Previously Asked Questions
Bylaw 16
Question: Can an institution provided expenses for student-athletes to participate in team-building exercises, such as a ropes course, outside of the playing season, such as prior to the start of practice but during the academic year?
Answer: Per a 1996 NCAA staff interpretation, it would not be permissible to provide expenses (e.g., ropes course and related team building activities) to student-athletes outside of the playing season during the academic year. All such activities must take place during the applicable playing and practice season.
Question: It's understood that we are not allowed to transport our athletes off campus for anything but practices and games (or practices in association with those games) but that they have to be within 100 miles of competition. Is it within the NCAA rules to take a team off campus (by that it means transporting them in a bus or vans) for "team building" exercises such as going to a Cubs game, Six Flags, ropes courses in another state, etc.?
Answer: Your understanding is correct in terms of what kind of transportation can be provided - only related to practice and/or competition. It's hard to argue that going to a Cubs game or Six Flags is a practice activity. A ropes course or other team building activity would be easier to buy...that said, a school has to be able to justify and show that the activity is truly a practice activity. There is no clear cut list of permissible activities...so you need to use your own collective judgment.
There is an interp that permits a school to provide transportation for its kids to undergo off-campus psychological development noting that "it must be legitimate practice activity per Bylaw 17.02.11 and the activities take place within the state in which the institution is located or, if outside the state, within 100 miles of the institution's campus."
Question: Can a group of parents of a student-athletes provide a post-game dinner for the team at an away from home contest?"
Answer: 2006 Convention proposal no. 27 now permits athletic representatives (which includes parents) to provide occasional meals at any location in the locale of the institution. Previously, these meals had to be at an individual's home. Such meals cannot be provided for away from home contests. In those cases, the parents should provide a cash gift in kind to the school to cover the costs of providing the meal.
Question: Can a coach take one of his own players to watch a prospect compete in a high school game?
Answer: No, the only permissible recruiting activities for enrolled student-athletes is telephone calls, official and unofficial visits. Further, this activity would also constitiute impermissible transportation for a student-athlete.
