COMPLIANCE INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETES
Letter to Incoming Student-Athletes
A letter to incoming student-athletes.
Official Visits
An official visit is a visit that is financed in any way by the university. You may go on a total of five official
visits, with not more than one going to a particular school. An official visit may be made after the first day
of class for high school seniors, high school graduates, and two-year or four-year college transfers (except
non-qualifiers in their first year at a two-year college).
For a prospect to make an official visit to Utah State, he/she must provide:
- a copy of a high school or two-year college transcript
- for high school students, a copy of a PACT, ACT, PSAT, or SAT score from an official examination taken
on a national testing date under national testing conditions
An official visit will last 48 hours starting either when the prospect arrives on campus or when any kind of
entertainment occurs at any site (e.g. restaurant). A prospect's parents/legal guardians, spouse may
accompany the prospect on the visit. Utah State may provide them with lodging, meals, and
complimentary admissions to university events through a pass list. During the visit, the prospect and
those accompanying him/her may not have any contact with boosters or other non-staff representatives
of athletics interest.
Unofficial Visits
An unofficial visit is a visit that is completely financed by you, the prospective student athlete. An unofficial
visit is an ideal way for you to become acquainted with the university and coaches at a time that is convenient
for you. Unofficial visits may occur at any time except for a dead recruiting period. Please contact the
coaching staff of your particular sport if you would like to arrange for an unofficial visit. During an unofficial
visit, NCAA rules prohibit coaches from providing you with any transportation except to view university facilities.
Coaches also may not pay for any meals or entertainment.
Communication with Coaches
While coaches have to wait to a specific period of time toward the end of your high school years before they
may contact you by telephone, you may contact them at you own expense at any time.
Eligibility
For an explanation of general academic requirements to be eligible for NCAA competition please refer to the
Student Athlete Services website or the NCAA Eligibility Center.
Links
http://www.usu.edu/sas/
http://web1.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA.html
Amateurism
Any person that receives any kind of payment for athletics participation, except as specifically permitted by
the NCAA, is a professional athlete and is not eligible for intercollegiate competition.
For example, an individual jeopardizes his/her amateur status by:
• Accepting direct or indirect salary, gratuity or comparable compensation for the individual's participation
on a team;
• Accepting prize money or payment based on the individual's performance in competition;
• Receiving preferential treatment, benefits, or services because of the individual's athletics reputation or
skill (other than expressly authorized by NCAA rules); or
• Accepting expenses to participate in competition, except as expressly provided in NCAA amateurism
legislation.
Agents
Under NCAA rules, an individual loses amateur status if he/she agrees (verbally or in writing) to be represented
by an agent in the present or in the future for the purpose of marketing the student-athlete's athletics ability or
reputation. In addition, an individual is not permitted to accept transportation or other benefits from an agent.
The term "agent" includes actual agents, runners (individuals who befriend student-athletes and frequently
distribute impermissible benefits), and financial advisors.
It is not a violation of NCAA rules if an individual merely talks to an agent (as long as an agreement for agent
representation is not reached) or socializes with an agent (as long as the individual receives no tangible benefits).
For example, a football prospective student-athlete could go to dinner with an agent, provided the prospective
student-athlete provides his own transportation and pays for his own meal.
NCAA Eligibility Center
Utah State University and the NCAA have specific rules and policies for academic standards and requirements
so that you may be eligible to receive an athletic scholarship and compete at the collegiate level. You should
register with the NCAA Eligibility Center in order to be cleared as soon as possible.
Link: http://web1.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA.html
National Letter of Intent
This is a letter that you sign signifying your commitment to attend a university on an athletics scholarship.
Before signing the letter of intent, be sure to carefully read its contents. The letter will be declared null
and void in the event that its specific requirements are not met. Specifically, be sure that when you sign
the National Letter of Intent, that you are also signing an offer of financial aid from the university. Also,
if you are under the age of 21, regardless of your marital status, be sure to have your parent/guardian
sign the National Letter of Intent along with the offer of financial aid. A National Letter of Intent will not
be issued to those who are not offered financial aid.
Links:
www.national-letter.org
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