Comments for Informed Athlete | The Allen Group, Inc. | http://www.informedathlete.com Making Sense of the NCAA Rules Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:08:33 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on National Letter of Intent Reminders by Rick Allen http://www.informedathlete.com/national-letter-of-intent-reminders#comment-4394 Rick Allen Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:08:33 +0000 http://www.informedathlete.com/?p=1491#comment-4394 Hi Jan, First off, I know this is not the main point of your question, but for your info and any of our other readers looking at this blog - if your son signed an NLI without an athletic scholarship, it is/was not a valid NLI. An NLI must be accompanied by an athletic scholarship agreement in order to be valid. If your son applied to another school as a regular student and has had no contact with the baseball coaches at that school, he's done nothing wrong according to NCAA rules. His coach may not see it that way however. I would do what you can to make sure the coach doesn't find out, but if he does, be sure to explain that your son has had no contact with the athletic department at the other school and is not even sure if he's going to continue to play. If the school your son applied to is in the same athletic conference as his current school, be aware that some conferences have intraconference transfer rules that may impact his eligibility if he is considering playing at another school in the same conference. Hi Jan,

First off, I know this is not the main point of your question, but for your info and any of our other readers looking at this blog – if your son signed an NLI without an athletic scholarship, it is/was not a valid NLI. An NLI must be accompanied by an athletic scholarship agreement in order to be valid.

If your son applied to another school as a regular student and has had no contact with the baseball coaches at that school, he’s done nothing wrong according to NCAA rules. His coach may not see it that way however. I would do what you can to make sure the coach doesn’t find out, but if he does, be sure to explain that your son has had no contact with the athletic department at the other school and is not even sure if he’s going to continue to play.

If the school your son applied to is in the same athletic conference as his current school, be aware that some conferences have intraconference transfer rules that may impact his eligibility if he is considering playing at another school in the same conference.

]]> Comment on The Effect of New Scholarship Rules in Division I Baseball by Rick Allen http://www.informedathlete.com/the-effect-of-new-scholarship-rules-in-division-i-baseball#comment-4393 Rick Allen Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:58:41 +0000 http://www.allenathleticconsulting.com/?p=401#comment-4393 Hi Sara, If he does not play against outside competition this year - including back during the Fall - then this would count as a redshirt year and he would still have four years of eligibility remaining. Under NCAA rules (assuming that he would like to transfer to an NCAA program in the future), any amount of competition against an outside team, even if it is for one at bat or one defensive inning, will count as a season of eligibility used. Rick Hi Sara,

If he does not play against outside competition this year – including back during the Fall – then this would count as a redshirt year and he would still have four years of eligibility remaining. Under NCAA rules (assuming that he would like to transfer to an NCAA program in the future), any amount of competition against an outside team, even if it is for one at bat or one defensive inning, will count as a season of eligibility used.

Rick

]]> Comment on Walk-on Transfer Rules by Rick Allen http://www.informedathlete.com/walk-on-transfer-rules#comment-4392 Rick Allen Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:53:19 +0000 http://www.informedathlete.com/?p=1565#comment-4392 Hi Terry, I'll contact you directly so we can discuss this. I want to make sure you and your son know just what he should and should not do in this situation. Rick Hi Terry,

I’ll contact you directly so we can discuss this. I want to make sure you and your son know just what he should and should not do in this situation.

Rick

]]> Comment on National Letter of Intent Reminders by Jan Fortune http://www.informedathlete.com/national-letter-of-intent-reminders#comment-4390 Jan Fortune Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:31:16 +0000 http://www.informedathlete.com/?p=1491#comment-4390 Mr. Allen, My son is currently under a NLI at a Div 2 school playing baseball.(No scholarship $$). As a freshman, he is not playing at all, and just applied at another school for the fall, just to see if he could get accepted before the application deadline,(not to play baseball), just as a student. Is that OK?, and if his coach find out about the application/transcript request is that something we should be worried about? He hasn't completely decided if he is going to leave, but we had to get the info in by deadline. Did we do anything wrong? Mr. Allen,

My son is currently under a NLI at a Div 2 school playing baseball.(No scholarship $$). As a freshman, he is not playing at all, and just applied at another school for the fall, just to see if he could get accepted before the application deadline,(not to play baseball), just as a student. Is that OK?, and if his coach find out about the application/transcript request
is that something we should be worried about? He hasn’t completely decided if he is going to leave, but we had to get the info in by deadline. Did we do anything wrong?

]]> Comment on The Effect of New Scholarship Rules in Division I Baseball by sara http://www.informedathlete.com/the-effect-of-new-scholarship-rules-in-division-i-baseball#comment-4388 sara Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:14:53 +0000 http://www.allenathleticconsulting.com/?p=401#comment-4388 My son is a freshman at a NJCAA school on scholarship and is on the roster this season, would be the 2nd player for his position however he has still not played and they have now used another player as the second choice. He has talked to the coaches they dismiss him and tell him he is on the roster but will not advise how he needs to improve himeself to play, he is wondering if he is wasting his time and our money and should of red-shirted, If he is on the roster but does not get game time does this still count as a playing year ? My son is a freshman at a NJCAA school on scholarship and is on the roster this season, would be the 2nd player for his position however he has still not played and they have now used another player as the second choice. He has talked to the coaches they dismiss him and tell him he is on the roster but will not advise how he needs to improve himeself to play, he is wondering if he is wasting his time and our money and should of red-shirted, If he is on the roster but does not get game time does this still count as a playing year ?

]]> Comment on Walk-on Transfer Rules by Terry Amerine http://www.informedathlete.com/walk-on-transfer-rules#comment-4385 Terry Amerine Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:51:06 +0000 http://www.informedathlete.com/?p=1565#comment-4385 My son is a graduating senior and a National Merit Finalist, so he can get lots of academic money from many schools. He wants to attend the Air Force Academy and play baseball but missed the deadline for 2012 nominations. He has only been recruited by D3 schools to date. Can he attend a D1 school on an academic scholarship and participate as a "walk-on" in their fall practice and then transfer to the Academy and be eligible to play the 2013 season? We have been told he would have to sit out 1 year if he attends a 4-year school (any division) whether he plays or not. My son is a graduating senior and a National Merit Finalist, so he can get lots of academic money from many schools. He wants to attend the Air Force Academy and play baseball but missed the deadline for 2012 nominations. He has only been recruited by D3 schools to date. Can he attend a D1 school on an academic scholarship and participate as a “walk-on” in their fall practice and then transfer to the Academy and be eligible to play the 2013 season? We have been told he would have to sit out 1 year if he attends a 4-year school (any division) whether he plays or not.

]]> Comment on National Letter of Intent Reminders by Rick Allen http://www.informedathlete.com/national-letter-of-intent-reminders#comment-4373 Rick Allen Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:25:43 +0000 http://www.informedathlete.com/?p=1491#comment-4373 Hi Kaylynn, Sorting out your daughter’s situation will be more appropriate for a private consultation. I’ll send you a direct e-mail. Rick Hi Kaylynn,

Sorting out your daughter’s situation will be more appropriate for a private consultation. I’ll send you a direct e-mail.

Rick

]]> Comment on Walk-on Transfer Rules by Rick Allen http://www.informedathlete.com/walk-on-transfer-rules#comment-4372 Rick Allen Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:23:33 +0000 http://www.informedathlete.com/?p=1565#comment-4372 Hi John, Sorting out your son's situation will be more appropriate for a private consultation. I'll send you a direct e-mail. Rick Hi John,

Sorting out your son’s situation will be more appropriate for a private consultation. I’ll send you a direct e-mail.

Rick

]]> Comment on Walk-on Transfer Rules by Rick Allen http://www.informedathlete.com/walk-on-transfer-rules#comment-4371 Rick Allen Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:21:08 +0000 http://www.informedathlete.com/?p=1565#comment-4371 Hi Meghan, I think it’s best if we talk directly regarding your fiance's situation since he's considering a couple of different options. I'll send you a private e-mail. Rick Hi Meghan,

I think it’s best if we talk directly regarding your fiance’s situation since he’s considering a couple of different options. I’ll send you a private e-mail.

Rick

]]> Comment on National Letter of Intent Reminders by Kaylynn http://www.informedathlete.com/national-letter-of-intent-reminders#comment-4369 Kaylynn Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:23:23 +0000 http://www.informedathlete.com/?p=1491#comment-4369 Mr. Allen, I am very confused about my daughter's situation and need your help. My daughter is currently a freshman DI soccer player on athletic scholarship. She was injured in August, 2011, during the team's training period before the start of the semester and subsequently never played in any games during the season. At the beginning of second semester, she began having other medical issues and is now medically withdrawing from her classes (and soccer). I know the university will basically have her "on hold" while they await her return. That said, she doesn't want to return to this university and she has valid reasons for not wanting to. What are her options regarding transferring to another DI program once she's medically cleared? How or will the medical withdrawal affect her eligibility and in-residence waiting period? Will she have to sit out an entire year? If she completely withdraws from the current university and takes summer classes at a local junior college, should she go part time or full time (to try to make up some of the classes she's missing from the medical withdrawal as well as have enough credits to transfer). I read that if she permanently leaves her current DI school and enrolls at the junior college, she actually has to graduate with her associates degree before she can try to move on to another DI program. I have been trying to find this exact information on the NCAA website but I can't find our exact situation. program. Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Mr. Allen,
I am very confused about my daughter’s situation and need your help. My daughter is currently a freshman DI soccer player on athletic scholarship. She was injured in August, 2011, during the team’s training period before the start of the semester and subsequently never played in any games during the season. At the beginning of second semester, she began having other medical issues and is now medically withdrawing from her classes (and soccer). I know the university will basically have her “on hold” while they await her return. That said, she doesn’t want to return to this university and she has valid reasons for not wanting to. What are her options regarding transferring to another DI program once she’s medically cleared? How or will the medical withdrawal affect her eligibility and in-residence waiting period? Will she have to sit out an entire year? If she completely withdraws from the current university and takes summer classes at a local junior college, should she go part time or full time (to try to make up some of the classes she’s missing from the medical withdrawal as well as have enough credits to transfer). I read that if she permanently leaves her current DI school and enrolls at the junior college, she actually has to graduate with her associates degree before she can try to move on to another DI program. I have been trying to find this exact information on the NCAA website but I can’t find our exact situation. program. Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

]]> Comment on Walk-on Transfer Rules by John Capello http://www.informedathlete.com/walk-on-transfer-rules#comment-4366 John Capello Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:09:49 +0000 http://www.informedathlete.com/?p=1565#comment-4366 Rick, Our son was a recruited baseball player at a DIII school. In 2009-10 he played and two-thirds into the season severely sprained his UCL. In the 2010-11 season he was on the roster while trying to get back to 100% but tore a muscle during the season and never appeared in a game. He is sitting out 2011-12. Some DI and DII coaches have expressed an interest in him. We called the NCAA and they told us that the 2010-11 season counts as a "Year of Participation" because he was on the roster and attended practices. He would like to have the option of transferring to a DI or DII school at the end of this year and not have to use the "Year in Residence" so he can play two seasons. We know there is a waiver for this if you sit out two full years. His grades are good. On top of this we just read that to be granted a medical redshirt that an AD has to submit the documentation at the end of the season. Does this mean that it is too late to apply for a medical redshirt for the 2010-11 season? The NCAA also told us that an interested school must apply to the NCAA for a SAR to get the eligibility. Can you tell us what this means and what our options are? Thanks. John and Susan Rick,
Our son was a recruited baseball player at a DIII school. In 2009-10 he played and two-thirds into the season severely sprained his UCL. In the 2010-11 season he was on the roster while trying to get back to 100% but tore a muscle during the season and never appeared in a game. He is sitting out 2011-12.
Some DI and DII coaches have expressed an interest in him. We called the NCAA and they told us that the 2010-11 season counts as a “Year of Participation” because he was on the roster and attended practices. He would like to have the option of transferring to a DI or DII school at the end of this year and not have to use the “Year in Residence” so he can play two seasons. We know there is a waiver for this if you sit out two full years. His grades are good.
On top of this we just read that to be granted a medical redshirt that an AD has to submit the documentation at the end of the season. Does this mean that it is too late to apply for a medical redshirt for the 2010-11 season?
The NCAA also told us that an interested school must apply to the NCAA for a SAR to get the eligibility. Can you tell us what this means and what our options are?
Thanks.

John and Susan

]]> Comment on Walk-on Transfer Rules by Meghan http://www.informedathlete.com/walk-on-transfer-rules#comment-4360 Meghan Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:48:12 +0000 http://www.informedathlete.com/?p=1565#comment-4360 Hi my fiancé has a complicated situation and I need a little help. He played football 2 years at a juco (2008-2009) then he transferred to a Texas d2 but was red shirted because of a knee injury before the 2012 season. He finished that school year with not so hot grades. He has not been Inroled full time since then (2 years). I was curious on the rules to go to a d1 or to play for the d2 in Texas he was previously at. Either way will be a walk on situation. Please help us. Thank you Hi my fiancé has a complicated situation and I need a little help. He played football 2 years at a juco (2008-2009) then he transferred to a Texas d2 but was red shirted because of a knee injury before the 2012 season. He finished that school year with not so hot grades. He has not been Inroled full time since then (2 years). I was curious on the rules to go to a d1 or to play for the d2 in Texas he was previously at. Either way will be a walk on situation. Please help us. Thank you

]]> Comment on Walk-on Transfer Rules by Rick Allen http://www.informedathlete.com/walk-on-transfer-rules#comment-4359 Rick Allen Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:47:43 +0000 http://www.informedathlete.com/?p=1565#comment-4359 Hi Corina, If the schools that you have already e-mailed are interested in you, they should reply back to ask if you have received written permission to speak with other schools about a possible transfer. If that hasn't happened, you'll probably want to write them again after you receive the written permission. You should start by talking to your coach and telling her or him that you'd like permission to speak with other schools. The reason for that is if you go to the Compliance office, the first thing they will likely do is to contact your coach to ask the coach if they have any objection to you contacting other schools. Since you are a walk-on, they really should have no reason to object, but it is still part of the process. Good luck, Rick Hi Corina,

If the schools that you have already e-mailed are interested in you, they should reply back to ask if you have received written permission to speak with other schools about a possible transfer. If that hasn’t happened, you’ll probably want to write them again after you receive the written permission.

You should start by talking to your coach and telling her or him that you’d like permission to speak with other schools. The reason for that is if you go to the Compliance office, the first thing they will likely do is to contact your coach to ask the coach if they have any objection to you contacting other schools. Since you are a walk-on, they really should have no reason to object, but it is still part of the process.

Good luck,

Rick

]]> Comment on Walk-on Transfer Rules by Corina http://www.informedathlete.com/walk-on-transfer-rules#comment-4354 Corina Mon, 20 Feb 2012 04:25:39 +0000 http://www.informedathlete.com/?p=1565#comment-4354 Hi Rick, I did not know about needing the release papers for emailing other schools to transfer to. I am a walk-on for volleyball at a D1 school. Do I just need the permission from the compliance? I have emailed other schools already before realizing that I need a release papers. Will the schools that I have emailed reply back or will I have to re-email them saying that I have release papers signed in order to get a response from them? Thank you! Hi Rick,
I did not know about needing the release papers for emailing other schools to transfer to. I am a walk-on for volleyball at a D1 school. Do I just need the permission from the compliance? I have emailed other schools already before realizing that I need a release papers. Will the schools that I have emailed reply back or will I have to re-email them saying that I have release papers signed in order to get a response from them? Thank you!

]]> Comment on Advice for College Athletes Regarding Transfer Situations by Rick Allen http://www.informedathlete.com/advice-for-college-athletes-regarding-transfer-situations#comment-4349 Rick Allen Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:56:20 +0000 http://www.allenathleticconsulting.com/2009/02/advice-for-college-athletes-regarding-transfer-situations/#comment-4349 Hi Noel, According to the rules, other schools are not allowed to talk with you (or a family member or anybody speaking on your behalf) about the possibility of transfer unless they have written permission from your current school. However, it's fairly common for former coaches, such as a high school or club coach, to talk to other schools for you to gauge their level of interest. Keep in mind, though, that it's common for coaches to talk to each other. A coach who has heard from you, or a friend or family member, inquiring about a transfer might very well contact your current coach to ask about your background, both on and off the field or court, to see if you would be a good fit for his program. It is very difficult to check out transfer options confidentially because of these types of communications between coaches. I suggest you wait until the end of your season or school year, and then determine if you really want to transfer. And don't think that you can do it confidentially, because that is hard to do. Good luck, Rick Hi Noel,

According to the rules, other schools are not allowed to talk with you (or a family member or anybody speaking on your behalf) about the possibility of transfer unless they have written permission from your current school. However, it’s fairly common for former coaches, such as a high school or club coach, to talk to other schools for you to gauge their level of interest.

Keep in mind, though, that it’s common for coaches to talk to each other. A coach who has heard from you, or a friend or family member, inquiring about a transfer might very well contact your current coach to ask about your background, both on and off the field or court, to see if you would be a good fit for his program. It is very difficult to check out transfer options confidentially because of these types of communications between coaches. I suggest you wait until the end of your season or school year, and then determine if you really want to transfer. And don’t think that you can do it confidentially, because that is hard to do.

Good luck,

Rick

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