Waltham, November 24th 2010

There has always been that fear among US Student Athletes about affecting their future NCAA collegiate status, should they wish to compete at a professional level at a college or university in a different country.

New changes in NCAA by-laws have effectively taken away this aprehension and left the door wide open to US Student Athletes to now explore the possibilities of, not only studying abroad, but competing at a professional level while there, with maybe the notion of returning to the US one day to enroll and compete at colegiate level here.

The most significant change is that it is now acceptable for a player prior to his initial, full-time collegiate enrollment to compete on a professional team provided that particular player is not paid to do so. This is reflected in the newly added Bylaw 12.2.3.2.1 which reads as follows:

12.2.3.2.1 Exception—Competition Before Initial Full-Time Collegiate Enrollment—Sports Other Than Men’s Ice Hockey and Skiing. In sports other than men’s ice hockey and skiing, before initial full-time collegiate enrollment, an individual may compete on a professional team (per Bylaw 12.02.4), provided he or she does not receive more than actual and necessary expenses to participate on the team. (Adopted: 4/29/10 effective 8/1/10; applicable to student-athletes who initially enroll full time in a collegiate institution on or after 8/1/10)

In practical terms, a youth academy or high school player who has not enrolled in a college/university may now compete on a pro team without jeopardizing his future NCAA eligibility provided he/she is not paid to do so. 

According to Global Premier Soccer Operations Director Peter McDonnell, this can only prove a greater incentive to any US High School Student Athlete thinking about pursuing the possiblities of taking their academics and soccer dreams to the European stage; "This new by-law allows the US student soccer player greater scope on the possibilites of practicing and competeing professionally on the European stage... If things don’t work out, or they wish to transfer back to study in the US after 2 or 3 years, they can do so without the fear that their NCAA collegiate eligibility will be affected in the college they wish to enroll in".  He goes on to explain; "Of course, they must make sure they do not get compensated for competing professionally, but I think any young soccer player who wants to pursue the dream of playing, will do anything to make this happen, and also to develop their own personal game".

To learn more about The Study and Play Abroad Program at Global Premier Soccer, please contact GPS Operations Director Peter McDonnell at 781-891-6900 ext. 17 or pmcdonnell@mpsbr.com