Prospective Student-Athlete Information
This sub-site is intended to highlight some pertinent NCAA rules for you as a prospective student-athlete at Biola University. It is impossible to cover every NCAA rule that impacts you as a Division II prospect, but this will cover some of the basic and most important information. If you ever have any questions about NCAA rules and regulations, please contact the Compliance Office staff.
Definition of a Prospect:
A prospective student-athlete is any student who: has started classes for the 9th grade; is a student younger than the 9th grade who has received a benefit from Biola University; is a student in a preparatory school or two-year college; OR is a student at a four-year institution who has been issued a release by his/her university.
You become a "recruited" prospective student-athlete at Biola University if any coach or booster does any of the following:
- Provides you with an official visit to Biola University
- Calls you or your family member on more than one occasion
- Meets with you or a family member anywhere off-campus
- Issues you an Athletics Scholarship Agreement
Essential Information for Prospects:
NCAA Recruiting Rules
The NCAA strictly regulates when and how coaches and athletic department staff members can contact prospective student-athletes. Depending on the circumstances, they may not always be able speak to you or get back to you via phone or email. When contacting a coach or administrator, ALWAYS leave a detailed message that includes your age, grade level and school. This will help the coach/administrator determine whether he/she is allowed to have contact with you.
The NCAA has a helpful Division II Recruiting Timeline with important definitions and a DII recruiting timeline to help you understand some of these rules. Please note, recruiting contact rules are different across Divisions I and II and III.
See Recruiting Rules FAQs section below for answers to some of the most frequently asked recruiting questions.
NCAA Initial Eligibility Standards
In order to be eligible for practice and competition, incoming freshmen must meet the NCAA's initial eligibility requirements for Division II. These academic requirements consist of a combination of a core course pattern, GPA and can include SAT/ACT scores. NCAA eligibility standards are separate from the Biola University admissions standards you must meet to be considered for admission to Biola. Divisions I and II have different eligibility standards so check in early to make sure you are on track to meeting NCAA Initial Eligibility Standards.
Transfer Student Eligibility
Prospective student-athletes who wish to transfer to Biola University are subject to Division II transfer eligibility rules. The rules are different depending on whether you are transferring from a two-year junior college or a four-year institution. For an overview of transfer eligibility rules, please reference the NCAA's Transfer 101 guide. If you have questions about transfer rules, please contact the compliance office. It is especially important that prospective two-year college transfers familiarize themselves with the NCAA's two-year transfer academic requirements. Failure to meet these requirements prior to beginning classes at Biola will result in ineligibility.
Please note: if you are a student currently at another four-year NCAA school, OR if you have been enrolled at another four-year institution in the last year Biola University coaches and administrators are not allowed to have any contact with you unless you have a release (also known as notification of transfer) from your four-year institution.
Four-Year Transfer Guide
Two-Year Transfer Guide
NCAA Eligibility Center
All incoming student-athletes are required to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and submit certain information. The Eligibility Center evaluates both the academic and amateur status of all incoming student-athletes. Register and complete your assigned tasks as early as possible to avoid delays once you get to Biola University.
All future Biola student-athletes must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. All incoming freshman MUST select an academic and amateurism account from the eligibility center. Most transfer students can register for an amateurism-only account. See this video to help make your decision. You can also consult the BU Office of Compliance.
www.eligibilitycenter.org
Common questions are answered on the NCAA Eligibility Center YouTube.
Student athletes who wish to play sports at Division I or Division II schools must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. The Eligibility Center assesses eligibility and amateurism status for all Division I and II institutions. It is recommended that prospective student-athletes register prior to the end of their junior year and update their record after each semester and again immediately following graduation.
For Eligibility Center information and registration materials prospective student-athletes should visit with their high school guidance counselor.
The Eligibility Center contact information is as follows:
NCAA Eligibility Center
Certification Processing
PO Box 7136
Indianapolis, IN 46207-1736
Phone: 877.262.1492
www.eligibilitycenter.org
Delayed Collegiate Enrollment Concerns
Prospective student-athletes should be aware that under NCAA Division II rules, there are potential eligibility issues for an individual who delays his/her initial full-time collegiate enrollment beyond one year from his/her high school graduation date. For example, if you graduate in June 2022, there are potential eligibility issues if you do not enroll as a full-time college student by Fall 2023. If you have delayed, or are planning to delay. your collegiate enrollment beyond the one year grace period, you may be charged with using one of your four seasons of eligibility in your sport if you participate in any manner of organized competition. This includes, but is not limited to, things as seemingly harmless as a recreational league. Please read below for the exact NCAA bylaw language.
NCAA Division II Bylaw 14.4.3.4.2: Participation in Organized Competition Before Initial Collegiate Enrollment
An individual who does not cease participation by October 1 or March 1 (whichever occurs earlier) immediately after one calendar year has elapsed following their high school graduation date, shall use one season of intercollegiate competition for each consecutive 12-month period after October 1 or March 1 and before initial full-time collegiate enrollment in which the individual participates in organized competition per Bylaw 14.4.3.4.2.1.2. (Adopted: 1/8/01 effective 8/1/01, Revised: 2/21/08, 1/16/10, 7/18/23, 1/10/24 effective 8/1/24)
NCAA Division II Bylaw 14.4.3.4.2.1.2: Organized Competition
Athletics competition shall be considered organized if any one of the following conditions exists: (Adopted: 1/16/10 effective 8/1/10 for individuals who are issued a final amateurism certification by the NCAA Eligibility Center on or after 4/1/10)
(a) Competition is scheduled in advance
(b) Official score is kept
(c) Individual or team standings or statistics are maintained
(d) Official timer or game officials are used
(e) Admission is charged
(f) Teams are regularly formed or team rosters are predetermined
(g) Team uniforms are used
(h) An individual or team is privately or commercially sponsored
(i) The competition is either directly or indirectly sponsored, promoted or administered by an individual, an organization or any other agency
Graduation Rates
At Biola University our student-athletes traditionally graduate at an even higher rate than our general student body!
You can find information on the university graduation rates at the Graduation Rates report.
Strategic Plan
Biola University Athletics has a Strategic Plan. This plan can be made available upon request. For more information please contact the Compliance Office.
Year-Round Drug Testing
The NCAA randomly selects institutions and student-athletes for drug testing throughout the academic year, including the summer. All student-athletes are subject to drug testing before, during or after their competitive seasons. All student-athletes at Biola University need to be aware of the NCAA Banned Drugs list and should check with the athletic trainers for any questions. Student-athletes who test positive are subject to at least a 365-day suspension and loss of eligibility.
Many nutritional/dietary supplements contain NCAA banned substances. In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not strictly regulate the supplement industry; therefore the purity and safety of nutritional/dietary supplements cannot be guaranteed. Impure supplements may lead to a positive drug test. The Biola University Athletics Department does not promote the use of nutritional/dietary supplements and the use of such supplements is at the student-athlete's own risk. Student-athletes should contact the Director of Sports Medicine, John Wiese (john.wiese@biola.edu) or Biola's drug testing coordintor Linda Ruggles (linda.ruggles@biola.edu) for further information.
Additional information may also be found through the Center for Drug Free Sport, which sponsors a confidential Drug Free Sport AXIS for student-athletes and athletics staff with questions about nutritional supplements The AXIS may be contacted toll free at (816) 474-8655, Ext. 129 or by clicking the link above. When accessing AXIS via the Internet, the required password is ncaa2.
Recruiting Rules FAQs:
1. What is an official visit?
Any visit to a college campus where the institution pays for part or all of your expenses. You are only allowed to take one official visit per institution. In Division II, there is no limit on the total number of schools you may visit for an official visit. In Division II, a school can bring you in on an official visit starting June 15 going into your junior year in high school.
2. What is an unofficial visit?
An unofficial visit is any visit to a college that is not paid for by the institution. Unlike with official visits, you are allowed to take as many unofficial visits to a school as you like AND you can go on an unofficial visit at any age. In Division II, a prospect (and his/her relatives or legal guardians) can be provided with free meals as a part of an unofficial visit and the institution can arrange for on-campus parking for you. The institution cannot pay for any other expenses during an unofficial visit other than the meals.
3. When is the first opportunity a Biola University coach may communicate with me?
There are different rules for different means of communication. The NCAA's Division II Recruiting Timeline will give you a complete breakdown of when and how Biola coaches can have contact with you and your parents. Remember recruiting rules are different for Divisions I, II and III. Recently, rules changed that permits communication (email, phone call, social media) but not contact (in-person, off-campus) for PSAs who are prospect age but have not yet reached June 15 before their junior year.
4. When can I start calling a Biola University coach? When can I start emailing them?
Prospective student-athletes and their parents may call a Biola University coach at any time. If the coach answers the call, he/she is free to talk to you. However, if you leave a message, NCAA rules may not allow the coach to return your call. Please reference the above mentioned Division II Recruiting Timeline for the rules.
Remember, if you are a student at another four-year institution and are attempting to contact a Biola coach or administrator, you must meet the requirements for Notification of Transfer.
Additional Resources
Biola University Recruiting 101
Division II Recruiting Timeline
Guide For The College-Bound Student-Athlete
NCAA Eligibility Center
NCAA Initial Eligibility Standards
Biola University Office of Admissions
Biola University Office of Financial Aid
Contacting the Compliance Office
Remember this is not a complete list of NCAA rules. Please contact a compliance staff member if you have any questions or before taking action that may be contrary to NCAA rules.
