Is it allowed for an institution to publish advertising designed to solicit the enrollment of prospective student-athletes?

The statement that institutions cannot publish advertising designed to solicit the enrollment of prospective student-athletes is correct because of NCAA rules designed to maintain the integrity of recruitment and to ensure fair play among member institutions. The NCAA prohibits institutions from engaging in practices that could be considered excessive or potentially misleading when it comes to recruiting, which includes making direct advertisements aimed at enticing student-athletes to enroll based solely on the athletic program.

Allowing open advertising could lead to an uneven competitive landscape, where certain institutions might oversell their programs or use aggressive marketing strategies that detract from the principles of fair recruitment. The NCAA aims to ensure that recruitment occurs through proper channels, focusing on the relationship-building aspects of the process rather than through marketing gimmicks or commercial tactics.

In this context, the options related to specific types of publications or restrictions to local newspapers do not align with the overarching rules governing recruitment practices under NCAA guidelines. Therefore, the notion that such advertising is entirely prohibited for institutions stands as an essential aspect of maintaining equitable recruitment practices across NCAA member schools.