Getting your academic and amateurism status certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center

The establishment of the NCAA Eligibility Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, was first announced by Dr. Myles Brand, president of the NCAA, in January 2007. Succeeding the current NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse in Iowa City, Iowa, the eligibility center will certify the academic and amateur credentials of all college-bound student-athletes who wish to compete in NCAA Division I or II athletics.

To assist with this process, the eligibility center staff is eager to foster a cooperative environment of education and partnership with high schools, high school coaches and college-bound student-athletes. NCAA regulations are set by NCAA colleges and universities and require all incoming student-athletes to meet a prescribed level of academic performance while maintaining their amateur status before entering college. The eligibility center will collect data from high schools, sport-sanctioning bodies and, most importantly, high school student-athletes in order to make eligibility decisions. Ultimately, the individual student-athlete is responsible for achieving and protecting his or her eligibility status.

If you plan to participate in intercollegiate athletics at an NCAA Division I or II institution in fall 2007 or thereafter, you must have both your academic and amateurism status certified by the eligibility center before representing the institution in competition.

When you register with the eligibility center, you will be asked about benefits and activities that might impact your status as an amateur. The information you provide about your athletics participation will be reviewed and a determination will be made as to whether your amateurism status should be certified or if a penalty should be assessed before certification. If a penalty is assessed, you will have an opportunity to appeal the decision.

The following precollegiate enrollment activities will be reviewed:

1. Contracts with a professional team.
2. Salary for participating in athletics.
3. Prize money.
4. Play with professionals.
5. Tryouts, practice or competition with a professional team.
6. Benefits from an agent or prospective agent.
7. Agreement to be represented by an agent.
8. Delayed initial full-time collegiate enrollment to participate in organized sports competition.

Additional information regarding NCAA amateurism rules is available on the eligibility center's resource page (by logging on to NCAA.org and clicking on "Information for College-Bound Student-Athletes" in the "My Links" section on the right-hand side of the page).