2012 Final Academic Certification Season Begins June 11!
As a reminder, an official final transcript including proof of graduation must be submitted for each student. Also, faxed transcripts are not acceptable. The earlier the official final high school transcript is received at the NCAA Eligibility Center, the quicker the final academic certification will be evaluated.
For any International prospective student-athletes, please remember that the timing of getting a case “Ready to Process” is critical for final academic certification. Please check the Member Institution Portal to see what documents are outstanding or contact the International academic certification department if you have any questions.
Also, please remember, if a prospective student-athlete is receiving an athletics grant-in-aid and that aid is stated as representing the proof of financial ability to pay on the I-20 Form for issuing an F-1 Student Visa, a member institution should never issue an I-20 until after the NCAA Eligibility Center has released the final academic certification qualifier decision or following an approved initial eligibility waiver (IEW) decision. If an I-20 is issued prior to a final academic certification or represents that an athletics grant-in-aid is the source of financial ability for a nonqualifier, then the I-20 Form is in noncompliance with federal law and subject to investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of Homeland Security. Please take any and all appropriate steps to ensure this does not occur.
The most Compliant Man knows that it is important to report any potential or actual violations to your athletics compliance office as soon as possible. Many violations are small like parking tickets. But like parking tickets…a small violation gone unreported can turn into a much large violation.
So stay compliant my friends…and contact with compliance if you think there is an issue.
Anyone who as read an AGA memo regarding this topic will find much of this information familiar. So please do not think I am the original author for much of this information…I am just someone with some solid “cut-and-paste” skills. This is good information for every student-athlete, parent, coach, and administrator to review.
Points to Remember:
You will lose your eligibility IF:
1. You agree orally or in writing to be represented by an agent or any individual acting on behalf of the agent [e.g., runner].
2. You agree orally or in writing to be represented by an agent or individual acting on behalf of the agent…for future representation (e.g., You agree that an individual will represent you after your eligibility is exhausted).
Make the agreement after your eligibility has been exhausted…not before!
3. You (or any of your relatives or friends) accept any benefits from an agent, a prospective agent or any individual acting on behalf of the agent [e.g., runner]. These benefits include but are not limited to transportation, money, and gifts regardless of the value of the benefit or whether it was used.
4. If an advisor markets your athletic ability or reputation to a professional team on your behalf.
5. If you use an advisor throughout the process and do not pay the going rate for the advising services.
6. You tryout with a professional team during the academic year and miss class.
7. You participate in a tryout with an NFL team that lasts longer than 48 hours, which you have not personally financed.
8. If you enter the draft AND do not take the appropriate steps to withdraw and declare your intention to resume intercollegiate participation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Agents/Advisors
1. What is the National Football League Player’s Association (NFLPA) rule regarding agent contact?
NEW NFLPA AGENT RULE: Only an NLFPA certified agent may speak with players and such contact may occur at any time. All other individuals or representatives or persons affiliated with an NFLPA certified agent, including “runners”/recruiters, financial advisors and marketing representatives are prohibited from speaking to individual prospective players or presenting to groups of prospective players.
2. What is an “agent” according to NCAA rules?
An agent is any individual who, directly or indirectly:
(a) Represents or attempts to represent an individual for the purpose of marketing his or her athletics ability or reputation for financial gain; or
(b) Seeks to obtain any type of financial gain or benefit from securing a prospective student-athlete’s enrollment at an educational institution or from a student-athlete’s potential earnings as a professional athlete.
Examples: contact NFL teams to discuss your skills, set up tryouts with NFL teams
An agent may include, but is not limited to, a certified contract advisor, financial advisor, marketing representative, brand manager or anyone who is employed or associated with such persons. The definition of an “agent” is not intended to include parents or legal guardians, athletics department staff members, former teammates or those individuals who have the best interest of a prospective student-athlete or student-athlete in mind in providing assistance or information, provided they do not intend to receive a financial gain for assistance.
3. What is a runner?
A runner is any individual who works on behalf of an agent or agency. Runners are hired to develop relationships with and provide benefits to student-athletes or their family members in order influence a student-athlete’s choice of agent. Runners will live in and around your college campus, your family’s hometown, or any location where they have access to you. They can be anyone! Examples of runners that our office has heard of or encountered in the past include:
- Former Purdue Student-Athletes/Teammates
- Current or former professional athletes players
- Your former high school or club coach
- Student-athletes’ classmates
- Student-athletes’ roommates
- Student-athletes’ boyfriend or girlfriend
If any of your acquaintances talk to you (or any of your relatives or friends) about specific agents, chances are they are working on behalf of that agent! Be cautious of accepting any benefit (e.g. transportation, meal) from these individuals as it will jeopardize your eligibility.
4. Am I allowed to have any type of agreement with an agent?
NO! You are not permitted to have a written or oral agreement with an agent, or anyone who is employed by or acting on behalf of an agent or sports agency (i.e., “runner”).
5. What is an “oral agreement” with an agent?
An oral agreement occurs if you verbally agree to have an agent perform any services (e.g., providing any expenses related to tryouts, arranging disability insurance, etc.) on your behalf OR you have knowledge that an agent is performing such services.
6. Is an agent allowed to contact teams on my behalf to arrange private workouts or tryouts?
NO! You cannot have an agent arrange a private workout/tryout with a professional team. Remember, if you do not have knowledge of who arranged a tryout, you have a responsibility to find out who did.
7. What is an “advisor” according to NCAA rules?
The term “advisor” is not defined in the NCAA Manual, but rather is a term that has been adopted by some, in part, to suggest compliance with NCAA agent legislation. You must remember that the label an individual places on himself or herself is irrelevant to the NCAA’s agent determination. An advisor that engages in the impermissible activities outlined in this memorandum on your behalf is an agent under NCAA legislation and your association with that person could jeopardize your eligibility.
8. How is an agent different than a financial advisor?
Agents negotiate professional contracts; financial advisors simply aid an individual in investing their money. Although they perform separate services, both have an interest in representing a student-athlete because both can profit off of his earnings potential. NCAA rules do not permit agents OR financial advisors to provide any benefits to current student-athletes.
9. Am I permitted to have an advisor during this process?
YES, provided the advisor does not market you to NFL teams. In order to maintain your eligibility at an NCAA school, however, you may not use this advisor as a link between you and the professional sports team. An advisor will be considered an agent if they contact teams on your behalf to arrange private workouts or tryouts.
If you receive assistance from an advisor, you must compensate the advisor in an amount equal to the value of the services he or she provides you; furthermore, you may not receive such services at a free or reduced rate without jeopardizing your eligibility, regardless of whether the advisor does not typically charge clients for such services.
10. Am I required to pay for the services that my advisor provides for me?
YES! In order to maintain your eligibility at an NCAA school, if you receive assistance from an advisor, you will be required to pay that advisor at his or her normal rate for such services. You may not receive such services at a free or reduced rate without jeopardizing your eligibility, regardless of whether the advisor does not typically charge clients for such services.
11. Is an agent or advisor allowed to contact teams on my behalf?
NO! You cannot allow an agent or advisor to have conversations with NFL clubs on your behalf. This means that an agent or advisor cannot discuss your draft status with any club. An agent or advisor cannot discuss your signability with any club. An agent or advisor cannot arrange tryouts for you with any club.
12. Can my family members or other individuals who are associated with me as a result of playing football (e.g., high school coach, 7-on-7 coach, etc.) have an agreement with an agent to perform services on my behalf?
NO! Family members and other individuals are not permitted to enter into any agreements with an agent on your behalf.
13. Am I allowed to have an agreement with an agent if it is for future representation?
NO! You are not permitted to agree to a future representation agreement with an agent.
14. Is an agent allowed to provide me any benefits?
NO! You, your family, or your friends are not permitted to receive any benefits from an agent. Examples of material benefits include money, transportation, dinner, clothes, cell phones, jewelry, etc. However, benefits may also include, but are not limited to, activities such as tryout arrangements with a professional team and coordinating tryout schedules.
15. May a sports agent or booster play a role in securing a loan to pay for disability insurance?
NO! Do not allow a third party (including a sports agent, your institution’s athletics department staff members or boosters) to be involved in any arrangement for securing a loan to pay for disability insurance. However, an institution’s president or chancellor (or his or her designated representative from outside the department of athletics) may designate an institutional staff member (or staff members) to assist you with arrangements for securing the loan and insurance.
16. Can an institution cancel my athletics scholarship if I have an agreement with an agent?
YES! An institution is permitted to rescind your athletics scholarship if you have an agreement with an agent.
Helpful Tips:
- Keep your Head Coach and the Athletics Compliance Office informed of all activities during this process. If we are aware of an interaction between an athlete agent (or advisor) and a student-athlete then we will be able to document that nothing impermissible occurred…thus protecting the student-athlete’s eligibility.
- Be careful who you associate with during this process. Do it all yourself or work through your head coach. You may receive the assistance of your family members, provided they are not working with any individual who is marketing your athletics ability (e.g., contacting professional teams, setting up tryouts with professional teams).
- If applicable, you should remain in school and complete your academic courses while you weigh your options of pursuing a potential professional football career.
- Check with your compliance office regarding your institutions AND your state’s Agent/Advisor Registration program and requirements.
- Athlete agents should receive permission from the director of athletics or their designee (Head Coach or compliance staff) prior to contacting a student-athlete.
- Athlete agents should also provide copies of all correspondence between the athlete agent and a student-athlete to the director of athletics (or the Athletics Compliance Office).
- Contact the Athletics Compliance Office or your coaches if you have questions about protecting your eligibility, including agents, advisors, tryouts, professional drafts, or issues with endorsement deals.
Here is a link to an informative article regarding how recent recruiting rule changes in Men’s Basketball will impact prospects/recruits:
NCAA rule change could accelerate college hoops recruiting process via SI.com
Please click the link below for a summary of the recruiting rules for men’s basketball as well as text and color versions of the recruiting calendar.
MBB Rec Guide and Calendars 2012-13
Recruiting is a lot like dating/courtship…two parties trying to figure out if they are “a fit” … “a match.” People who like to be called everyday will match-up with others who like to call everyday. The converse should also be true. One thing is for sure, prospects will continue to call the shots during their recruitment including their preferred method and frequency of communication.
Here is a link to an article on NCAA.org that address some of the myths and legends about transfer legislation.
Another helpful reference tool is the NCAA Transfer Guide (see link below). This handy-dandy guide was my go-to document when explaining the transfer rules to concerned and confused student-athletes and parents.
Boiler Bylaws 