Please scroll down for information on Prospective Student Athletes, Current Student-Athletes and Friends of Howard Athletics.

PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETES
If you are interested in being a student athlete at Howard, or any other NCAA institution, this section will help you learn more about the process and recruiting rules.

As a prospective student-athlete you have the potential to become a Howard Bison. Naturally, the University and Department of Athletics would like for all of the prospective student-athletes to be eligible to become a Bison. In order for you to be eligible to compete at HU, the NCAA has specific guidelines that must be followed. This page has been set up to help educate prospective student-athletes about what they need to do and what they need to refrain from doing before they can be eligible to compete for HU. Please note that the scope and complexity of NCAA legislation precludes complete coverage on this website. We suggest, therefore, that you forward additional questions to the Compliance Office at 202-806-9180.

ATTENTION: All prospective student-athletes intending to enroll in an NCAA Division I or II institution for the first time on or after August 1, 2007 must complete the NCAA Amateurism Certification questionnaire. (If you enrolled full time in a Division I or II institution prior to the fall 2007, you do not need to complete the amateurism questions.) Also, prospects who enroll at NCAA Division I and Division II institution beginning fall 2007 MUST supply ACT or SAT scores to the Clearinghouse directly from the testing agencies. Test scores on an official high school transcript will no longer be usable for NCAA purposes. You can use the code 9999 to have your test scores sent directly from the testing agency to the Clearinghouse.

Prospective Student-Athletes: Thank you for your interest in Howard Athletics!  If you are an individual who has begun classes for the 9^th grade, or if you are a student enrolled at a preparatory school or a two-year college, then you are considered a "prospect".  The following information will help you answer any questions you may have about playing for the Bison.

Click here for the NCAA 2007-08 Guide for the College Bound Student-Athlete

NCAA Clearinghouse Registration

What do I need to do to be eligible to play on a Howard intercollegiate athletic team?

You'll need to obtain both academic and medical clearance to practice and compete.

Academic Clearance First, to compete at the NCAA Division 1 level, all incoming freshmen must be certified by the NCAA Clearinghouse.  The Clearinghouse is an agency that provides initial-eligibility certification for all first-year student athletes. To receive certification from the Clearinghouse, you must meet the following requirements:

• Graduate from high school
• A minimum sum score on the ACT or minimum combined score on the SAT
• A high school grade point average of at least 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in a core curriculum of 14 courses. These include the following core courses:
• o English- 4 years
• o Math- 2 years
• o Natural/Physical Science (incl. 1 lab)- 2 years
• o Social Science- 2 years
• o Additional English, Math, or Natural/Physical Science- 1 year
• o Additional Academic Courses (from any category above, or foreign language, social studies, philosophy, computer science)- 3 years

To be cleared by the Clearinghouse, American students must complete the student release form and foreign students must complete the Foreign Student Application, which are both available at http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net/. In addition, you must send an official high school transcript demonstrating proof of graduation and SAT/ACT test scores to the Clearinghouse from your high school. 

**NOTE: In 2008, the number of core courses required will increase from 14 to 16.  To be cleared by the Clearinghouse in 2008, prospective students must have completed three years of math and four years of extra courses.

General Questions

After my football game last week, a man who identified himself as a Howard alum approached me and offered to pay for me and my family's expenses to travel to Howard to visit the campus.  We're pretty sure we have to decline, but we just want to make sure accepting the offer is allowed.

NO. This is considered an "extra benefit".  Extra benefits are benefits for prospective and enrolled student-athletes that are not equally available to all prospects of Howard students.  If you accept any of these benefits, then you may in violation of the NCAA's principle of amateurism and you could be deemed ineligible.  An extra benefit includes the provision of any transportation, meals, housing, clothes, service, entertainment, or other benefit not equally available to all enrolled students and prospective students who are not athletes.

When can a coach call me?

With the exception of football, a coach can first call you or your parents during March of your junior year in high school.  Coaches are not allowed to call you until July, after you have completed your junior year.  Coaches can then call you once a week.  This is the general rule and there are exceptions for football, men's and women's basketball and ice hockey.

When can I call a coach?

If the call is paid at your own expense, then you can call coaches at any time.

Is it okay if I email a coach? Can I instant message with him or her?

Like phone calls, you can email or IM a coach as much as you want.  However, a coach will not be able to respond until September 1 of your junior year in high school.

When can a coach contact me?

With the exception of football, a coach cannot meet with you on your high school campus until April of your junior year.  Then a coach cannot visit you before July.

A few weeks ago, an assistant coach mentioned that the team might want to bring me to Howard for an official visit. What exactly is an "official visit?

An official visit is any visit to a college campus by you and your parents paid for by the college or university.  Before a college may invite you on an official visit, you will have to provide the college with a copy of your high school transcript and SAT, ACT, PACT, or PLAN score.  The institution can pay for the following expenses:

• o Your transportation to and from the college
• o Room and meals (three per day) for you and your parents while you are visiting the school; and
• o Reasonable entertainment expenses, which includes three complimentary admissions tickets to a home athletic game.

What is an "unofficial" visit?

This is a visit to a college campus by you and your parents and paid for by you and your parents.  You can make as many "unofficial" visits as you want and you can make these visits at any time.  During an unofficial visit, the only time you cannot meet with a coach is during a dead period.  A dead period is when a college coach may not have any in-person contact with you or your parents during this time.  Visit http://www.ncaa.org/ to learn more about the recruiting calendar for your sport. 

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CURRENT STUDENT-ATHLETES
This section of the site will help answer any questions our student-athletes may have regarding eligibility, extra benefits, recruiting and insurance.  You can also find this information in the Howard University Student-Athlete Handbook.

Eligibility

NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse (NCAA Eligibility Center) - General Information and Q & A

What is the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse?

The NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse (the clearinghouse) is an organization that works with the NCAA to determine a student's eligibility for athletics participation in his or her first year of college enrollment. Students who want to participate in college sports during their first year of enrollment in college must register with the clearinghouse.

Located in Iowa City, Iowa, the clearinghouse staff follows NCAA bylaws and regulations in analyzing and processing a student's high school academic records, ACT or SAT scores, and key information about amateurism participation, to determine the student's initial eligibility.

When to call the clearinghouse

Please contact the clearinghouse when you have questions like these:

• How do I register?
• I have forgotten my PIN. Can I get a new one?
• Some of my classes are not on my high school's list. How can I get a class added?
• My clearinghouse report shows I am missing some material. What is missing?
• Where do I send my transcripts?
• What do the codes on my clearinghouse report mean?
• I have been home schooled. What do I have to do to register?
• I am a high school counselor and I do not know my high school's PIN. Can I find out what it is?
• I am a high school administrator and want to add some core courses to our high school list. How do I do that?

NCAA Eligibility Center

Starting November 1, 2007, the NCAA Eligibility Center will begin processing academic and amateurism certifications and taking over all operations previously handled by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, the eligibility center works closely with the NCAA national office, ensuring all academic and amateurism regulations are met. You may continue to access your initial-eligibility file by visiting http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net/.

Before November 1, 2007:  

NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse
301 ACT Drive
P.O. Box 4043
Iowa City, Iowa 52243-4043
www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

877/262-1492 (customer service Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central time)
319/337-1492 (international callers)
319/337-1556 (fax)

After November 1, 2007:

NCAA Eligibility Center
P.O. Box 7110
Indianapolis, Indiana 46206
http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net/
877/262-1492 (customer service Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Eastern time)
317/223-0700 (international callers)

When to call the NCAA

Please contact the NCAA when you have questions like these:

• What are the rules and regulations related to initial eligibility?
• What are the rules and regulations related to amateurism?
• What are the regulations about transferring from one college to another?
• What are the rules about athletics scholarships and how can they be reduced or canceled?
• I have a learning disability. Are there any other requirements for me?

NCAA
P.O. Box 6222
Indianapolis, IN 46206-6222
317/917-6222 (customer service Monday - Friday, noon - 4 p.m. Eastern time)

Clearinghouse Contact Information

Here is some important information that will assist you.

Certification
If you intend to participate in Division I or II athletics as a freshman, you must register and be certified by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. Refer to the Academic Eligibility Standards section on the GW website or at the Clearinghouse website to determine the initial-eligibility standards that apply to you.

Clearinghouse
Registration Materials Your counselors can obtain registration materials, at no cost, by calling the Clearinghouse (NCAA Eligibility Center) at the numbers listed above.

Registration
Process To register with the Clearinghouse (NCAA Eligibility Center), you must complete the Student Release Form (SRF), after your junior year, online, and send the clearinghouse the registration fee ($50 for domestic and $75 for international students). This SRF does two things:

• It authorizes each high school you have attended to send the clearinghouse your transcript, test scores, proof of graduation and other necessary academic information.
• It authorizes the clearinghouse to send your academic information to all colleges that request your eligibility status.

Online registration:
The only method is to register online. Go online to www.ncaaclearinghouse.net. Select Prospective Student-Athletes and click on Domestic Student Release Form or Foreign Student Release Form. Complete the SRF form online, and include your credit or debit card information to pay the fee. Then follow instructions to complete the transaction. Print a copy of your completed registration form and both Copy 1 and Copy 2 of the transcript release form. Sign the transcript release forms, and give both to your high school counselor.

Fee Waivers
High-school counselors may waive the Clearinghouse (NCAA Eligibility Center) fee if you have previously qualified for and received a waiver of the ACT or SAT fee. Fee-waiver information is specified on the student-release form. List of NCAA Approved Core Courses (Formerly Form 48-H) The list of NCAA approved core courses (formerly Form 48-H) identifies courses that may be used in meeting NCAA core-course requirements. Be sure that all courses you are taking for core-course purposes are listed on your high school's confirmation list of NCAA approved core courses (formerly Form 48-H).

Clearinghouse (NCAA Eligibility Center) Questions

Here are some questions you may still have after reviewing the previous section.

Q: Do I have to register with the clearinghouse?

A: Yes. If you want to participate in Division I or II athletics as a freshman, you must register with the Clearinghouse (NCAA Eligibility Center).

Q: Is Clearinghouse (NCAA Eligibility Center) certification the same as college admission?

A: No. Initial-eligibility certification from the Clearinghouse (NCAA Eligibility Center) does not guarantee your admission to any Division I or II college. You must apply for college admission separately. The clearinghouse only determines whether you meet NCAA requirements as a freshman student-athlete in a Division I or II college to be able to compete, practice and receive an athletics scholarship.

Q: May I send my academic information directly to the Clearinghouse (NCAA Eligibility Center)?

A: No. Transcripts must come to the Clearinghouse (NCAA Eligibility Center) by mail directly from the high school-not from you. Give Copies 1 and 2 of the transcript release form to the counselors at the high school you have attended. Note: The Clearinghouse (NCAA Eligibility Center) will not accept faxed transcripts.

Q: Who may see my academic information?

A: The Clearinghouse (NCAA Eligibility Center) will provide eligibility information only to colleges that request your academic information. If no NCAA college requests your eligibility status, the Clearinghouse (NCAA Eligibility Center) may not process an eligibility-status certification.

Q: When is the best time for me to register with the Clearinghouse (NCAA Eligibility Center)?

A: Register after your junior year in high school. If you do not submit all required documents, your file will be incomplete and will be discarded after three years. After that time, you will need to re-register and pay your fee again.

Q: Is there a registration deadline?

A: No. However, you must be certified as a qualifier before you can receive an athletics scholarship or practice or compete at a Division I or II college during your first year of enrollment.

Q: What if I have attended more than one high school?

A: If you have attended multiple high schools since ninth grade, the Clearinghouse (NCAA Eligibility Center) must receive an official transcript for each school. Transcripts can come directly from each school or from the high school from which you are graduating. Check with your high school counselor.

Q: How may I arrange for the testing agency to send my scores directly to the Clearinghouse (NCAA Eligibility Center)?

A: When you register to take the ACT or the SAT, mark code "9999" so that the testing agency will send your scores to the Clearinghouse (NCAA Eligibility Center). Test scores must be reported to the Clearinghouse (NCAA Eligibility Center) directly from SAT or ACT. The Clearinghouse (NCAA Eligibility Center) will not accept test scores reported on high school transcripts.

Extra Benefits

What should I do if a member of an alumni club offers me tickets a Nationals game? Can I take them?

NO. This is considered an "extra benefit". Extra benefits are benefits for enrolled student-athletes that are not equally available to Howard students.  If you accept any of these benefits, then you may be in violation of the NCAA's principle of amateurism and you could be deemed ineligible.  Other examples of extra benefits include:

• Cash or merchandise (or equivalent)
• Tickets to a pro sporting event, movie, concerts, ect.
• Athletic equipment or clothing (outside regular team apparel from the Howard Equipment Room)
• Any type of benefit from a booster or alum (i.e. meal). All alumni club can do for you is help arrange employment, either during the summer or after graduation, as long as you are paid at the normal rate and for work activities you actually perform.
• Loan of money
• Use of an automobile or free/ reduced travel
• Any type of benefit from a former teammate/student-athlete beyond those similar in nature that occurred while both were in college (movie, meal, ect.)

Also, even if the same benefit is available to non-athletes.  DO NOT accept any type of gift or benefit from anyone-an Alumni Club, booster, ect.-either prior to, during , or after enrollment.  It is best to check with Andrew Riley in the Compliance Office if you are unsure about receiving extra benefits. 

A Howard alum approached me about working for his company in New York City during the summer? Can I accept?

YES. As stated above, all an alumni or booster can do for you is arrange employment, either during the summer or after graduation, as long as you are paid at the normal rate and for work activities you actually perform. 

Click here for more questions on what is considered an extra benefit
Click here for NCAA Amateruism Rules for Prospects Involved in Amateur Club Sports
Click here for information on Professionalism and Agents

Recruiting

When I was a senior in high school, I played basketball with a very talented sophomore.  Well, that sophomore is now a senior in high school; can I call him and tell him about Howard? I think he would be a good fit for our team. 

NO. Under no circumstances should student-athletes call a prospect (anyone who has begun classes for the 9^th grade) at the direction of a coach or receive expenses to do so.  Enrolled student-athletes are prohibited from engaging in the recruiting process with a few limited exceptions.  Student-athletes can receive calls at the expense of the prospect or write or email the prospect.  The NCAA also prohibits student-athletes from calling prospects as part of the regular admissions process, even if it is part of the normal admissions process.

A former high school teammate called last night to ask me a couple of questions about playing for Howard. Is it okay if I answered her questions?

YES. Student athletes can receive calls at the expense of the prospect.  You can also exchange emails with a prospect.

Click here for General Recruiting Questions (All Divisions)

Transfers

Click here for the NCAA Transfer Guide
Click here for the 2-4 Transfer Requirements
Click here for the 4-4 Transfer Requirements
Click here for the 4-2-4 Transfer Requirements

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FRIENDS OF HOWARD ATHLETICS

NCAA rules are vast and ever-changing.  This section will help our alumni better understand the NCAA rules, in addition to the compliance responsibilities that go hand-in-hand with being a Friend of Howard Athletics.

Friends of Howard Athletics: Thank you for your support and enthusiasm for Howard Athletics! We're proud that our tradition of excellence-both on and off of the playing field-has been achieved by playing by the rules.  This section will provide you with the guidelines on following these rules and will help answer any question you may have about contributing to the success of Howard Athletics.

Definitions You Should Know

Representative of Friend of Howard's Athletics Interests: If you are or have ever been a member of any group which supports or promotes the athletic program, if you have made financial donations to the athletic program, or if you have helped in any way to recruit athletes, you are considered a "representative" or a friend of Howard's athletic interests."  Once you become a "representative" or a "friend," you retain identity indefinitely.

Prospective Student-Athlete or Prospect: Any student who has started classes for the ninth grade regardless of whether or not he or she is being recruited by Howard.  This term also applies to any student enrolled at a preparatory school or a two-year college.

Extra Benefits: Any benefit not equally available to all students and prospective students who are not student-athletes.  Prospects and enrolled student-athletes may not receive any extra benefits from the institution or a representative of athletic interests. An extra benefit includes the provision of:

• Cash or merchandise (or equivalent)
• Tickets to a pro sporting event, movie, concerts, ect.
• Athletic equipment or clothing (outside regular team apparel from the Howard Equipment Room)
• Any type of benefit from a booster or alum (i.e. meal). All alumni club can do for you is help arrange employment, either during the summer or after graduation, as long as you are paid at the normal rate and for work activities you actually perform.
• Loan of money
• Use of an automobile or free/ reduced travel
• Any type of benefit from a former teammate/student-athlete beyond those similar in nature that occurred while both were in college (movie, meal, ect.)

Recruiting: Any solicitation of a prospect or a prospect's relatives for the purpose of securing the prospect's enrollment and ultimate participation in Howard's Athletic Program.  Recruiting by a friend or representative of Howard's athletic interests is not allowed- they are prohibited from having any contact with a prospect.  Only Howard's staff members can recruit.  However, friends and representatives can have some involvement in recruiting process.  The following provides detailed information on what friends and representatives can and cannot do:

"Friends" Involvement with Prospects

The following are NCAA rules on what you can and cannot do regarding the recruitment of prospective student-athletes.

You CAN

• Observe a prospect's athletics contest as long as no contact is made with the prospect.
• Talk to a prospect about Howard if the prospect initiates a phone call to you, but refer all recruiting conversations about Howard athletics to the respective coach.
• Notify the Athletic Department or members of the coaching staff about outstanding prospects.
• Attend high school awards banquet or dinner as long as no recruiting contact is made with a prospective athlete.
• Appear as a commentator on high school radio or television broadcasts.
• Arrange for employment for prospective student-athletes after the student has accepted Howard's offer of admission, provided the job does not begin until after the completion of the students senior year of high school.

You CANNOT

• Provide any benefit to prospective student-athletes, even if it is available to all students.  This includes, but is not limited to, cash or loans, promise of employment after college, use of an automobile, tangible items, ect.
• Contact recruits or their parents, on-or-off-campus, in person, by telephone, or writing.  However, there are two exceptions.  One, if you are a member of the Schools and Scholarship Committee, you may contact prospects for Admissions purposes only; you may not have a recruiting conversation with a prospect, you may continue that relationship but never have a recruiting conversation.
• Contact the prospect's high school coach, principal, or guidance counselor for the purposes of evaluating or recruiting the prospect.
• Visit the prospect's educational institution to pick up film/videotape or transcripts regarding the evaluation of the prospect's academic eligibility or athletic ability.
• Invite prospective student-athletes, their high school coaches, or their parents to receptions.
• Provide a meal at a restaurant for prospects and their parents.

"Friends" Involvement with Enrolled Student-Athletes

The following are NCAA rules pertaining to what you can and cannot do regarding the interaction with enrolled student-athletes, their families and the coaching staff.

You CAN

• Provide an occasional home meal to enrolled student-athletes (not prospects) and provide local transportation to your home with the Athletic Director's permission.
• Provide a home meal and lodging at your home, and/or reasonable entertainment within 100 miles of the competition site to a Howard team competing in your area on an away trip.
• Provide lodging, meals, and transportation to Howard's coaches when they come to you community to contact and evaluate prospects.
• Donate frequent flyer miles to the athletic department to help defray the cost of recruiting expenses, as long as the miles may be used at the department's discretion.
• Arrange for employment for enrolled student-athletes as long as there is no preferential treatment and the student only gets paid that going rate for work activities actually performed.
• Join a Friends group to help fund special trips, recruiting and team functions.

You CANNOT

• Provide any benefit to enrolled students (which include transportation, meals, housing, entertainment, ect.) that is not equally available to all students, even after their eligibility is exhausted.
• Pay transportation expenses for the family of a prospect who is visiting Howard.
• Invite enrolled student-athletes or their families to receptions.
• Provide a meal at a restaurant for enrolled student-athletes or their parents.

Q & A

My alumni group is hosting a function for prospective students.  Some of these students are athletes and might decide to play for the Bison if they are accepted.  Can we still invite them to the luncheon?

YES. However, no recruiting presentation may take place and alumni may not have direct contact with any prospect regarding his or her interest in the athletic program.  An alumni organization may host a luncheon or dinner in for all prospective students (athletes and nonathletes) in that immediate locale as long as the purpose of the function is not related to athletics.

My neighbor's son is a prospect for Howard's swimming team.  Cam I talk to him about Howard's athletic program?

NO. While you can still maintain contact with this prospect, you cannot have a conversation about recruiting with him.

I'd like to help with recruiting. How can I?

You can help by identifying outstanding student-athletes in your area and letting Howard coaches know about them.  If they think the athlete has potential, then they will contact him/her.  While you cannot contact prospects or their coaches and guidance counselors, you can attend their athletic contests. 

• Scoreboard
• Upcoming Games

Multimedia

Coach's Comments from 2008 Football Spring Training (Part One)
Coach's Comments from 2008 Football Spring Training (Part Two)