Division 1

12.2 INVOLVEMENT WITH PROFESSIONAL TEAMS

12.2.1 Tryouts

12.2.1.1 Tryout Before Enrollment

A student-athlete remains eligible in a sport even though, prior to enrollment in a collegiate institution, the student-athlete may have tried out with a professional athletics team in a sport or received not more than one expense-paid visit from each professional team (or a combine including that team), provided such a visit did not exceed 48 hours and any payment or compensation in connection with the visit was not in excess of actual and necessary expenses. A self-financed tryout may be for any length of time.

12.2.1.2 Tryout After Enrollment

A student-athlete shall not try out with a professional athletics team in a sport or permit a professional athletics team to conduct medical examinations during any part of the academic year (i.e., from the beginning of the fall term through completion of the spring term, including any intervening vacation period) while enrolled in a collegiate institution as a regular student in at least a minimum full-time academic load, unless the student-athlete has exhausted eligibility in that sport. The student-athlete may try out with a professional organization in a sport during 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. [see Bylaws 12.1.1.4.9, 14.7.3.2-(e) and 16.10.1.9 for information on pre-draft basketball camps.]  (Revised: 1/10/92, 4/24/03)

12.2.1.2.1 Medical-Examination Exception

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-athlete's eligibility in that sport, provided the examination does not occur off campus. (Adopted: 1/16/93)

12.2.1.3 Outside Competition Prohibited

During a tryout, an individual may not take part in any outside competition (games or scrimmages) as a representative of a professional team.

12.2.1.4 Professional Team Representative at College Practice

A tryout with a professional team is not considered to have occurred when a representative of a professional team visits a member institution during the academic year and evaluates a student-athlete while the institution is conducting a regular practice session, physical education class or off-season conditioning program session that includes physical activities (e.g., speed trials, agility tests, strength tests), provided these activities are normally a part of and take place during regular practice, class or conditioning sessions.

12.2.2 Practice Without Competition

An individual may participate in practice sessions conducted by a professional team, provided such participation meets the requirements of NCAA legislation governing tryouts with professional athletics teams (see Bylaw 12.2.1) and the individual does not:

(a) Receive any compensation for participation in the practice sessions;

(b) Enter into any contract or agreement with a professional team or sports organization; or

(c) Take part in any outside competition (games or scrimmages) as a representative of a professional team.

12.2.2.1 Prohibited Involvement of Institution's Coach

An institution's coaching staff member may not arrange for or direct student-athletes' participation in football or basketball practice sessions conducted by a professional team.

12.2.3 Competition

12.2.3.1 Competition against Professionals

An individual may participate singly or as a member of an amateur team against professional athletes.

12.2.3.2 Competition with Professionals

An individual shall not be eligible for intercollegiate athletics in a sport if the individual ever competed on a professional team (per Bylaw 12.02.4) in that sport. However, an individual may compete on a tennis, golf, two-person sand volleyball or two-person synchronized diving team with persons who are competing for cash or a comparable prize, provided the individual does not receive payment of any kind for such participation. (Revised: 1/9/96 effective 8/1/96, 1/14/97, 4/25/02 effective 8/1/02)

12.2.3.2.1 Professional Player as Team Member

An individual may participate with a professional on a team, provided the professional is not being paid by a professional team or league to play as a member of that team (e.g., summer basketball leagues with teams composed of both professional and amateur athletes).

12.2.3.2.2 Professional Coach or Referee

Participation on a team that includes a professional coach or referee does not cause the team to be classified as a professional team.

12.2.3.2.3 Amateur/Professional Leagues.

An individual may participate as a member of an amateur team in a league in which one or more teams are professional.

Division II

12.2 INVOLVEMENT WITH PROFESSIONAL TEAMS

12.2.1 Tryouts

12.2.1.1 Tryout after Enrollment

A student-athlete shall not try out with a professional athletics team in a sport or permit a professional athletics team to conduct medical examinations during any part of the academic year (i.e., from the beginning of the fall term through completion of the spring term, including any intervening-vacation period) while enrolled in a collegiate institution as a regular student in at least a minimum full-time academic load, unless the student-athlete has exhausted eligibility in that sport. The student-athlete may try out with a professional organization in a sport during 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. (Revised: 1/10/92)

12.2.1.1.1 Medical-Examination Exception

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-athlete's eligibility in that sport, provided the examination does not occur off campus. (Adopted: 1/16/93)

12.2.1.2 Outside Competition Prohibited

During a tryout, an individual may not take part in any outside competition (games or scrimmages) as a representative of a professional team.

12.2.1.3 Professional Team Representative at College Practice

A tryout with a professional team is not considered to have occurred when a representative of a professional team visits a member institution during the academic year and evaluates a student-athlete while the institution is conducting a regular practice session, physical education class or off-season conditioning program session that includes physical activities (e.g., speed trials, agility tests, strength tests), provided these activities are normally a part of and take place during regular practice, class or conditioning sessions.

12.2.2 Practice Without Competition

Subsequent to initial full-time collegiate enrollment, an individual may participate in practice sessions conducted by a professional team, provided such participation meets the requirements of NCAA legislation governing tryouts with professional athletics teams (see Bylaw 12.2.1) and the individual does not:

(a) Receive any compensation for participation in the practice sessions;

(b) Enter into any contract or agreement with a professional team or sports organization; or

(c) Take part in any outside competition (games or scrimmages) as a representative of a professional team.

12.2.2.1 Prohibited Involvement of Institution's Coach

An institution's coaching staff member may not arrange for or direct student-athletes' participation in football or basketball practice sessions conducted by a professional team.

12.2.3 Competition

12.2.3.1 Competition against Professionals

An individual may participate singly or as a member of an amateur team against professional athletes.

12.2.3.2 Competition with Professionals

Subsequent to initial full-time collegiate enrollment, an individual shall not be eligible for intercollegiate athletics in a sport, if the individual competed on a professional athletics team (per Bylaw 12.02.4) in that sport. However, an individual may compete on a tennis, golf, two-person sand volleyball or two-person synchronized diving team(s) with persons who are competing for cash or a comparable prize, provided the individual does not receive payment of any kind for such participation. (Revised: 1/9/96 effective 8/1/96, 1/14/97, 1/8/01 for those individuals first entering a collegiate institution on or after 8/1/01, 1/13/03)

12.2.3.2.1 Professional Player as Team Member

Subsequent to initial full-time collegiate enrollment, an individual may participate with a professional on a team, provided the professional is not being paid by a professional team or league to play as a member of that team (e.g., summer basketball leagues with teams composed of both professional and amateur athletes). ( Revised: 1/8/01, effective 8/1/01 for those individuals first entering a collegiate institution on or after 8/1/01 )

12.2.3.2.2 Exception -- Olympic/National Teams

It is permissible for an individual (prospective student-athlete or student-athlete) to participate on Olympic or national teams that are competing for prize money or are being compensated by the governing body to participate in a specific event, provided the individual does not accept prize money or any other compensation (other than actual or necessary expenses).  (Adopted: 1/13/03)

12.2.3.2.3 Professional Coach or Referee

Participation on a team that includes a professional coach or referee does not cause the team to be classified as a professional team.

12.2.3.2.4 Amateur/Professional Leagues

Subsequent to initial full-time collegiate enrollment, an individual may participate as a member of an amateur team in a league in which one or more teams are professional, provided the league is not a member of a recognized professional sports organization or is not directly supported or sponsored by a professional sports team or organization. ( Revised: 1/8/01, effective 8/1/01 for those individuals first entering a collegiate institution on or after 8/1/01)

Division III

12.2 INVOLVEMENT WITH PROFESSIONAL TEAMS

12.2.1 Tryouts

12.2.1.1 Tryout After Enrollment

A student-athlete may try out with a professional athletics team in a sport or permit a professional athletics team to conduct medical examinations at any time outside the student-athlete's playing and practice season.  A student-athlete may receive actual and necessary expenses related to the tryout as long as the tryout does not exceed 48 hours.  (Revised:  1/10/92, 1/9/06)

12.2.1.2 Outside Competition Prohibited

During a tryout, an individual may not take part in any outside competition (games or scrimmages) as a representative of a professional team.

12.2.1.3 Professional Team Representative at College Practice

A tryout with a professional team is not considered to have occurred when a representative of a professional team visits a member institution during the academic year and evaluates a student-athlete while the institution is conducting a regular practice session, physical education class or off-season conditioning program session that includes physical activities (e.g., speed trials, agility tests, strength tests), provided these activities are normally a part of and take place during regular practice, class or conditioning sessions.

12.2.2 Practice Without Competition

Subsequent to initial full-time collegiate enrollment, an individual may participate in practice sessions conducted by a professional team, provided such participation meets the requirements of NCAA legislation governing tryouts with professional athletics teams (see Bylaw 12.2.1) and the individual does not: ( Revised: 1/14/02 effective 8/1/02 )

(a) Receive any compensation for participation in the practice sessions;

(b) Enter into any contract or agreement with a professional team or sports organization; or

(c) Take part in any outside competition (games or scrimmages) as a representative of a professional team.

12.2.2.1 Prohibited Involvement of Institution's Coach

An institution's coaching staff member may not arrange for or direct student-athletes' participation in football or basketball practice sessions conducted by a professional team.

12.2.3 Competition

12.2.3.1 Competition against Professionals

An individual may participate singly or as a member of an amateur team against professional athletes.

12.2.3.2 Competition with Professionals

Subsequent to initial full-time collegiate enrollment, an individual shall not be eligible for intercollegiate athletics in a sport if the individual ever competed on a professional team (per Bylaw 12.02.4) in that sport. However, an individual may compete on a tennis, golf, two-person sand volleyball or two-person synchronized diving team(s) with persons who are competing for cash or a comparable prize, provided the individual does not receive payment of any kind for such participation. (Revised: 1/9/96 effective 8/1/96, Revised: 1/14/97, 1/14/02 effective 8/1/02, 1/10/05 effective 8/1/05)

12.2.3.2.1 Professional Player as Team Member

Subsequent to initial full-time collegiate enrollment, an individual may participate with a professional on a team, provided the professional is not being paid by a professional team or league to play as a member of that team (e.g., summer basketball leagues with teams composed of both professional and amateur athletes). ( Revised: 1/14/02, effective 8/1/02 )

12.2.3.2.2 Olympic/National Teams

It is permissible for an individual (prospective student-athlete or student-athletes) to participate on Olympic or national teams that are competing for prize money or are being compensated by the governing body to participate in a specific event, provided the student-athlete does not accept prize money or any other compensation (other than actual and necessary expenses). ( Adopted: 1/13/03 )

12.2.3.2.3 Professional Coach or Referee

Participation on a team that includes a professional coach or referee does not cause the team to be classified as a professional team.

12.2.3.2.4 Amateur/Professional Leagues

Subsequent to initial full-time collegiate enrollment, an individual may participate as a member of an amateur team in a league in which one or more teams are professional, provided the league is not a member of a recognized professional sports organization or is not directly supported or sponsored by a professional sports team or organization. ( Revised: 1/14/02 effective 8/1/02 )