http://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/play-division-i-sports
Amateurism
The NCAA promotes amateurism to create a level playing field for all
student-athletes. The young men and women who compete in college sports
are students first, athletes second. If you want to compete in NCAA
sports at a Division I school you must be an amateur athlete.
Defining Amateur Status:
When you register with the NCAA Eligibility Center, you will be asked
a series of questions about your sports participation to determine your
amateur status.
More than 90 percent of student-athletes who register are
automatically certified. In some instances, the NCAA Eligibility Center
staff may need to gather additional information to evaluate your amateur
status.
If you are enrolling at a Division I or II school for the fall
semester, you may request an amateurism certification decision from the
NCAA Eligibility Center on or after April 1 before your enrollment in
college. If you are enrolling in college in the spring semester, you may
request a final amateurism decision on or after October 1 before your
enrollment in college.
View a step-by-step guide on requesting a final amateurism decision
In most sports, you may delay full-time college enrollment for one
year after your expected high school graduation without impacting your
eligibility. In tennis, you may delay enrollment for six months after
your expected date of high school graduation, as long as you have not
yet turned 20 years old. In men's ice hockey or skiing, you may be
required to enroll full-time in college before you turn 21 to avoid
impacting your eligibility.
Amateurism review
The following activities may impact your amateur status:
Signing a contract with a professional teamPlaying with professionalsParticipating in tryouts or practices with a professional teamAccepting payments or preferential benefits for playing sportsAccepting prize money above your expensesAccepting benefits from an agent or prospective agentAgreeing to be represented by an agentDelaying your full-time college enrollment to play in organized sports competition