA
 Must meet additional academic requirements to be eligible
for practice in second term of enrollment
 May not engage in competition during first year of
enrollment
◦ Non-Qualifier: ineligible for athletics aid, practice, and
competition during first year of enrollment
 Below 2.000 core GPA, insufficient test score, less than 16
core courses
Recognized academic course that qualifies for graduation
1.
◦
Falls into one of the following: English, Math, Natural/Physical Science,
Social Science, Foreign Language, Non-doctrinal Religion/Philosophy
Considered college prepatory
2.
◦
Academically prepares a student to enter a 4 year college
3.
Math is completed at the level of Algebra 1 or higher
4.
Taught by a qualified instructor
5.
Taught at or above the regular academic level
NCAA Bylaw 14.3.1.2
1.
Meets all requirements of a core course
2.
Instructor and student have ongoing access to one another for purposes of
teaching, evaluating, providing assistance
3.
Instructor and student have regular interaction for purposes of teaching,
evaluation, providing assistance
4.
Completed work is available for evaluation and validation
5.
Evaluation of work is completed by appropriate academic authority in
accordance with established academic policies
6.
Course includes defined time period for completion
7.
Course is acceptable for any student and placed on the high school transcript
NCAA Bylaw 14.3.1.2.2

4 English

3 Mathematics

2 Natural or Physical Science

1 Additional English, Mathematics, or Natural or Physical Science

2 Social Science

4 Additional Core Courses (from any of the above subject areas
or foreign language, philosophy, or non-doctrinal religion)
NCAA Bylaw 14.3.1.1

10 of the 16 required core courses must be
completed prior to the start of the 7th
semester of high school
◦ This includes summer school between the end of
junior year and the start of senior year


7 of these 10 course must be English, math,
and natural/physical science
The grades for these 10 courses must be
used in calculating GPA and cannot be
replaced by classes completed at a later date
Core GPA
SAT
ACT
(Sum Score)
3.550
3.000
2.750
2.500
2.250
2.000
400
620
720
820
920
1010
37
52
59
68
77
86
NCAA Bylaw 13.1.1.2
Core GPA
SAT
ACT
(Sum Score)
4.000
3.550
3.000
2.750
2.500
2.300
400
580
680
900
1000
1080
37
49
56
75
85
93
Core GPA
SAT
ACT
(Sum Score)
3.550
3.000
2.750
2.500
2.300
2.000
400
500
720
820
900
1080
37
44
59
68
75
86



Use of nonstandard ACT and/or SAT test
(NCAA Bylaw 14.3.1.3.3)
Use of courses completed after high school
graduation (NCAA Bylaw 14.3.1.2.1.2)
Use of courses designed specifically for
students with disabilities (NCAA Bylaw
14.3.1.2.5)

Freshman Year
◦ Carefully (and strategically!) choose courses
◦ Approved course lists can be found at
eligibilitycenter.org under the Resources tab

Sophomore Year
◦ Carefully (and strategically!)

Junior Year
◦ Carefully (and strategically!) choose courses
◦ Take ACT/SAT and report score to the Eligibility Center (Code: 9999)
◦ All ACT/SAT must be sent directly to the Eligibility Center from the
testing agency (NCAA Bylaw 14.3.1.3.4)
◦ Register with the Eligibility Center at eligibilitycenter.org ($65)
◦ Submit an official 6th semester transcript to the Eligibility Center

Senior Year
◦ Course selection is critical!!
◦ Retake ACT/SAT, if necessary, and submit score to the Eligibility
Center

After Senior Year
◦ Submit final official transcript with proof of graduation to the
Eligibility Center



Once the Eligibility Center has received an
official transcript, a revised transcript will not
be immediately accepted
The Eligibility Center may require additional
supporting documentation before accepting
transcript changes
An initial-eligibility waiver may be required in
instances of an altered final transcript

A prospect must complete core-curriculum
requirements not later than the high school
graduation date of his or her high school class
◦ Anticipated graduation date is determined by the
prospect’s 9th grade enrollment

Exception: a prospect who graduates on time with his
or her high school class may use 1 core course
completed in the year following graduation
NCAA Bylaws 14.3.1.2.1 and 14.3.1.2.1.1

A prospect with a diagnosed education
impacting disability who graduates on time
with his or her class may use up to 3 core
courses completed during the year after
graduation
NCAA Bylaw 14.3.1.2.1.2

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


All student-athletes entering a Division I or
Division II institution must complete the
amateurism certification process
Both domestic and international prospects
must complete an amateurism questionnaire
after registering with the Eligibility Center
◦ Amateurism status is determined by the responses
provided by the prospect

Contracts with professional
team

Salary for participating in
athletics





Prize money above actual
and necessary expenses
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
Play with professionals
Educational expenses from
individual or entity other
than a parent
Preferential treatment based
on athletics participation or
reputation

Students will complete an online
questionnaire about their athletics history through
the Eligibility Center

Sport-Specific

Included in the Eligibility Center registration fee

Elite athletes will be reviewed automatically by the
NCAA staff.

Must complete before a written offer of aid may be
issued by a Division I institution.

Contact: any face-to-face encounter between a
prospect or prospect’s 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 13.02.4

Evaluation: any off-campus activity designed to assess
the academic qualifications or athletics ability of a
prospect.
NCAA Bylaw 13.02.7

Telephone calls: all electronically transmitted human
voice exchange.
NCAA Bylaw 13.02.15

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 13.02.16.1

Unofficial Visit: an unofficial visit to a member
institution by a prospective student-athlete is a visit
made at the prospective student-athlete’s own expense.
NCAA Bylaw 13.02.16.2

Recruiting Materials/E-Mails: September 1st of junior year
NCAA Bylaw 13.4.1

Telephone Calls: 1 call between April 15th st- May 31st during junior
year and 1 per week starting September 1 of senior year, unlimited
calls during contact periods
NCAA Bylaw 13.1.3.1.2

Off-Campus Contact: 6 in-person, off-campus contacts during
senior year, starting the last Sunday following the last Saturday in
November
NCAA Bylaw 13.1.5.2

Evaluations: 3 total-1 in fall and 2 from April 15th-May 31st
NCAA Bylaw 13.1.7.4

Recruiting Materials/E-mails: Effective June 15, 2012—there is no restrictions on type or frequency on or after
June 15th following sophomore year
NCAA Bylaw 13.4.1

Telephone Calls: Effective June 15, 2012 —there is no restriction on the frequency on or after June 15th following
sophomore year
NCAA Bylaw 13.1.3.1.3

Off-Campus Contact: Effective August 1, 2012—3 in-person, off-campus contacts on or after July 1 following
junior year
NCAA Bylaw 13.1.5.3

Evaluations: 7 recruiting opportunities (i.e. contacts and evaluations)
NCAA Bylaw 13.1.7.5

On-Campus Evaluation:1 on-campus evaluation following the conclusion of senior season, no more than 2
hours in length
NCAA Bylaw 13.1.7.5

Recruiting Materials/E-Mails: September 1st of junior year
NCAA Bylaw 13.4.1

Telephone Calls: 1 call during Aprilst and 1 call
during May
th
following
junior
year, 1 call June 1 -June 20 and 1 call June
st
th
21 -June 30 following junior year, 3 calls during July following
junior year, 1 call per week thereafter, unlimited during contact
period
NCAA Bylaw 13.1.3.1.4

Off-Campus Contact:3 in-person, off-campus contacts during
senior year, starting September of senior year
NCAA Bylaw 13.1.5.4

Evaluations: 7 recruiting opportunities (i.e. contacts and
evaluations)
NCAA Bylaw 13.1.7.6

Recruiting Materials/E-Mails: September 1st of junior year
NCAA Bylaw 13.4.1

Telephone Calls: 1 per week following July 1st of junior year
◦ Baseball, Cross Country/Track, Softball, Volleyball: unlimited calls during contact
period
NCAA Bylaws 13.1.3.1 and 13.1.3.1.1

Off-Campus Contact: July 1st following junior year, July 15th
for gymnastics, no more than 3 during senior year
NCAA Bylaw 13.1.5.1

Evaluations: 7 recruiting opportunity (i.e. contacts and
evaluations)
NCAA Bylaw 13.1.7.3

Prospect pays all expenses

Institution may provide three complimentary
admissions to an on-campus athletics event


Prospect may take an unofficial visit at any time
(except during a dead period or in basketball
during the month of July)
Prospect may make as many unofficial visits as
he/she wishes
NCAA Bylaws 13.7.1, 13.7.1.1, 13.7.2, and
13.7.2.1

Institution finances all or part of the visit

Maximum of 5 visits per prospect

One visit per school

May not occur prior to the start of senior year in high school

Maximum 48 hours in length

Academic requirements for visit:
◦ May pay lodging and meals only for parents/legal guardians
◦ Test score (SAT, ACT, PLAN, PSAT)
◦ HS or College Transcript
◦ Must register with the Eligibility Center and be placed on the institution’s IRL
NCAA Bylaws 13.6.2.1, 13.6.2.2, 13.6.3, and 13.6.4.1

Effective August 1, 2012

May occur on or after January of junior year

May also pay travel expenses for one or both
parents/legal guardians

Binding one-year agreement

Prospect must attend that institution for one year

Institution must offer athletics aid to the prospect in
conjunction with the NLI (financial aid agreement)


Athletics aid can be offered for one year and renewed
on an annual basis –OR- can be offered on a multiyear basis for a maximum of five years.
If the NLI agreement is broken, the basic penalty is to
sit out of competition for a year and lose a year of
eligibility.

No limit on contacts or evaluations
NCAA Bylaws 13.1.5.8 and 13.1.7.18

Coaches still may not visit the high school more than once per week in
the sports of football and men’s basketball
NCAA Bylaw 13.1.5.8.1

No contacts on- or off-campus during dead period
NCAA Bylaw 13.1.5.8.1



Unlimited telephone calls
NCAA Bylaw 13.1.3.3.3
Unlimited text messages and other forms of electronic communication
NCAA Bylaw 13.4.1.2.1
Practice/Competition site restrictions remain
NCAA Bylaws 13.1.5.8.1 and 13.1.6.2

NCAA Eligibility Center
◦ Toll Free: 877/262-1492
◦ International Callers: 317/223-0700
◦ Fax: 317/968-5100
◦ http://eligibilitycenter.org

NCAA National Office
◦
◦
◦
◦

317/917-6222
Hotline: 800/638-3731
Fax: 317/917-6622
www.ncaa.org
College Bound Student-Athlete Guide
◦ http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/CBSA.pdf

6 hours a semester

18 degree applicable hours during the academic
year

24 hours prior to 3rd semester

40/60/80 rule for 5th, 7th, and 9th semesters

Term-by-term GPA requirements (1.8, 1.9, 2.0)

GOAL: to graduate in 5 years
◦ Football 9 hour rule

Summer athletics aid to incoming student-athletes

Athletics aid is awarded on a year-by-year basis

Aid Limit: there is no limit on the number of years of aid,
so long coursework toward a bachelor’s degree is in
progress

―Equivalency‖ versus ―Head Count‖ (i.e., full-ride)

All outside aid must be reported and reviewed but most
can now be accepted due to new legislation

Institutional aid (i.e. academic based) may necessitate a
reduction in athletics aid

Practice Requirements (20/8)

Academic Support Services

Community Service

Life Skills Programming

Social Conduct

Year Round Drug Testing