Draft

As soon as you sign a pro contract for a particular sport, sign with an agent you lose your NCAA eligibility for that sport(but not in another sport).

You can return to play at an NAIA school.

Basically, his amateur status for baseball is lost when he signs a professional baseball contract. Here is the relevant rule for NCAA D1 baseball:
12.1.2 amateur Status. An individual loses amateur status and thus shall not be eligible for intercollegiate competition in a particular sport if the individual:
.......
(c) Signs a contract or commitment of any kind to play professional athletics, regardless of its legal enforceability or any consideration received;
.......
(g) Enters into an agreement with an agent.

The key words here are "shall not be eligible."

Note however, that a student-athlete can discuss signing with with a professional team (but without an agent) in at least general terms:

12.2.4.1 Inquiry. An individual may inquire of a professional sports organization about eligibility for a professional-league player draft or request information about the individual’s market value without affecting his or her amateur status.



See the NCAA rules for Divisions 1, 2, or 3 here: Rules and Bylaws
Edited to say: Sorry TPM, I'm a slow typist, and I didn't see your response before I started to reply.

That's great that you posted the rules! And it's different for each sport.

There are loopholes, so I understand, what if the contract becomes null and void.

Always best to know what you are signing and the implications.

Interesting an NCAA football or basketball player that declares himself for the draft loses eligibility immediately while a baseball player doesn't have to declare himself.

TPM

I dont know about football players but college basketball players can declare for the draft and not sign with an agent--in doing this they keep their eligibility---in doing this they can test the waters

i believe you only forfeit your d1 eligability. and if you sign with an agent you forfiet the rest.

we had this conversation in 06 with an advisor. i believe you can play 2 years and still gain back your status for d2 maybe d3. but never in d1.

but i may have misrembered.


this may entail paying any money back.

20dad,

Pretty sure you lose your NCAA eligibility, no matter which division.

You need to read the notes on the college basketball players who are declaring for the draft---you will see there are those who have signed with and agent and there are those who have not signed with an agent---there is also a date by which a player can decide to withdraw from the draft----thus the reason for many to not have an agent at this time--they are still eligible to come back and play next year---this happens quite often--the kid is just interested to see if he can find out where he fits in the draft

In baseball where players do not have to declare they remain eligible to play college ball if they do not sign by the first day of class the next semester


Plash

To be drafted as a college soph the player needs to be coming out of a JUCO or be 21 years of age in a NCAA format

Regarding D2 and D3, the rules are different in that the athlete can't sign with a team after starting full-time college. But he can't sign with an agent at anytime.

From the D2 manual:
12.1.2 amateur status. An individual loses amateur status and thus shall not be eligible for intercollegiate competition in a particular sport if the individual:
........
(c) Following initial full-time collegiate enrollment, signs a contract or commitment of any kind to play professional athletics, regardless of its legal enforceability or any consideration received;
......
(e) Following initial full-time collegiate enrollment, competes on any professional athletics team (per Bylaw 12.02.4), even if no pay or remuneration for expenses was received; or
(f) Enters into an agreement with an agent either prior to or following initial full-time collegiate enrollment.

So this is relevant to baseball, because a player could sign (even play) with a team before entering college, and still have D2 or D3 eligibility.

so it sounds as though the answer to the question posted is, no ncaa eligability because he is a college soph. but may have some in the naia ?

but it sounds like a juco player that didn't sign with an agent, would be ok at d2 or d3.

Here's an example of a specific player:

Joe Abellera is a local kid who graduated from HS in 2004 (same year as my son, who had played against him) and was drafted that year by the MN Twins. He signed a contract with the Twins in June 2004. He played for the Twins minor league in 2004 and 2005.
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/A/Joseph-Abellera.shtml

Joe is now playing baseball for a DII team in Minnesota:
http://www.csp.edu/athletics/baseball/Baseball_Roster/02_Abellera_Joe.html

So at least in this case, a player was able to play NCAA DII after signing a pro contract and playing MiLB.

Julie

So if I understand you guys, he has no Ncaa eligability left but may play NAIA? Am I getting this right?

There is an article on Baseball America about a guy who signed in 2003 and is now playing DII

I don't know much about NAIA, but it appears that a player can regain amateur status. However, NAIA allows 4 seasons of competition, and one season of eligibility is lost for each season of professional play.

NAIA Article 7
SECTION E. REINSTATEMENT APPLICATION PROCEDURES

A student who has lost amateur status in a sport shall have amateur standing reinstated in that sport upon satisfying the following conditions.
1. Ceasing to participate in violation of NAIA amateur-standing regulations.
2. Being charged a season of competition in that sport for every competition season in which the student competed in any manner as a professional or in which the student was in violation of the NAIA amateur code.
3. Fulfilling two consecutive semesters/three consecutive quarters (or equivalent) of attendance at the NAIA institution at which the student wishes to participate prior to being allowed to represent the institution in that sport in any manner in intercollegiate athletics.
4. Having appropriate verification regarding satisfaction of these criteria submitted to the NAIA National Coordinating Committee for review and final dispensation.

NAIA Handbook

quote:

Originally posted by 20dad:
but it sounds like a juco player that didn't sign with an agent, would be ok at d2 or d3.

If you mean a player started at a juco, subsequentlly played professionally and then wants to play at a NCAA school, I don't think so. Note that for the NJCAA a player can only participate if he is a full-time student. I don't think it matters whether a player attneds juco or a 4 year college -- once he enrolls full-time (usually 12 hours or the equivalent), he can't play any professional ball, and still be eligible to play at a D1, D2, or D3 school.

Interestingly, a kid could play for up to 90 days at no higher than Class A in the minor leagues, and still be eligible in the NJCAA.
NJCAA eligibility

ncaa DII has special provisions for x-pros who qualify

quote:

Originally posted by Bee>:
ncaa DII has special provisions for x-pros who qualify

Bee is right. I believe there is a time limit on the pro career, something less than a year. At least that was true at one time.

Here is an excellent player we were very familiar with. He is listed as a junior catcher at Columbus State. Oddly enough, what it doesn’t mention in his Columbus State profile (below) is the fact that he was drafted and signed with the Atlanta Braves in 2003 and in 2004 he played in the Braves organization. He was also with the Braves in 2005, but didn’t play. He had signed with the U of Alabama out of high school, but decided to sign with the Braves at that time.

Not sure but think this is his first year of college ball. He will be 23 this season. BTW, he is doing very well this season. Will have to look up the rule regarding how the draft eligibility works again after already playing for one organization. We’ve always liked CJ a lot and hope he gets another shot at pro ball.

C.J. Bressoud
#15 Bats/Throws: R/R
Pos.: C Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 200
Hometown: Kennesaw, GA
Previous School:
Eligibility: Jr. Major: Health & Physical Education

C.J. returns for his third season as a Cougar after sitting out 2007 after having season-ending Tommy John surgery...With two years of eligibility left, Bressound has something to prove in 2008.

2006: Sat due to the year of residence requirement.

High School: Graduate of North Cobb High...Played all four years and had numerous accodales - Braves 400 Club Player of the Year, Member of TEAM USA in 2003, Pan Am Games Silver Medalist, and 5A GA High School Player of the Year.

Personal: Son of Chuck & Cheryl Bressoud...Favorite food is Mexican...Favorite movie is Dumb & Dumber...Favorite screen stars are Johnny Depp & Angelina Jolie...Lists his parents has having the most influence on him...Wants one day to play on a major league baseball team...In his spare time, he enjoys playing the guitar and working out...Chose CSU because of the baseball program.

quote:

Originally posted by Dad04:
[I believe there is a time limit on the pro career, something less than a year. At least that was true at one time.

For D2 and D3, the player loses one season of eligibility for each season of professional competition or training. See 14.2.4.2.

So the player PGStaff mentioned apparently is eligible for two seasons of competition and seemingly was considered to have competed or practiced professionally for two years.

PG ...

Does this mean that he is eligible for the first year amateur draft again or would he have to sign as a free agent because he is not a 'pure' amateur ?

FBM,

To be honest, I just don't know.

I'm guessing he will be eligible for this year's draft, but if so, he also would have been eligible for last year's draft due to his age. It seems odd that he could have been drafted (again) after already playing pro ball and before ever appearing in a college game.

Technically all draft eligible players that are not drafted become free agents until they attend class for the following year. the August signing deadline.