Must Read All Student Athletes!!!

Participating in college basketball is a dream for many young individuals perhaps because of the benefits and perks that are associated with it. However becoming a student-athlete can be a difficult and challenging assignment as there are certain tasks or jobs that need to be fulfilled to represent a school in sports competitions. Those who want to have an idea of what college basketball may read the guidelines below.

An individual loses amateur status and, thus, shall not be eligible for intercollegiate competition in a particular sport if the individual:

1. Uses his or her athletics skill (directly or indirectly) for pay in any form in that sport (e.g., receipt of payment from agents or for participation in exhibitions or postseason all-star contests).

2. Accepts a promise of pay even if such pay is to be received following completion of intercollegiate athletics participation. 

3. Signs a contract or commitment of any kind to play professional athletics, regardless of its legal enforceability or any consideration received.
   1. Legal Enforceability of Contract. A student-athlete in the sport of football at an institution was declared ineligible per , inasmuch as he signed an agreement with a Canadian agent to play Canadian professional football, even though the institution argued that the agent intentionally misrepresented the matter, thus making the agreement void. Members of the Council noted that the student-athlete clearly had signed the agreement and the fact that he may have been misled by the agent would be a mitigating factor to be considered in determining whether to restore eligibility. 

   2. Contractual Arrangements for Participation in Certified College All-Star Contest. Prior to the conclusion of an individual's collegiate eligibility in a particular sport, a student-athlete or his or her director of athletics may enter into a contract guaranteeing the participation of the student-athlete in a certified all-star contest, provided all student-athletes in the all-star contest will receive only actual and necessary expenses for their participation. 

4. Receives, directly or indirectly, a salary, reimbursement of expenses or any other form of financial assistance from a professional sports organization based upon athletics skill or participation, except as permitted by NCAA rules and regulations. 

5. Competes on any professional athletics team and knows (or had reason to know) that the team is a professional athletics team , even if no pay or remuneration for expenses was received.

6. Enters into a professional draft (other than in the sport of basketball) or an agreement with an agent or other entity to negotiate a professional contract.

Participation in a Foreign Tour Subsequent to Exhausting Eligibility. A student-athlete who no longer is eligible to represent his or her institution in intercollegiate competition due to a violation of NCAA amateurism regulations (e.g., signed with a professional organization, secured the services of an agent, asked to be placed on the draft list of a professional league) may not participate in an institution's foreign tour.

Equipment & Apparel Items.

1. A student-athlete may not accept athletics equipment, supplies or clothing (e.g., tennis racquets, golf clubs, hockey sticks, balls, shirts) from a manufacturer or commercial enterprise. Such items may be provided to the student-athlete's institution, to be used by the institution's team in accordance with accepted practices for issuance and retrieval of athletics equipment.

2. A prospect may receive apparel or equipment items related to the prospect's sport directly from an apparel or equipment manufacturer or distributor without jeopardizing the prospect's eligibility for intercollegiate athletics in that sport. However, a prospect may not enter into an arrangement (e.g., open account) with an apparel or equipment manufacturer or distributor that permits the prospect to select apparel and equipment items from a commercial establishment of the manufacturer or distributor without jeopardizing the prospect's eligibility for intercollegiate athletics in that sport. 

 Negotiations. An individual may request information about his or her professional market value without affecting his or her amateur status. Further, the individual, his or her legal guardians or the institution's professional sports counseling panel may enter into negotiations with a professional sports organization without the loss of the individual's amateur status.