PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT/EXTRA BENEFITS
Impermissible preferential treatment or extra benefits result from any special arrangement to provide student-athletes, their relatives or friends with a benefit or service not specifically authorized by NCAA legislation. However, receipt or acceptance of such a benefit/service by a student-athlete and/or his/her relatives or friends is not a violation of NCAA legislation if it is demonstrated that the same benefit/service is available to the University’s students, their relatives or friends, or to a particular segment of the student body (e.g., foreign students, minority students) determined on a basis unrelated to athletic ability.
Friendships or acquaintances with individuals established during the recruitment process or after a student-athlete’s arrival on campus in most instances are considered to result from the student’s status as a student-athlete; therefore, receipt of benefits from these individuals by a student-athlete, their relatives, or their friends is prohibited by NCAA regulations.
The University recognizes that a student-athlete may befriend individuals or families in the community who might wish to provide the student-athlete with a more “home-like” atmosphere. However, student-athletes must keep in mind that friendship with a fan, a representative of the University’s athletics interests (also known as a “booster”) and/or employee of the University does not change the person’s status under NCAA rules; therefore, all rules and restrictions pertaining to extra benefits continue to apply. For example, the provision of any type of material item (e.g., birthday gift, use of car, meals, lodging, loan of money, Christmas gift) by such an individual or family to a student-athlete, his/her relatives and/or friends could result in an NCAA rules violation and jeopardize the student-athlete’s eligibility to compete.
Examples of non-permissible extra benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Free or reduced-cost services
- Use of telephone or credit card without charge
- Use of tickets to any event, dinner, use of a car, etc. from commercial establishment without charge or at a discounted rate
- Receipt of loan
- Use of an automobile
- Free or reduced-cost lodging or meals
- Free or reduced-cost transportation
- Receipt of gifts or merchandise
- Receipt of expenses by a student-athlete’s friends/relatives to visit the student-athlete (at any site)
- Receipt of free admission or free meals in conjunction with a team and/or booster club function (e.g., tailgates) by a student-athlete’s friends/relatives
Receipt of extra benefits by a student-athlete or the student-athlete’s friends/relatives will render the student-athlete ineligible.
Student-athletes seeking assistance or clarification regarding the NCAA’s extra benefit rules should contact the Athletics Compliance Office.
