To help give prospective clients a better understanding of some of the key aspects of how the US golf scholarship system operates and how our own client service works, we have created a series of FAQs that will be featured on our website. The first question relates to our fee structure with some important information for you to read...
Question: We are asked regularly why we don't charge our fee based on placement or receipt of scholarship.
Answer: Whilst it would make sense commercially, sadly it is a direct breach of the NCAA’s rules, outlined as follows:
12.3.3 Athletics Scholarship Agent. [A] Any individual, agency or organization that represents a prospective student-athlete for compensation in placing the prospective student-athlete in a collegiate institution as a recipient of institutional financial aid shall be considered an agent or organization marketing the individual’s athletics ability or reputation.
12.3.3.1 Talent Evaluation Services and Agents. [A] A prospective student-athlete may allow a scouting service or agent to distribute personal information (e.g. high school academic and athletics records, physical statistics) to member institutions without jeopardizing his or her eligibility, provided the fee paid to such an agent is not based on placing the prospective student-athlete in a collegiate institution as a recipient of institutional financial aid.
Example: This month one of our clients was subject to a random NCAA spot check. He was asked to clarify the terms and conditions he has signed and any verbal agreements he had made with his agency (ProDreamUSA).
He was directly asked about the fee structure:
1) Would any portion of the fee be refunded if you did not receive a scholarship offer?
2) Was any amount due after you received a scholarship offer?
Had our client answered yes to either of these questions then he could have been disqualified from playing in the NCAA. This is why we are unable to offer a fee upon placement model.
ProDreamUSA are fully committed to adhering to the NCAA’s rules and regulations and we are grateful to the NCAA for this timely reminder that they are indeed still actively checking that companies in our field are complying with their rules.
If you have any questions in relation to our Fee structure or other subjects around Golf Scholarships in the US, please get in touch with a member of our team and we’d happy to discuss.
T: 0800 009 6773