NCAA Recruiting Rules Summary

NCAA Initial-Eligibility Center

• Initiate registration with the Eligibility Center by completing a NCAA student release form during your junior year. See your guidance counselor for forms and evaluation of your eligibility status.
• All prospective DI or DII student-athletes must complete an Amateurism Questionnaire through the Eligibility Center. If the student-athlete is a 2-year or 4-year transfer from a non NCAA Division I or Division II school, the Amateurism questionnaire is still required before he/she is eligible to compete.
• To have your SAT or ACT test scores submitted to the Eligibility Center you should use the college code "9999" The code to have your scores sent to Franklin Pierce is "2509."

Correspondence / Recruiting Materials

• Letters/printed material are permitted from coaches (or others at the college) beginning June 15 immediately preceding the prospective student-athlete’s junior year in high school.
• E-mail, fax, text messaging and traditional mail are considered correspondence.
• A coach may send Electronic Media to a prospective student-athlete beginning June 15 immediately preceding the prospective student-athlete’s junior year in high school.
• All electronically transmitted correspondence shall be sent directly to the prospective student-athlete (or relatives, legal guardians or coaches) and shall be private between only the sender and recipient (e.g., no use of chat rooms, message boards, posts to “walls”).
• There shall be no limit on the number of electronic transmissions sent by institutional staff members to a prospective student-athlete (or the prospective student-athlete’s relatives or legal guardians).

Phone Calls

• May begin June 15 immediately preceding the prospective student-athlete’s junior year in high school.
• There shall be no limit on the number of telephone calls made by institutional staff members to a prospective student-athlete (or the prospective student-athlete’s relatives or legal guardians).
• Enrolled collegiate student-athletes may not make recruiting calls.
• You may telephone enrolled collegiate student-athletes at your own expense.
• An athletic staff member or other representative of the institution’s athletic interests shall not make contact with a student athlete of an NCAA or NAIA four-year collegiate institution without first obtaining written permission from the first institution.

Contacts

• Definition - Any face-to-face encounter during which dialogue occurs.
• A college coach may contact a prospect or parent(s) off their campus beginning June 15 immediately preceding the prospective student-athlete’s junior year in high school.
• There is no limit on the number of off campus contacts a coach may make.
• A coach may not contact a prospect during competition.
• A coach may contact parents during competition.

Evaluations

• Definition - Any off-campus activity designed to assess athletics and/or academics.
• There is no limit to the number of evaluations an institution may conduct in Div. II.

Tryouts

• Division II institutions may conduct one tryout per prospect per sport on its campus, not to exceed two hours in length.
• Only high school seniors who have completed their sport season or are in an academic term other than the "traditional" sport season may participate.
• Prior to participation in a tryout, a prospective student-athlete is required to undergo a medical examination or evaluation administered or supervised by a physician (e.g.; family physician, team physician). This examination must be completed within six months of the tryout. A copy of this exam must be provided to the Athletic Department prior to participating in a tryout.
• High school prospective student-athletes may use a physical that was within six months of participation in practice, competition or out-of-season conditioning activities during their senior year of high school as long as it was accepted by their high school for their participation in athletics during their senior year.
• The physical exam must contain proof that a Sickle Cell Solubility test (SST) has been conducted on the prospect as well. A prospective student athlete has the option of signing a waiver that can waive the requirement of an SST. Tryout Liability Waiver Form  //  Tryout Sickle Cell Waiver Form
• Prospect's strength, speed, agility and sport skills may be tested; Ice hockey, football and lacrosse tryouts may not include competition.
• During the academic year, competition is permissible against the member institution's team in a tryout.
• An institution may provide clothing and equipment to a prospect if it is returned at the conclusion of the tryout.
• It is not permissible for a prospective student-athlete to compete in outside competition (scrimmage, Alumni game, etc) during a tryout.
• Tryouts are also permitted for transfer prospective student-athlete’s from 2-year and 4-year institutions. Tryout regulations for transfer students differ from those of high school seniors and are handled on a case by case basis.
• For a two-year college student, a tryout can be held after the conclusion of their sport season, or any time after the prospect has concluded his/her eligibility.
• For a four-year college student, a tryout can be held after the conclusion of their season, provided the student has been granted written permission to speak with a member of the Franklin Pierce coaching staff.
• Questions regarding tryouts can be directed to the sport head coach or by contacting the compliance office.

Unofficial Visits

• A visit made to the institution at the prospect's own expense.
• May make unofficial visits an unlimited number of times.
• May be made before your senior year in high school.

Official Visits

• A visit made to the institution's campus at the expense of that institution. Expenses to be covered may vary by sport and institution.
• An official visit may not occur prior to prospective student-athlete beginning classes for his/her senior year of high school.
• In order to come on an official visit a prospective student-athlete must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center; and be placed on the institution’s Institutional Request List (IRL).
• There is no limit on the number of official visits that can be made to Division II institutions, but only one per institution.
• 48-hour limit.
• You must provide the college with an ACT or SAT test score prior to the visit. Providing an academic transcript is not required prior to a visit but is recommended.
• Entertainment money (if provided) may not be used to buy souvenirs for yourself.
• Prospect may receive transportation.
• Prospect and parents may receive meals, lodging and admission to campus events.
• A prospect visiting an institution may participate in physical workouts provided the activities are not organized or observed by members of the coaching staff.