Olympic and National Team Participation
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Key Points:
 Prior to participation in elite international competition (e.g., Olympics, national team or qualifying events) please
complete an Outside Competition form with the Compliance Services Office.
 Any expenses associated with participation on an Olympic or national team must be prior approved by Compliance.
Participation – Student-athletes may participate in the Olympic Games, the Pan American games or tryouts, or any national team
tryouts or competition at any point during the academic year. There are no limits on the number of student-athletes from one
institution that may compete on an Olympic or national team. (NCAA Bylaw 17.31.3)
 International Competition Waiver: A student-athlete who qualifies to compete in the Olympics may apply for an
international competition waiver, allowing the student-athlete to take time off (up to two semesters) to train and
compete while still meeting the requirements for progress-toward-degree to remain eligible upon return to Stanford.
Permissible Expenses – Please check with the Compliance Services Office prior to receiving any type of funding.
 Provided by Stanford: Stanford may provide an eligible student-athlete actual and necessary expenses for participation
in any of the following:
o An established national championship event(s) (including junior championships);
o A specific competition from which a student-athlete may directly qualify for elite international competition
(e.g., Olympics, Pan American Games, World Cup, etc.);
o National team tryouts, including tiered events that may later qualify a student for participation in elite
international competition. (NCAA Bylaw 16.8.1.2)
o Institutional Policy – Stanford will pay for expenses for any qualifying event. Expenses must be pre-approved
by Compliance and Earl Koberlein.
 Provided by the National or International Governing Body:
o Competition Expenses: Student-athletes may receive actual and necessary expenses associated with practice
and competition. (NCAA Bylaw 12.4.2.2)
o Training Expenses: A qualifying student-athlete or prospect may receive actual and necessary expenses for
training, as long as the expenses are provided directly from the respective national governing body or
recognized governmental entity. (NCAA Bylaw 12.1.2.4.7)
 Provided by a 3rd party:
o A student-athlete or prospect who participates in outside competition as part of a team may receive actual and
necessary expenses for practice and competition, directly related to the team competition, from an outside
sponsor (e.g., neighbor, local business, and team) other than an agent, professional sports organization or a
representative of Stanford’s athletics interests.
o A student-athlete or prospective student-athlete who participates in outside competition as an individual may
receive actual and necessary expenses for practice and competition, directly related to the competition, from
an outside sponsor (e.g., neighbor or local business) other than an agent, professional sports organization or a
representative of Stanford’s athletics interests. (NCAA Bylaw 12.1.2.1.4.3)
o Crowdfunding sites (e.g., GoFundMe) may be used in limited circumstances to raise money, from
permissible sources, for participation on National/Olympic teams. Please check with the Compliance
Services Office prior to starting a site or profile.

Expenses for Family Members of Student-Athletes:
o Local community members, including local businesses (other than professional sports organizations), may
provide actual and necessary expenses for a student-athlete’s family members to attend national team
competition in which their student-athlete will participate.
o Family members of national team participants may receive non-monetary benefits from the national team, in
conjunction with national team participation, as long as the benefits are provided to the family members of all
participating national team members. (NCAA Bylaw 12.1.2.4.8, 16.6.1.4)
 Family Member – a family member is a spouse, parent, legal guardian, child, sibling, grandparent,
domestic partner, or any individual whose close association with the student-athlete is the practical
equivalent of a family relationship.
August 2015
Awards and Benefits –
 A student-athlete may accept all non-monetary benefits and awards provided by an Olympic team, beyond actual and
necessary expenses, as long as the same benefit is available to all members of that nation’s Olympic team or sport.
(NCAA Bylaw 12.1.2.1.4.3.2)
o Student-athletes or prospects may receive any commemorative items (training gear, apparel, etc.) provided to
all participating athletes. (NCAA Bylaw 12.1.2.4.13)
 Operation Gold Grant: a qualifying individual may receive funding pursuant to the Operation Gold program, or a similar
grant awarded pursuant to the established criteria of the respective international governing body, for a place finish in an
elite international competition (e.g., Gold medal at the Olympics). (NCAA Bylaw 12.1.2.1.4.1.2, 12.1.2.1.5.1)
 A national governing body may provide student-athletes or prospects with actual and necessary expenses to attend an
Olympic tour or exhibition, provided:
o No class time is missed;
o Dates and times do not conflict with a Stanford competition. (Bylaw 12.1.2.4.12)
Promotional Activities –
 Student-Athletes:
o A national or international governing body, or a designated third-party distributor, may use a student-athlete’s
name or picture to promote an elite international competition without affecting the student-athlete’s eligibility
status. (NCAA Bylaw 12.5.1.9)
 Example: selling player/trading cards is permissible provided all funds generated are distributed to the
Olympic/national team. (NCAA Bylaw 12.5.1.1.4.1)
o A corporate sponsor may use the name or image of a team, but not an individual, to promote an elite
international competition. (NCAA Bylaw 12.5.1.9.1.1)
 A corporate trademark or logo may be included on promotional items (e.g., videos, posters); however,
products associated with the corporate sponsor may not appear.
 Prospective Student-Athletes:
o Prior to initial, full-time enrollment, a prospect may receive money for participation in a commercial
advertisement for the purpose of promoting the Olympic Games, provided:
 Any participation and/or content is approved by the national governing body;
 Any funds generated as a result of participation are not earmarked for the prospect and any funds
generated are provided to the governing body for general use. (NCAA Bylaw 12.5.1.2)
Recruiting Activities Surrounding Olympic and National Team Competition –
 Coaches may attend elite international events (e.g., Olympics, Pan American Games, World Championships, World Cup,
World University Games, and World University Championships) outside the permissible contact and evaluation periods.
o Qualifying events, (e.g., Youth Olympic Games, Junior World Championships, U19 world University Games)
including tryouts, are still subject to the applicable recruiting calendar. (NCAA Bylaw 13.1.7.17)
Coaching Responsibilities and Countable Activities –
 A Stanford coach may be selected to coach an Olympic team or elite international team, even if selected members of
the team include current Stanford student-athletes or prospects, as long as:
o The governing body maintains responsibility for selecting coaches and participants. (NCAA Bylaw 17.2.8.1.2.2)
 A Stanford coach may provide instruction at Olympic qualifying events during the academic year or in the following
summer.
o Time spent at Olympic or qualifying events does not need to be included in countable hours.
 Time spent with Stanford coaches during the academic year training for international competition, including qualifying
events, must be included in the daily and weekly hour limitations for countable athletically related activity.
 For individual sports, a Stanford coach may provide individual summer workout sessions in preparation for international
competition, provided the student-athlete requests the assistance.