A prospective student-athlete is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective student-athlete if the institution provides such an individual (or the individual’s relatives or friends) any financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students generally. An individual remains a prospective student-athlete until one of the following occurs (whichever occurs earlier):
a. The individual officially registers and enrolls in a minimum full-time program of studies and attends classes in any term of a four-year collegiate institution’s regular academic year (excluding summer); or
b. The individual participates in a regular squad practice of competition at a four-year collegiate institution.
A “representative of the institution’s athletics interests” is an individual who is known (or who should have been known) by a member of the institution’s executive or athletics administration to:
a. Have participated in or to be a member of an agency or organization promoting the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program;
b. Have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of that institution;
c. Be assisting or to have been requested (by the athletics department staff) to assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes;
d. Be assisting or to have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families; or
e. Have been involved otherwise in promoting the institution’s athletics program.
CAMPUS VISITS
Official Visits (NCAA Division III Bylaw 13.6)
•Each institution is permitted to finance the expenses of one visit per prospect.
•There are restricted allowances on transportation, meals, lodging and entertainment.
•These visits can take place beginning with the opening day of classes for the prospect’s senior year.
•An additional paid visit would be permitted beginning October 15 after the prospect’s completion of high school (which is typically used by two-and four-year college prospects).
Unofficial Visits (Bylaw 13.7)
•A prospect may visit a member institution’s campus at his or her own expense an unlimited number of times.
•There are no restrictions on the timing of these visits.
COMMUNICATIONS
Recruiting Materials and Letters (Bylaw 13.4.1)
•There are no restrictions on the timing of providing recruiting materials or letters to prospects.
•Institutions are permitted to provide any official academic, admissions, athletics and student-services publications or videotapes published or produced by the institution and other information of a general nature that is available to all students.
Telephone Calls (Bylaw 13.02.8)
•There are no restrictions on the number or timing on telephone calls to prospects.E-mails or Facsimiles (Bylaw 13.02.10)
•There are no restrictions on the number or timing for sending e-mails and facsimiles to prospects.
Text Messages / Instant Messenger / Social Networking Sites (Bylaw 13.02.10)
•The use of text messaging, instant messaging or social networking Web sites by, or on behalf of, a member of the institution's athletics department staff for the purpose of recruitment of prospects is prohibited. It is permissible for athletics departments to use these services for dissemination of general athletics information to a public group that may include prospective student-athletes provided the information sent is the same for all members of the group and the members are able to opt out of the group or service at any time.
CONTACTS
Contacts (Bylaw 13.02.2)
•There are no restrictions on the number of off-campus contacts.
•Off-campus contacts are not permitted until the conclusion of the prospect’s junior year of high school.
•Please note contact restrictions at practice and competition sites per Bylaw 13.1.4.
Evaluations(Bylaw 13.1.5)
•There are no restrictions on the number or timing on the observation of a prospect participating in practice or competition.
Four-Year College Prospects (Bylaw 13.1.1.2)
•Athletics recruitment of any type of an NCAA or NAIA four-year college student-athlete is not permitted without first obtaining written permission from the student’s current institution to do so, regardless of who makes the initial contact. A student-athlete transferring from a Division III institution to another Division III institution can sign the self-release form for proper permission.