myboysmom

I have a question, or maybe a concern.

I have a club/high swimmer who has qualified for Junior Nationals. Our swimmer's former club coach is now an assistant at an excellent D3 school. This coach has volunteered to coach our swimmer at Junior Nationals instead of the new head coach. Our swimmer is a Junior in H.S.

I am concerned of NCAA recruitment/eligiblity issues.

Can anyone help?

pacheight

what do you mean? do you mean is it OK for your son to talk to and be around a college coach before July 1st or whatever date it is for swimmers?

pacheight

most US National team coaches are college coaches That's why national team athletes have a big jump on recruiting over all their team mates who stayed home over the summer.

varska

I assume your concern is about violating the rule that prohibits HS athletes from practicing or competing with college teams. I think you'll be alright here. If the coach isn't acting as a representative of the college while he's coaching your son, I can't see a problem. Just my .02.

riverrunner

myboysmom, I think you should ask the coach if HE is worried about a violation. He should be able to tell you the rules, and explain how this is NOT a violation, if it isn't.

If anything he says doesn't sound quite right to you, give NCAA a call or email them the question. I tried to dig through the NCAA document just now, and it's like reading the phone book. I'd just ask them.

There ARE special rules about contact with coaches/alums with whom you or your child have a pre existing relationship. For example, our local university track coach goes to our church. He's known our family for 10 years. When my daughter became a track recruit, we continued to socialize, and did talk about D and her running, throughout her high school career. It was very clear that we had a pre-existing relationship and were not violating NCAA rules.

I don't know how the NCAA views pre existing coaching relationships. This probably has it's own set of limits, but I couldn't come up with them this morning...