Awards and BenefitsAwards and Benefits

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Rules Education Meeting

November 11, 2009

OverviewOverview

Extra Benefits Awards Academic Services Meals Expenses for Friends and Families

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Extra Benefits: Bylaw 16Extra Benefits: Bylaw 16

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Definition of Extra BenefitDefinition of Extra Benefit

Any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a booster to provide a student-athlete or a student-athlete’s relative or friend a benefit not permitted by NCAA legislation.

A benefit that is generally available to the student body or a segment of the student body determined on a basis unrelated to athletics ability is permissible.

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Extra Benefit vs. Preferential TreatmentExtra Benefit vs. Preferential Treatment

Provision of extra benefits involve institutional staff members or boosters.

Preferential treatment occurs when institution does not have knowledge of the treatment, benefit or services being provided to the individual.

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Extra BenefitsExtra BenefitsCase Study No. 1Case Study No. 1

Softball student-athlete requests that her coach call the owner of a local batting cage facility in order for the student-athlete to receive free hitting sessions during the summer.

Coach arranges for student-athlete to hit free of charge.

Batting cage facility offers student discount rates for college students during the summer.

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Extra BenefitsExtra BenefitsCase Study No. 1Case Study No. 1

Does this arrangement constitute a violation? Yes, other college students are not able to hit for

free.

Is this an extra benefit or preferential treatment? Extra benefit, because of institutional staff

member involvement.

Would the arrangement still be a violation if coach was not involved?

Yes, violation would be preferential treatment.

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Extra BenefitsExtra BenefitsCase Study No. 2Case Study No. 2

Institution’s letterman’s club would like to begin a scholarship program.

The scholarship will award financial aid to the children of its members.

The letterman’s club membership consists of former student athletes, former student-managers and former cheerleaders.

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Extra BenefitsExtra BenefitsCase Study No. 2Case Study No. 2

Does the scholarship program constitute a violation?

Yes. It is not permissible to award financial aid through a scholarship program available only to children of former student-athletes.

Even if participation on a team coached by a former coach or membership in a club that includes individuals other than former student-athletes is required.

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Extra BenefitsExtra BenefitsCase Study No. 2Case Study No. 2

Would the arrangement be a violation if the institution met the demonstrated financial need for all students through the use of institutional scholarships or grants?

No. Such programs may be a source of aid for children of former student-athletes if the institution meets the demonstrated financial need for all students through the use of institutional scholarships or grants.

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Awards (Bylaw 16.1)Awards (Bylaw 16.1)

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Student-Athlete Enrolled Full-TimeStudent-Athlete Enrolled Full-Time

During the academic year (including vacation periods), a full-time student-athlete may not receive: cash gift certificates cash-equivalent country club or sports club membership

Prize Money Exception In individual sports, a student-athlete may accept prize

money that does not exceed his or her actual and necessary expenses.

In individual sports, a student-athlete may accept prize money based on his or her place finish or performance in an open athletics event (an event that is not invitation only), provided the competition occurs outside the institution's declared playing and practice season during the institution's summer vacation period.  Such prize money may not exceed actual and necessary expenses and may be provided only by the sponsor of the open event.  The calculation of actual and necessary expenses shall not include the expenses or fees of anyone other than the student-athlete (e.g., coach's fees or expenses, parent's expenses). -- NCAA Bylaw 12.1.2.4.2

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AwardsAwards

Types:

Participation Conference or national championship Senior Special achievement Local civic organization

Award Limitations The total value of any single award received for a

Conference championship may not exceed $325.

The total value of any single award received for a national championship may not exceed $415.

Charts at the end of Bylaw 16 outline types, awarding agencies and limits

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AwardsAwards

Awards must be uniform.

Student-athletes must be eligible to compete to receive awards.o Ineligible: Non or partial qualifiers, transfers

serving year in residence, academically ineligible.

Student-athletes cannot transfer or sell awards. There are limits on number and value of awards that

student-athletes may receive. You cannot combine permissible amounts.

Student-athlete cannot contribute to increase the value of an award.

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AwardsAwardsCase Study No. 3Case Study No. 3

Mary, a student-athlete from Denver University, won the 200 meter freestyle at the 2009 National Championship.

Denver ordered a championship ring for Mary through a new ring vendor.

Denver was billed $650 for the ring, which included the cost of the ring, a $250 tooling charge and shipping and handling fees.

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AwardsAwardsCase Study No. 3Case Study No. 3

Permissible?

The total value of any single award received for a national championship may not exceed $415 (NCAA Bylaw 16.1.4.2).

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AwardsAwardsValue – General RemindersValue – General Reminders

Normal retail value of award shall be applied when an institution receives institutional awards free of charge or at a special reduced rate.

Institution may only use the value assigned to an award based solely on volume and availability to all purchasers.

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BanquetsBanquetsInstitutional Awards Banquets: An institution may conduct awards banquets to

commemorate the athletics and/or academic accomplishments of its student-athletes

Booster Club Recognition Banquet: One time per year, an institution’s booster club may finance a team’s transportation expenses to a recognition banquet, provided: Expenses paid through institution’s athletics

department Within 100-miles of campus No tangible award provided

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Permissible Expenses to Permissible Expenses to Receive AwardsReceive Awards

Established regional, national, international awards

Hometown

President, governor, state legislative body International equivalent

Conference

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MealsMeals(Bylaw 16.5)(Bylaw 16.5)

Occasional MealsOccasional Meals

Infrequent and special occasions.

Student-athlete or an entire team.

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Occasional MealsOccasional Meals

Parent of a student-athlete. At any location in the locale of the institution, or at

his/her home. Institutional staff member.

Any location in the locale of the institution. May provide reasonable local transportation to

attend. Representative of athletics interests.

Only in an individual’s home. May provide reasonable local transportation only if

the meal is in the home of the representative of athletics interests. 24

Meals in Conjunction with Meals in Conjunction with Home ContestsHome Contests

Institution may provide meals at its discretion. Begins with the evening before competition. Ends upon release by institutional personnel. 

Institution cannot provide cash in lieu of meals during this period. 

Institution may provide a meal or up to $15 cash after home contests.

Institution may provide a meal or cash, but not both.

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Meals in Conjunction with Meals in Conjunction with Away-From-Home ContestsAway-From-Home Contests

Two Options.- Regular meals and/or meal allowances; or- Discretionary meals.

- Selected option applies for the entire trip. Option 1 – Regular meals and/or meal

allowances. All student-athletes may receive a pregame or postgame

meal in addition to regular meals. Up to $15 may be provided instead of a postgame meal

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Meals in Conjunction with Meals in Conjunction with Away-From-Home ContestsAway-From-Home Contests

Option 2 – Discretionary Meals Begins when the team is required to report on call

for team travel. Ends with the earlier of two options:

Team returning to campus; or Release from team-related activities

No cash in lieu of regular meals. May provide a meal or cash, not to exceed $15 to

student-athletes at the time of his or her release from team-related activities.

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Snack Before CompetitionSnack Before Competition

Student-athletes may receive a snack the night before a contest.

Considered a benefit incidental to athletics participation.

Applies to home and away contests.

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Away-From-Home ContestsAway-From-Home ContestsCase Study No. 4Case Study No. 4

Team reports on call for travel to away contest at2 p.m. Thursday.

Contest starts at 2 p.m. Saturday. Contest ends at 7 p.m. Saturday Team arrives back on campus at 5 p.m. Sunday.

Question:May the institution provide a meal on the trip to the airport Thursday afternoon and a meal when the team arrives at the hotel at 11 p.m. Thursday night?

Answer: Under Option 1, only one meal (i.e., dinner) may be provided. If the institution uses Option 2, then both meals are permissible.

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Away-From-Home ContestsAway-From-Home ContestsCase Study No. 4Case Study No. 4

Team reports on call for travel to away contest at2 p.m. Thursday.

Contest starts at 2 p.m. Saturday. Contest ends at 7 p.m. Saturday Team arrives back on campus at 5 p.m. Sunday.

Question:Following Saturday’s game, may the institution provide the student-athletes with cash in lieu of a postgame meal? If so, how much cash may be provided?

Answer: Under Option 1 or 2, up to $15 may be provided instead of a postgame meal.

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Expenses for Student-Athletes’ Expenses for Student-Athletes’ Friends and FamilyFriends and Family

(Bylaw 16.6)(Bylaw 16.6)

Reasonable RefreshmentsReasonable Refreshments

May be provided to student-athletes’ parents or legal guardians on an occasional basis

Examples include soft drinks and snacks

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Family Lodging – Postseason EventsFamily Lodging – Postseason Events

Institution may reserve or secure lodging at a reduced or special rate for a postseason event

Permitted for parents (or legal guardians) and immediate family of a participating student-athlete

Does not apply to conference events

Does not allow institution to cover any portion of the cost

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Life-Threatening Injury or Illness:Life-Threatening Injury or Illness:Student-AthleteStudent-Athlete

Institution may pay transportation, housing and meal expenses to allow: Parents (or legal guardians); Student-athlete’s spouse; and Student-athlete’s teammates to be present with

student-athlete. In the event of a student-athlete’s death,

institutions may provide these expenses in conjunction with funeral arrangements.

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Life-Threatening Injury or Illness:Life-Threatening Injury or Illness:Family Member of SAFamily Member of SA

Institution may pay transportation, housing and meal expenses to allow: Student-athlete; Student-athlete’s spouse; Student-athlete’s children; and Student-athlete’s teammates to be present.

In the event of death, institutions may provide these expenses to the student-athlete and their teammates in conjunction with funeral arrangements.

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Trivia Questions1) If your team wins the regular season

conference championship as well as the postseason conference championship, what can be the value of both awards combined?

Answer:$325Separate awards may be presented to both the regular season and postseason conference champion (with a separate $325 limitation), but if the same team wins both the combined value of both awards shall not exceed $325.

Trivia Questions

2) If there is a road race (for example, Cajun Cup 10k) that takes place during the academic year, may a member of the cross country team accept a cash prize for winning the race?

Answer: No, the open athletics event must occur outside the playing and practice season during the summer vacation period, and the prize money would not be able to exceed actual and necessary expenses of the student-athlete. Remember, this rule only applies to individual sports.

Any Questions?Any Questions?

Always Ask Before You Act!