AMATEURISM AND
ORGANIZED COMPETITION
OVERVIEW
 General Amateurism Regulations
 Amateurism certification
 Recent interpretations
 Promotional Activities and Institutional Fundraisers
 Applicable legislation
 Case studies
 Organized Competition
 Multitiered educational systems
 Military service
GENERAL AMATEURISM
REGULATIONS
AMATEURISM BASICS
A student-athlete (SA) must receive a final
amateurism certification from the NCAA
Eligibility Center in all sports in which he/she
participates, before engaging in competition.
Once certification is received, institution is
responsible for ensuring SA retains amateur
status.
NCAA Division II Bylaws 12.1 .1 .1 and 12.1 .1 .1 .2.1
AMATEURISM CERTIFICATION BASICS,
CONTINUED
 When can final amateurism be requested?
 April 1: Fall enrollees.
 October 1: Midyear enrollees.
 Can a SA practice without a final amateurism
certification?
 Yes, for 45 days.
 After 45 days, SA must cease participation in practice
activities until final amateurism certification is received.
 In an extenuating circumstance, institution may file a NCAA
Division II Committee for Legislative Relief waiver.
Bylaw 12.1.1.1.3.1
POP QUIZ
Ross plans to
participate in cross
country and track
and field.
Phoebe plans to
participate in
volleyball and sand
volleyball.
Does Ross need an
amateurism
certification in both
sports?
Does Phoebe need
an amateurism
certification in both
sports?
RECENT AMATEURISM INTERPRETATION
Actual and Necessary Expenses from an Amateur
Pool
 SA may receive actual and necessary expenses from an
outside amateur sports team or organization; and
 Permissible for individuals to compete as amateurs and
receive expenses not in excess of the reasonable amount
of expenses given to all individuals participating as
amateurs.
Bylaw 12.1.3 and official interpretation [Reference: 04/25/14,
Item No. 2-a]
RECENT AMATEURISM INTERPRETATION,
CONT’D
 The amount must be:
 A uniform allowance (e.g., $100 per day) determined by the
sponsors of the event;
 Not conditioned on the individual's place finish in the event;
and
 Not in excess of an individual’s actual and necessary
expenses.
 Permissible for the funds to come from an "amateur pool"
of unclaimed prize money retained by the outside
amateur sports team or organization.
Bylaw 12.1.3 and official interpretation [Reference: 04/25/14,
Item No. 2-a]
PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES
AND INSTITUTIONAL
FUNDRAISERS
CASE STUDY - GELLER UNIVERSIT Y
A local coffee house,
Central Perk, wants
to help Geller’s
soccer teams raise
funds for its
programs and have
provided the
following flyer for a
possible event.
CASE STUDY - GELLER UNIVERSIT Y
Is this a permissible promotional activity?
CASE STUDY - GELLER UNIVERSIT Y
If Central Perk removes the reference to the
appearances of Drake and Pheobe, is this
event permissible?
Would SAs be able to attend the event?
PROMOTIONS INVOLVING COMMERCIAL
SPONSORS
 Member institution (or charitable , educational or nonprofit
organization) may use the appearance, name or picture of an
enrolled SA to promote generally its fundraising activities at
the location of a commercial establishment.
 Commercial establishment cannot be a cosponsor of the
event; and
 SA cannot promote a commercial product in conjunction with
the fundraising activity.
 What makes a commercial establishment a cosponsor?
 Advertises the presence of the SA at the commercial location; or
 Directly or indirectly promotes the activity.
Bylaw 12.5.1 .1 .2
CASE STUDY - TRIBIANI COLLEGE
Tribiani’s head
football coach would
like to hold a car
wash fundraiser to
support the team’s
2014-15 budget and
turns this flyer in to
compliance for
review.
CASE STUDY - TRIBIANI COLLEGE
 Is this a permissible institutional fundraiser and promotional
activity?
 What information do you need to know?
 Is Central Perk involved in promoting the event?
CASE STUDY - GREEN STATE
 Green State’s director of marketing is hoping to hold a three point shooting contest at halftime of an upcoming basketball
game.
 Participants must be a full -time student at Green State and
show their student ID before entering the contest.
 Local celebrity Regina Phelange will draw 10 names at
random to participate.
 Prizes will include:
 1 st place: $100 voucher to Green State’s bookstore.
 2 nd place: $50 gift card to a local sporting goods store.
 3 rd place: Basketball signed by head coach, Richard Burke.
CASE STUDY - GREEN STATE
 The marketing director wants to know if she has to restrict
SAs from participating in the contest.
 Is it permissible for SAs to participate if selected?
 If a SA places in the top three, can he or she receive the
applicable prize?
MODELING AND OTHER NONATHLETICALLY
RELATED PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES
 A SA may receive payment and/or allow his or her name or
picture to be used to promote a commercial product or
service, provided:
 SA became involved for reasons unrelated to his or her athletics
ability;
 No reference is made to SA’s participation in intercollegiate athletics;
and
 SA is paid the going rate for his or her services and the rate is not
based on SA’s status as a SA.
Bylaw 12.5.1.2
ORGANIZED
COMPETITION BEFORE
INITIAL COLLEGIATE
ENROLLMENT
IN A PERFECT WORLD…
PSA graduates on time from high school.
PSA has one-year grace period.
PSA initially enrolls at a
collegiate institution.
PSA ceases participation
in organized competition.
BUT WE KNOW THE WORLD ISN’T
PERFECT!
Common issues with organized
competition:
1. PSA does not graduate in the expected
timeframe;
2. PSA participates in organized competition
after the one-year grace period; and/or
3. PSA’s home country has a mandatory
military requirement.
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION DATE
 The graduation date is determined by the NCAA Eligibility
Center staf f.
 Based on the PSA’s enrollment in ninth grade (or the
international equivalent).
 Graduation date for international SAs is based on the NCAA
Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics
Eligibility.
 Accessible on ncaapublications.com.
Bylaw 14.2.4.2.1.1
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION DATE,
CONT’D
 What if the PSA graduates early?
 PSA becomes a member of that class and the date of
graduation for the PSA is the expected date of that class.
 What if the PSA graduates late?
 Depends.
 Was the PSA required to repeat an entire year of high
school?
 If so, PSA becomes a member of that class and the date
of graduation for the PSA is the expected date of that
class.
Bylaws 14.2.4.2.1.1.1 and 14.2.4.2.1.1.2
PARTICIPATION AFTER ONE-YEAR GRACE
PERIOD
 SA is charged with the use of one season of
competition for each 12-month period after the oneyear grace period in which SA participates in
organized competition.
 If SA is charged with the use of a season of
competition, SA must also serve an academic year in
residence before competing at a Division II
institution.
PARTICIPATION AFTER ONE-YEAR GRACE
PERIOD, CONT’D
Example #1
June 2011
June 2011 August
2012
Example #2
•SA’s expected and actual
date of high school
graduation.
June 2011
•SA’s one-year grace period.
June 2011 •SA’s one-year grace period.
August
2012
•SA’s expected and actual
date of high school
graduation.
2012-13
•SA participated in 20
basketball contests.
2012-13
•SA did not participate in
organized competition.
2013-14
•SA participated in 14
basketball contests.
2013-14
•SA participated in 14
basketball contests.
OUTCOME:
OUTCOME:
MULTITIERED EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS
 Countries such as the United Kingdom, the University of
Cambridge international exam program, New Zealand, Quebec,
Canada, Scotland, the Caribbean exam countries and British
patterned Africa have multitiered educational systems.
 Multitiered educational systems require a student to complete
one level before moving on to the next.
 Ministry of education in each country defines the prescribed
amount of time for completion of each level.
Of ficial Interpretation [Reference: 6/30/11, Item No. 1]
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION DATE IN A
MULTITIERED EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
(1) Prospective SA completes secondary school in the
timeframe prescribed by the country's ministry of education.
 Graduation date advances to the date PSA’s class
completes each tier.
 PSA must complete the tier within prescribed timeframe
determined by the country’s ministry of education.
Of ficial Interpretation [Reference: 6/30/11, Item No. 1]
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION DATE IN A
MULTITIERED EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
 Chandler is a golf PSA from the United Kingdom.
 June 2012: Earns General Certificate of Secondary Education
(GCSE).
 2012-13, 2013-14 academic years: Enrolls in a General
Certificate of Education (GCE), A -Level program.
 June 2014: Passes two GCE A-Level examinations.
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION DATE IN A
MULTITIERED EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
(2) Prospective SA delays completion of secondary school tier.
 PSA is expected to enroll in the next tier immediately .
 Graduation date is based on when the PSA’s class
completes the tier, not when the PSA completes the tier.
Of ficial Interpretation [Reference: 6/30/11, Item No. 1]
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION DATE IN A
MULTITIERED EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
 Rachel is a track PSA from Jamaica.
 June 2011: Earns the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC)
Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).
 2011-12: Works at the family business.
 2012-13 and 2013-14 academic years: Enrolls in a CXC Advanced
Proficiency Examination (CAPE) program.
 June 2014: Passes two CAPE examinations.
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION DATE IN A
MULTITIERED EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
(3) Prospective SA attempts but does not successfully complete
secondary school tier.
 PSA’s graduation date will remain the date the PSA’s
class completed the previous tier.
Of ficial Interpretation [Reference: 6/30/11, Item No. 1]
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION DATE IN A
MULTITIERED EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
 Joey is a baseball PSA from Quebec, Canada.
 June 2012: Earns the Diplôme d'Études Secondaires (DES).
 2012-13 and 2013-14 academic years: Enrolls in a Diplôme d'Études
Collegiales (DEC) program at a College d’Enseignement Général et
Professional (CEGEP).
 Joey did not complete the program.
 Fall 2014: Enrolls at a Division II institution.
MILITARY SERVICE – UNITED STATES AND
CANADA
 Participation while on active duty in United States or
Canadian Armed Services is exempt from organized
competition legislation.
 Participation does not need to be organized by the military.
Bylaw 14.2.4.2.2.1 and
NCAA Division II Proposal Nos. NC -2015-7 and NC-2015-12
MANDATORY MILITARY SERVICE
 PSAs with mandatory military service are most commonly
seen from Israel, but a number of countries have a mandatory
military requirement.
 Requires a Committee for Legislative Relief waiver.
 PSA must enlist at first opportunity after high school;
 Cannot participate in outside competition after discharge; and
 Must enroll at a collegiate institution at first opportunity.
 If PSA was granted exceptional or elite athlete status in the military,
relief cannot be provided for the year in residence.
March 2014 Committee for Legislative Relief Guidelines for
Assertions of Mandatory Military Service
LEGISLATIVE RELIEF WAIVERS
 Division II Committee for Legislative Relief guidelines are
available on ncaa.org.
 Delay must be due to circumstances outside of the
individual’s control.
 Examples: Natural disaster, war, medical hardships or extreme
financial difficulties.
 Assertions of lack of knowledge of the legislation,
misinformation or lack of information from institutional
personnel, or failure to enroll due to an academic deficiency
do not, in themselves, warrant relief.
QUESTIONS?