Thank you for your interest in the University of South Alabama athletics program. To learn general information about the recruiting process and initial eligibility requirements please review the information and links provided below.
Important Terms & Definitions
13.02.13 Prospective Student-Athlete. A prospective student-athlete is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective student-athlete if the institution provides such an individual (or the individual's relatives or friends) any financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students generally. An individual remains a prospective student-athlete until one of the following occurs (whichever is earlier):
(a) The individual officially registers and enrolls in a minimum full-time program of studies and attends classes in any term of a four-year collegiate institution's regular academic year (excluding summer);
(b) The individual participates in a regular squad practice or competition at a four-year collegiate institution that occurs before the beginning of any term;
(c) The individual officially registers, enrolls and attends classes during the certifying institution's summer term prior to his or her initial full-time enrollment at the certifying institution; or
(d) The individual reports to an institutional orientation session that is open to all incoming students within 14 calendar days prior to the opening day of classes of a regular academic year term.
13.02.14 Recruiting. Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospective student-athlete or a prospective student-athlete's family members by an institutional staff member or by a representative of the institution's athletics interests for the purpose of securing the prospective student-athlete's enrollment and ultimate participation in the institution's intercollegiate athletics program.
13.02.18.1 Official Visit. An official visit to a member institution by a prospective student-athlete is a visit financed in whole or in part by the member institution.
13.02.18.2 Unofficial Visit. An unofficial visit to a member institution by a prospective student-athlete is a visit made at the prospective student-athlete's own expense. The provision of any expenses or entertainment valued at more than $100 by the institution or representatives of its athletics interests shall require the visit to become an official visit, except as permitted in Bylaws 13.5 and 13.7.
13.02.4 Contact. A contact is any face-to-face encounter between a prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete's family members and an institutional staff member or athletics representative during which any dialogue occurs in excess of an exchange of a greeting. Any such face-to-face encounter that is prearranged (e.g., staff member positions himself or herself in a location where contact is possible) or that takes place on the grounds of the prospective student-athlete's educational institution or at the site of organized competition or practice involving the prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete's high school, preparatory school, two-year college or all-star team shall be considered a contact, regardless of whether any conversation occurs. However, an institutional staff member or athletics representative who is approached by a prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete's family members at any location shall not use a contact, provided the encounter was not prearranged and the staff member or athletics representative does not engage in any dialogue in excess of a greeting and takes appropriate steps to immediately terminate the encounter.
13.02.7 Evaluation. Evaluation is any off-campus activity designed to assess the academic qualifications or athletics ability of a prospective student-athlete, including any visit to a prospective student-athlete's educational institution (during which no contact occurs) or the observation of a prospective student-athlete participating in any practice or competition at any site.
Helpful Links
2018-19 NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (PDF)
2018-19 NCAA Guide for Two-Year Transfers (PDF)
2018-19 NCAA Guide for Four-Year Transfers (PDF)
2024-25 Federal Graduation Rate Report
NCAA Eligibility Center
National Letter of Intent
University Resources
University of South Alabama Office of Admission
University of South Alabama Financial Aid Office
University of South Alabama Housing and Residence Life
