To be eligible for practice, competition and financial aid, you must be enrolled in a minimum of 3 courses during the fall and spring semesters. If you need fewer than
3 courses to graduate, you may enroll in only those courses provided you are in your final collegiate semester and your administrative dean certifies your graduation status in writing. That certification must be placed on file in the compliance office.
NCAA Five-Year Rule
NCAA rules allow each student-athlete five calendar years to complete four years of competition in a sport. This five-year clock begins when you become a full-time student at any collegiate institution. These five years are continuous. If you are not enrolled in school at any time during these five years, you do not regain that time. In special cases, you may be granted an extension of the five year clock.
Patriot League (8 Semester Rule)
A student’s normal years of eligibility shall be the first eight full semesters after initial enrollment. “Athletic Redshirting” (holding a student out of competition as an underclassman for the express purpose of saving a year of NCAA eligibility for a fifth year of enrollment) is prohibited. Patriot League policies apply to all league and non-league competition.
Statement of Recruiting Philosophy
Colgate University supports and endorses NCAA legislation established to improve the recruiting process. The primary focus of official visits taken by prospective student-athletes is to determine whether the recruit and Colgate University are a good fit for each other. Therefore, careful consideration will be taken when scheduling activities for the recruit and his or her family. Colgate intends to provide prospects with an informative visit that will give them a realistic view of what their experience would be like if they decided to attend Colgate University. When hosting a prospect on campus for an official visit, student-athlete hosts are expected to adhere to NCAA rules and Colgate’s Code of Conduct for official visits. It is important that you provide all prospective student-athletes with a safe and insightful experience while on their visit.
STUDENT-HOSTS – NCAA RULES
- You must be enrolled at Colgate University and a qualifier in your first year.
- During the visit, your prospect is not permitted to take part in any physical workout involving the sport for which he/she is being recruited.
- You may use student-athlete host money ($30/day) for entertainment or meals only for you and your prospect. Other team members must pay for their own meals and entertainment. The prospect may be entertained only within a 30-mile radius of campus. You must keep and turn in all receipts from entertainment and meals.
- You must handle the money personally and not give it directly to the prospect. No cash may be given to the visiting prospect or prospect’s parents [legal guardian(s)].
- You cannot use the money to buy the prospect souvenirs (e.g., hats, t-shirts).
- You may NOT use vehicles provided by or arranged for by any Colgate staff or athletics booster. A coach can, however, provide you and the prospect with a ride during the official visit.
- Representatives of the University’s athletics interests (e.g., boosters) are not allowed to be involved in recruiting a prospect. If, during the official visit, you and the prospect come into contact with a representative of athletics interests, the conversation must be limited to an exchange of a greeting.
- You may receive a complimentary admission (not an actual ticket) when accompanying a prospect to an athletic event on campus. Current student-athletes and prospects on official visit must present valid identification in order to obtain complimentary admissions to the contest.
CODE OF CONDUCT for Official Visits
- Remember you are an AMBASSADOR for the athletics division family. Your actions should reflect positively on the athletics division and Colgate University.
- You are responsible for keeping your prospect on time for all appointments. You need to be constantly aware of the prospect’s schedule and must attend all functions with your prospect.
- Individuals involved in the recruit’s visit will act in a responsible manner and are expected to abide by the law. (Do not take an underage prospect to a bar or club which allows admittance only to those over 21 years of age).
- The use of alcohol, drugs or sex in recruiting will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary action.
- NCAA Rules must be abided by in all situations.
- No engagement in any type of “adult entertainment” (i.e., exotic dance clubs, escort services).
- Never leave a recruit alone with a non-team member. No dates or “set-ups” for the recruit.
- Have a plan for entertaining the recruit and review with your head coach or designee. Advise the head coach in advance of any changes to the plan.
- If your prospect acts in a manner detrimental to Colgate University, report this information to your head coach immediately.
Students who have enrolled at Colgate have made a commitment to participate in the educational program of the institution. Attendance at all classes is expected and is an important part of one’s academic development.
Attendance policies for each course will be announced by the faculty member at the beginning of each term. Conflicts between curricular and co-curricular activities should be avoided by careful planning and scheduling of activities. The rare, but unavoidable, conflict should be worked out well in advance by the student with the faculty member’s permission.
It is the student-athlete’s responsibility to discuss with his or her coach and professors any conflicts that arise between travel for games and classes.
Transferring from Colgate University
To transfer from Colgate University, you must meet the following requirements:
1. Immediately inform your coach of your interest in going elsewhere. It is
suggested that you meet with the Colgate Athletics administrator responsible
for your sport and your coach regarding your decision. Before you discuss any
possibilities with a potential new school, that school must first receive written
permission from the Colgate University Department of Athletics. If you or your
parents contact a potential new school, that institution is obligated to let
Colgate University know that you or your parents have done so. The potential
new school must first receive written permission from the Colgate University
Department of Athletics before having any further contact with you.
2. According to NCAA regulations, you must complete one year of residency at
your new institution before you are eligible to participate in athletics,
unless you meet the requirements of an NCAA transfer exception. The most
common exception is the One-Time transfer exception. In most instances, this
exception is not offered to football or basketball players.
NCAA Practice Hour Limitations
In-Season
While a student-athlete is in-season, he/she may not participate in more than 4 hours/day, 20 hours/week, and must have 1 day off.
Per NCAA Rules, a day of competition will always be counted as 3 hours, regardless of how long a student-athlete is on call for that day.
Out-of-Season
In all sports other than football, a student-athlete out-of-season, may not participate in more than 8 hours/week of voluntary weights & conditioning, with not more than 2 of those hours devoted to skill instruction, and must have 2 days off.
In football, a student-athlete who is out-of-season may not participate in more than 8 hours/week of weights & conditioning, with not more than 2 of those hours devoted to film review, and must have 2 days off.
Countable Athletically Related Activities:
- Practice
- Athletic Meetings with a coach initiated or required by coach (e.g. end of season individual meeting)
- Competition
- Field activity
- Setup up offensive or defensive alignment
- Required weight-training/conditioning activities
- Required participation in camps/clinics
- Visiting the competition site in sports of XC, golf, skiing
- Discussion or review of game films
Non-Countable Athletically Related Activities:
- Compliance Meetings
- Meeting with a coach initiated by the student-athlete
- Study hall/academic meetings
- SAAC meetings
- Voluntary weight training not conducted by a coach or staff member
- Voluntary sport-related activities (e.g. initiated by student-athlete, no attendance taken, no coach present)
- Traveling to and from site of competition
- Training room activities
- Recruiting activities (e.g. student host responsibilities)
NCAA regulations prohibit student-athletes and the athletics department staff members from engaging in the following:
- Providing information to individuals involved in organized gambling activities concerning intercollegiate athletics competition;
- Soliciting a bet on any intercollegiate team
- Accepting a bet on any team representing the institution;
- Soliciting or accepting a bet on any intercollegiate competition for any item (e.g., cash, shirt, dinner) that has tangible value; or
- Participating in any gambling activity that involves intercollegiate athletics or professional athletics through a bookmaker, a parlay card, or any other method employed by organized gambling.
An extra benefit includes any special arrangement by a Colgate University employee or booster to provide a prospect, a student-athlete, or their relatives/friends a benefit not expressly authorized by the NCAA. Examples of impermissible extra benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Transportation
- Use of an automobile
- Low interest or interest-free loans, telephone cards, credit cards, charge accounts, etc.
- Providing more than the allowable three complimentary admissions
- Special discounts on products or services
- Special payment arrangements on personal purchases
- Material benefits that are not available to the general student body
Student-athletes are only allowed to receive benefits that are also offered to the general student population. Be extremely careful of “free” or “special” benefits that you may be offered. If any of these items or services has been offered to you by someone other than a family member, notify the Compliance Office immediately. If you have any questions about whether something might be considered an extra benefit, ask your coach or contact the Compliance Office.
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