NCAA Compliance

Make sure you and your players understand NCAA compliance when it comes to event participation and prize money.*

Juniors

• Can accept up to $10,000 annually with “no strings attached"
• Can play in any tournaments they want prior to high school graduation
  • After high school graduation (or the expected date of graduation based on a 4-year high school), NCAA rules allow for juniors to continue participating in any tournaments/events for a period of 6-months (or next opportunity to enroll in college) without penalty
  • After the 6-month “grace period,” juniors are limited to participation in National Team events only
  • Participation in non-permissible events after the 6-month “grace period” will trigger delayed enrollment penalties and cost the junior seasons of competition upon enrolling in college
• Once a junior reaches $10,000 of prize money in a given year, he/she is limited to only accepting “actual and necessary expenses” (e.g., hotel, airfare, meals) incurred on an event-by-event basis
  • For example, if a junior pays $700 “out-of-pocket” to participate in a tournament, he/she could only accept $700 or less in prize money
• $10,000 cap resets each calendar year – January 1st to December 31st

Current NCAA Student-Athletes

• During the academic year, a player can only participate IF
  • Representing the institution, eligible for participation, and counting against NCAA match limitations
    • This would be the same as if he/she was participating in any normal dual match on behalf of the institution
  • Participating unattached (e.g., not representing the institution and not receiving any expenses/funds from the institution associated with participating)
    • This would be the same as participating in tournaments over the summer
    • Cannot receive coaching from institutional coaches during tournament
    • Outside the academic year & during a vacation period (e.g., summer, Thanksgiving, winter recess)
• Outside the academic year & during a vacation period (e.g., summer, Thanksgiving, winter recess), a player can only participate IF
  • Participating unattached (e.g., not representing the institution and not receiving any expenses/funds from the institution associated with participating
    • Cannot receive coaching from institutional coaches during tournament
• Prize Money
  • If current NCAA student-athletes are permissibly participating in UTR events, they can accept any amount of prize money provided the total amount of prize money accepted is spent towards “actual and necessary” expenses associated with outside tournament participation by the conclusion of the current calendar year
    • For example, a student-athlete wins $1,000 at Tournament A and $2,000 at Tournament B.  The student-athlete may accept all $3,000 provided he/she spends at least $3,000 to participate in outside tournaments (including Tournaments A & B) during the calendar year – calculated January 1st to December 31^st

^{*NCAA Compliance rules are subject to change. For the latest visit http://www.ncaa.org/}