Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer

Wellesley College Athletics - Compliance

Wellesley College Athletics Student-Athlete Handbook

Current Student-Athletes

Ethical Conduct

The NCAA requires student-athletes to act with honesty and sportsmanship at all times. This means being open and honest with all the information you share and not influencing others to provide false or misleading information.

Eligibility

Eligibility Requirements: In order for student-athletes to become eligible for practice, each individual must complete all the necessary steps for certification.  To be eligible for competition, each student will also attend an eligibility meeting. 

Each student-athlete must be academically eligible.  At Wellesley, this is defined as meeting each of the following three criteria:

1. Full-time Status: A student must be enrolled in at least three units per semester to be considered full time. A waiver of the minimum full-time enrollment requirement may be granted for a student enrolled in the final term of the baccalaureate program

2. Good Academic Standing:  A student must meet the following requirements:

  • Their record for the last semester completed at Wellesley must be free of grades lower than D.
  • They must have at least a C average on the work of their most recently completed semester and on the total number of units completed at Wellesley.

3. Satisfactory Progress: A student must have satisfactorily completed units towards the degree as defined by Wellesley College.

Recruiting

Hosting a Prospective Student-Athlete (PSA)

Hosting a PSA on an overnight visit often plays a crucial role in the college decision-making process therefore appropriate conduct is expected.  Each host must meet with their coach and review and sign the expectation form. The student host must observe state law, NCAA rules and College regulations; a summary is listed below:

  • You may be provided with money to entertain yourself, the prospect, the prospect’s parents (or legal guardians) and the prospect’s spouse (if applicable).  Other students may assist with hosting the prospect, but they must pay for their own entertainment expenses. 
  • No cash may be given to the visiting prospect, their parent(s) or guardian(s), or anyone else.
  • No souvenirs may be given to the visiting prospect, their parent(s) or guardian(s) or anyone else.
  • You may not use any vehicle provided or arranged for by an institution staff member or friend of the program.
  • You may not transport the prospect or anyone accompanying the prospect.
  • You may receive a complimentary admission (but no hard ticket) when accompanying a prospect to a campus event.
  • A prospect may participate in physical workouts or other recreational activities during a visit to an institution’s campus provided the activities are not organized or observed by members of the coaching staff and are not designed to test the abilities of the prospect.  The prospect must use their own equipment and apparel, so you may not loan these items to them.
  • You must display that you share Wellesley College’s commitment to the highest standards of behavior and character, avoid inappropriate activities and refuse participation in any unethical or illegal activity, or activities at any location that may cause a perception of impropriety.  You must not provide the prospect with any alcohol or illegal substances and you must not encourage or condone inappropriate behavior by the prospect.

NCAA rules prohibit publicizing the recruitment of a prospective student-athlete. You are not allowed to post images or names of any PSA. It is a best practice for all communication between current student-athletes and prospective student-athletes to be limited to private messaging while using social media outlets.  

Playing and practice season

 The NCAA governs the length of the playing season. Your coach cannot instruct or observe you outside of that designated time period.  

 Outside of the season, athletically related activities are voluntary and cannot be a condition of team membership.  Outside of the season, your coach(es) may provide workouts for you, but you may not report back on athletically related activities. Be careful NOT to post athletically related activities (either a photo or text) to team social media accounts outside of the season as that is an institutional account would constitute reporting back. Similarly, coaches may not ask about your athletic activities during this time. Your coach(es) cannot be present to watch, participate or monitor any athletically related activities outside of the season. You may work with the certified strength and conditioning coach, who may observe and conduct your workouts.

Name, Image and Likeness (NIL)

Effective July 1, 2021, NCAA student-athletes are now generally permitted by the NCAA to earn compensation from the use of their name, image and likeness (“NIL”). All enrolled varsity student-athletes must adhere to Wellesley College NIL policy.

Extra Benefits

An extra benefit is any special arrangement or opportunity provided to a student-athlete or their relatives or friends that is not available to the general population or student body.

Transferring

A student-athlete seeking to transfer from Wellesley College to another DIII institution can issue a self-release in order to speak with a coach for 30 days. During that 30 days, the new Division III institution may contact you or you may contact the new institution. You are able to sign a second release to extend the time for an additional 30 days, if desired. The self release form can be found on the NCAA DIII Compliance Forms website.  Self-releases are only valuable for DIII to DIII transfers.

A student-athlete seeking to transfer to a Division I or Division II institution is required to speak with the Associate Athletic Director to learn of rules and regulations concerning transfer status.

Alumnae, Friends and Parents

Wellesley is a member institution of the NCAA. This membership-driven association of institutions develops rules and regulations that govern activities surrounding intercollegiate athletics. The NCAA holds the College responsible for the actions of its boosters, whose activity is restricted in many ways. While well-intentioned, gestures and benefits given to student-athletes from parents and boosters can actually become NCAA violations. Please contact the coaches and/or compliance staff with any questions before getting involved.

Definitions

Prospective student-athlete (PSA): anyone who has begun ninth grade OR who has received any sort of benefit from Wellesley or a booster.

Current student-athlete: a student who is either currently participating in the varsity athletics program.

Extra benefit: any special arrangement, including goods or services, from a Wellesley employee or booster to a student-athlete or that athlete’s friends/relatives that is not authorized by the NCAA. Current and prospective student-athletes may jeopardize their eligibility by receiving extra benefits.  Student-athletes should consult with their coach and/or Senior Associate before accepting anything of material value. 

A booster is an individual or organization who has done any of the following:

  • participated in promoting Wellesley athletics;
  • contributed financially to PERA or any organization that supports PERA;
  • assisted in the recruitment of prospects;
  • provided any permissible benefits to current Wellesley student-athletes

All Wellesley friends, alumnae, and parents are considered representatives of Wellesley athletic interests (i.e., “boosters”)

Guidance for Parents and Boosters

As some of The Blue’s biggest supporters we appreciate everything you do to improve the experiences of our student-athletes. Below are some of the ways you may consider getting involved.

...But WAIT!

Before you do anything for our teams, ask a coach or the Senior Associate before you act to ensure it is compliant with NCAA regulations. 

  • Food & Entertainment - These are regulated benefits. Speak with the coach before providing food or entertainment.
  • Clothing & Services - Speak with a coach or administrator before purchasing any apparel/gear or providing a service for student-athletes.
  • Transportation - Student-athletes must receive coach approval to travel with someone other than the team.
  • Recruiting - The coaches are responsible for recruiting PSAs. If you identify a potential recruit, you may forward their information to the coach.

If you have any questions regarding NCAA compliance, please reach out to Katie Galiardi, Senior Associate Athletic Director at kh101@wellesley.edu.