Prospective Student-Athletes

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Prospective Student-Athlete Information

Key Questions

Who is a prospective student-athlete?

Under NCAA legislation, a prospective student-athlete (PSA) 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 ASU;
Is enrolled at a two-year college; or
Is a student-athlete from a four-year college who has entered the transfer portal.

While some communications, contacts, and publicity restrictions are lifted after a PSA signs a National Letter of Intent with Fresno State, the signee remains a PSA until he or she becomes a student-athlete.

What are the NCAA rules relating to recruiting visits?

Official v. Unofficial Visits
A visit to Fresno State is considered an official visit if any part of the visit (other than complimentary admissions to a home athletics event) is financed by Fresno State. An unofficial visit is any visit to Fresno State that is made at a PSA's own expense.

There are a vast amount of NCAA rules that govern the conduct of an official visit to Fresno State. These rules have been outlined in Fresno State's official visit policy. The only expenses that NCAA rules allow Fresno State to provide a PSA on an unofficial visit are three(3) complimentary tickets to a home athletics contest through the use of a pass list (no hard tickets can be given). Those admissions are for the exclusive use of the PSA and those accompanying the PSA on the unofficial visit. Please note that in all sports (excepts basketball and football), an individual cannot make an unofficial visit to any NCAA Division I institution until September 1 of his or her junior year in high school.

NCAA Helpful Links and Information

NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete

NCAA Eligibility Center

NCAA Eligibility Center Brochure

NCAA National Letter of Intent

Frequently Asked Questions for International Prospective Student-Athletes

Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility

NCAA Eligibility Center Telephone and Mailing Addresses:
www.eligibilitycenter.org

Transcript/Document Mailing:

NCAA Eligibility Center

Center Processing

P.O. Box 7136

Indianapolis, IN 46207

Overnight/Express Mailing:
NCAA Eligibility Center
Certification Processing
1802 Alonzo Watford Senior Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46202

NCAA Eligibility Center Direct Line: (877) 262-1492

National Letter of Intent

1. The agreement: An NLI is a binding agreement that, once signed by a prospective student-athlete and his or her parent/legal guardian, requires the prospective student-athlete to attend the signing institution for one academic year, provided the prospective student-athlete meets all applicable university, conference, and NCAA regulations for the receipt of aid. The NLI must be accompanied by a financial aid agreement, which serves as the institution's commitment to provide financial aid for a designated period.

2. Satisfaction of the NLI terms: A prospective student-athlete satisfies the NLI terms by attending, full-time, the signing institution for one academic year or by graduating from a junior college (if during the NLI period, the prospective student-athlete chooses to attend a junior college).

3. Recruiting ban after signing: All colleges and universities that participate in the NLI program are prohibited from recruiting a prospective student-athlete once he or she signs an NLI. The recruiting ban remains in effect until the prospective student-athlete enrolls at the signing institution (once he or she becomes a student-athlete additional NCAA legislation restricts contact from other institutions). If the prospective student-athlete does not enroll, the ban is lifted after the signing institution's next academic year has elapsed.

4. The NLI penalty: A prospective student-athlete who does not attend the signing institution or attends the institution for less than one full academic year is prohibited from representing the second institution in athletics competition until he or she completes one academic year in residence at the second institution. Additionally, the prospective student-athlete will lose a season of competition in all sports.

Additional information can be found here.

Fresno State Links and Information

Fresno State Academic Advising

Fresno State Admissions

Fresno State Financial Aid

Fresno State Student Housing

Tryouts

Under the NCAA, individuals who wish to tryout for a team with Fresno State Athletics:

Must be enrolled full time at Fresno State as a degree seeking student;
Must receive a physical from or provide proof of a physical exam administered by a medical doctor, physician's assistant, or nurse practitioner within the past six months and proof of sickle cell test results (and provides other information required by sports medicine like proof of insurance).

The decision to hold tryouts is at the sole discretion of the head coach of each sport. The Tryout Packet can be found here.