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INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETES

Who Is A Prospective Student-Athlete?

A prospective student-athlete is defined as an athlete who has begun classes for the ninth grade. However, it is possible for a younger student to be considered a prospect if the University (or a representative of its athletic interests) provides the student (or family member) benefits not provided to prospects generally. A prospective student-athlete remains a prospect even after he or she has signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) or accepts an offer of financial aid to attend Nicholls State University. Also, the prospective student-athlete remains a prospect until he or she reports for the first day of practice or enrolls as a full-time student in a regular term (fall or spring).

What Is Considered "Being Recruited?"

A prospect is considered recruited if a coach, staff member, or representative of the University's athletic interest (booster) attempts to persuade a prospect (or family member) to enroll at Nicholls and participate in the athletics program. A student is considered "recruited" if any of the following actions are taken: 1.) the University provides the prospect with an "official visit" (i.e., expenses paid) to its campus; 2.) a coach arranges for an in-person, off-campus (home or prospect's school) encounter with the prospect; 3.) transportation to campus by a coach or booster; 4.) receiving more than one telephone call from a coach for recruiting purposes.

Prospects considered "recruited," but who do not receive an athletic scholarship (walk-on), may not be able to accept non-athletic scholarships from alumni groups if the prospect intends to participate on an intercollegiate athletic team. Under NCAA rules, such aid counts against the institution's athletic scholarship limits. Scholarships which are "portable" (can be used at any institution) are usually exempt.

What Should A Prospect Do During The Recruiting Process?

Prospects should register with the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse during their junior year in high school. The prospect's high school guidance counselor can provide the forms, or the prospect may call the NCAA Clearinghouse at (877) 262-1492 for an application. The NCAA publishes a brochure, "The Guide for the College Bound Student-Athlete," which may be obtained from the NCAA. You can also access the NCAA Clearinghouse via the Internet at http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net/ncaa/NCAA/common/index.html

Who May Contact A Prospect During The Recruiting Process?

All in-person, on and off-campus recruiting contacts with a prospect (or family) are limited to authorized University staff members or full-time enrolled students at Nicholls. All other persons are prohibited from engaging in any personal, telephone, or written contact with the prospect (or family) for the purpose of encouraging enrollment and participation in the University's athletics programs.

When May A Prospect Be Contacted By A Coach?

In all sports, except football, a prospect may not be contacted in-person, off-campus until July 1following their junior year in high school. The University is not permitted to make a telephone call until July 1 during the prospect's junior year in high school. There are exceptions in football and basketball for calls during the spring of the prospect's junior year. Prospects may not receive correspondence from Nicholls until their junior year in high school (Exception: Questionnaires and camp brochures may be sent prior to the junior year).

When May A Prospect Visit An Institution's Campus?

Prospects may visit the Nicholls campus at their own expense ("unofficial visit"), receive complimentary passes to an athletic contest, and have on-campus contact with coaches at anytime except during "dead periods." Check with the University for dates. There is no limit to the number of times a prospect may visit a campus at his/her own expense. Prospects may receive an expense paid visit ("official visit") only after they have begun classes for their senior year in high school (Exception: men's basketball - spring of junior year). Prospects are limited to a maximum of five official visits with no more than one per institution.

What to Ask

The following questions and information were developed by the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The committee urges prospective student-athletes to ask these types of questions during their recruitment.

What positions will I play on your team?

It's not always obvious.

Most coaches want to be flexible so that you are not disappointed.

Describe the other players competing at the same position.

If there is a former high-school all-American at that position, you may want to take that into consideration.

This will give you clues as to what year you might be a starter. Can I "redshirt" my first year?

Find out how common it is to redshirt and how that will affect graduation.

Does the school redshirt you if you are injured?

What are the physical requirements each year?

Philosophies of strength and conditioning vary by institution.

You may be required to maintain a certain weight.

How would you best describe your coaching style?

Every coach has a particular style that involves different motivational techniques and discipline.

You need to know if a coach's teaching style does not match your learning style.

What is the game plan?

For team sports, find out what kind of offense and defense is employed.

For individual sports, find out how you are seeded and how to qualify for conference and national championships.

When does the head coach's contract end?

Don't make any assumptions about how long a coach will be at a school.

If the coach is losing and the contract ends in two years, you may have a new coach.

Describe the preferred, invited and uninvited walk-on situation. How many make it, compete and earn a scholarship?

Different teams treat walk-ons differently.

How good is the department in my major?

Smaller colleges can have very highly rated departments.

A team's reputation is only one variable to consider.

What percentage of players on scholarship graduate in four years?

This will tell you about the quality of their commitment to academics.

The team's grade-point average also is a good indicator of the coach's commitment to academics.

Describe the typical class size.

At larger schools, classes are likely to be larger and taught by teaching assistants.

Average class size is important to the amount of attention you receive.

Describe in detail your academic support program. For example: Study-hall requirements, tutor availability, staff, class load, faculty cooperation.

This is imperative for marginal students.

Find a college that will take the 3.000 students and help them get a 3.500 GPA.

Describe the typical day for a student-athlete.

This will give you a good indication of how much time is spent in class, practice, studying and traveling.

It also will give you a good indication of what coaches expect.

What are the residence halls like?

Make sure you would feel comfortable in study areas, community bathrooms and laundry facilities.

Number of students in a room and coed dorms are other variables to consider.

Will I be required to live on campus throughout my athletics participation?

If the answer is yes, ask whether there are exceptions.

Apartment living may be better than dorm living.

How much financial aid is available for summer school?

There is no guarantee. Get a firm commitment.

You may need to lighten your normal load and go to summer school in order to graduate in four years. You can take graduate courses and maintain your eligibility.

What are the details of financial aid at your institution?

What does my scholarship cover?

What can I receive in addition to the scholarship and how do I get more aid?

How long does my scholarship last?

Most people think a "full ride" is good for four years.

Financial aid is available on a one-year renewable basis. If I'm injured, what happens to my financial aid?

A grant-in-aid is not guaranteed past a one-year period even for injuries.

It is important to know if a school has a commitment to assist student-athletes for more than a year after they have been injured.

What are my opportunities for employment while I'm a student?

Find out if you can be employed in-season, out-of-season or during vacation periods.

Warning For Those Considering Transferring To Nicholls State University

If you are a student-athlete who is currently enrolled at another four-year institution or if you were previously enrolled at another four-year institution in the last year (Division I, II, or III), NCAA rules prohibit Nicholls from having any type of communication with you, directly or indirectly, until that first institution grants Nicholls permission to contact you. Please contact the compliance office at your current or previous institution to obtain this permission.

What Would Happen If A Violation Occurred?

Restitution for receipt of improper benefits for violation of NCAA bylaw 13.2.2 in which the value of the offer is $25.00 or less, the eligibility of the prospect shall not be affected conditioned upon the individual repaying the value of the benefit to a charity of his or her choice. However, the individual will remain ineligible from the time the institution has knowledge of the receipt of the impermissible benefit until the individual repays the benefit.

Exceptions

Employment of Prospects: The arrangement of employment by the University for a prospect shall be permitted, provided the employment does not begin prior to the completion of the prospect's senior year in high school. For two-year college prospects, once a prospect has enrolled as a full-time student in a two-year college, the arrangement of employment by the University for such a prospect shall be permitted, provided the employment does not begin prior to the time period in which the prospect has officially withdrawn from or has completed requirements for graduation at the two-year college.

Transportation to a Summer Job: Nicholls or its representatives shall not provide transportation to and from a summer job unless the employer's established policy is to transport all employees to and from the job site.

Educational Loan: The arrangement of educational loans by Nicholls for a prospect shall be permitted, provided the loan is not made prior to the completion of the prospect's senior year in high school. When permitted, the educational loan must be from a regular lending agency, based on a regular repayment schedule.

Academic Support Services/Use of Training Room Facilities: A prospect who has signed a National Letter of Intent and is enrolled in the University's summer term prior to the student's initial, full-time collegiate enrollment may be provided academic support services by the University and also may utilize the University's training-room facilities.

Glossary, Terms, And Definitions

Contact: Any face-to-face encounter which is more than a greeting, between a prospect or their parents, relatives or legal guardian(s) and a University staff member or an athletics representative. A meeting that is prearranged or takes place at the prospect's school, competition site or practice site is considered a contact regardless of the conversation that occurs.

Evaluation: Any off-campus activity that assesses the academic qualifications or the athletic ability of a prospect. It includes any visit to a prospect's school (during which no contact with prospect occurs) or watching a practice or competition at any site where the prospect participates.

Contact Period: Period of time when it is permissible for authorized athletics department staff to make in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts and evaluations of a prospect.

Evaluation Period: Period of time when authorized athletics department staff may be involved in off-campus activities designed to assess the academic qualifications and athletic ability of prospects. No in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts shall be made with the prospect during an evaluation period.

Quiet Period: Period of time when it is permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts only on the institution's campus. No in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts or evaluations may be made during the quiet period.

Dead Period: Period of time when it is not permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts or evaluations on or off campus. In addition, there can be no official or unofficial visits to the campus by a prospect. However, it is permissible for a staff member to write or phone a prospect during this period.

Extra Benefit: Any special arrangement by either Nicholls or its representatives to provide a student-athlete, their friend, or their relative with any benefits not expressly authorized by the NCAA. A benefit is not considered a violation if it is one that is generally available to the students determined on a basis unrelated to athletic ability.

Full-Time Program: A student-athlete must be enrolled in not less than 12 semester hours during the time of competition. There are limited exceptions to this rule. Official Visit: A visit financed in whole or in part by Nicholls State University.

Unofficial Visit: A visit made at the prospect's own expense. Nicholls may provide only limited benefits to the prospect during his visit. These benefits include complimentary admissions to an on-campus athletics event in which the institution's team competes and transportation to view off-campus practice or competition sites within a 30-mile radius of the institution's campus when accompanied by a staff member. The provision of any other expenses or entertainment shall require the visit to become an official visit.

Initial Eligibility And The NCAA Clearinghouse

NCAA Initial Eligibility

2005-06 NCAA "Guide For The College-Bound Student-Athlete"