Buckeye Beat – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | General
A great way to enjoy the summer is to attend or send a family member to an OSU summer sports camp. The camps are run by Ohio State coaches, members of their staff, student-athletes and guests who share their knowledge on specific aspects of the chosen sport. As you may know, some of the NCAA rules regarding summer camps are unique and can impact camp participants if not properly followed. The following is a list of questions and answers that may help to refresh or increase your knowledge of NCAA rules and regulations. Enjoy the camps and have a great summer!
Q. Does a Summer Camp have to be operated on the OSU campus?
A. No, a sports camp (e.g., summer camp or clinic) is any camp or clinic that is owned or operated by Ohio State or an employee of the athletic department and takes place either on or off its campus.
Q. Are there any age limitations for camp participants?
A. Yes, all institutional summer camps and clinics shall be open to any and all entrants (limited only by number and age), with the exception of “senior prospects” in the sport of football. A “senior prospect” is a high school student who has recently graduated. A student entering the 12th grade is eligible to attend the camp.
Q. Are there any contact restrictions between a coach and a prospect during camp?
A. Yes and No, the interaction during summer camps between prospects and those coaches employed by the camp is not subject to the recruiting calendar restrictions. However, other coaches and boosters wishing to attend the camp as observers must comply with appropriate recruiting contact and evaluation periods.
Q. What discounts, if any, can be utilized by a camp participant to lower the cost?
A. None. Ohio State, members of its staff or representatives of its athletic interests shall not employ or give free or reduced admission privileges to a high school, preparatory school or two-year college athletic participant. For purposes of this rule, high school includes the ninth-grade level, regardless of whether the ninth grade is part of the junior high-school system. A few of the camps do include group discounts, please review the camp brochures for any published group discounts.
Q. Are current student-athletes allowed to be employed by the summer camp?
A. Yes, in sports other than Division I football, Ohio State (or employees of its athletics department) may employ its student-athletes as counselors in camps or clinics, subject to the following conditions:
a. The student-athlete does not participate in organized team practice activities other than during the institution’s playing season in the sport.
b. The director of athletics gives prior approval to the student-athlete’s employment arrangement.
Q. Are there any requirements that a student-athlete must meet in order to be employed by the camp?
A. Yes, a student-athlete who is employed in any sports camp or clinic must meet the following requirements:
a. The student-athlete must perform duties that are of a general supervisory character and any coaching or officiating assignments shall represent not more than one-half of the student-athlete’s work time.
b. Compensation provided to the student-athlete shall be commensurate with the going rate for camp or clinic counselors of like teaching ability.
c. The director of athletics gives prior approval to the student-athlete’s employment arrangement.
Please remember that the above information addresses only the key issues of the extensive NCAA Bylaws concerning Camps and Clinics and is not an exhaustive discussion. For questions or to receive more information, please contact Heather Lyke, Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance at (614) 292-2681.
