New NCAA Prep School Rules Have Significant Loophole

The NCAA passed a new rule designed to eliminate or reduce the number of overnight "prep schools" that have sprung up in the past to cater to athletically talented, but maybe academically struggling, NCAA student athletes.

The new rule states that kids must complete their high school curriculum within 4 years or head to junior college, there will be no more allowances for prep schools. This comes with a significant loophole however, if a potential student athlete is identified with as "disabled", i.e. with ADD, ADHD, or some other similar condition, the athlete may obtain a waiver of this rule. Also once the student/athlete is so identified, federal law kicks in, and protects this student/athlete from disclosure of his medical condition or discrimination because of it.

The other new rule change relates to submission of SAT/ACT scores from the athlete's high school. Under the old rules, a potential NCAA athlete could submit his SAT/ACT scores directly from his transcript. Now, the scores will have to be sent directly to the NCAA clearinghouse for inclusion into the athletes clearing house file.

NCAA clearinghouse link: http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net/NCAA/common/index.html


Chip Venie, Esq, and the Freedom Law Center are attorneys who concentrate a large portion of their practice on NCAA law and the defense of NCAA member institutions and student/athletes. Mr. Venie is admitted to practice law in New Mexico, California, Washington D.C., and Michigan. Please call him at (505) 766-9000 or (619) 235-8300, or email him at chipesq@hotmail.com if you have any questions, or are facing the impact of this new law AB 2165. You can check his blog at www.crimelaw.blogspot.com or website at anothernotguilty.com.