Eligibility to participate in intercollegiate sports

(a) In general An individual is eligible to participate on a varsity sports team or in intercollegiate athletic competition if the individual— (1) is a student athlete; (2) meets uniform academic standards established by the relevant intercollegiate athletic association, conference, or institution; (3) is not a professional athlete; and (4) complies with established rules that restrict eligibility for violations of State or Federal law. (b) Years of eligibility (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), the student athlete is eligible to compete in intercollegiate athletic competition for a maximum of 5 calendar years beginning at the start of the regular academic year immediately following, whichever occurs first— (A) the student athlete’s 19th birthday; (B) the student athlete’s actual high school graduation date; (C) the student athlete’s expected high school graduation date based on the first year of high school enrollment; or (D) the date a student athlete enrolls full time at an institution. (2) Exceptions Paragraph (1) does not apply during a period of absence for any of the following: (A) Reasons of pregnancy. (B) Religious mission. (C) Active-duty military service. (D) Other periods of absence adopted by rule or bylaw by an intercollegiate athletic association that apply uniformly to all student athletes. (c) Restrictions on eligibility (1) In general An intercollegiate athletic association or a conference may restrict a student athlete’s eligibility to participate in intercollegiate sports if the student athlete— (A) used an illegal or performance enhancing drug; or (B) participated in sports wagering activities. (2) Code of conduct An institution may restrict a student athlete’s eligibility to participate in intercollegiate sports if the student athlete violated the institution’s code of conduct that applies to all students. (d) Clarification on prize money For purposes of subsection (a)(3), a student athlete who competes in a sport other than football or basketball shall not be considered a professional athlete based solely on the amount of prize money the student athlete received based on place finish or performance in an athletic event before or after enrollment in an institution, so long as— (1) the prize money was provided only by the sponsor of the athletics event; and (2) the sponsor of the athletics event is not an institution, employee of an institution, volunteer of an institution, collective, or an associated entity. (e) Transfer from 2-Year institution No intercollegiate athletic association or conference shall require a student athlete who transfers from a 2-year institution to a 4-year institution to meet additional or more stringent academic standards than the academic standards required for student athletes who transfer from a 4-year institution. (f) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict the ability of an institution to— (1) require student athletes to meet or maintain academic standards that are in addition to, or more stringent than, the standards described in subsection (a) if such standards are required of all students enrolled at the institution; (2) discipline or sanction a student athlete for violating a rule, regulation, or code of conduct that applies to all students enrolled at the institution; or (3) discipline or sanction a student athlete for violating a rule, regulation, or a code of conduct that applies to all student athletes participating in intercollegiate athletic competition at that institution.

(a) In general An individual is eligible to participate on a varsity sports team or in intercollegiate athletic competition if the individual— (1) is a student athlete; (2) meets uniform academic standards established by the relevant intercollegiate athletic association, conference, or institution; (3) is not a professional athlete; and (4) complies with established rules that restrict eligibility for violations of State or Federal law. (b) Years of eligibility (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), the student athlete is eligible to compete in intercollegiate athletic competition for a maximum of 5 calendar years beginning at the start of the regular academic year immediately following, whichever occurs first— (A) the student athlete’s 19th birthday; (B) the student athlete’s actual high school graduation date; (C) the student athlete’s expected high school graduation date based on the first year of high school enrollment; or (D) the date a student athlete enrolls full time at an institution. (2) Exceptions Paragraph (1) does not apply during a period of absence for any of the following: (A) Reasons of pregnancy. (B) Religious mission. (C) Active-duty military service. (D) Other periods of absence adopted by rule or bylaw by an intercollegiate athletic association that apply uniformly to all student athletes. (c) Restrictions on eligibility (1) In general An intercollegiate athletic association or a conference may restrict a student athlete’s eligibility to participate in intercollegiate sports if the student athlete— (A) used an illegal or performance enhancing drug; or (B) participated in sports wagering activities. (2) Code of conduct An institution may restrict a student athlete’s eligibility to participate in intercollegiate sports if the student athlete violated the institution’s code of conduct that applies to all students. (d) Clarification on prize money For purposes of subsection (a)(3), a student athlete who competes in a sport other than football or basketball shall not be considered a professional athlete based solely on the amount of prize money the student athlete received based on place finish or performance in an athletic event before or after enrollment in an institution, so long as— (1) the prize money was provided only by the sponsor of the athletics event; and (2) the sponsor of the athletics event is not an institution, employee of an institution, volunteer of an institution, collective, or an associated entity. (e) Transfer from 2-Year institution No intercollegiate athletic association or conference shall require a student athlete who transfers from a 2-year institution to a 4-year institution to meet additional or more stringent academic standards than the academic standards required for student athletes who transfer from a 4-year institution. (f) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict the ability of an institution to— (1) require student athletes to meet or maintain academic standards that are in addition to, or more stringent than, the standards described in subsection (a) if such standards are required of all students enrolled at the institution; (2) discipline or sanction a student athlete for violating a rule, regulation, or code of conduct that applies to all students enrolled at the institution; or (3) discipline or sanction a student athlete for violating a rule, regulation, or a code of conduct that applies to all student athletes participating in intercollegiate athletic competition at that institution.