Welcome to American University. As a prospective
student-athlete, you have certain responsibilities to attend to
before you may join the AU family.
If you are interested in participating as an American Eagle,
please check with your high school advisor or the NCAA Eligibility
Center to find out the steps it takes to participate in collegiate
athletics. Work with your high school counselor or college
admissions office to find with college is right for you.
As a member institution, American University is committed to the
integrity of its athletic programs and adherence of all regulations
governed by the NCAA and the University. Please take time to read
this website and familiarize yourself with all rules and
regulations. We understand there are always questions that will
arise as a result of specific situations. If you feel unclear about
how to operate within the NCAA guidelines, please contact the
Compliance Office at (202) 885-3039.
Important
Terms and Definitions
Prospective Student-Athlete: You become a
"prospective student-athlete" when you start ninth-grade classes.
Before the ninth grade, you become a prospective student-athlete if
a college gives you (or your relatives or friends) any financial
aid or other benefits that the college does not provide to
prospective students generally.
Recruited Student-Athlete: You become a
"recruited prospective student-athlete" at a particular college if
any coach or representative of the college's athletics interests
(booster or representative) approaches you (or any member of your
family) about enrolling and participating in athletics at that
college. Activities by coaches or boosters that cause you to become
a recruited prospective student-athlete are:
• Providing you with an official visit
• Placing more than one telephone call to you or any other
member of your family
• Visiting you or any other member of your family anywhere
other than the college campus
Official Visit: A visit to a college campus
paid in whole or in part by the college. Official visits can be no
longer than 48 hours. A prospective student-athlete is limited to 5
official visits. (one per university)
Unofficial Visit: A visit made to a college
campus at the prospect's expense. The college may provide free
tickets to an on-campus athletics event in which the college team
competes. Transportation to view off-campus practice or competition
sites within 30-mile radius are also allowable. There is no limit
on the number of unofficial visits a prospect can make.
National Letter of Intent: The National Letter
of Intent is official documentation administered by the Collegiate
Commissioners Association and used by universities to establish a
prospect's commitment to attend a certain university.
Recruiting Contact: Any face-to-face,
off-campus encounter between a prospect, prospect's parents (or
legal guardian) or relative and a college staff employee or
athletics representative; if the conversation goes beyond a
greeting.
Recruiting Evaluation: Any off-campus
activity designed to assess a prospect's academic qualifications or
athletic ability. (reviewing transcripts on the high school campus
or watching practices / games).
Transfers
WARNING: If you are a student-athlete
enrolled at another four-year institution or if you have been
enrolled at another four-year institution in the last year
(Division I, II, or III), NCAA rules and regulations strictly
prohibit AU coaches (or athletics staff members) from having any
communication* with you, directly or indirectly, until that first
institution grants our institution permission to contact you. You
may obtain this permission to contact from the athletics compliance
office or the director of athletics at your current or previous
institution.
Once you obtain this release, you may fax the release to the
American University Athletics Compliance Office at (202) 885-3033.
Once the release is obtained from your current or previous
institution, then AU coaches will be able to contact you. In sports
other than basketball, four-year college transfer students should
request a release to be immediately eligible to compete before
transferring American University.
*Types of communication include via email, phone or written
form.
NCAA Transfer Guide
Prospective
International Student-Athletes
The American University Department of Athletics actively
recruits student-athletes from diverse backgrounds, including
students from foreign countries. International Student-Athlete
Questionnaire
Additional links:
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
• Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) general testing
information and information on locating and scheduling the SAT
overseas
• American College Testing Program (ACT) general testing information
and information on locating and scheduling the ACT overseas.
Publications
Guide for College Bound
Student-Athletes
Initial Eligibility Brochure, Road Map to Initial
Eligibility
NCAA Guide to Transfers
