NCAA Compliance
Extra Benefits
Definition: Extra Benefit (
Bylaw 16.02.3) – An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of the institution’s athletic interests (including fans) to provide a student-athlete or the student-athlete’s relative or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by the NCAA legislation. Extra benefit regulations pertain to prospects as well.
According to
Bylaw 16.01.1, receipt by a student-athlete of an award, benefit, or expense allowance not authorized by NCAA legislation renders the student-athlete ineligible to compete while representing the institution in the sport for which the improper award, benefit, or expense was received. If the student-athlete receives an extra benefit not authorized by NCAA legislation or an improper award or expense allowance in conjunction with competition that involves the use of overall athletic skill (e.g., “superstar” competition), the individual is ineligible for all sports
Exception for Benefits Available to Other Students (
Bylaw 16.01.3) – The receipt of a benefit by a student-athlete or his or her friends that is not authorized by NCAA legislation is not a violation if it is demonstrated that the same general benefit is available to the institution’s students, their relatives, and friends determined on a basis unrelated to athletics ability.
Some Guidelines:
• You may not provide a prospect of a current student-athlete with money, gifts, loans,
flowers, etc.
• You many not pay prospects of current student-athletes a fee for speaking engagements,
give them free or reduced costs for professional services, pay fees for sports camps, or provide discount merchandise.
• You may not allow prospects of current student-athletes the use of an automobile, provide
tickets to athletic or community events, or provide favorable housing arrangements, reduced rent or lodging of any kind.
• A student-athlete or the entire team in a sport may receive an occasional meal from an
institutional staff member or representative of athletics interest under the following
conditions: (1) the meal may be provided in any location in the locale of the institution, (2) meals must be restricted to infrequent and special occasions, and (3) transportation to attend such meals may be provided.
• An institution may provide or arrange for occasional meals to team members provided by the relative of a student-athlete at any location.
Certainly, these things alone will not constitute an extra benefit. BUT, if something is offered to a student-athlete that is not made readily available to non-student-athletes, this is an extra benefit. We realize these benefits can be tempting but surely, it is not worth losing your eligibility and placing the university on probation.
