RECRUITING U™

College (among other) costs are rising and [this] is a legitimate personal income and discretionary spending issue for student athletes and their parents. According to a report by College Board, the price of college rose faster than the inflation rate this year. In fact, it climbed 6.6% at four-year public schools and outstripped increases in financial aid. The report states the average list price for four-year public universities now reaches $6,185 and four-year private colleges saw a 6.3% increase to reach $23,712.

Public two-year colleges, which educate about half of American college students, rose by 4.2% to $2,361.

These increases in tuition and fees do not completely reflect the cost for college. Including room and board for student living on campus, charges for public four-year schools were $13,589, or 5.9% higher than the previous year. At private four-year schools, average charges total more than $32,000.

When evaluating colleges, think about where you as a student would go if you were not involved in sports. Having that perspective is important. If a scholarship is not offered, where could you afford to attend university? What are your options given your current academic status? What other types of financial aid do you qualify for and willing to accept? More on these questions when you get to chemistry, but for now, think about how you can start building your "back-up" plan. Remember, even if an athletic scholarship is offered, it can be reduced or canceled for any reason.

It is not uncommon for parents to spend $5,000 or more per year for a child's participation on a "premiere" or "elite" travel team – all with the hope that it will increase the odds of their child receiving a collegiate athletic scholarship. Add a few more bells and whistles like a strength-training and conditioning coach, a specialty position coach, camp and combine fees, and a personal recruiting advisor and the cost of pursuing a collegiate athletic scholarship can easily reach more than $10,000 per year.

Some parents are willing to spend this kind of money simply to indulge in their child's passion for the sport. However, even many among those spending the money as an "indulgence" today will tell you that they hope it gains them a competitive edge as their child gets closer to college-age.

In what has become such an aggressive youth sports culture, many believe athletic scholarships will not be a problem for their son or daughter as long as they are willing to spend the money. In fact, many see such spending as a necessity just to be in the marketplace and have any hope at all that their son or daughter will catch the eye of a college recruiter.

Confronted with the reality that over a period of just four to five years one can spend $20,000 to $50,000 on a son's or daughter's athletic interest, many parents would naturally prefer to think that at least a portion of that spending was an investment in exposure for their athlete and ultimately an investment in a college education.

Ask just about anyone who has been involved in the recruiting process and they'll tell you that if you don't want to pay full costs at college – then hit the books at least as hard (if not harder than) you hit the field or the court. The odds of being rewarded with a discounted education are better as a result of being a good student than they are by being only a good athlete.

This is not to say that athletic scholarships should not be pursued. In fact, they should be vigorously pursued, as they are some of the hardest and most competitive scholarships to attain. For athletes, who are competitive by nature, the pursuit of an athletic scholarships a natural choice, and if achieved, and can be a great benefit and blessing to their family.

It's important, however, for many athletes and parents to think of athletic scholarships as one piece of a financial package that could include grants, loans and other institutional aid. This is especially true within the non-revenue sports, which includes just about every sport outside of basketball and football. Further, NCAA Division III schools offer only academic scholarships even though they have athletic programs.

If you are seeking an athletic scholarship outside of the big-revenue sports of basketball and football, you should know that college coaches of the so-called "non-revenue" sports have a very limited number and dollar amount to work with when it comes to scholarships. They often have to spread relatively limited funding assistance among his or her athletes. Put simply, they don't have money to throw around or devote to a high number of full scholarships. And, like all other athletic scholarships, they must evaluate them each year. That's right, each year! Regardless of what you have heard, there is no such thing a four-year scholarship.

Athletics scholarships are actually awarded by NCAA institutions on an annual basis and may be renewed annually for a maximum of five years (within a six year period of college attendance). Further, the aid provided may be reduced or canceled for any reason.

The amount of financial aid provided through athletic scholarships may affect the aid received from other sources. You should ask university financial aid officials about the impact and implications of receiving any such financial assistance. Also, you must inform financial aid offices of assistance you have received from all sources.

You should contact the coaches of the teams at schools of interest to find out about the scholarship opportunities they have at their disposal – and do so early. Even as a freshman or sophomore, it's not too early to start asking questions and learning what you need to know to determine whether the school you've always dreamed of attending would be capable of living up to the expectations you have for your dream school.

As the NCAA is the governing body for most college sports, you should consider reviewing the wealth of information on their web site. However, keep in mind that scholarships are administered directly by the each academic institution and not the NCAA.

NCAA Athletic Scholarships page

Further information from the U.S. Department of Education on preparing for funding education beyond high school can be found on their web site, Student Aid on the Web.

Student Aid on the Web
Other Resources:
FASFA - Free Application Student Financial Aid
American Indian College Fund
US Department of Education
Finaid
Fastweb: Scholarships, Financial Aid and Colleges

Understanding the role of marketing in the recruiting process is crucial. After all, if you're trying to get an athletic scholarship, you're competing in the marketplace of athletes. You have something that you want college coaches and recruiters to buy, and that something is the athletic talent you represent.

Old School Marketing
Today’s recruiting landscape isn't what it was 20 years ago. Families now sacrifice weekends and vacations for tournaments and specialty camps, spending thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours each year in the quest for athletic exposure and the chance for an athlete to play at the next level, and possibly earn a college scholarship.

The "traditional" marketing effort created by student athletes and parents have included:

• A player resume or profile that may or may not be based on emphasizing the sport-appropriate characteristics that coaches are looking for.
• Some form of a highlight tape
• Some of the "best" games on video
• A list of schools and coaches contact information
• A mass mailings to coaches

In the past, it was common for athletes and parents to assemble hundreds of profile and film packages, mail this information to college coaches, and hope it got into the right hands. In fact, assembling and mailing 300 to 500 copies of these packages was not uncommon.

Obviously, the time and expense in such an effort adds up. Duplicating film, mailing letters, and tracking down coaching staff addresses can easily consume 30 to 40 hours per week. In the busy lives of most parents and student athletes, it's little wonder so many turn to recruiting services that promise to do some of this leg-work, but services and recruiting advisors like this and easily cost families $4,000 to $5,000.

At the end of the day, even with such a heroic effort, there was no way to even tell if your package arrived at the right place or was opened by the right people.

New School Marketing
An educated, active marketing approach as a parent and/or athlete will lead to great advantages and results. It's important to remember that marketing is your job. Sure, a high school coach can help to promote the athlete; however, that is not the coaches' responsibility. If your marketing plan is to wait for college coaches to come to you, you are planning the wrong approach.

College coaches and recruiters are also in a very competitive marketplace, as they seek out the best talent they can find. They definitely understand the process, know the rules, research the prospects, and make careful choices as they put a recruiting class together. Remember, they’re trying to get the best athletes they can get. They, too, know they have something to sell as they compete for the best athletes.

Mirrored Approaches
As you learn more about the recruiting process, you'll see that in many ways, the recruiting process for the athlete should closely mirror that of the college coaches. College coaches start early identification with a list of prospective athletes and athletes start with a list of possible colleges and universities. Both parties work to narrow down their choices based on extensive research and the potential fulfillment of needs. Both start marketing efforts and finally, both are looking for a personal contact.

Let's look at these 4 parts of the recruiting process in a little more detail.

Early Identification:	College Coaches/Recruiters	Athletes
Lists	Start with a list of prospective student athletes	Start with a list of collegiate athletic programs.
Research	Collect as much information as possible from many sources from high school and club coaches, recruiting coordinators, scouting service reports, tournaments and other events like camps and combines	Collect input from parents, siblings, friends and personal preferences

Narrowing the Field:	College Coaches/Recruiters	Athletes
Quick/Early Evaluation	Does the prospect meet my needs, have the grades, and have anything I can see or watch to let me know this is the kind of athlete I’m looking for?	What are the school’s scholarship opportunities, the team’s philosophy, reputation, facilities and traits that match my play and interests?

Marketing:	College Coaches/Recruiters	Athletes
Showing Interest	Let the athlete know their interest in them	Let the collegiate program know they have an interest in joining the team
	Demonstrate the benefits of choosing their program	Demonstrate why and how they could be of benefit to the team
	Invitation to camps are sent	Face-to-face visits are planned

Personal Contact:	College Coaches/Recruiters	Athletes
Communication	Contact and communication rules of the athletic accrediting body (i.e., NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA) must be observed	Unofficial visits, e-mail becomes a very important means by which to communicate.
	Official contact begins Sept. 1 of Prospective Student Athlete’s (PSA’s) Junior year	Understand and observe contact rules

It's a fact that you have only one chance to make a first impression. And, perhaps no first impression is as important as the one you and/or your athlete will have with a college coach or recruiter. Yes, the face-to-face is very important, however this event may not actually be your first chance to have made an impression.

Note: If you are going to be in a situation where you may meet a college coach your appearance is important. Put your cell phone away, don't have ear phones in, look astute, mind your clothing, look the coach in eye, and provide a firm handshake. College Coaches recruit on character as well as athletic ability.

Whether it’s a junior day or a camp you've been invited to, be realistic; the truth about your athletic ability is going to come out one way or another. College coaches are going to evaluate tape, talk to your coach, and in their evaluation process if you don't play at the level you’re claim to play at, time, trust, and communication will be lost.

Marketing to College Coaches with CCN
We've taken all the steps in the recruiting process and consolidated them in a way that provides parents and athletes with the following tools:

• Unique packaging by combining detailed player resumes or profiles with interactive online media
• Enhanced education on the recruiting process
• A place to manage and send game film and highlight video online
• Communication with college coaches and recruiters
• A platform that makes it easy to request evaluations from College Coaches around the country from all levels.
• Control of the process and ability to track results

Just because you're getting letters from colleges, doesn't mean you're being recruited. In fact, many colleges engage in heavy student recruitment activities. This is not to suggest that college coaches don't send prospective student athletes letters and other marketing material.

Veterans of the recruiting game will say, "If you're being recruited, you'll know it." For those students actively being recruited, college coaching staff will go to greater lengths. Handwritten letters, special invitations, and a variety of other tactics will be employed to attract the athlete.

Beyond the price tag of college, there are a number of important factors that make up the right student-to-college match. The typical factors like size of the student body, academic programming, campus life/experience, graduation rates, and location are excellent considerations when looking for the best match.

The size of the student body often affects the amount of personal attention you'll receive, however it is important to look past the raw student body count of a university. For example, you may find that your academic interests would put you in a small department within a much larger campus where you could still receive a high level of personal attention.

Academic programming can be an important consideration, especially if you know what you want to study. Some schools are known for specialty programs or have more highly regarded departments than others; however, most institutions are academically well balanced and are great options if you’re undecided about your primary academic interest.

Believe it or not, you will have a life beyond the classroom and the weight room. The college experience and campus life in general should offer a balance for you between your academics, activities, and social life. A campus visit will give you an understanding and perspective that you can't get any other way. Think about what the community is like, where you’ll be housed, and generally whether it is someplace you want to live and study.

Graduation rates among universities have grabbed a lot of headlines in recent years – and for good reason. They are often considered to be the most important factor in determining whether the institution is a good place to continue their education. Along with student retention rates, these figures often suggest that the institution is responsible and contains the infrastructure necessary to support their students.

For many student athletes, spending a few nights away from home is not a big deal. In fact, if they’re on a travel-team, their probably quite used to it. However, a commitment to attend university away from one’s hometown is very different situation. And, although most college-bound students are looking forward to leaving home, a variety of factors can make the prospect of being too far away impossible and impractical. Consider how often you may want to visit your family or have them your attend games. Who will shoulder the cost that travel? How long is the travel time? How easy is it to get to where you are by plane, train, or automobile?

There are certainly other factors that should be considered when trying to find the right match. Factors such as diversity, friend and sibling experiences, and others may have a dramatic impact on finding a school that is the right match.

Student athletes should consider the factors mentioned above, but often face other issues that should also be considered.

Many parents and student athletes have commented that the coach's and team's philosophy are just as important as any other factor. In fact, student athletes have left athletic scholarship offers due to "philosophical differences." Personality and character differences between the athlete and the coach can create a rough collegiate athlete experience. It's important to identity the potential for such conflicts early in the recruiting process. Face-to-face meetings with a coach are great, but if possible, talk with other team members or former players to get a sense if the coach is someone with which you can relate, appreciate, trust, and enjoy. You'll find little comfort in falling in love with the facilities, when you come to the realization that you can't stand your coach or your teammates. And remember, there are other programs out there.

Not taking the time to find the research the schools and find the right fit is often stated as one of the top reasons college coaches and recruiters dismiss an athletic candidate. Do your homework when it comes to figuring out which school and team is right for you. Get on their radar early and let them know you’re interested and that you’ve done your homework.

Good scouting service professionals and personal recruiting advisors who make the lecture circuit rounds talking about the "realities of recruiting" bring up the point of having a back-up plan in nearly every speech they give. Although the point can be stated in a number of ways, it basically comes down to this…

"If an athletic scholarship was not given, where would you attend university? What are your options, given your current academic status? What types of financial aid do you qualify for? When do you plan on applying to a college?"

If you're not thinking about your answers to these questions, you should be!

Just making sure a son or daughter gets into college is usually the number one priority for parents. Yes, an athletic scholarship is important, but secondary to actually getting in to college somewhere.

For that reason alone, you should apply to colleges you want to attend. Talk with your guidance counselor, your coach and your school's athletic director about your options and take the steps necessary to get an acceptance letter in-hand so know you can go to college regardless of an athletic scholarship.

Dreaming to play at the NCAA Division I level is more than a pastime for some student athletes (and their parents). The spotlight shone on some of the top DI players attracts new student athletes like moths to a flame. For many, it is seen as the ultimate reward for the practices, camps, tournaments, and dollars invested over their pre-collegiate playing years. There’s sense of celebrity – of rarified air and special accomplishment often associated with playing at this level. And all that makes it easy to forget that playing DI is really a full-time job.

It's easy to forget that those athletes have academic obligations. That during the season, the team can consume nearly every waking moment and that you can easily have 60 hours a week in workouts, practice, travel, and game time. Rewarding and glamorous as it may be, playing at this level is not for everyone.

The reality is that less than 1% of student athletes receive a full scholarship at the NCAA Division I level and for those who receive such an offer, the hard work of getting there is often little compared to the work it takes to remain there.

As competitive as it for full scholarships at the NCAA Division I level, the level of play and players are just as competitive. Remember, the others playing at that level are among the biggest, the fastest, and the best in the game. Competing at this level is obviously challenging and rewarding, but consider whether it will be kind of college experience you are looking for.

Understanding Student Eligibility

Parents and athletes need to know that eligibility begins the first day of the 9^th grade. Academic records and cumulative Grade Point Averages (GPA) are tracked from 9^th grade all the way through graduation day in the senior year. As obvious as it may seem, this should remind you that you don't have until your Junior or Senior year to start thinking about recruiting. Grades can and most often do play a significant role in the evaluation of a student athlete. Starting to think about this as part of the recruiting process too late can result in hasty, uninformed decisions, lack of exposure, and significantly hinder possible scholarship opportunities.

The fact that your academic record begins freshman year makes it important to know GPA and test score requirements for all collegiate programs. Don’t fall behind early. Set academic standards that meet, or better yet, exceed those of collegiate academic standards. Most collegiate recruiters begin recruiting prospects during the student-athlete's sophomore and junior years.

In the 11^th grade, you should be checking to make sure you're still on track towards completing the core-course requirements and that the core courses are on your high school's 48-H with the eligibility center. Speak with your counselor if you have questions about the 48-H form.

Regardless of when you begin taking SAT or ACT tests, request test scores be sent to the eligibility center (the code is "9999." In the 12^th grade, be sure to have your high school guidance counselor send a final transcript with proof of graduation to the eligibility center.

Know the Core Courses
Starting August 1, 2008, 16 core courses will be required for NCAA Division I only. This rule applies to any student first entering any Division I college or university on or after August 1, 2008.

NCAA Division I - 16 Core-Course Rules:

• 4 years of English
• 3 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher)
• 2 years of natural/physical science (1 year of lab, if offered by the high school)
• 1 year of additional English, mathematics or natural/physical science
• 2 years of social science
• 4 years of additional core courses of your choice (including, Foreign Language or Non-doctrinal Religion/Philosophy)

NCAA Division I - Test Scores and GPA Requirements
Division I uses a sliding scale for test scores and grade-point average. The Division I cumulative grade-point-average requirement can be determined with this sliding scale.

Core GPA	SAT	ACT
	Verbal and Math Only
3.55 & above	400	37
3.525	410	38
3.5	420	39
3.475	430	40
3.45	440	41
3.425	450	41
3.4	460	42
3.375	470	42
3.35	480	43
3.325	490	44
3.3	500	44
3.275	510	45
3.25	520	46
3.225	530	46
3.2	540	47
3.175	550	47
3.15	560	48
3.125	570	49
3.1	580	49
3.075	590	50
3.05	600	50
3.025	610	51
3	620	52
2.975	630	52
2.95	640	53
2.925	650	53
2.9	660	54
2.875	670	55
2.85	680	56
2.825	690	56
2.8	700	57
2.775	710	58
2.75	720	59
2.725	730	59
2.7	730	60
2.675	740-750	61
2.65	760	62
2.625	770	63
2.6	780	64
2.575	790	65
2.55	800	66
2.525	810	67
2.5	820	68
2.475	830	69
2.45	840-850	70
2.425	860	70
2.4	860	71
2.375	870	72
2.35	880	73
2.325	890	74
2.3	900	75
2.275	910	76
2.25	920	77
2.225	930	78
2.2	940	79
2.175	950	80
2.15	960	80
2.125	960	81
2.1	970	82
2.075	980	83
2.05	990	84
2.025	1000	85
2	1010	86

NCAA Division II - 14 Core-Course Rules:

• 3 years of English
• 2 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher)
• 2 years of natural/physical science (1 year of lab, if offered by the high school)
• 2 year of additional English, mathematics or natural/physical science
• 2 years of social science
• 3 years of additional courses (from any area above, Foreign Language or Non-doctrinal Religion/Philosophy)

Note: There is no sliding scale for Division II. The minimum core grade point average is 2.000. The minimum SAT score is 820 (verbal and math only) and the minimum ACT sum score is 68.

The ACT score used for NCAA purposes is a sum of the four sections on the ACT: English Math, Reading, and Science.

Taking Tests Multiple Times and Combining Scores
You may take the SAT or the ACT more than one time. If you take either test more than once, you may calculate and combine your best score from the different testing dates to meet the minimum test-score requirements. So you can use your best score from any section of the test the first or second or third time you take it. If you achieved your best math score the first time you took the test, but you achieved your best reading score the second time you took the test, you can combine your best scores no matter when you took the test. Remember: the more times you take the test, the better your chances are of meeting eligibility requirements with a passing score! Prepare for your tests with SAT/ACT guides or tutors, mark when early test dates are on a calendar, and solve the problem before it happens!

All SAT and ACT scores must be reported directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center (also known as the NCAA Clearinghouse) by the testing agency. The College Board has information about the SAT on its website at www.collegeboard.org and ACT information can be found by visiting www.act.org.

NCAA Eligibility Center
If an athlete wants to play an NCAA DI or DII sport, he or she MUST be registered with the Eligibility Center. It is recommended that athletes should register with the NCAA Eligibility Center during the first semester of their junior year.

The NCAA Eligibility Center handles ALL inquiries regarding an individual's initial-eligibility status. The Eligibility Center also maintains and processes all of the initial-eligibility certifications.

Contact the NCAA Eligibility Center for any questions about:

• The process to become certified
• Your initial-eligibility status
• Case-specific inquiries concerning amateurism cases
• The amateurism certification process
• The status of core-course review
• Disability service questions

WWW: www.ncaaclearinghouse.net
Phone: 1 (877) 262-1492(toll free in the USA) or (317)-223-0700.
Fax: (317) 968-5100
Mail: NCAA Eligibility Center, PO Box 7136, Indianapolis, IN 46207

Amateurism Questionnaire/Transcripts
Complete the amateurism questionnaire and sign the final authorization signature online on or after April 1 of your senior year, if you are expecting to enroll in college in the fall semester. (If you are expecting to enroll for spring semester, sign the final authorization signature on or after October 1 of the year prior to enrollment.) Remember to ask your high school guidance counselor to send a final transcript with proof of graduation to the NCAA Eligibility Center.

NCAA Division III
Division III athletic and academic eligibility varies depending on the school. The best resource for the Division III athletic program is the school or athletic program itself. Contact the specific school for eligibility details.

Home-schooled Students
The NCAA recognizes home-schooled students and has a list of frequently asked questions related to home-schooling on their website.

NAIA Eligibility Requirements
An entering freshman student must be a graduate of an accredited high school or be accepted as a regular student in good standing as defined by the enrolling institution. Two (2) of the following three (3) entry-level requirements must also be met:

• Minimum score of 18 on the Enhanced ACT or 860 or higher on the SAT
• An overall high school grade point average of 2.000 or higher on a 4.000 scale
• Graduate in the upper-half of the student's high school graduating class

As home-schooling is related to NAIA eligibility requirements, home-schooled students must receive the certificate (or equivalent) granted by the appropriate state verifying successful completion of home schooling requirements and achieve the minimum ACT/SAT score.

GED
The GED will be recognized as satisfying the grade point average equivalent. The GED student must achieve a score of 18 on the Enhanced ACT or 860 on the SAT to meet the freshman requirements.

More on NAIA eligibility can be found on their website

Junior College (NJCAA) Eligibility
A student-athlete must be a graduate of a high school with a duly recognized academic diploma or a General Education Department test (GED) that has been:

• Authorized by a State Department of Education or other State recognized education agency
• Authorized by a Regional Association as defined by the United States Department of Education.
• Approved by the NJCAA National Office after submission of a request letter with appropriate transcripts and documentation.

Non-high school graduates can establish eligibility for athletic participation by completing one term of college work passing 12 credits with a 1.75 GPA or higher. This term must be taken after the student-athlete's high school class has graduated.

Non-high school graduates who have earned sufficient credit for high school graduation status can establish eligibility for athletic participation by completing one term of college work passing 12 credits with a 1.75 GPA or higher. This term can be completed before the student-athlete's high school class has graduated.

In the following sports, student-athletes are not required to be enrolled during the fall term to be eligible to participate in the sport during the spring season unless the records are carried over into the spring season: Baseball, Bowling, Golf, Lacrosse, Softball, and Tennis. If the fall records are carried over into the spring season, all student-athletes must be enrolled full-time (twelve or more credits hours) during the fall term when the schedule begins.

More on NJCAA eligibility can be found on their website.

The importance of protecting your eligibility and amateur status can hardly be overstated. As with other aspects of the recruiting process, NCAA governance, legislation, and rules related to pre-enrollment amateurism rules differ among NCAA Divisons. In general, Division II is less restrictive than Division I, while Division III handles certification of amateurism in their own unique way.

Every prospective student athlete (PSA) who attends an NCAA Division I or Division II institution must be certified as an "amateur" by the NCAA Eligibility Center. (Note: In NCAA Division III, certification of an individual's amateurism status is completed by each institution.) Registering with the Eligibility Center begins the process of certifying your academic status. In addition to the basic registration questions, you'll be asked to provide answers to several questions relative to your athletics participation and any agreements you may have made with an agent or professional team. Based on the information you provide, the Eligibility Center will determine if you are still an amateur, or if you have violated NCAA amateurism rules.

NCAA Division I rules state that an individual loses amateur status and thus shall not be eligible for intercollegiate competition in a particular sport if the individual:

• Competes on a professional athletics team even if no pay or remuneration for expenses was received; or
• Receives, directly or indirectly, a salary, reimbursement of expenses or any form of financial assistance from a professional sports organization based on athletics skill or participation, except as permitted by NCAA rules.

NCAA Division II amateur regulations allow individuals to participate on and receive expenses from a professional team prior to initial full-time enrollment in a collegiate institution without jeopardizing the individual’s amateur status. However, please note that an individual who does not enroll in college as a full-time student immediately after high school graduation shall use a season of competition for each calendar year or sports season (subsequent to the date) in which the individual competes on a team that declares itself to be professional or on a team that provides any participant compensation including actual and necessary expenses. Further, the individual shall fulfill an academic year in residence at an NCAA institution prior to being eligible to represent the certifying institution in that specific sport in intercollegiate competition.

For a more detailed description of the registration process, case studies on amateurism, the NCAA has a web page with links to additional information related to amateurism.

NCAA Eligibility Center/Clearinghouse - The NCAA Eligibility Center is an organization that works with the NCAA to determine students' eligibility for athletics participation in their first year of college enrollment. Students who want to participate in college sports during their first year of enrollment in college must register with the E.C. or Clearinghouse. The E.C. staff follows NCAA bylaws and regulations in analyzing and processing a student's high school academic records, ACT or SAT scores, and key information about amateurism participation. It is up to the Clearinghouse to determine the student's initial eligibility.

Contact Period - It is permissible for authorized athletic department staff members and/or coaches to make in person, off-campus recruiting contacts and evaluations.

Dead Period - It is not permissible to make in person recruiting contacts, evaluations on or off campus, or permit official or unofficial visits.

Evaluation Period - It is permissible for authorized athletics department staff to be involved in off-campus activities to assess academic qualifications and playing abilities. No in person, off-campus recruiting contacts with a prospect are permitted.

Quiet Period - It is permissible to make in person recruiting contacts only on the member institution's campus.

National Letter of Intent - The basic idea behind the National Letter of Intent (NLI) is to provide certainty in the recruiting process. Here's what the National Letter of Intent program means for you: The school that has recruited an athlete agrees to give that athlete an athletic scholarship for one year. The athlete agrees to attend that school for one year. The NLI must be accompanied by an institutional financial aid agreement. Other schools participating in the National Letter of Intent program agree to stop trying to recruit any athlete who signs a NLI. College coaches are not permitted to comment publicly about prospects until they sign a letter of intent.

Verbal Commitment - A verbal commitment (also called a "verbal") is a statement by a player to a particular school's coach that he will sign a letter of intent to go to that school when the next signing period rolls around. It is non-binding. While most schools will back off a player and stop recruiting him once he gives a verbal commitment to another school, not all do, which tends to annoy the coach who got the verbal commitment. Verbal commitments can come very early in the process or just before the official signing periods. Coaches, of course, love getting early verbal commitments.

Core Courses - Courses required to be completed in order to satisfy academic eligibility requirements. Not all classes taken in high school meet the requirements of a "Core Course."

Grayshirt - A term used in the recruiting process to describe situations in which a student-athlete delays initial enrollment in a collegiate institution to the winter or spring term after the traditional academic year begins. Students who 'grayshirt' often use the fall to take classes part time or choose not to enroll in college at all.

Prep School/Military Academy - If a prospect does not graduate from high school in four years he can enroll in a fifth year of high school at a preparatory school or military academy. The prospect's high school GPA is locked and can only be improved by retaking courses. A prospect does not lose college eligibility while competing for a prep school or military academy, but will be considered a non- or partial-qualifier when enrolling at an NCAA institution.

Recruiting Calendar - College coaches are limited at times during the year in how often and in what way they may contact or evaluate prospects.

Redshirt - A student-athlete who does not participate in competition in a sport for an entire academic year. If you do not compete in a sport the entire academic year, you have not used a season of competition. For example, if you are a qualifier, and you attend a four-year college your freshman year, and you practice but do not compete against outside competition, you would still have the next four years to play four seasons of competition.

Visits - Prospects' visits to a college campus are divided into official and unofficial visits.

Official Visit - Any visit to a college campus by a prospect and his parents paid for by the college. The college may pay for transportation to the campus, a room and three meals per day, "reasonable" entertainment expenses. Prospects can make up to five official visits to different campuses.

Unofficial Visit - Any visit by a prospect and his parents to a college campus paid for by the prospect or his family. The only expense a prospect may receive from the college is three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest. Prospects can take an unlimited amount of unofficial visits at any time. The only time prospects cannot talk with a coach during an unofficial visit is during a dead period.

Walk-on - Any athlete who participates on an athletic team without an athletic scholarship is considered a walk on. Walk-ons are not permitted to sign a National Letter of Intent. A "preferred walk-on" is assured a spot on the team, but the athlete is not offered a scholarship.