Signed Pro Contract and Left to Attend College?

The rules for JuCos and NAIA schools are not the same as NCAA schools. What those differences are I don't know. This is a job for Three Finger. Shine the Bat Light and maybe he will respond. 

Ha ha ha 

Yeah, someone with a special skill will be needed to figure this one out.  

I'm also curious what effect, if any, it would have on his ability to transfer to a NCAA school after a year or two of the JUCO.

I read the article someone posted about Aiken, Nix and the Astros. It said if the NCAA investigates the extent of participation by their advisors in the negotiations they may be ruled ineligible and limited to JuCo ball. So there are differences in the rules.

Its nice to see a rule with some common sense,  at least the kid isn’t punished for signing and changing his mind.  I bet those 1^st couple weeks away from home were a real eye opener for him.  I hope he excels as a student athlete.

Section 11.     RULES GOVERNING THE AMATEUR STATUS OF STUDENT-ATHLETES          

Amateur athletes are those who engage in sports for the physical, mental or social benefits they derive in participation and to whom athletics is an avocation and not a source for personal financial remuneration. Whenever the amateur status of a student-athlete is questionable and before competition begins in an activity sponsored by the NJCAA, it is the responsibility of an administrative officer of the college where the student-athlete is enrolled to clear the status of the student-athlete in question. In determining amateur status of student-athletes, the following guidelines have been established.

1. Student-Athletes are Permitted To:
   1. Accept scholarships and educational grants-in-aid from their institution in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII of the bylaws of the NJCAA.
   2. Officiate sport contests, providing the compensation received does not exceed the going rate for such employment.
   3. Serve as coaches or instructors for compensation in a physical education class outside of their institution provided the employment is not arranged by the student-athlete's institution or a representative of its athletics interests.
   4. Serve as paid supervisors of children's sports programs, such as counselors in a summer camp, or in a recreation department program. Their duties may include teaching techniques or skills in their sport, provided that any instruction is a part of the overall terms of employment (teaching and coaching shall not exceed more than half of their employed time) and not on a fee-for-lesson basis.
   5. Participate in professional baseball for no more than ninety (90) days at a level no higher than Class A. If this can be confirmed by the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, the student-athlete shall be eligible to compete in baseball at an NJCAA member college. Any participation beyond the first ninety (90) days shall cause a student-athlete to be ineligible in the sport of baseball.
   6. Participate in women's softball if the women were involved in the Professional Softball Association and have been reinstated by the appropriate amateur governing body.
   7. Have their names or pictures appear in books, other publications, or films without jeopardizing their amateur status, but only under the following conditions:
      1. Appearance in such publications or films is for the purpose of demonstrating athletic skill, analysis of a sports event, or instruction in sports.

My son played summer ball with an Orlando FL kid drafted by the Pirates as a "draft and follow", when there was such a thing. He took his signed contract and drove to Bradenton announcing he was starting his pro career. The Pirates sent him home the same day. I'm not sure he was college material.

A player may go to school if his contract is voided within a certain time frame? I do believe that NCAA D1 rules do not allow for him to attend one of their programs?

Parents of players or players that want to start their pro career after HS, do your homework and understand exactly what it will entail, for most it is playing at a spring training complex in the back fields. If the player gets a nice bonus life can be a lot easier for the player.

First year my son was drafted he had to come back to Jupiter, he had a roommate out of HS who signed for 15K.  He cried every night before he went to sleep, never expected to have to get up at 6am, play games at 1pm in 90-95 degree heat with no one watching and nothing to do in the afternoons.

Be careful what you wish for!

In all three NCAA divisions, a player who signs a professional contract loses his amateur status, and is consequently ineligible for inter-collegiate athletics in the same sport.  However, the Committee for Student-Athlete Reinstatement may restore a player's eligibility if the circumstances warrant it.

I believe restoration of eligibility is more likely at the D2 level than in the other two divisions, but it only happens rarely.  In the situation mentioned here, the player was not yet 18 when he signed, left nearly immediately, and has the opportunity to demonstrate academic success and desire at a JC.   He might have a better chance of getting reinstated because of those factors.   Of course, the NCAA question may not arise if he does well in baseball at the JC.

Thank you for all of the feedback.  I do agree that he missed home enough that he even crossed Iowa off his list and elected to attend a local JUCO.

#5 in mmm1531's post sums it up. It's happened occasionally in the past as well.

The Braves train at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World, not in Kissimmee. 

Best of luck to this young man.

1. ESPN Wide World of Sports

   Directions
2. Address: 700 S Victory Way, Kissimmee, FL 34747

   The complex is within the City of Kississmmee, Osceola County jurisdictional limits.Disney World sprawls around mostly Orange County in the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a Disney controlled jurisdictional entity.

    

Several years ago, we had a guy at DII Delta State who had played pro ball but I think he was released within 45 days due to an injury.

I believe you can also play D2 ball after having played pro ball, not sure of the details of that rule though.