Buckeye Insider – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | General
Nov. 8, 2001
A member institution’s athletics programs serve as an integral part of the institution’s educational mission just as student-athletes are considered to be an integral component of the student body. NCAA rules require a clear distinction between college athletes and those who compete for financial gains (professional athletes). An amateur student-athlete engages in a particular sport for the educational, physical, mental, and social benefits the sport offers. The student-athletes’ participation in that sport is an avocation. Rules regarding amateurism are enforced in the interest of protecting the student-athlete from exploitation by professional and commercial enterprises, and maintaining the demarcation between amateur and professional athletes. The following provides a general overview of NCAA rules that must be followed in order to maintain amateur status for intercollegiate competitions.
Q. What situations would cause a student-athlete to lose his or her amateur status?
A. Any of the following actions would jeopardize a student-athletes’ eligibility and amateur status.
Using his or her athletic skill (directly or indirectly) for pay in any form in that sport.
Accepting a promise of pay even if such pay is received following the completion of intercollegiate athletics participation.
Signing a contract or commitment of any kind to play professional athletics.
Receiving, directly or indirectly, a salary, reimbursement of expenses or any other form of financial assistance from a professional sports organization based upon athletics skill or participation, except as permitted by the NCAA rules.
Competing on any professional athletics team with the knowledge that the team is a professional athletics team.
Entering into a professional draft, other than in the sport of basketball.
Entering into an agreement, orally or in writing, with an agent or other entity to negotiate a professional contract.
Q. How does the NCAA define a professional team?
A. According to NCAA Bylaw 12.02.4, a professional athletics team is any organized team that:
1) Is a member of a recognized professional sports organization,
2) Is directly supported or sponsored by a professional team or professional sports organization,
3) Is a member of a playing league that is directly supported or sponsored by a professional team or professional sports organization, or
4) Has an athlete receiving for his or her participation any kind of payment, directly or indirectly, from a professional team or professional sports organization.
Q. Why do we not see intercollegiate student-athletes in sports apparel advertisements?
A. Student-athletes are prohibited from receiving remuneration for or permitting the use of their name or picture to advertise, recommend, or promote directly the sale or use of a commercial product or service of any kind. If a student-athlete’s name or picture appears on commercial items (e.g., T-shirts, sweat-shirts, playing cards, posters, photographs) sold by an individual or agency without the student-athlete’s knowledge or permission, the student-athlete, or institution acting on behalf of the student-athlete, is required to take steps to stop such activity in order for the student-athlete to retain his or her amateur eligibility.
Q. If an individual participates in a tryout for a professional team prior to her enrollment in a collegiate institution, then is she still eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics if she is not selected for the professional team?
A. Yes, a student-athlete remains eligible if the tryout occurred prior to enrollment in a collegiate institution. Additionally, the student-athlete is permitted to receive one expense paid visit from any one professional organization, provided such visit does not exceed 48 hours and any payment or compensation in connection with the visit does not exceed actual and necessary expenses. A self-financed tryout may be for any length of time.
After enrollment at a collegiate institution, a student athlete would jeopardize her amateur status by trying out with a professional athletics team, unless the student-athlete has exhausted her eligibility in that sport. The student-athlete may try out with a professional sport organization during the summer or during the academic year while not a full-time student, provided the student-athlete does not receive any form of expenses or other compensation from the professional organization. The individual may not take part in any outside competition as a representative of a professional team.
Q. Are NCAA rules regarding amateurism likely to change in the near future?
A. Possibly. The NCAA is considering proposals that would liberalize amateurism regulations. Among the proposals is a change that would permit high school student-athletes to compete as a professional without completely forfeiting their amateur eligibility. The amateur deregulation proposals are looking to redefine amateurism and how the NCAA’s institutions are required to assess amateur status. The proposals are analyzing whether we should allow prospects before their initial full-time enrollment at a collegiate institution to compete with professionals, sign a professional contract, enter a professional draft, accept prize money based on performance or receive compensation for athletic participation. These proposals would give prospects the opportunity to test their athletic skills in regard to competition without forfeiting collegiate eligibility. At the same time, these proposals should not unduly compromise competitive equity or deter participants from enrolling in and competing during college.
