NCAA Eligibility: What is Amateurism?
If you are looking to compete at the NCAA Division I or Division II level, you need to first receive a final amateurism certification from the NCAA. There are several steps that you need to complete to ensure you will be eligible to compete in athletics at that level. The first step is to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
What Are Situations That Could Impact My Amateurism Status?
Note: If you have questions regarding your amateur status or NCAA legislation, contact the athletics compliance office at the NCAA institution recruiting you or the NCAA’s public and legislative line at 877-262-1492
According to the NCAA Website, here are a few different scenarios that could put a student-athlete at risk:
Taking a break between high-school/secondary school and full-time collegiate enrollment, but continuing to participate in your sport(s). The NCAA gives prospective student-athletes a determined amount of time (aka a grace period) that they must continue their participation in athletics. The amount of time you have after high school graduation varies based on your sport and what division (DI and DII only) you will be competing in. If you do not enroll i a college and continue to participate in organized competition of that sport, that would count as a season of eligibility used.
Using a recruiting agency, scholarship agent or a scouting service. SportsRecruits is not a recruiting agency, scholarship agent, or scouting service. It is a recruiting platform! The services mentioned above can be detrimental to your NCAA Eligibility. If a service guarantees they can get you a scholarship, or base the fee they charge you off of the scholarship you receive, you may be at risk of losing the ability to compete in NCAA athletics.
Receiving payment from a sports team to participate. While in high school, you are technically allowed to receive compensation from your club team as long as it doesn’t exceed what the NCAA defines as "actual and necessary expenses."
Receiving funds or money to offset training expenses. You can only receive compensation if the money is tied directly to competition or for practice in preparation for the specific competition, or it is from a national governing body, Olympic Committee, or a governmental entity. Once again, the amount of money you can receive can not go over what is deemed as "actual and necessary expenses." These expenses can not be covered by someone like an agent or a booster of a program.
Accepting prize money based on performance/finish at a competition. Prize money received at a competition can not exceed the overall expenses of those events during a calendar year or season of that sport. If you do receive prize money, make sure you are in compliance by reviewing what the eligibility center requires here.
Being represented or marketed by a professional sports agent. You can not be in a written or oral agreement with an agent, or receive any types of benefits that will lead to future representation of you as an athlete.
Promoting or endorsing a commercial product or service. As a high school athlete, you cannot receive compensation for any promotional work or endorsements that you may do for a product or service. Once you become a NCAA Athlete, you can no longer promote or endorse anything using your name, image, or likeness.
Learn how to request your final amateurism certification here. The NCAA also offers you the opportunity to check that you are in compliance with amateurism rules. You can find their additional resources on amateurism here or call them at 877-262-1492.