Compliance - General NCAA Rules

Academics

To practice or play during the freshman year, a student-athlete must meet the following NCAA requirements:

  • Graduate high school
  • Achieve a minimum GPA in a completed core curriculum of at least 16 academic courses
  • Achieve a corresponding minimum combined score of the SAT, or a minimum sum total score on the ACT as determined by an initial eligibility index
  • Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center, which certifies all incoming student-athletes as being academically eligible by meeting the provisions of 1-3 above.
  • Fall 2008 enrollees need to request final amateur certification by signing the 10.1 statement.
  • Official test scores must be sent from the testing agency using code 9999. Test scores that appear on a high school transcript will not be accepted.
  • Those graduating in 2008 who plan to attend an NCAA Division I institution must have 16 core courses.


You may contact the NCAA Eligibility Center at:

NCAA Eligibility Center


Employment Rules             (Click Here for Required UNH Employment Form)

A student-athlete may earn up to the value of a full athletic scholarship, plus money through employment during the academic year, provided:

The student-athlete and his/her employer register with the compliance office and the records are to be kept on file in the Athletic Department.

The following rules are applicable to any type of student-athlete employment, whether during the academic year or summer:

  • The rate of pay must be the normal rate for the duties performed
  • The hours paid must be the hours worked
  • Payment in advance of hours worked is not permitted

Transportation to work may be provided only if transportation is available to other non-athlete employees in similar positions.
Summer and vacation period employment do not count in the student-athlete's limit on financial aid.
The University is permitted to arrange employment for prospective student-athletes during the summer prior to their enrollment as freshmen (provided they have signed a National Letter of Intent).

The Compliance Services Office must keep written records verifying employment of all student-athletes during the academic year and summer.

Agents and Amateurism

An individual shall be ineligible for participation in an intercollegiate sport if he or she ever has agreed (orally or in writing) to be represented by an agent for the purpose of marketing his or her athletics ability or reputation in that sport. Further, an agency contract not specifically limited in writing to a sport or particular sports shall be deemed applicable to all sports, and the individual shall be ineligible to participate in any sport.

Agent: An individual, entrusted through an agency contract, that negotiates a person's professional sports contract. The term includes an individual who represents to the public that the individual is an athlete agent. The term does not include a spouse, parent, sibling, grandparent, or guardian of the student-athlete or an individual acting solely on behalf of a professional sports team or professional sports organization.

A prospect/student-athlete may NOT enter into a verbal or written agreement with an agent for representation in future professional sports negotiations that are to take place after the individual has completed his or her eligibility in that sport.

Prospects/student-athletes as well as their friends, relatives, and legal guardians may NOT accept any benefits from an agent financial advisor, runner, or any other person associated with an agency business.

A prospect/student-athlete MAY secure advice from a lawyer concerning a proposed professional sports contract.

A lawyer or agent MAY provide advice to an individual regarding the merits of a proposed contract without jeopardizing the individual's amateur status, provided he or she has no contact with the professional sports organization, and does not market the individual's athletics ability or reputation in a particular sport.

Coaches may NOT represent, directly or indirectly, any individual in the marketing of athletics ability or reputation to an agent, a professional sports team or a professional sports organization.

An institution's professional sports counseling panel or a head coach in a sport MAY contact agents, professional sports teams or professional sports organizations on behalf of a student-athlete, provided no compensation is received for such services. The head coach shall consult with and report his or her activities on behalf of the student-athlete to the institution's professional sports counseling panel and/or the chief executive officer.

A student-athlete in the sport of basketball MAY enter a professional league's draft one time during his or her collegiate career without jeopardizing eligibility in that sport, provided the student-athlete is NOT drafted by any team in that league and the student-athlete declares his or her intention in writing to the institution's director of athletics to resume intercollegiate participation within 30 days after the draft.

A student-athlete MAY compete professionally in one sport and be an amateur in another sports (e.g. you may sign a professional baseball contract and still play college basketball). Signing a professional contact normally terminates eligibility for an athletics scholarship in any sports (unless you no longer are involved in professional athletics, are not receiving any remuneration from a professional sports organization and you do not have an active contractual relationship with any professional sports team).

Promotional Activities

An individual shall not be eligible for participation in intercollegiate athletics if the individual accepts any payment for or permits the use of his/her name or picture to advertise, recommend or promote directly the sale or use of a commercial product or service of any kind.

If a student-athletes name or picture appears on commercial items (e.g., T-shirts, playing cards, posters etc.) or is used to promote a commercial product without the student-athletes knowledge or permission, the student-athlete and the institution are required to take steps to stop such an activity in order to retain the student-athlete's eligibility.

Student-athletes cannot miss class for a promotional activity.

Student-athletes may receive legitimate expenses for approved promotional activities provided it is within the state or within 100 miles of the institution.

All charitable, educational and non-profit promotional activities involving student-athletes must have prior approval from the compliance office.

If you use a student-athlete's name or picture prior to checking with the Compliance Services Office, you risk the student-athlete's eligibility. It is possible he or she may be prevented from competing based upon your action.

Gambling

NCAA rules prohibit student-athletes or intercollegiate athletics staff members from placing bets (through organized means) on any sporting event, collegiate or professional, in which the NCAA sponsors a championship. It is a violation of Federal Law to affect, or attempt to affect, the outcome of a collegiate contest. Additionally, it is not legal for anyone (student-athlete, coach, staff or booster) to provide information that can be used to bet on the outcome of a contest.

Offers and Inducements (to Prospective Student-Athletes)

An institution's staff member or any representative of its athletics interests shall not be involved, directly or indirectly, in making arrangements for, giving or offering to give any financial aid and/or benefits to a prospect or their relatives or friends, other than as expressly permitted by NCAA rules. This rule applies regardless of whether similar financial aid, benefits, or arrangements are available to prospective students in general (13.2.1).

Improper inducements include, but are not limited to:

  • Employment arrangements for prospect's relatives
  • Gifts of clothing or equipment
  • Co-signing of loans
  • Providing loans to prospect's relatives or friends
  • Cash or like items
  • Any tangible items, including merchandise
  • Free or reduced-cost services, rentals or purchases of any type
  • Free or reduced-cost housing
  • Use of institutional athletics equipment
  • Sponsorship of or arrangement for an awards banquet for prospects by the UI, representatives of its athletics interests, or its alumni or booster clubs
  • Awards to a prospect for outstanding athletics accomplishments


Exceptions to the Offers and Inducements Rules

Arrangement of Employment -- The arrangement of employment by an institution 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 (13.2.4.1).

Transportation to a Summer Job -- An institution or its representatives shall not provide transportation to and from a summer job unless the employer's policy is to transport everyone to and from the job site (13.2.4.2).

Educational Loan -- The arrangement of educational loans by an institution 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. In addition, the educational loan must be from a regular lending agency, based on a regular repayment schedule (13.2.5).

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

Financial Aid

In conjunction with the signing of your National Letter of Intent, you should have received a statement indicating the amount of financial aid to be provided by the University during your first academic year. The maximum value the University can provide may not exceed the value of a full grant-in-aid (i.e., tuition and fees, room (double) and board, and required course-related books). All funds (regardless of the source) provided to student-athletes to pay or assist in paying their cost of education must be administered through the financial aid office.

Summer Camps

It is prohibited for a senior prospect to be employed at any university sports camp. Any individual who has started classes for his/her senior year in high school or has graduated high school and not yet enrolled in a college institution is permitted to enroll and participate in university sports camps except in the sport of football.

Extra Benefits (for currently enrolled student-athletes)

You may not accept gifts, money, transportation, loans or special benefits from anyone (coaches, staff, faculty, fans, mentors, or boosters) because of your status as an athlete. This rule also applies to your family and friends.

The NCAA defines an extra benefit as any special arrangement to provide a student-athlete or his/her relatives or friends with something that is not provided in general to the student body. Someone whom you are not naturally or legally dependent cannot provide you with anything for free or at a reduced rate because you are a student athlete.

Extra benefits include, but are not limited to:

  • A special discount, payment arrangement, or credit on purchase (e.g. airline ticket, clothing) or services (e.g. laundry, auto repair, attorney fees).
  • A loan of money or guarantee of bond at a special rate.
  • Use of an automobile that belongs to a coach, staff member, booster, etc.
  • Free or discount meals or services at a commercial establishment.
  • Benefits connected with off-campus housing (e.g. use of TV sets, room furnishings, etc.)
  • Signing or co-signing of a loan by a coach, booster etc.
  • Use of personal property that belongs to a coach, booster, etc.(e.g. car, stereo, home, etc.)


Eligibility

Failure to meet any of the requirements listed below may make you ineligible to compete for the University of New Hampshire:

Get approval from your coach before competing for any team or at an event outside of your activities as a student-athlete;

Each year you must sign the NCAA “Student-Athlete Statement” and “Drug-Testing Consent Form” before you practice or compete;

You must be enrolled in 12 credit hours at all times to practice and compete;

You must pass at least 18 credit hours every year, and at least 6 credit hours the previous semester.  None of the 18 academic year credit hours can be earned during the summer term or by taking correspondence courses;

You must maintain a grade point average that keeps you in good academic standing with the University and in compliance with NCAA progress-toward-degree rules.  The NCAA also has rules about declaring/changing your degree, making progress toward your degree, and the GPA you must maintain along the way. Questions concerning degree progress may be directed towards your academic advisor or Joanne Maldari or Cathy Leach in the athletics department.
 
Summer Participation

Participation on an outside team is limited to vacation periods and summer break, outside your practice and playing season.

Participation may also be limited by the number of University of New Hampshire student-athletes on a summer team. Please get approval from your coach or the compliance office prior to participating. Click here for a Summer Participation Form (for Men's and Women's Basketball only or click here for a Summer Participation Form for (all other sports).  Men's and women's basketball players must have prior approval to participate in summer basketball.

Student-athletes enrolling in summer school courses not at UNH must obtain pre-approval. Contact the registrar's office for approval of summer courses to be taken at another institution.

All-Star Contests  (Football and Basketball prospects only)

Following the completion of your high school eligibility and prior to your high school graduation, legislation limits you to participating in no more than two all-star football contests or two all-star basketball contests.

General Reminders

National Letter of Intent (NLI): The NLI is an official document administered by the Collegiate Commissioners Association and utilized by subscribing member institutions to establish the commitment of a prospect to attend a particular institution. The NLI commits a prospect to that institution for one academic year, even if the coach resigns or is terminated.

NCAA transfer rule: A student who transfers to a NCAA member institution from any collegiate institution is required to complete one full academic year of residence at the certifying institution before being eligible to compete for or to receive travel expenses from the member institution, unless the student satisfies the applicable transfer requirements or receives an exception or waiver. In the sport of basketball, a transfer student-athlete who satisfies the applicable transfer requirements or receives an exception or waiver as set forth in the NCAA Manual, but initially enrolls as a full-time student subsequent to the first term of the academic year shall not be eligible for competition until the ensuing academic year.

Ask before you act: We appreciate the support of our alumni and fans. We ask, however, that you also help maintain the University of New Hampshire tradition of athletic integrity by following NCAA regulations. Your assistance in this matter will ensure that the eligibility of both prospective student-athletes and currently enrolled student-athletes is protected.

The above information is designed to serve as a guide to assist in dealing with commonly encountered situations, however, it does not contain all applicable NCAA legislation. We ask that when in doubt you ASK BEFORE YOU ACT. Any questions concerning rules and regulations can be directed to the University of New Hampshire athletics compliance office.

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