University of Louisville Compliance - Professional Teams
April 09, 2001 | General
Involvement with Professional Teams
Tryout Prior to Enrollment
A 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 Enrollment
A 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 Prohibited
During 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 Competition
An 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 Professional
An individual may participate singly or as a member of an amateur team against professional athletes.
Competition With Professionals
An 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 Member
An 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 Leagues
An 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.
