The new Division I Amateurism Cabinet determined at its first meeting that it will need to spend the next several months examining amateurism rules for prospective student-athletes.

The cabinet, which met in Indianapolis September 23-24, spent its first meeting learning about the complexities of student-athlete amateurism, especially pre-enrollment issues.

Members believe that some of the legislation governing the amateur status of prospects is out of date and needs to be re-examined with the goal of enhancing the intercollegiate athletics experience for all student-athletes.

Part of the pre-enrollment amateurism study will involve the current definition of a professional team. For example, if one member of a team is compensated above actual and necessary expenses, every member of that team is considered professional. That scenario is common in professional leagues overseas, such as when a player from a league’s top-tier (and obviously professional) team is injured; part of the player’s rehabilitation may include a stint in lower-tiered, non-professional ranks, thereby professionalizing anyone who plays on such teams.

Cabinet members believed this definition is too broad, that it is contrary to the “student-athlete first” philosophy of the NCAA and that it has barred too many student-athletes from participating.

The group expects to examine the commercialism and student-athlete image and likeness issues once the Presidential Task Force on Commercial Activity in Intercollegiate Athletics develops guiding principles to assist the cabinet. Concerns about the influence of agents and advisors will also be an area the cabinet focuses on in the future.

In other business, the cabinet voted to support Proposal No. 2008-13, which would allow student-athletes in individual sports to accept prize money based on performance in an open athletics event if the event occurs outside the declared playing and practice season and during an official vacation period. The prize money must not exceed actual and necessary expenses for participation in the event.

The cabinet members believed that the legislation closed a loophole that allowed student-athletes participating in such events as members of teams (which often paid for travel and other expenses) to benefit from the participation while barring student-athletes in individual sports like track and field or tennis from recouping expenses.

The group’s next meeting is February 19-20 in San Antonio.