Information That All Prospective Student-Athletes Should Know
UMass intercollegiate athletics guide to NCAA rules
Information that all alumni, fans and friends of UMass need to know
Information that all current student-athletes must know
Contact the UMass compliance office
Below is a summary of important NCAA Division I rules and regulations that pertain to prospective student-athletes. It must be understood that the information below does not cover specific details regarding rules and regulations. Should you have any questions, please contact the UMass compliance office at (413) 545-1823/1950. With your eligibility at stake, it is safer to ask before acting. At the end of this page you will find additional links to NCAA compliance information.
CONTACTING COACHES
A prospective student-student athlete of any age may contact a UMass coach. The following link provides the UMass coaching directory: http://umassathletics.ocsn.com/school-bio/directory.html
It is important to tell the coach your age and mailing address in the e-mail you send, because NCAA rules may not permit the coach to respond to you at this time. For detailed information by sport on when the coach can contact you, click here to view the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete in PDF format.
Please know that except for summer camp information, NCAA materials and prospect questionnaires, coaches may not send information to a prospect until September 1 of the Junior Year. (men's basketball, June 15 following Sophomore year.)
Telephone contact initiated by the coach (except with football) begins with one phone call in March of the Junior year and then one call per week beginning the subsequent July 1.
Men's and women's basketball: one call in march of the Junior year and one call after June 21 - calls after that time are limited to no more than once per week and there is a limit of three calls in July
Football: one call in May of Junior year and once per week beginning September 1 of Senior year.
ACADEMICS
To practice or play during the freshman year, a student-athlete must meet the following NCAA requirements:
1. Graduate high school
2. Achieve a minimum GPA in a completed core curriculum of at least 14 academic courses (prospects entering in 2008 will need 16 academic courses).
3. Achieve a corresponding minimum combined score of the SAT, or a minimum sum total score on the ACT as determined by an initial eligibility index.
4. Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse, which certifies all incoming student-athletes as being academically eligible by meeting the provisions of 1-3 above. You may contact the NCAA Clearinghouse at:
In order to become a student-athlete at UMass, all prospects must complete the university's admission process, which can be found at the following link: http://www.umass.edu/umhome/admissions/index.html
ALL-STAR CONTESTS (Football and Basketball prospects only)
Following the completion of your high school eligibility and prior to your high school graduation, legislation limits you to participating in no more than two all-star football contests or two all-star basketball contests.
CONTACTS
After signing the National Letter of Intent, it remains impermissible for recruiting contacts (including correspondence and telephone calls) to be made by a representative of the institution's athletic interests (booster) except those involving permissible pre-enrollment activities (e.g. summer job employment discussion).
EMPLOYMENT (SUMMER)
Compensation for employment must be: (a) at a rate that matches the going rate in that locality for similar services, and (b) provided only for work actually performed.
FINANCIAL AID
In conjunction with the signing of your National Letter of Intent, you should have received a statement indicating the amount of financial aid to be provided by the University during your first academic year. The maximum value the University can provide may not exceed the value of a full grant-in-aid (i.e., tuition and fees, room (double) and board, and required course-related books).
SUMMER CAMPS
It is prohibited for a senior prospect to be employed at any university sports camp. Any individual who has started classes for his/her senior year in high school or has graduated high school and not yet enrolled in a college institution is permitted to enroll and participate in university sports camps except in the sport of football.
INDUCEMENTS
All institutional staff members and boosters are prohibited from offering or providing any financial aid or other benefits to you or your relatives or friends. Specifically, prohibited inducements include, but are not limited to: arrangement of employment for your relatives, gifts of clothing or equipment, co-signing of loans, cash or like items, and free or reduced cost housing. The general rule is that you should not accept anything from someone whom you are not naturally or legally dependent upon. If anyone has offered or provided such inducements please contact the UMass athletic compliance office.
To check the most recent NCAA rules, click here to view the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete in PDF format.
If you have any questions or require addition information, please contact the UMass athletic compliance office.
