Who is a prospective student-athlete?
Under NCAA legislation, a prospective student-athlete is anyone who:
- Is in the ninth through twelfth grades of high school;
- Has not yet started the ninth grade, but has received financial assistance or other benefits from USF;
- Is enrolled at a two-year college; or
- Is a student-athlete from a four-year college who has entered the transfer portal.
Note that while some communications, contacts, and publicity restrictions are lifted after a prospective student-athlete signs a National Letter of Intent with USF, the signee remains a prospective student-athlete until he or she becomes a student-athlete.
What are the NCAA rules relating to recruiting visits?
Types of visits – official and unofficial
A visit to USF is considered an official visit if any part of the visit (other than complimentary admissions to a home athletics event) is financed by USF. An unofficial visit is any visit to USF that is made at a prospective student-athlete’s own expense.Â
Rules for official and unofficial visits
There are numerous NCAA rules that govern the conduct of an official visit to a member institution, like USF. Those rules have been incorporated into USF’s official visit policy and process.Â
The only expenses that NCAA rules allow USF to provide a prospective student-athlete on an unofficial visit are three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest through the use of a pass list (not hard tickets). Those admissions are for the exclusive use of the prospective student-athlete and those accompanying the prospective student-athlete on the visit.
Third party payment of visit expenses- The NCAA enforcement staff has indicated its intent to more closely monitor activities of prospective student-athlete unofficial visits to campuses. With very little exception, NCAA rules do not allow individuals other than family members or legal guardians to finance unofficial visits. The Compliance Office is happy to answer any questions relating to this topic.
