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Athletics Compliance Office > Prospects > Recruiting Visits

Recruiting-Official Visits

Prospective student-athletes may take a maximum of 5 official (paid) visits, with no more than 1 visit per institution (regardless of the number of sports the PSA is involved in). A PSA's first opportunity to make an official visit may not be earlier than the first day of classes of their senior year in high school.

All official visits must be approved in advance by the Compliance Office. PSAs must provide the following to a coaching staff member prior to making their official visit:

• High school (or college) academic transcript
• PSAT, SAT, ACT or PLAN score provided on official testing agency letterhead or via the official testing agency's web site
• An NCAA Eligibility Center personal identification number demonstrating registration in the Clearinghouse. Notre Dame must add the PSA to their IRL prior to the visit.

An official visit may not exceed a time period of 48 hours. The 48 hour period of the official visit begins at the time that the PSA arrives on an institution's campus and ends when the PSA departs from an institution's campus. Thus, the initiation of transportation by an athletics department staff member to/from the nearest major airport (Midway or O'Hare) does not constitute the start of the visit as long as the transportation is without delay (a sit down meal would constitute a delay and initiate the visit).

Expenses that may be covered by an institution during an official visit include:

• Travel expenses (airfare, mileage) for the prospect provided the prospect returns to the original point of departure, their home, educational institution or competition site. Expenses may not exceed round trip transportation to/from the original point of departure. Reimbursement for mileage may not be made to a PSA's coach if accompanying the PSA.
• Lodging during the 48 hour period for the prospect and accompanying individuals (parent, legal guardian). In select instances, lodging may also be paid by the institution in the locale of campus prior to the visit for the prospect only.
• Meals during the 48 hour period for the prospect and the prospect's accompanying parents, legal guardians, spouse or children provided the cost does not exceed 3 meals per day.
• Three complimentary admissions to a home athletics event may be provided to the prospect and those accompanying the prospect on the official visit. Admissions are administered through a pass list with valid identification. The institution may provide up to two additional complimentary admissions for the prospect's parents, should a non-traditional family structure (divorce, separation) exist, in order to accommodate all parents accompanying a prospect on an official visit.

Lodging and meals during an official visit should be comparable to typical student accommodations. Upgrades or excessive expenses will not be honored. Prospects may be offered the opportunity to reside in the student dormitories.

Recruiting-Unofficial Visits

A prospective student-athlete may visit an institution's campus at his or her own expense an unlimited number of times. Unofficial (non-paid) visits may be made prior to the prospect's senior year in high school.

The ONLY expense that an institution can provide during an unofficial visit is the following:

• Three complimentary admissions to a home athletics event may be provided to the prospect and those accompanying the prospect on the unofficial visit. Admissions are administered through a pass list with valid identification.The institution may provide up to two additional complimentary admissions for the prospect's parents, should a non-traditional family structure (divorce, separation) exist, in order to accommodate all parents accompanying a prospect on an unofficial visit. The institution may not reserve additional tickets to be purchased by the prospect or those persons accompanying them on their unofficial visit. Tickets may only be purchased in the same manner as the general public.

A prospective student-athlete on an unofficial visit may pay the actual cost of meals (or the regular cost of training table meals) and eat with other prospective student-athletes who are on their official visits or with enrolled student-athletes. Prospects making an unofficial visit may reside in the dormitories. Notre Dame Residence Life does not currently assess a cost for an overnight dormitory accommodation.

Activities During Visits

The intent of a recruiting visit is for the PSA to familiarize himself or herself with information about the university that will ideally assist them in making critical decisions. PSAs should be introduced to typical campus life and should not be offered anything excessive in nature (hotel suite, loan of a vehicle). During a campus visit, the following are impermissible:

• Any arranged measure revealing, demonstrating or displaying a PSA's athletics ability in any sport (a tryout or practice session)
• Receipt of free or reduced-cost gear
• Access to an automobile for use by a prospect or host
• Personalized recruiting aids such as jerseys, audio or video scoreboard presentations or game-day simulations

It is permissible for an institution, through its regular team or other designated physician, to conduct a medical examination to determine a prospect's medical qualifications to participate in intercollegiate athletics during an official or unofficial visit. No athletics department staff member other than the athletics trainer may be present and the examination cannot include any test or procedure designed to measure the athletics agility or skill of the PSA. The results of a medical examination cannot be used by an institution to deny the admission of a prospect who is otherwise qualified for admission under the typical admission criteria of the institution.

Visit Recruiting Periods for further information regarding permissible contact between an institution and a prospective student-athlete, their family or educational institution.

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University of Notre Dame

Department of Athletics

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Thursday, November 4, 2010