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What Could Cause College Athletes to Lose Amateur Status?
Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC
Date: March 19, 2014
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NCAA Amateurism
Amateurism is one of the most important things to the NCAA. It is why they are so adamant against paying athletes because amateurs don’t receive compensation. College athletes that lose amateur status are no longer able to participate. The following are some situations that could lead to this distinction:
An amateur athlete will lose his or her status if:
- The student-athlete or a family member contacts an agent and comes to a written or oral agreement for representation. Even though representation will not commence until after the athlete leaves school, this is still a violation of NCAA rules.
- The student-athlete receives a salary, reimbursement of expenses or any other financial assistance from a professional sports organization for participating. For example, if an athlete is paid for playing in a professional league overseas, he or she may not be eligible.
- The student-athlete or a family member accepts any type of extra benefits from an agent who wants to represent him or her when they turn professional. This can include anything from money, to a car or an airplane ticket.
- The student-athlete signs a contract to play professional athletics, regardless of its legal enforceability. This also applies no matter if they participate in the league. Simply signing the contract removes the athletes amateur status.
The NCAA is strict with its rules, so there is little leeway when it comes to violating them, especially for amateur status. It seems as though there is at least one of these cases each year in the major sports and it will be interesting to see if anyone who challenges a ruling of the NCAA in the future is able to win.
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