Compliance Newsletter
For Parents of SMC Student-Athletes ∙ 2014-2015
As a Parent there
are NCAA rules that
pertain to you…
Welcome!
The purpose of this guide is to educate the parents of SMC student-athletes about the rules
surrounding intercollegiate athletics. This guide will deal with NCAA and WCC rules that
apply to you and your son/daughter. While this guide is not all inclusive, it will provide a
sample of the type of compliance issues you and your son/daughter will encounter while at
SMC.
What are you permitted to do?
Occasional Meals
As the parent of a student-athlete, you can provide meals on an occasional basis to your son/daughter’s team members at
any location (e.g., your home, a restaurant, on-campus). All meals provided to a student-athlete must be reasonable in
nature (not excessive). Generally, occasional meals are permitted on special occasions such as birthdays, holidays and
celebrations, and when parents come to visit.
Complimentary Admissions
SMC may provide a student-athlete with a maximum of four complimentary admissions per regular season home and
away competitions, regardless of whether the student-athlete competes in the contest. Student-athletes may not receive
“hard” tickets, as complimentary admissions may be provided only through a pass list for individuals designated by the
student-athlete. Student-athletes may assign complimentary admissions to family members, relatives and friends. The
individual receiving the complimentary admission must present identification at the admissions gate in order to receive
the complimentary admission. Neither the student-athlete, nor the individual designated to receive the ticket may
exchange the ticket for money or any item of value. Doing so would result in a violation of NCAA legislation.
Know the Rules…
FINANCIAL AID
A student-athlete may not receive athletics aid in excess of a full grant-in-aid. A full grant-in-aid is defined as tuition
and fees, room, board and required textbooks. An athletics grant-in-aid cannot be awarded in excess of the studentathlete’s five-year period of eligibility. Unless otherwise indicated on the agreement, all athletic aid agreements will
continue to be for one academic year. SMC is required to notify your son/daughter by July 1 regarding the status of
his/her athletics aid (i.e, whether it will be cancelled or renewed).
SMC may not decrease or cancel your son/daughter’s athletics aid during the period of the award (i.e., academic
year) on the basis of the student-athlete’s athletics ability, performance or contribution to a team’s success; because
of an injury, illness or physical or mental medical condition; or for any other athletics reason. SMC may reduce or
cancel athletics aid during the period of the award if your son/daughter renders themselves ineligible for
intercollegiate athletics competition; fraudulently misrepresents any information on an application, letter of intent or
financial aid agreement; engages in serious misconduct warranting substantial disciplinary penalty; or voluntarily
withdraws from a sport at any time for personal reasons.
It is permissible for a student-athlete to receive other financial aid (e.g., institutional scholarships, outside awards) in
addition to an athletics scholarship. However, in some instances those scholarships are countable against the NCAA
grant-in-aid limits. If that occurs, the student-athlete may need to decline the additional scholarship due to his/her
financial aid limit and the team’s financial aid limit. Should the student-athlete choose to keep the additional
scholarship, his/her athletics aid may need to be reduced in order to accommodate the additional award.
Know the Rules…
EXTRA BENEFITS
An area of great concern and that raises a large number of questions involves a student-athlete or his/her family
member’s receipt of an “extra benefit”. An extra-benefit is any special arrangement to provide a student-athlete or
his/her family a benefit not authorized by NCAA legislation. The receipt of an unauthorized benefit by a student-athlete
or his/her parents, relatives or friends will immediately place the student-athlete’s eligibility for intercollegiate athletics
competition in jeopardy.
Examples of Unauthorized “Extra Benefits” include, but are not limited to:
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Receipt of cash or loans in any amount, or benefit of another signing or co-signing for a loan.
Use of an automobile or other personal property (e.g. boats, summer homes, stereos, etc.).
Gifts of any kind, including birthday cards, flowers, holiday gifts and gifts of clothing or equipment.
Receipt of any tangible items, including merchandise and/or cash.
Free or reduced-cost services, rentals or purchases of any type; free or reduced-cost housing.
Providing special discounts for goods and services (e.g., car repairs, legal services, haircuts, meals, etc) that are
only provided to student-athletes and/or their relatives or friends.
 Cash in exchange for a student-athlete’s complimentary admissions, athletics equipment/apparel or autograph.
The NCAA uses the following 4 questions as an objective guideline in determining whether to permit a
student-athlete or their parents’ receipt of such benefits:
1. Did the relationship between the student-athlete (or parent) and the individual providing the benefit develop as a
result of the student-athlete’s participation in athletics?
2. Did the relationship between the student-athlete (or parent) and the individual providing the benefit predate the
athlete’s status as a prospective student-athlete?
3. Did the relationship between the student-athlete (or parent) and the individual providing the benefit predate the
student-athlete’s status achieved as a result of his/her athletics ability or reputation?
4. Was the pattern of benefits provided by the individual to the student-athlete (or parent) prior to the studentathlete attaining notoriety as a skilled athlete similar in nature to those provided after attaining such stature?
Representatives of Athletics Interest
As the parent of a SMC student-athlete, you should be aware that the NCAA has imposed limitations and boundaries on
the kinds of interactions you may have with people whom the NCAA defines as “representatives of athletics interests”
or boosters. A booster is an individual who:
 Has participated in or is a member of an agency or organization promoting the institution’s intercollegiate
athletics program (e.g., booster clubs, season ticket holders);
 Has made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization;
 Assisted or was requested (by the athletics department staff) to assist in the recruitment of prospective studentathletes;
 Assisted or has assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families; or
 Has been involved otherwise in promoting the institution’s athletics program.
Once an individual has been identified as a booster, he/she retains that status forever. While your son/daughter is
enrolled at SMC, it is a possibility that you may befriend a person who is defined per NCAA regulations as a booster. If
this occurs, please be aware that your friendship with a booster does not change their status and your responsibility as
far as maintaining compliance with NCAA rules. In summary, NCAA rules would not allow a student-athlete or
their parents to receive benefits from persons who have come to know the athlete/parents as a result of his/her
achieved status, reputation or participation as an athlete.
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PLEASE NOTE:
When you have any doubt as to what you may or may not
do in regard to SMC athletics, please call SMC Athletics Compliance at
(925) 631-4952.
GO GAELS!