NCAA Rules On Soccer Trials
In a previous blog, we explained FIFA's rules for trials as it pertains to players under the age of 18. In addition to FIFA trial rules, the American college player needs to understand what the NCAA allows when it comes to trying out for professional teams, because if a player violates NCAA rules, they may no longer be eligible to play soccer in college. We explain the details here.
The NCAA Division I Bylaws contain a provision titled "Involvement With Professional Teams" (Bylaw 12.2). This provision explains what a soccer player can and cannot do both before and after enrollment in college.
Tryouts Before Enrollment. A soccer player may try out for a professional team before enrolling in college if that player is not reimbursed more than "actual and necessary expenses" to participate in the tryout. The term "actual and ordinary expenses" is frequently used throughout the NCAA regulations, and those expenses generally refer to meals, lodging, apparel, equipment, supplies, coaching, instructions, health insurance, transportation, medical treatment, physical therapy, facility usage, entry fees or other reasonable expenses. If a player is provided more than "actual and necessary expenses" to participate in a tryout, then he or she is no longer eligible to play soccer in college.
During this tryout, the player may participate in practice sessions but they cannot take part in any games or scrimmages as a representative of the professional team.
Tryouts After Enrollment. After a soccer player's initial full-time college enrollment, they may try out or take part in a combine for a professional team even if they have eligibility remaining as a soccer player. However, there are a few key rules that the player must follow in order for he or she to not violate NCAA rules and forfeit their remaining college eligibility:
1. The player cannot miss class. This is perhaps the most important rule, so we have to repeat it. The player cannot miss class.
2. The player cannot receive anything more than "actual and necessary expenses" for the trial or combine.
3. If the club pays for the trial, the trial cannot last longer than 48 hours, with the time starting from the time the individual arrives at the tryout location. At the conclusion of the 48 hour period, the player must depart the location of the tryout immediately in order to receive return transportation expenses. A tryout may extend beyond 48 hours if the individual self-finances additional expenses, including return compensation.
4. A self-financed tryout may be for any length of time, but the player still cannot miss class.
5. The player cannot take part in any outside competition (games or scrimmages) as a representative of that professional team.
College players with remaining college eligibility who are drafted in the MLS SuperDraft must be especially aware of the rules. When a player is drafted in the MLS SuperDraft, they are not guaranteed to receive a professional contract. They are invited to attend the club's preseason and the decision to offer a professional contract is made at a later time. However, if the drafted player has college eligibility, they have a difficult decision to make: do they attend preseason or stay in school? Because, if the player attends preseason, they will most likely need to miss class and, if they miss class, they cannot play college soccer anymore.
The NCAA rules can be a bit complex and difficult to understand. However, knowing what an athlete can and cannot do is important to ensure that they do not lose their college eligibility by violating NCAA rules.