• Tryouts with Professional Teams. After initial full-time collegiate enrollment, a student-athlete who has eligibility remaining may try out with a professional team (or participate in a combine including that team) at any time, provided the student-athlete does not miss class. The student-athlete may receive actual and necessary expenses in conjunction with one 48-hour tryout per professional team. At the completion of the 48-hour period, the student-athlete must depart the location of the tryout immediately to receive return transportation expenses.

Actual and necessary expenses include: travel, hotel or other housing, food and other necessary expenses associated with the tryout.

The 48-hour period begins at the time the student-athlete arrives at the tryout location.

A tryout may extend beyond 48 hours if the student-athlete self-finances additional expenses, including return transportation.

A self-financed tryout may be for any length of time, provided the student-athlete does not miss class.

It is not permissible for an institution’s collegiate coach to arrange and schedule a tryout with a professional team on behalf of the student-athlete.

STUDENT-ATHLETES SHOULD KEEP VERY DETAILED RECORDS OF EXPENSES RECEIVED OR EXPENSES PAID FOR OUT OF POCKET.

  • Practice Without Competition. A student-athlete may participate in practice sessions conducted by a professional team, provided such participation meets all of the requirements above regarding tryouts with professional athletics teams and the student-athlete does not:

Receive any compensation for participation in the practice sessions;

Enter into any contract or agreement with a professional team or sports organization; or

Take part in any outside competition (games or scrimmages) as a representative of a professional team.

  • Agents. A student-athlete shall be ineligible for participation in an intercollegiate sport if he or she has agreed (orally or in writing) to be represented by an agent for the purpose of marketing his or her athletics ability or reputation in that sport.

Ineligibility will result if the student-athlete enters into a verbal or written agreement with an agent for representation in future professional sports negotiations that are to take place after the individual has completed his or her eligibility in that sport.

Ineligibility will result if a student-athlete (or his or her relatives or friends) accepts any benefit from an agent or any person associated with an agent (e.g., runner, advisor).

  • Examples of material benefits include but are not limited to: money, transportation, clothes, cell phone, dinner, etc.
  • Benefits may also include, but are not limited to, activities such as tryout arrangements with a professional team and coordinating tryout schedules.

BE SURE TO KEEP THE COMPLIANCE OFFICE INFORMED OF ANY TRYOUT OR INVOLVEMENT WITH A PROFESSIONAL TEAM AND/OR INVOLVMENT WITH THE DRAFT TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH NCAA RULES.

University of Notre Dame  113 Joyce Center  Notre Dame, IN 46556