1. Amateurism and Organized Competition
Chris Brown
Kaitlyn Purcell
Good morning, all—
Welcome to Amateurism and Organized Competition.

2. Key Takeaways
Participants will walk away with a better understanding of both the pre-enrollment and post-enrollment amateurism; and
Understand in which situations the organized competition legislation applies.
Participants will walk away from the presentation with a strong understanding of pre-enrollment and post-enrollment amateurism.
Further, you will walk away knowing to which situations to apply the organized competition legislation.

3. Agenda Pre-Enrollment Amateurism. Post-Enrollment Amateurism.
Involvement with a Professional Team.
Outside Competition.
Organized Competition.
During the presentation, we will cover:
Pre-Enrollment Amateurism;
Post-Enrollment Amateurism;
Involvement with a Professional Team; and
Organized Competition.
Now for some in the room, discussing amateurism at 2:45 on a Wednesday afternoon is a pretty good time. However, because some of this information can be dry, we thought that we would spice it up by playing a game of bingo.

4. BINGO
Everyone in the room should have a bingo card. Please raise your hand if you do not have a card and someone from our staff will provide you with one. Now in order to mark a square, either myself or my co-presenter Kaitlyn must say the word or phrase.
For the first round, we will go for four in a row. This can be done vertical, horizontal or diagonal.
Following one winner, we will continue playing until the first person has their entire card filled up.

5. Pre-Enrollment
Now we have to acknowledge, certifying amateurism is no easy task, but understanding what will compromise an individual’s amateur status is a great place to start. Prior to jumping directly into the legislation we must discuss who the rules actually apply to.
There is a distinction made at the beginning of Bylaw 12 in which we discuss an individual vs. a student-athlete. If at any point, you read the word: “individual” that means that the legislation applies to anyone both prior to and after triggering initial collegiate enrollment. So this is going to include both your prospective student-athletes and student-athletes as well. However, if the rule specifies student-athlete, then it is only applicable to student-athletes.
Further, in most instances, amateurism legislation is sport specific.
Therefore, if an individual violates an amateurism bylaw in one sport, it does not mean he or she won’t be eligible for other sports.

6. Pre-Enrollment Amateurism
An individual loses amateur status and is not eligible for participation in a sport if he/she engages in any of the following:
Use of athletics skill for pay;
Accepts a promise of pay for athletics participation;
Receives above actual and necessary expenses;
Signs an agreement with an agent;
Receives expenses or awards not permitted by amateurism rules governing an event;
Receives expenses for competition from an individual other than parent/legal guardian or nonprofessional sponsor of the event;
Now, let’s start by taking a look at what the legislation says when it comes to pre-enrollment amateurism.
As a warning, we are not going to review every trigger of the pre-enrollment amateurism legislation, but does in which you will encounter most often.
Now, this may be obvious, but a student-athlete cannot use their athletics skill for pay. In addition, they can accept a promise for pay either. This would include differing payment for a later date.
In any instance, an individual may not receive above actual and necessary expenses for participation in their sport.
Further, an individual may not enter into an agreement with an agent.
For the majority of our sports, there is a national governing body that has oversight of the sport. So think USA Basketball for the sport of basketball. Now each of these governing bodies has established rules in which an athlete must abide by in order to maintain their status as an amateur. To that end, an individual may not receive expenses or awards that are not permitted under the amateurism rules for the spot.
Finally, an individual may not receive any expenses for competition from anyone other than a parent, legal guardian or nonprofessional sponsor of the event itself.
NCAA Bylaw

7. Pre-Enrollment Amateurism
An individual may engage in the following without jeopardizing his or her amateur status:
Prize money based on place finish.
Actual and necessary expenses from a professional team.
Contract for professional athletics.
Competition on professional team.
Actual and necessary expenses from outside amateur team or organization.
Expenses from nonprofessional sponsor of event.
Actual and necessary expenses for parents or legal guardians.
Now that we’ve discussed what is impermissible, let’s take a look at what an individual can do prior to triggering initial collegiate enrollment.
An individual may receive prize money based on their individual participation or team participation in an event. Now as a caveat, this prize money, should not exceed an individuals actual and necessary expenses.
Now it is permissible prior to collegiate enrollment to receive expenses for participation with a professional team. However, these expenses may not exceed actual and necessary expenses.
Along the same lines, an individual is permitted to compete and sign a contract with a professional team. However, looking back at the last prong, the individual would only be able to accept up to actual and necessary expenses.
If an individual is participating on an outside amateur team, they are able to accept actual and necessary expenses from said team or organization. Similarly, an individual and permissibly accept actual and necessary expenses from a nonprofessional sponsor of the event.
And as always, if the expenses are coming from a parent or legal guardian, then it is permissible for an individual to accept them.
Since we have now established both the permissible and impermissible pre-enrollment legislation, let’s take a look a case study.
NCAA Bylaw

8. RSRO Question No. 1
Question: A nonrecruited SA enrolled at our institution. Prior to triggering collegiate enrollment, SA earned $1,500 based on his/her finish from the sponsor of an international tennis tournament. SA’s actual and necessary expenses were approximately $1,750. Did the SA impact his/her amateur status?
Answer: No. Although SA received prize money based on finish, the money did not exceed SA’s actual and necessary expenses and is therefore, permissible.
Now in this first question, we have a nonrecruited SA that has enrolled at a Division III institution. No prior to triggering initial collegiate enrollment, they earned $1,500 based

9. Post-Enrollment

10. Post-Enrollment Amateurism
Following full-time collegiate enrollment, an individual loses amateur status and is not eligible for participation in a particular sport if the individual engages in any of the following:
Use of athletics skill for pay;
Accepts a promise of pay for athletics participation;
Signs a contract with, receives expenses from or competes with a professional team;
Enters into a professional draft more than once;
Signs an agreement with an agent;
Receives a cash award for participation;
Now that we have a handle on pre-enrollment amateurism, we are going to switch gears to post-enrollment amateurism.
Some of this legislation is going to look familiar. Often times, things that were either permissible or impermissible pre-enrollment remain consistent post-enrollment.

11. Post-Enrollment Amateurism (cont.)
Receives an award or expense not permitted by the amateurism rules of the governing body;
Receives above actual and necessary expenses;
Receives competition expenses from a sponsor other than a parent/legal guardian;
Payment based on place finish in a team sport;
Payment based on place finish in an individual sport if it occurs during the academic year and playing season (including actual and necessary expenses); and
Other activities that do not conform to Bylaw
Bylaw
Now that we have a handle on pre-enrollment amateurism, we are going to switch gears to post-enrollment amateurism.

12. Post-Enrollment Amateurism
An individual may engage in the following without jeopardizing his or her amateur status
Actual and necessary expenses from outside amateur team or organization.
Prize money -- individual sports -- outside the playing season during the institution’s official summer vacation period.
Expenses from nonprofessional sponsor of event.
Actual and necessary expenses for parents or legal guardians.
NCAA Bylaw

13. Elite-Level Participation
An SA or PSA can receive benefits from the U.S. Olympic Committee or appropriate national governing bodies.
These benefits include but are not limited to:
Educational expenses;
Actual and necessary expenses; and
Health insurance.
Staff would encourage both you and an individual receiving such

14. RSRO Question No. 2
Question: Over the weekend, a track & field SA ran in an event that offered prize money. The SA won and received $500. The track & field team participates in their final meet tomorrow. Was SA allowed to receive the prize money?
Answer: No, it would not be permissible for SA to receive prize money based on finish during the intercollegiate season.

15. Professional Team Involvement
Let’s take some time to discuss professional team involvement.

16. Professional Team Involvement
An SA is permitted to tryout with a professional team or allow a professional team to conduct a medical examination anytime outside of the SA’s season.
An SA may receive actual and necessary expenses for a tryout provided it does not exceed 48 hours.
However, outside competition cannot take place as a component of the tryout.
Bylaws and
A Division III student-athlete is permitted to engage in a tryout or medical exam with a professional team. However, this tryout must occur outside of the playing season.
Further, the professional team is permitted to provide expenses for the tryout but those expenses cannot exceed a 48 hour time frame. The tryout itself can last as long as the SA and professional team deem fit, but the SA cannot receive any expenses after the 48 hour timeframe, including transportation home.
While practice is permissible during the tryout, a SA may not engage in outside competition as a member of the professional team.

17. Professional Team Involvement
An individual or amateur team may participate against a professional team;
However, an individual may compete on a tennis, golf, two-person beach volleyball or two-person synchronized diving team with a professional athlete provided they do not personally receive cash or similar prize; and
While an SA cannot compete in outside competition as a member of a professional team, summer leagues and teams that included both professionals and amateurs (i.e. “pro-ams”), provided the professional is not being paid to participate.
NCAA Bylaws and
Now an amateur team is permitted to compete against a professional team. This includes an institution’s intercollegiate athletics team.
Further, a SA may compete as a duo in the sports of tennis, golf, beach volleyball and synchronized diving provided they do not personally receive cash or a prize similar to cash.
Finally, a summer leagues and teams that include both professionals and amateurs, provided the professional athlete is not being paid to play.

18. RSRO Question No. 3
Question: An SA was recently invited to take part in a two week tryout with the San Antonio Spurs. Can SA participate and can SA receive actual and necessary expenses?
Answers: If the tryout is taking place outside the intercollegiate season, it would be permissible for SA to participate in tryout. Institution will need to ensure that tryout itself does not include outside competition. In regards to expenses, it would be permissible for SA to receive expenses up-to-48 hours. Following the 48-hour timeframe, any remaining expenses, including expenses to travel home cannot be covered by the professional team.
So do we have enough to answer the question? No.
What do we need to know? When is the tryout taking place?

19. RSRO Question No. 4
Question: A semi-professional team has reached out to our institution’s soccer coach about competing against our team during the traditional season. Is it permissible for an institution to compete against a semi- professional team?
Answer: Yes, per Bylaw (competition against professionals), an individual may participate as a member of an amateur team against a professional team. Since the intercollegiate team would be considered an amateur team, it would be permissible for the institution’s team to compete against the semi-professional team.

20. Outside Competition

21. Outside Competition
A student-athlete becomes ineligible for intercollegiate competition in that sport until eligibility is restored by the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement if, after enrollment in college and during any year in which the student-athlete is a member of an intercollegiate squad or team, he or she competes or has competed as a member of any outside team in any noncollegiate, amateur competition (e.g., tournament play, exhibition games or other activity) during the institution’s intercollegiate season in the sport (see Bylaw for exceptions and waivers) unless restored to eligibility before that time by the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement.
Bylaw
During the academic year, a SA will be deemed in eligible, if they compete as a member of the outside team. This regulation is further broken down later in the bylaw, to apply to timeframes in which the SA is in-season.

22. Outside Competition (cont.)
In wrestling, a student-athlete may compete outside of the institution’s intercollegiate season as a member of an outside team in any noncollegiate, amateur competition, except during the period between the beginning of the institution’s academic year and November 1.
Bylaw
Between the first date of classes and November 1, wrestling SAs may not compete in outside competition.

23. Outside Competition (cont.)
A student-athlete is considered to be a member of the institution’s team, and therefore bound by this regulation in that sport, if the student-athlete:
Is ineligible to compete but practiced with a squad or team in the sport; or
(b) Is eligible to compete but was not permitted to do so, other than taking part in practice sessions with the squad or team in the sport.
Bylaw
Let’s clarify being a member of an institution’s team. The legislation applies even if a SA is ineligible to compete but practices with a squad or team in the sport or the SA is eligible to compete but did not do so.

24. Outside Competition (cont.)
If an institution conducts separate fall and spring practice or playing segments in a sport, it is permissible for a student-athlete to participate in that sport on an outside team during the period between the two segments without affecting his or her eligibility.
Bylaw
In-between segments, a student-athlete can permissibly compete in outside competition. However, once the intercollegiate season begins, competition must cease.

25. Outside Competition (cont.)
It is permissible for a student-athlete to participate in outside competition as an individual during the academic year in the student-athlete’s sport, as long as the student-athlete represents only himself or herself in the competition and does not engage in such competition as a member of or receive expenses from an outside team.
Bylaw
In individual sports, a SA may compete during the playing season in outside competition, provided they are only representing themselves.

26. Outside Competition (cont.)
High School Alumni Game.
Olympic Games.
Official Pan American Games Tryouts and Competition.
National Teams.
Official World Championships, World University Games (Universiade), World University Championships, World Youth Championships and World Cup Tryouts and Competition.
Triathlons.
Bylaw
The following, are the most commonly used exceptions. As an aside, with the sport of triathlon, in order to access the exception, the SA must compete in all three phases of the triathalon.

27. Violation Next Steps Identify what exact bylaw was violated;
If there is a dollar amount tied to the violation determine what that exact amount is;
Gather statements from the individuals involved;
Have the individual impacted sign a Buckley Amendment; and
Submit a request through RSRO for SA reinstatement.
If you do find that a SA has violated the amateurism legislation, do the following:
Identify what exact bylaw was violated;
If there is a dollar amount tied to the violation determine what that exact amount is;
Gather statements from the individuals involved;
Have the individual impacted sign a Buckley Amendment; and
Submit a request through RSRO for SA reinstatement.

28. Organized Competition
Good morning, all! My name is Kaitlyn Purcell.
We are going to discuss organized competition before initial collegiate enrollment, otherwise known as "delayed enrollment," and delve into when the legislation applies. 

29. Organized Competition
An individual who does not immediately enroll in college one year after his/her high school graduation date shall use a season of eligibility and sit an academic year if he/she engages in any of the following activities.
Bylaws and
Now the base bylaw is pretty straightforward. Any individual who does not immediately enroll in college one year after his or her high school graduation date shall use a season of participation if after that one-year period, he/she participates in one of the following activities (see next slide for how an individual may trigger the use of a season prior to initial full-time collegiate enrollment).

30. Triggering Use of a Season
Professional Team
Payment
Contract/Draft
Booster
Competes or trains with team that awards expenses to any team member above actual and necessary.
Receives expenses above actual and necessary for any competition or training.
Receives pay based on place finish.
Competes after signing a contract for athletics participation.
Competes after entering professional sports draft.
Competes in event funded by a booster that is not open to any and all.
This chart breaks down the activities that will cause an individual to use a season of participation prior to initial full-time, collegiate enrollment. Keep in mind, the individual will only trigger use of a season if the individual participates in any of these activities after their “gap year.”

31. Academic Year of Residence
An individual who uses a season of participation in a particular sport, under the organized competition rule, must serve an academic year of residence, prior to participating in intercollegiate competition in that sport.
Bylaw
As a reminder, if the organized competition legislation was triggered, in addition to the loss of seasons, the SA must serve a year in residence prior to participating in that sport.
Further, the legislation is sport specific. Therefore, if you are working with a multi-sport athlete, we are certifying him/her for all sports in which he/she participates.

32. Exceptions to the Rule
The following may be exempted one time and for one year only:
Preparatory school exception; and
Elite-level participation (except junior national).
Bylaw and
Staff Interpretation: 10/26/2011
Now we all know that with many NCAA Bylaws, there are often times exceptions to the rule. Organized Competition is no exception…..full-pun intended.
One time and for only one-year, an institution may exempt a prospective student-athletes’ participation in organized competition at a postgraduate college preparatory school.
Further, an institution may also exempt tryouts/competition for Elite level participation. This includes Official Pan American, World Championships, World Cup, World University Games, World University Championships, Olympic Tryouts and any competition as a part of the national team. Please note, this exception does not extend to junior national participation
Competition Exceptions. A maximum one-time, one-year exception for participation in the following activities:
(a) Preparatory School Exception. Participation in organized competition while enrolled in a postgraduate college preparatory school shall be exempted; and
(b) Athletics Activity Exception.
(1) Official Pan American, World Championships, World Cup, World University Games (Universiade), World University Championships and Olympic training, tryouts and competition; (Revised: 10/17/11)
(2) Officially recognized training and competition directly qualifying participants for final Olympic tryouts; or
(3) Official tryouts and competition involving national teams sponsored by the appropriate national governing bodies of the U.S. Olympic Committee (or for student-athletes representing another nation, the equivalent organization of that nation, or for student-athletes competing in a non-Olympic sport, the equivalent organization of that sport). (Adopted: 1/14/02 effective 8/1/02)
Delayed Enrollment for Junior National/International Competition (III)
Division: III
Date Issued: October 26, 2011
Date Published: October 26, 2011
Item Ref: b
Interpretation:
The NCAA academic and membership affairs staff confirmed that the exception to the delayed enrollment legislation for participation in national/international competition (e.g., Olympic Games, World Championships, national team) applies only to the events specified in the legislation and does not extend to junior level competition (e.g., Youth Olympic Games, U20 World Cup, junior national team) that may be associated with the specified events. [Reference: NCAA Division III Bylaw (competition exceptions)]

33. Major Junior Ice Hockey
An individual who participates on a major junior ice hockey team shall use a season of intercollegiate participation for each calendar year or sport season in which the individual participates, regardless of when such participation occurs (including participation during high school enrollment). The individual must also fulfill an academic year of residence before being eligible to represent the institution in intercollegiate competition in the sport of ice hockey.
Bylaw
In the sport of ice hockey, participation in major junior ice hockey will impact a student-athlete in the following manner:
Any individual who participates in major junior ice hockey is charged with season of participation for every sport season or calendar year he participates in major junior ice hockey and must fulfill an academic year in residence. This includes time prior to graduating from high school. Note that “participation” in this bylaw only means competition. Thus, an individual who only practiced with a major junior ice hockey team would not use a season of participation under this rule.
Now, this is a stricter stance than the previously discussed organized competition legislation. Specifically, under base bylaw is only triggered after a prospective student-athlete’s grace year. The major junior ice hockey legislation applies to any and all participation even prior to high school graduation.

34. Simplifying the Analysis
When analyzing participation prior to initial-collegiate enrollment, an institution should ask the following questions:
When did the SA graduate from high school?
When did the SA’s grace year end?
If participation occurred after the grace year, was it a professional team?
Did SA accept payment based on place finish or any training expenses above actual and necessary expenses?
Did SA sign a professional contract or enter a professional draft?
Did SA participate in a non-open competition sponsored by a booster?
If the sport is ice hockey, is the team classified as “major junior?”
Now I know we just threw a lot out there at you. However, we want to simplify the analysis as much as possible. Therefore, here are some key questions to ask when analyzing organized competition. Please note that this list is not exhaustive.

35. RSRO Question No. 5
Question: After graduating high school, a PSA played four games with a major junior ice hockey team. Did PSA use a season of participation?​ Answer: The residence requirement and use of a season requirement in Bylaw (major junior ice hockey) are still applicable to this SA regardless of the number of contests played.

36. RSRO Question No. 6
Question: A dual-sport SA (ice hockey and lacrosse) participated in one season of major junior ice hockey. Will SA be eligible to participate in the sport of lacrosse this spring? Does he need to serve an academic year in residence as well? Answer: Based on the information provided, the SA would be eligible to participate in lacrosse. SA triggered the organized competition legislation and, therefore, is charged a season of intercollegiate athletics in ice hockey and must fulfill an academic year in residence. However, the year in residence is applicable to ice hockey only.
As a reminder, these questions are ones pulled directly from RSRO.
So what do folks think? (Give some time to have participants weigh in on the question).

37. Resources
Only a yearly basis, an institution is required to have any international student-athletes fill out the General Amateurism and Eligibility Form for International Student-Athletes.
The purpose of the form is to certify international student-athletes for intercollegiate practice or competition and assess compliance with NCAA general amateurism and eligibility rules.
Although required by the legislation, this form can not only assist in providing information regarding an international student-athletes amateurism but can also assist in starting a deeper conversation on an international student’s amateur status.
International Ice Hockey Pilot Blanket Waiver Approved January 17, 2018 (referenced by Louise in Governance RRS presentation)​
International ice hockey student-athletes will receive relief from the general amateurism and eligibility form for international and select student-athletes.​
For the academic year, international ice hockey student-athletes will require the completion of a participation history through the NCAA Eligibility Center. Additionally, student-athletes that are part of the pilot may practice, but not compete pending receipt of the participation review.​
In granting this request, the NCAA Division III Presidents Council noted:​
Funding has been approved for a one-year pilot in which the NCAA Eligibility Center will review the participation history of all Division III international first-year ice hockey student-athletes;​
The participation review conducted by the NCAA Eligibility Center replaces the general amateurism and eligibility form;​
Institutions are still required to certify the eligibility of international ice hockey student-athletes participating in the pilot; and​
The request was granted based on student-athlete well-being and institutional difficulty in certifying international student-athletes due to language barriers and unfamiliar educational systems.​
See Case No in Requests/Self-Reports Online via the search tab. Additional information regarding blanket waivers can be found on the Legislative Relief Waivers homepage.​
[References: NCAA Division III Bylaws (International Student-Athlete Form) and (Eligibility Form)].​ ​

38. Resources (cont.)
In addition, staff created this amateurism checklist for both prospective and continuing student-athletes. This resource allows for a member institution walk through each prong of the amateurism legislation.

39. Resources (cont.) LSDBi; Google;
Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility; and
NCAA staff.
Certifying amateurism is not an easy task by any means. However, there are some resources that are currently available.
LSDBi is going to contain any applicable interpretations regarding organized competition.
Google believe it or not can be very helpful in tracking down information regarding a specific team in which a PSA may have competed on.
The NCAA Eligibility Center – Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility can assist in determining the graduation date of a prospective student-athlete.
NCAA Staff can provide interpretive assistance regarding how the legislation would apply to a given scenario.

40. Questions
Any questions?

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