SPORTS
On Jan. 9, the National Collegiate Athletic Association approved Division II pre-enrollment amateurism legislation allowing high school athletes to participate in certain activities previously not allowed under amateurism by-laws.Prior to full-time college enrollment, prospects can be drafted by a professional sports organization, enter into a professional agreement, receive compensation for athletic competition, participate on a professional team and accept prize money based on place finish, all activities that, once, would negate NCAA eligibility.However, those athletes who choose to participate in professional competition and do not enroll at a collegiate institution in the next academic term following their high-school graduation will begin to use up seasons of competition.For example, for every year of professional play, the athlete will lose one year of eligibility.However, if they choose to leave the pros for college, they must first fulfill a year of residence at the collegiate institution before being eligible to play.While the new legislation does not affect MSU, a Division I institution, the NCAA is currently working on a similar piece of legislation that would apply to all Division I schools.There is a subcommittee within the NCAA that has been studying amateurism by-laws for three years, said Jane Jankowski, NCAA assistant director for public relations.