Key NCAA Rules & Regs
1 Do I have to wait until my senior year to start taking unofficial visits?
Nope. You can plan a road trip to a school of your choice whenever you want, since the NCAA restricts neither the number nor the timing of unofficial visits. Unlike official visits, though, you’ll be the one financing these trips.
2 Can I submit my official ACT or SAT score to the NCAA Eligibility Center on my transcript?
No. Your score must be sent directly from the testing agency to the Eligibility Center. To ensure your score is properly submitted, enter the Center’s code 9999 when you register for either test.
3 Can a coach text me?
No. Texting falls into the prohibited “electronic transmissions” category, which also includes Instant Messenger. The only forms the NCAA allows are e-mails and faxes.
4 Can I call a college coach anytime?
Sure, but don’t always expect the coach to return your call. He’s got to play by the NCAA rules, which detail sport-specific regulations as to when coaches can contact prospects. In general, a coach can’t dial your digits before July 1 after the end of your junior year.
5 Can I accept tickets to a conference tournament game during an official visit?
No. If you want to go, it’ll cost you, because the NCAA prohibits providing complimentary tickets for post-season conference tournaments, including NCAA Championships. Schools can, however, offer you three complimentary, general-seating admission tickets to a regular season home game, for yourself and those accompanying you, during your official visit.
6 If I drive to campus for an official visit, do I have to pay for the gas to get there and back?
Nope. An official visit is expense-paid, so a school is allowed to reimburse you, at the same mileage rate offered to its personnel.
7 What’s the difference between contact and evaluation periods?
During a contact period, communication between you and coach is allowed. Coach can make in-person, on- and off-campus, visits with you and your parents, eye your game at your school, and write and call. During an evaluation period a coach can visit your high school to assess your skills by watching you practice and/or compete, but he can’t talk to you.
8 Can a coach write to me anytime?
Unfortunately, he can’t. But even if your mailbox isn’t full, that doesn’t mean you’re not on file. The NCAA classifies letters as recruiting material, which coaches cannot send out until Sept. 1 of your junior year. Men’s basketball and men’s ice hockey have exceptions. Athletes of both sports can start to receive correspondence after June 15 at the end of their sophomore year. You can write to a coach anytime, though.
9 If I verbally commit to a college, am I bound to attend that school?
No. The phrase “verbal commitment” refers to your agreement to attend a particular college, but unlike a National Letter of Intent, it’s not binding, either for you or the college. If you’re sure of your choice, you’re better off putting pen to paper than verbally professing your interest.
10 Where can I park on campus during visits?
For official visits, on-campus parking is arranged by the school. On unofficial visits, you’re on your own to find a space, because special arrangements aren’t allowed.
11 Am I allowed to fly first-class to an official visit?
Even if you’re flying coast-tocoast, you’ll have to stick to coach, because it’s the only airfare class allowed by the NCAA.
12 If I spend all my cash during a campus visit, can I borrow a few bucks from coach?
The NCAA says a big “NO” to receiving dough and is specified on the list of prohibited offers/inducements, which also includes clothing, equipment, merchandise and free housing.
13 Can I accept a personalized jersey?
No. The NCAA refers to this as a “personalized recruiting aid,” a category that includes any decorative item or special addition to locations you may visit during an official or unofficial visit, such as a hotel, a locker room, an arena or a coach’s office.
14 How many official visits can I make?
You’re allowed five total expense paid official visits, with no more than one per school. The start of your senior year in high school is your first opportunity to visit a school officially, for up to 48 hours at a time.
15 I play more than one sport. How many times can a coach evaluate me?
It depends on what you play, because evaluations are sport-specific. If you’re being recruited in more than one sport, you can be evaluated as many times as are permitted for that sport by NCAA regulations.
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Key NCAA Rules & Regs
1 Do I have to wait until my senior year to start taking unofficial visits?
Nope. You can plan a road trip to a school of your choice whenever you want, since the NCAA restricts neither the number nor the timing of unofficial visits. Unlike official visits, though, you’ll be the one financing these trips.
2 Can I submit my official ACT or SAT score to the NCAA Eligibility Center on my transcript?
No. Your score must be sent directly from the testing agency to the Eligibility Center. To ensure your score is properly submitted, enter the Center’s code 9999 when you register for either test.
3 Can a coach text me?
No. Texting falls into the prohibited “electronic transmissions” category, which also includes Instant Messenger. The only forms the NCAA allows are e-mails and faxes.
4 Can I call a college coach anytime?
Sure, but don’t always expect the coach to return your call. He’s got to play by the NCAA rules, which detail sport-specific regulations as to when coaches can contact prospects. In general, a coach can’t dial your digits before July 1 after the end of your junior year.
5 Can I accept tickets to a conference tournament game during an official visit?
No. If you want to go, it’ll cost you, because the NCAA prohibits providing complimentary tickets for post-season conference tournaments, including NCAA Championships. Schools can, however, offer you three complimentary, general-seating admission tickets to a regular season home game, for yourself and those accompanying you, during your official visit.
6 If I drive to campus for an official visit, do I have to pay for the gas to get there and back?
Nope. An official visit is expense-paid, so a school is allowed to reimburse you, at the same mileage rate offered to its personnel.
7 What’s the difference between contact and evaluation periods?
During a contact period, communication between you and coach is allowed. Coach can make in-person, on- and off-campus, visits with you and your parents, eye your game at your school, and write and call. During an evaluation period a coach can visit your high school to assess your skills by watching you practice and/or compete, but he can’t talk to you.
8 Can a coach write to me anytime?
Unfortunately, he can’t. But even if your mailbox isn’t full, that doesn’t mean you’re not on file. The NCAA classifies letters as recruiting material, which coaches cannot send out until Sept. 1 of your junior year. Men’s basketball and men’s ice hockey have exceptions. Athletes of both sports can start to receive correspondence after June 15 at the end of their sophomore year. You can write to a coach anytime, though.
9 If I verbally commit to a college, am I bound to attend that school?
No. The phrase “verbal commitment” refers to your agreement to attend a particular college, but unlike a National Letter of Intent, it’s not binding, either for you or the college. If you’re sure of your choice, you’re better off putting pen to paper than verbally professing your interest.
10 Where can I park on campus during visits?
For official visits, on-campus parking is arranged by the school. On unofficial visits, you’re on your own to find a space, because special arrangements aren’t allowed.
11 Am I allowed to fly first-class to an official visit?
Even if you’re flying coast-tocoast, you’ll have to stick to coach, because it’s the only airfare class allowed by the NCAA.
12 If I spend all my cash during a campus visit, can I borrow a few bucks from coach?
The NCAA says a big “NO” to receiving dough and is specified on the list of prohibited offers/inducements, which also includes clothing, equipment, merchandise and free housing.
13 Can I accept a personalized jersey?
No. The NCAA refers to this as a “personalized recruiting aid,” a category that includes any decorative item or special addition to locations you may visit during an official or unofficial visit, such as a hotel, a locker room, an arena or a coach’s office.
14 How many official visits can I make?
You’re allowed five total expense paid official visits, with no more than one per school. The start of your senior year in high school is your first opportunity to visit a school officially, for up to 48 hours at a time.
15 I play more than one sport. How many times can a coach evaluate me?
It depends on what you play, because evaluations are sport-specific. If you’re being recruited in more than one sport, you can be evaluated as many times as are permitted for that sport by NCAA regulations.
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