Only an amateur student-athlete is eligible for intercollegiate athletics participation in a particular sport. Freshmen and transfer student-athletes initially enrolling at a Division I institution are required to complete the amateurism certification process outlined by the NCAA via the Eligibility Center.  All listed data should be verified by the prospective student athlete (PSA) and their parents/guardians. Student-athletes could lose their amateur status, should they:

     · Accept pay or the promise of pay for play

     · Enter into a professional contract

     · Enter into an agreement (oral or written) with an agent

     · Accept a benefit from an agent or runner

     · Play for a professional team

     · Promote a commercial product or service regardless of pay (allow your picture, name or testimonial to be used to advertise a product or service)

Under NCAA Bylaw 12.3, a student-athlete (any individual who currently participates in or who may be eligible in the future to participate in intercollegiate sport) may not agree verbally or in writing to be represented by an athlete agent in the present or in the future for the purpose of marketing the student-athlete's ability or reputation. If the student-athlete enters into such an agreement, the student-athlete is ineligible for intercollegiate competition.

Also, a student-athlete may not accept transportation or other benefits from an athlete agent. This prohibition applies to the student-athlete and his or her relatives or friends.

The term "agent" includes actual agents, runners (individuals who befriend student-athletes and frequently distribute impermissible benefits) and financial advisors.

It is not a violation of NCAA rules if a student-athlete merely talks to an agent (as long as an agreement for agent representation is not established) or socializes with an agent. For example, a student-athlete could go to dinner with an agent and no NCAA violations would result if the student-athlete provided his own transportation and paid for his meal.