Student-Athlete Do's and Don'ts

Extra Benefits

The NCAA is very cautious with regard to the fair and equitable treatment of student-athletes.  They are also apprehensive about student-athletes receiving additional benefits that the regular student does not receive.  In that regard, they have included an entire chapter of Bylaws in the NCAA manual regarding “extra benefits.”

The fundamental rule is this:  Receipt of a benefit by student-athletes, their relatives or friends is not a violation of NCAA rules if it can be demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution’s students and their relatives and friends.

The unique relationship between coaches and athletes can often lead to “favors” and other services that are, in fact, NCAA violations.  The easiest way for this to happen is for coaches to make office equipment or supplies available to the athlete.

Examples of potential violations are:

• Coaches allowing athletes to use their office telephones (esp. long distance services) or internet messaging services.
• Coaches allowing office copying and fax machines to be used by athletes.
• Coaches or staff allowing laundry machines to be used by athletes.
• Coaches allowing athletes to avail themselves of computers or software for personal use.
• Coaches lending pocket money to athletes “until the next paycheck.”
• Coaches loaning their cars for ANY reason!
• Coaches signing a bond, co-signing a loan or arranging special discounts.
• Coaches providing or arranging professional team tickets anywhere but as entertainment at an away-from-home-contest.

These benefits are permissible:

• Coaches providing an occasional meal for an athlete (at home or at a reasonable local restaurant.)
• Coaches providing internet services on an away trip so an athlete can turn in homework.
• Reasonable entertainment at an away contest, or during vacation periods when you are on-campus to practice.
• Laundry, phone or copying privileges DIRECTLY related to practice or competition.
• Amenities and considerations regarding a serious illness or death in an athlete’s family. (Team gift, travel to a funeral service, etc.)
• Institutions may provide expenses for an athlete’s spouse, family or parents to attend an event at which that athlete is being honored or recognized.

Other issues to consider:

• The institution may provide the cost of books and course-related supplies, but not notebooks, binders, calculators, computers or other GENERAL office supplies!  It may be required that you turn in the books provided at the end of the semester!
• We may not provide you with software, unless it is specifically course-related, such as accounting software for an accounting course.
• We may provide you access to any home athletic contest, but only through a pass-list with proof of identity!  We can NOT let your roommate or date in for reduced prices, however!
• We may provide you with reasonable local transportation (back to the residence halls after an away-from-home contest, to practice during inclement weather, or to the local public transportation hub for your trip home at break.)
• We may provide counseling and rehab services to keep you in, or restore you to, playing condition.
• We may allow you to keep sports apparel issued to you but only at the END of your college career.
• An institution is allowed to establish a policy that allows you to use athletic equipment over the summer, but you may not keep athletic equipment at the end of your career.  You may purchase it, however IF we put such items up for sale to the general public.
• We can provide you with host money, when you are entertaining a recruit, but you can NOT buy spirit items or other tangibles with that money, only provide food and entertainment.