PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETE
A prospect is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. In addition, any student becomes a prospect if the institution provides any benefit not available to general prospective students regardless of whether he/she has started classes for the ninth grade or not.
RECRUITED STUDENT-ATHLETE
Prospective student-athletes [PSA's] are considered "recruited" by MC Staff members or Athletics representatives if any of the following occur:
- provides a PSA with an official visit;
- having an arranged, in-person, off-campus contact with a PSA or the PSA's relatives and/or legal guardian(s);
- initiating or arranging a telephone contact on more than one occasion for the purpose of recruitment with the PSA or the PSA's relatives and/or legal guardian(s);
- offering an institution's written offer of athletic related aid has been issued to a PSA.
WALK-ON STUDENT-ATHLETE
Prospective student-athletes are considered as a "walk-on" if he/she does not receive athletic related financial aid. A walk-on student-athlete may receive other institutional, academic or federal financial aid to assist with school expenses.
RECRUITING GUIDELINES
The NCAA strictly regulates when and how athletic department staff members can contact prospective student-athletes. As mentioned earlier, once you start classes for the ninth grade, you become a prospect student-athlete and Mississippi College coaches are restricted by NCAA rules as to when, where and how they may contact you. There may be some circumstances that prohibit them from speaking to you, responding to you or coming to watch you play. It is important that if you make initial contact with a Mississippi College coach or staff member that you identify not only your name, but your age/grade level as well. This will allow the coach to determine when and in what manner he/she can respond to you.
PHONE CALLS
Prospective student-athletes and/or parents or legal guardians may be contacted by telephone on or after June 15 immediately preceding your junior year. Currently enrolled student-athlete's may make phone calls to prospective student-athletes ONLY if he/she has NOT been directed to do so by a member of the athletic coach or staff member.
CONTACTS
Any face-to-face, off campus encounter during which dialogue occurs in excess of a greeting. Contacts may begin on or after June 15 immediately preceding your junior year.
EVALUATIONS
Any off-campus activity designed to assess athletic ability and/or academic status
TRYOUTS
Division II institutions may conduct a tryout only on its campus or at a site at which it normally conducts practice or competition. One tryout per prospect per sport on its campus, not to exceed two hours in length (except Golf = 5hours) beginning with June 15 prior to the PSAs junior year in high school. An additional tryout may occur during the period after high school graduation if the PSA has not signed or enrolled with any institution.
Other tryout guidelines are as follows:
- High School Athletes and 2-year transfers may tryout at anytime.
- 4-year transfers may tryout at the conclusion of the sports season ONLY IF the student-athlete has been entered into the NCAA Transfer Portal by the institution the PSA currently attends. (unless the student has not been enrolled at their last institution for one full academic year)
Prior to participation in a tryout, a prospective student-athlete is required to:
- Undergo a medical examination or evaluation administered or supervised by a physician (e.g.; family physician, team physician). This examination must be completed within one year prior to participation in the tryout.
- Documented results of Sickle Cell Solubility Test
- Signed Assumption of Risk waiver for Mississippi College
COMPLIMENTARY ADMISSION TO HOME GAME EVENTS
The institution may provide complimentary admissions to a regular season, home athletics event for the exclusive use of the PSA and those persons accompanying the PSA on the visit and must be issued on an individual game-by-game basis. Complimentary admission grants access into the competition in general admission seating areas. Otherwise, special seating cannot be provided to PSA's and/or family in the bench areas when visiting campus.
UNOFFICIAL VISIT
A prospective student-athlete may make a visit prior to June 15th immediately preceding the junior year in high school, and may make an unlimited number of visits to the institution, as long as the visit is made at the prospect's own expense.
OFFICIAL VISITS
An institution may provide one paid visit to a prospective student-athlete at the expense of the institution on or after June 15 immediately preceding a PSA's junior year of high school. The visit cannot last longer than 48 hours. The 48 hour clock begins once the PSA arrives on campus and ends once the PSA has departed campus. An institution may finance one additional visit after a new head coach is hired.
Requirements for an official visit:
* PSA must provide the college with an academic transcript prior to the visit.
* PSA must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center
* PSA must be placed on Mississippi College's Institutional Request List (IRL) with the eligibility center.
Official visit expenses:
- Meals, lodging, and admission to campus events may be provided to a prospect and parent(s)
- Institutions may pay the actual round-trip cost of the PSA's visit to campus as long as the PSA is not coming to campus to participate in a camp or clinic. When a PSA travels by automobile, the institution may pay round-trip expenses to their friend, coach, relative or legal guardians at the institutions at the same rate for employees.
- Additionally, an institution's certified coach may transport the PSA, friends, relatives or legal guardians to campus for the purpose of the official visit.
NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER
All incoming freshmen are required to have his/her initial eligibility and amateurism status certified through the NCAA Eligibility Center. Visit the link above for more information about when you should start this process and how it works. See your guidance counselor for forms, to request transcript uploads and to address "fee issues".
Two Year & Four Year Transfers should consult with the Compliance Office as to what is needed upon enrolling.
Watch to learn "How to Request Final Amateurism"
ATHLETIC RELATED GRANT-IN-AID [GIA]
The Athletic Related Grant-In-Aid is the scholarship document that formally offers the institution's athletic financial aid to the student.
INITIAL FRESHMAN ELIGIBILITY
Refer to the Guide for the NCAA College Bound Student-Athlete for specific academic requirements.
TRANSFER STUDENT ELIGIBILITY
Two Year Transfers click here
Four Year Transfers click here
FORMS
