Compliance

Involvement with Professional Teams

Tryout Prior to EnrollmentA student-athlete remains eligible in a sport even though, prior to enrollment in a collegiate institution, the student-athlete may have tried out with a professional athletics team in a sport or received not more than one expense-paid visit from each professional team (or a combine including that team), provided such a visit did not exceed 48 hour and any payment or compensation in connection with the visit was not in excess of actual and necessary expenses. A self-financed tryout may be for any length of time (NCAA Bylaw 12.2.1.1).

Tryout After EnrollmentA student-athlete shall not try out with a professional athletics team in a sport or permit a professional athletics team to conduct medical examinations during any part of the academic year while enrolled in a collegiate institution as a regular student in at least a full time load, unless the student-athlete has exhausted eligibility in that sport. The student-athlete may try out with a professional organization in a sport during the summer or during the academic year while not a full-time student, provided the student-athlete does not receive any form of expenses or other compensation from the professional organization (NCAA Bylaw 12.2.1.2)

Outside Competition ProhibitedDuring a tryout, an individual may not take part in any outside competition (games or scrimmages) as a representative of a professional team (NCAA Bylaw 12.2.1.3)

Practice Without CompetitionAn individual may participate in practice sessions conducted by a professional team, provided such participation meets the requirements of NCAA legislation governing tryouts with professional athletics teams and the individual does not:

receive any compensation for participation in the practice session
enter into any contract or agreement with a professional team or sports organization
take part in any outside competition (games or scrimmages) as a representative of a professional team.

Competition Against ProfessionalAn individual may participate singly or as a member of an amateur team against professional athletes.

Competition With ProfessionalsAn individual shall not be eligible for intercollegiate athletics in a sport if the individual ever participated on a team and knew (or had reason to know) that the team was a professional team (per NCAA Bylaw 12.04) in that sport. However, an individual may compete on a tennis, golf, two-person sand volleyball team with persons who are competing for cash or a comparable prize, provided the individual does not receive payment of any kind for such participation.

Professional Player as a Team MemberAn individual may participate with a professional on a team, provided the professional is not being paid by a professional team or league to play as a member of that team (e.g., summer basketball league with teams composed of both professional and amateur athletes).

Amateur Professional LeaguesAn individual may participate as a member of an amateur team in a league in which one or more of the teams are professional, provided the league is not a member of a recognized professional sports organization or is not directly supported or sponsored by a professional sports team or organization.

BaseballNo more than four (4) players from the University of Arkansas baseball team may play on the same outside team. Competition on an outside amateur baseball team may only occur during the summer months or during vacation periods which are outside of Arkansas’s declared playing or practice season. Competition on an outside team during any other part of the academic year will render the student-athlete ineligible for the remainder of that academic year and the following academic year.

BasketballCompetition on an outside team may only occur between June 15th and August 31st and only in NCAA approved summer leagues. A team shall include no more than two players with collegiate basketball eligibility remaining from any one college and must limit their competition to one team in one league. The summer league must be within 100 air miles of the University of Arkansas or within 100 air miles of the student-athlete’s official residence at the end of the academic year. Each student-athlete must have prior written approval of the athletic director prior to participating in any summer league. A student-athlete who participates in any organized competition except while representing the institution or in an NCAA approved summer league will be ineligible for any further collegiate competition in the sport of basketball.

All Other SportsLimitations on the number of student-athletes only apply to representing an outside team during the academic year vacation periods that are outside the declared playing and practice season. Competition on an outside team may only occur during the summer months or during vacation periods that are outside Arkansas’s declared playing and practice season for your sport. Competition on an outside team during any other part of the academic year will render you ineligible for the remainder of that academic year and the following academic year.

Olympic and National Team Development ProgramThere are no limits on the number of student-athletes from the same institution who may participate in Olympic and national team development programs. Such programs may also include a coach and student-athlete from the same institution provided:

The national governing body (NGB) conducts and administers the developmental program.
The NGB selects coaches involved in the developmental program; and
The NGB or the selected coaches select the involved participants.