Compliance Question Of The Week - Indiana University Athletics

Compliance Question Of The Week
For the week of: May 30, 2006

Question:

What are the rules regarding tryouts with a professional team after enrollment?

Answer:

Pursuant to NCAA Division I Bylaw 12.2.1.2 (tryout after enrollment), it is not permissible for an enrolled (full-time) student-athlete with remaining eligibility to participate in a professional tryout (or permit a professional athletics team to conduct medical examinations) during the academic year, regardless of the location of the tryout. As set forth in NCAA Division I Bylaw 12.2.1.4 (professional team representative at college practice), a professional representative can evaluate an enrolled student-athlete participating in an institution's regular practice session, a physical education class, or out-of-season conditioning or skill instruction workouts during the academic year, provided the activities observed are a normal part of, and take place during, a regular practice session, class or conditioning session.

It is permissible for a professional team to conduct a tryout with an enrolled student-athlete on the institution's campus during the summer vacation period, provided the student-athlete does not receive any expenses (e.g., travel, room or board) in conjunction with the tryout. In addition, it would be permissible for the institution to reserve a facility for the student-athlete to participate in the summer tryout; however, NCAA Bylaw 17 restrictions would prohibit coaching staff members from being present at such tryout sessions. It would be permissible for a student-athlete's family members to be present during the tryout as well as other individuals associated with the student-athlete, as long as those individuals are not agents or acting on behalf of agents. [NCAA Ed. Col. 05-11-06]

Furthermore, a student-athlete may try out with a professional organization in a sport in the summer or during the academic year while not a full-time student, provided the student-athlete does not receive any form of expenses or other compensation from the professional organization. A student-athlete using the pre-draft basketball camp exception set forth in Bylaw 12.2.4.2.1 may participate in a predraft camp sponsored by a professional sports organization (during the summer or academic year), provided the student-athlete has received written permission from the institution's director of athletics. If written permission is received, a basketball student-athlete may accept actual and necessary travel, and room and board expenses from a professional sports organization to attend that organization's predraft basketball camp.

Finally, a single scouting bureau recognized by a professional league is permitted to conduct one medical examination per student-athlete during the academic year without jeopardizing the student-ahtlete's eligibility in that sport, provided the examination does not occur off campus. [12.1.1.4.9, 12.2.1.2. 12.2.1.2.1, 14.7.3.2-(e), and 16.10.1.9]