Current Student-Athletes

Many activities can place a student-athlete's eligibility in jeopardy. Some of these activities are covered in this section regarding amateurism. Please familiarize yourself with these rules to avoid any violations.

Agent: An individual is not permitted to retain an agent or receive any benefits from an agent.

Contract: An individual is not permitted to sign a contract with a professional team.

Prize Money Based on Place Finish: An individual, subsequent to initial, full-time collegiate enrollment, is not permitted to accept prize money based on place finish in an athletics event.

Employment: Student-athletes are allowed to work both during and outside the academic year. However, student-athletes must only be paid:

• for work they actually performed and
• at the going rate for similar type jobs in the area in which they are working.

Student-athletes should not be paid based on publicity, reputation, fame, or personal following they have gained because of their athletic ability.

Fee-for-Lesson Compensation: A student-athlete is permitted to accept fee-for-lesson compensation, provided specified conditions are met. (Note: Student-athlete is still subject to NCAA Bylaw 15 requirements.)

Any student-athlete who wishes to teach lessons in his or her sport may do so provided:

• UNCP facilities are not used;
• Playing lessons shall not be permitted;
• UNCP obtains and keeps on file documentation of the recipient of the lesson(s) and the fee for the lesson(s) provided during any time of the year; and
• The compensation is paid by the lesson recipient (or the recipient's family) and not to another individual or entity.
• Instruction to each individual is comparable to the instruction that would be provided during a private lesson when the instruction involves more than one individual at a time.
• The student-athlete does not use his or her name, picture, or appearance to promote or advertise the availability of fee-for-lesson sessions.

Salary: A student-athlete is not permitted to accept any direct or indirect salary, gratuity or comparable compensation for his or her athletic participation or performance.

Extra Benefits: A student-athlete may not receive a benefit which is not available to the general student body. Receiving or accepting any such extra benefit renders a student-athlete ineligible for competition. Examples of an extra benefit include:

• Cash or gifts
• Use of personal property (e.g., boats, summer homes, cars, phones)
• Discounts on purchases (e.g., tickets, clothing)
• Discounts on services (e.g., dental/medical services, automotive services, laundry)
• Arranging, providing or co-signing on a loan
• Meals at restaurants or groceries
• Clothing or equipment
• Free or reduced cost housing

Prospective Student-Athletes

There are many things that a prospective student-athlete needs to be aware of regarding amateurism. Failure to comply with the following rules may result in ineligibility.

Agent: An individual is not permitted to retain an agent or receive any benefits from an agent.

Contract: An individual is not permitted to sign a contract with a professional team.

Prize Money Based on Place Finish: An individual, prior to initial, full-time collegiate enrollment, is permitted to accept prize money based on place finish in an open athletics event, not to exceed actual and necessary expenses, from the sponsor of the event. The calculation of actual and necessary expenses shall not include the expenses of fees of anyone other than the prospective student-athlete (e.g., coach's fees or expenses, parents, expenses).

Educational Expenses: An individual, prior to initial, full-time collegiate enrollment, is permitted to accept educational expenses (i.e., tuition and fees, room and board and books) from any individual or entity other than an agent, professional sports team/organization or representative of an institution's athletics interests, provided such expenses are disbursed directly through the recipients' educational institution (e.g., preparatory school, high school).