The NCAA News - News and Features

August 17, 1998

Legislative assistance

1998 Column No. 30Amateurism -- Past performance as a basis for future expenses

In accordance with NCAA Bylaw 12.1.1.1.4.3, it is permissible for an individual to receive expenses from an outside amateur sports team or organization not to exceed actual and necessary travel, room and board, and apparel and equipment to represent the sports team or organization in competition and any practice held in preparation for such competition. Under such circumstances, practice must be conducted in a continuous time period preceding the competition except for practice sessions conducted by a national team, which occasionally may be interrupted for specific periods of time preceding the competition. Further, pursuant to 12.1.1.1.5, an individual who receives any payment, including actual and necessary expenses, conditioned on the individual's or team's place finish or performance or given on an incentive basis, would jeopardize his or her intercollegiate eligibility in a particular sport.

During its December 10, 1997, meeting, the Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet Subcommittee on Legislative Review/Interpretations confirmed that the provisions of 12.1.1.1.5 specifically relate to performance in the current competition or event as opposed to qualifying for the receipt of actual and necessary expenses for a future competition or event. In other words, an individual would jeopardize his or her intercollegiate eligibility if he or she accepted any payment, including actual and necessary expenses, conditioned on the individual's or team's place finish or performance in that particular event; however, the individual's or team's place finish may serve as a basis for receiving actual and necessary expenses for a future competition or event.

Financial aid -- USOC grant programs

During its December 10, 1997, meeting, the Subcommittee on Legislative Review/Interpretations confirmed that it would not be permissible under current financial aid regulations for current student-athletes with remaining eligibility to receive funds pursuant to any of the grant programs (i.e., Basic Grant, BasicPlus Grant, Special Assistance Grant, Operation Gold Grant) without jeopardizing the student-athlete's eligibility in a particular sport except as permitted in accordance with Bylaw 15.2.5.5. It noted that each of the grants involve an amount of funds that are provided directly to recipients based on their competitive performances, which are not specifically restricted in use but designed mainly to assist the recipient in covering necessary expenses related to his or her training program. Such expenses may be used in some instances to cover travel and room and board expenses for competitions but also may be used to cover other basic training expenses not permissible under current NCAA amateurism regulations. Additionally, the subcommittee noted that currently enrolled student-athletes are permitted to receive actual and necessary expenses for developmental training programs only pursuant to 12.1.1.4.5. Under such circumstances, the programs must be actually conducted and supervised by the USOC or the appropriate national governing body as opposed to providing funds directly to a recipient to be used for such purposes. Finally, the subcommittee noted that the receipt of funds from such grants (other than funds received as part of the operation Gold Grant program) prior to initial collegiate enrollment appear to be permissible pursuant to 12.1.1.4.4.

Bylaw 16.3.2-(d)

On-campus student development (e.g., Franklin Planners)

NCAA institutions should note that in accordance with Bylaw 16.3.2-(d), an institution may finance on-campus student-development and career-counseling (including the provision of related materials of little or no commercial value to student-athletes) utilizing outside resources. During its November 17, 1993, conference, the former NCAA Interpretations Committee determined that an institution may not provide student-athletes with organizational planners (e.g., Franklin Planners) in conjunction with permissible student-development and career-counseling programs. Further, it would not be permissible for institutions to pursue an alternative avenue to provide such planners to student-athletes by inserting them into the student-athlete handbook. However, it would be permissible only to provide a few limited examples of materials that may assist a student-athlete with his or her organizational skills.

Finally, please note that consistent with the extra-benefit legislation, it would be permissible for an institution to provide a planner to student-athletes if such an item is provided to the student body in general.

This material was provided by the membership services staff as an aid to member institutions. If an institution has a question or comment regarding this column, such correspondence should be directed to Kristen L. Davis or Lisa Roesler, membership services representatives, at the NCAA national office. This information is available on the College Sports Network.