NCAA News Archive - 2010

back to 2010 | Back to NCAA News Archive Index

    • Print
    General guidelines for member institutions

    Jul 30, 2010 7:58:39 AM


    The NCAA News

     

    NCAA member institutions are aware of the concerns raised when agents or their representatives have access to an institution's student-athletes. Even in the absence of a representation agreement rendering the student-athlete ineligible, the presence of an agent can create a perception problem for an institution, in that many people may assume that the student-athlete has done something impermissible. This issue becomes even more challenging when the agent in question is the spouse or relative of an institutional staff member. This document seeks to provide guidance to institutions facing this issue.

    Related

    Statement: NCAA Interim President Jim Isch speaks on agents issues

    Interview with NCAA Director of Agent, Gambling and Amateurism Activities: Rachel Newman Baker talks about the issues surrounding agents.

    What happens next: The process to review and possibly change the legislation involving student-athletes and agents already has begun.

    Overview of NCAA bylaws governing athlete agents: If a student-athlete enters into a prohibited agreement with an agent, the student-athlete is ineligible for intercollegiate competition.

    FAQ on Uniform Athlete Agents Act: Information about the UAAA, a model state law that provides a means of regulating the conduct of athlete agents.

    List of agents Do's and Don'ts: There are guidelines that agents should follow to comply with NCAA amateurism rules and the Uniform Athlete Agents Act.

    Case studies: These are case studies based on actual cases investigated and processed by the NCAA.

     

    		  

    General Guidelines

    • No athletics department staff member of a member institution may serve as an agent, or represent, directly or indirectly, any individual in the marketing of athletics ability or reputation to a professional sports team or a professional sports organization, unless that staff member is acting in his or her capacity as a member of the institution's professional sports counseling panel. [Reference: NCAA Bylaws 11.1.4 (Representing individuals in marketing athletics ability/reputation) and 11.1.4.1 (Professional Sport Counseling Panel)].
    • An athletics department staff member may not receive benefits for facilitating or arranging a meeting between a student-athlete and an agent, financial advisor or a representative of an agent or advisor. [Reference: NCAA Bylaw 10.1 (Unethical Conduct)].
    • There is no NCAA bylaw prohibiting an athletics department staff member from being married or related to an agent.
    • An agent who is married or related to an athletics department staff member must adhere to the rules applicable to all agents, including but not limited to the following:
      • Forming an oral or written agreement to represent, now or in the future, a student-athlete with remaining eligibility will render the student-athlete ineligible.
      • Marketing the athletics ability or athletics reputation of a student-athlete to a professional sports team or any other individual or entity will render a student-athlete ineligible.
      • Providing, or having runners or anyone associated with the agency business provide, benefits to prospective or enrolled student-athletes with remaining collegiate eligibility, or their relatives or friends, will render a prospective student-athlete ineligible.
      • Representing a prospective or enrolled student-athlete in negotiations with a professional team will jeopardize the athlete's amateur status.