By Sarah Gearhart

Rules apply even if your visit is off the record. So as you’re getting ready to head for different campuses, keep in mind the NCAA’s R&Rs for unofficial campus visits.

Unofficial visits

You can take an unlimited number of visits to colleges and universities before your senior year—as long as you shell out the dough for the trips. Schools do not pay for unofficial visits.

Entertainment

The only entertainment you can receive is up to three complimentary tickets to a home athletics event within a 30-mile radius of campus. The following restrictions apply:

• Tickets must be for the general seating area

• For exclusive use by you and those accompanying you on the visit

• Game tickets are not reserved for you to purchase

Meals

D-I: You are responsible for paying for all meals, with two exceptions:

• For Division I-AA football programs that offer no more than 25 official visits to recruits, one meal may be provided in an on-campus dining facility.

• For sports other than football and basketball, one meal may be provided in the on-campus dining facility as part of an admissions event, during which you can have contact with members of the coaching staff.

D-II and D-III: One meal can be provided in the on-campus dining facility. If closed, the school can buy one meal from an off-campus dining facility.

Lodging

You can stay in an enrolled student-athlete’s dorm room, but must pay the institution’s regular room rate.

Transportation

Transportation to view practice or competition sites in your sport or other institutional facilities is permitted. The following restriction applies:

• Payment of transportation expenses to attend a school’s athletic event (on or off campus) is prohibited, unless it’s available to all prospective students and is less than $100.

Other restrictions:

• Special parking arrangements during athletic events are prohibited.

• Admission may be provided for conferences hosting an NCAA Youth Education through Sports clinic in conjunction with their conference championships.

• D-I: Complimentary or reduced-cost admission to conference tournaments, NCAA championships and other postseason contests are prohibited.

• D-II and D-III: Complimentary admission to a postseason conference tournament is permitted only if the college/university is participating and it’s held on campus. Complimentary or reduced-cost admission to NCAA championships is prohibited.

Rate this article:   1  5