Young Harris

INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETES AND PARENTS
In accordance with bylaw 13.02.11, the NCAA's definition of a prospective student-athlete is anyone who has started classes for the ninth grade, or above, as well as students who have officially withdrawn from a four year institution and plan to transfer to another institution. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective student-athlete if the institution provides such an individual (or the individual's relatives or friends) any financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students generally.

An individual remains a prospective student-athlete until one of the following occurs (whichever is earlier):

The individual officially registers and enrolls in a minimum full-time program of studies and attends classes in any term of a four-year collegiate institution's regular academic year; or
The individual participates in a regular squad practice or competition at a four-year collegiate institution that occurs before the beginning of any term; or
The individual officially registers and enrolls and attends classes during the summer prior to initial enrollment and receives institutional athletics aid.

CONTACT WITH DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS STAFF
Young Harris welcomes inquiries from prospective student-athletes. The Department of Athletics is committed to complying with NCAA and Peach Belt Conference regulations.

If you are interested in receiving information about one of the varsity sports at Young Harris College, please understand the following basic NCAA guidelines:

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
In Division II sports, telephone calls to a prospect or a prospect’s relatives or legal guardian(s) cannot be made prior to June 15 following the junior year of high school. Institutions may not provide recruiting materials to a prospect until September 1 at the beginning of the prospect’s junior year of high school. Only NCAA educational materials, camp brochures and questionnaires may be sent to a prospect prior to those dates.

FOUR-YEAR/TWO-YEAR COLLEGE TRANSFERS
If you are a transfer from a four-year/two-year college, YHC must have written permission from your current or previous institution in order to contact you about your transfer options.

NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER
All Prospective Student-Athletes must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and be certified prior to participating in athletics at a NCAA Division II institution.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Your academics and amateur status must be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center in order to participate in athletics as a freshman at the NCAA Division I or II level.

FOUR-YEAR/TWO-YEAR COLLEGE TRANSFERS
Your amateur status must be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center in order to participate in athletics at the NCAA Division I or II level.

NCAA ORGANIZED COMPETITION LEGISLATION FOR DIVISION II
NCAA Division II institutions must provide information regarding the organized competition legislation contained in NCAA Bylaw 14.2.4.2 to high school, preparatory school, two-year and four-year college prospective student-athletes and their parents or legal guardians . The information must be provided at the earliest practical opportunity after the institution begins recruiting the prospective student-athlete, but not later than the day prior to the student-athlete's signed acceptance of the National Letter of Intent or the institution's written offer of admission and/or financial aid. An institution may provide the information in hard-copy or electronic form (e.g., electronic mail, link to Web site). [Bylaw 14.2.4.2.3]

General Rule
This rule determines the number of seasons of competition that a prospect, domestic or international, would have remaining at the time of initial full-time collegiate enrollment if the prospect participated in certain types of organized competition before enrollment at a collegiate institution.

According to the rule, prospects have a one year "grace period" to participate in organized competition without being charged seasons of competition. The grace period ends one calendar-year after high school graduation. If the prospect does not enroll full time in college at the next opportunity to enroll after that one-calendar year grace period has elapsed, the prospect will be charged with one season of competition for every 12-month period (or partial period) that he or she participates in organized competition.

In addition to being charged the season(s) of competition, once the organized competition rule is triggered, the prospect must also fulfill an academic year in residence upon enrollment at any NCAA institution before being able to compete in the specific sport for a Division II institution.

Activities Constituting Use of Season
An individual who delays collegiate enrollment and participates in competition that meets any one of the following criteria after his or her one year grace period, will be subject to the organized competition rule:

Competition is scheduled in advance;
Official score is kept;
Individual or team standings or statistics are maintained;
Official timer or game officials are used;
Admission is charged;
Teams are regularly formed or team rosters are predetermined;
Team uniforms are used;
An individual or team is privately or commercially sponsored; or
The competition is either directly or indirectly sponsored, promoted or administered by an individual, an organization or any other agency.

Determining High School Graduation
For purposes of determining when the one year grace period starts, an individual's high school graduation shall be considered to be the graduation date of the final high school class (e.g., junior, senior) of which he or she was a member.

In addition, the NCAA International Student Records Committee has determined the expected date of high school graduation for international prospects. For more information, please contact your compliance administrator or refer to the NCAA Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility at www.ncaa.org.If a prospect graduates high school early, he or she becomes a member of that class and the date of graduation for that prospect is the expected date of that class.

If a prospect is required to repeat an entire year of high school attendance, he or she becomes a member of the new class and the expected date of graduation for that prospect is the expected date of that class. An academic authority from the prospect's secondary school must certify in writing that the prospect was required to repeat an entire year of high school for academic reasons.

A prospect who discontinues high school enrollment is treated as if the actual date of the discontinued high school enrollment is the date of high school graduation. Therefore, if he or she discontinues high school enrollment and then participates in organized competition, he or she uses one season of competition for each consecutive 12-month period after the grace period has elapsed.

Academic Year in Residence
Once it's been determined that the individual will be charged a season(s) of competition per Bylaw 14.2.4.2, he or she must also serve an academic year in residence at any member institution before being eligible to compete in that particular sport at a Division II institution. Enrollment in a summer term at a member institution does not satisfy this provision.

There is an exception to the requirement to serve an academic year in residence: A transfer student who has attended at least two full-time semesters or three full-time quarters at a two-year or four-year college, and has completed an average of twelve transferable degree credits for each full-time term of attendance, is not required to serve an academic year-in-residence. It is the responsibility of each institution to certify whether the individual meets the exception to the year in residence. In addition, the institution must provide the NCAA Eligibility Center staff with verification, in writing, confirming that the individual meets the exception. Such confirmation and accompanying written verification shall be completed by the institution's academic authorities outside the athletics department (e.g., registrar).

Exceptions

There are three exceptions to the organized-competition rule. If a prospect meets any of these exceptions for each 12-month period in which the prospect participates in organized competition, the prospect will not be charged with seasons of intercollegiate competition.

United States Armed Services Exception;
National/International Competition Exception; and
Skiing Exception.

[References: Bylaw 14.2.4.2 (participation in organized competition before initial collegiate enrollment) and official interpretation, March 19, 2010, Item Ref. No. 6-c-(3).]

NCAA ELIGIBILITY/RECRUITING LINK

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & USEFUL WEBSITES

YOUNG HARRIS COLLEGE LINKS

Information contained in this website is for the general education and knowledge of the reader. It is not designed to be, and should not be used as, the sole source of information when analyzing and resolving a regulatory problem. NCAA rules and regulations are constantly changing. If you have specific questions regarding a particular fact situation, we urge you to consult the YHC Compliance Office.

Compliance Office Phone: (706) 379-5107
Compliance Office Fax: (706) 379-4304