Compliance: Prospective Student-Athletes and Parents

Section PSA and Parents

A prospective student-athlete is any student who: has started classes for the 9th grade; is a student younger than the 9th grade who has received a benefit from Union University; is a student in a preparatory school or 2-year college; OR is a student at a 4-year institution who has been issued a release by his/her university.

You become a "recruited" prospective student-athlete at Union University if any coach or representative of the University's athletics interests (i.e. "booster") does any of the following:

    · Provides you with an official visit to Union University
    · Contacts you or your family member on more than one occasion
    · Meets with you or a family member anywhere off-campus

NCAA Recruiting Rules
The NCAA strictly regulates when and how coaches and athletic department staff members can contact prospective student-athletes. Depending on the circumstances, they may not always be able speak to you or get back to you via phone or email. When contacting a coach or administrator, ALWAYS leave a detailed message that includes your age, grade level and school. This will help the coach/administrator determine whether he/she is allowed to have contact with you. The NCAA has a helpful Division II Recruiting Guide with important definitions and a DII recruiting timeline to help you understand some of these rules. Please note, recruiting contact rules are different across Divisions I and II and III.

See FAQs below for answers to some of the most frequently asked recruiting questions.

NCAA Initial Eligibility Standards
Incoming freshmen must meet certain academic standards to be considered eligible at Union University. These NCAA eligibility standards are separate from the admissions standards you must meet to be considered for admission to Union University. Divisions I and II have different eligibility standards so check in early to make sure you are on track to meeting NCAA Eligibility Standards.

Transfer Student Eligibility
Prospective student-athletes who wish to transfer to Union University are subject to Division II transfer eligibility rules. The rules are different depending on whether you are transferring from a 2-year junior college or a 4-year institution. For an overview of transfer eligibility rules, please reference the NCAA's Transfer Guide. If you are a student currently at another 4-year NCAA or NAIA school, OR if you have been enrolled at another 4-year institution in the last year, Union University coaches and administrators are not allowed to have any contact with you unless you have a release (also known as permission to contact) from your 4-year institution. To obtain a release, you will need to contact the athletics department at your current or former 4-year institution. Once you have your release, please email (cbenefield@uu.edu) or fax (731.661.5182) it to Pam Harrison, Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance. Once we have the release, Union University coaches and administrators can have contact with you.

NCAA Eligibility Center
All incoming student-athletes are required to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and submit certain information. The Eligibility Center evaluates both the academic and amateur status of all incoming student-athletes. Register and complete your assigned tasks as early as possible to avoid delays.

FAQs
Q: What is an official visit?
A: Any visit to a college campus where the institution pays for part or all of your expenses. You are only allowed to make one official visit per institution during your senior year of high school.

Q: What is an unofficial visit?
A: An unofficial visit is any visit to a college that is not paid for by the institution. Unlike with official visits, you are allowed to take as many unofficial visits to a school as you like AND you can go on an unofficial visit at any age.

Q: When is the first opportunity a Union University coach may communicate with me?
A: Union University coaches may contact a prospective student-athlete and/or a family member June 15 prior to your junior year in high school. There are different rules for different means of communication. The NCAA's Division II Recruiting Guideline will give you a complete breakdown of when and how Union University coaches can have contact with you and your parents. Remember recruiting rules are different for Divisions I, II and III.

Q: When can I start calling a Union University coach? When can I start emailing them?
A: Prospective student-athletes and their parents may call a Union University coach at any time. If the coach answers the call, he/she is free to talk to you. However, if you leave a message, NCAA rules may not allow the coach to return your call. Similar to phone calls, you can always email a Union University coach. However, unless you've reached June 15 prior your junior year in high school, the coach is not allowed to email you back except to explain the NCAA contact rules. Remember, if you are a student at another 4-year institution and are attempting to contact a Union University coach or administrator, you must have been issued a release from the athletic department.

Additional Resources
NCAA Eligibility Center
NCAA College Bound Student-Athlete
NCAA Freshmen Eligibility Standards
NCAA 2-Year Transfer Guide
NCAA 4-Year Transfer Guide
FAQ - International College-Bound Student-Athletes
FAQ - Academic Eligibility
FAQ - Amateurism Certification Process
Division II Recruiting Guideline
Division II Eligibility Toolkit
Union University Admissions
Tryout Sickle Cell Form

Recruiting Forms for Prospective Student-Athletes