NCAA and CHSAA Eligibility Center

In response to the NCAA membership's concerns about amateurism issues related to both international and domestic prospective student-athletes, President Myles Brand has authorized the creation of a centralized amateurism certification process.

The NCAA Eligibility Center will include an amateurism certification section that will be used to determine the amateur status of domestic and international freshman and transfer prospective student-athletes initially enrolling at NCAA Divisions I and II member institutions on or after August 1, 2007.  

Note:  In NCAA Division III, certification of an individual's amateurism status is completed by each institution.  For more information on Division III amateurism rules, click here.

During the fall 2006, prospects will begin completing the amateurism section when they register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.

Registering with the NCAA Elgibility Center

Prospective student-athletes may register with the NCAA Eligibility Center via the Internet at the beginning of their junior year in high school.  As part of the amateurism certification process, each prospect will be asked to answer several questions regarding his or her sports participation history.  Early registration with the NCAA Eligibility Center and the completion of the athletics participation questions will allow institutions to have preliminary information regarding a prospect's amateurism status, which will promote consistency in the recruiting process.  Final certifications of amateur status will occur at the end of the prospective student-athlete's senior year of high school or approximately two to three months prior to initial full-time enrollment at an NCAA Division I or II institution.

Certification of NCAA Divisions I and II Amateurism Rules

Amateurism certification will not cover

all areas of NCAA Bylaw 12.  Institutions will be responsible for determining the amateur status of prospective student-athletes for the areas of the amateurism bylaws not covered by the amateurism certification process. In addition, institutions will be responsible for certifying compliance for all amateurism bylaws during the time period between the student-athlete's request for final amateurism certification and his or her initial enrollment at an NCAA institution. 

Selected amateurism rules to be certified by amateurism certification include: 

• Contracts with a professional team (Division I)
  
• Salary for participating in athletics (Division I)
  
• Prize money above actual and necessary expenses (Division I)
  
• Play with professionals (Division I)
  
• Tryouts, practice or competition with a professional team (Division I)
  
• Benefits from an agent or prospective agent (Divisions I and II)
  
• Agreement to be represented by an agent (Divisions I and II)
  
• Organized-competition rule (Divisions I and II)

1. Is a member of a recognized professional sports organization;
2. Is directly supported or sponsored by a professional team or professional sports organization;
3. Is a member of a playing league that is directly supported or sponsored by a professional team or professional sports organization; or
4. Has an athlete receiving for his or her participation any kind of payment, directly or indirectly, from a professional team or professional sports organization.

1. Uses his or her athletics skill (directly or indirectly) for pay in any form in that sport;
2. Accepts a promise of pay even if such pay is to be received following completion of intercollegiate athletics participation;
3. Signs a contract or commitment of any kind to play professional athletics, regardless of it's legal enforceability or any consideration received;
4. Receives, directly or indirectly, a salary, reimbursement of expenses or any other form of financial assistance from a professional sports organization based upon athletics skill orparticipation, except as permitted by NCAA rules and regulations;
5. Competes on any professional athletics team and knows (or had reason to know) that the team is a professional athletics team (per 12.02.5 ), even if no pay or remuneration for expenses was received; or
6. Enters into a professional draft or an agreement with an agent or other entity to negotiate a professional contract. (See 12.2.4.2.1 for exception related to the professional basketball draft.)

CHSAA (Colorado High School Athletic Association) Amateur Standing

ARTICLE 20
AMATEUR STANDING

(a) Having knowingly participated in competition with professionals either as a member of a team, some of whom are professionals, or against a team composed all or in part of professionals. (Note: As per NCAA and National Federation guidelines, a professional is defined as an individual who is under a professional contract at that point in time.)

(b) Having competed for money in any athletic activity.

1. It is permissible for a player to accept necessary meals, lodging, and transportation if such are accepted in service rather than in money or any other material form.

2. Competing for a cash prize is interpreted as competing either as an individual or as a member of a team for cash award. It matters not whether the amount awarded as a cash prize is sufficient to cover expenses. Students who compete as members of teams in sports sanctioned by the CHSAA where cash or other prizes of intrinsic value are offered or awarded are ineligible for further high school competition.

3. Students may not accept merchandise prizes given because of their athletic ability. To do so is a violation of this amateur rule.

(c) Having competed under an assumed name in any athletic activity.

(d) Having accepted an award in non-school athletic activities which he/she has converted into cash by sale or by pawning.

(e) Having signed a professional athletic contract.

2000.14 If a student participates in a CHSAA approved sport, in other than CHSAA competition at any time during the calendar year, the student’s amateur status is determined by the rules of the amateur governing body of that sport.