Terms & Definitions
Prospective Student-Athlete (PSA) - Any student who has started classes in ninth grade
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 five (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 athletic event in which the college team competes. Transportation to view off-campus practice of competition sites within a 30-mile radius are also allowable. There is no limit on the number of unofficial visits a prospect can make.
National Letter of Intent - Official documentation administered by the Collegiate Commissioners Association and used by universities to establish a prospect's commitment to attend a certain university.
Eligibility Center - Formerly the NCAA Clearinghouse, all incoming student-athletes must be registered and cleared by the Eligibility Center in order to compete at Fordham University.
Institutional Request List (IRL) - A list of the prospective student-athletes for each sport located at the Eligibility Center website. All student-athletes must be on our IRL, if we are offering them an NLI, they must also be on our IRL if they are going to participate in practice or competition.
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)
Text Messaging - Text messages are NOT permissible. A coach may only send text messages to a student-athlete who has already signed an NLI with their program.
NOTE: Coaches are NOT allowed to call or return your calls until after July 1st prior to your junior year in high school. However, you are allowed to call them at any time. If a prospective student-athlete e-mails a coach, the coach is NOT allowed to reply to them until September of your junior year in high school.
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