16.5.2 Permissible. [A] Identified housing and meal benefits incidental to a student's participation in intercollegiate athletics that may be financed by the institution are: [R] (Adopted: 1/10/91 effective 8/1/96, Revised: 1/14/97, 10/28/99, 4/27/00 effective 8/1/00, 11/1/01 effective 8/1/02, 4/25/02, 4/24/03, 3/10/04, 4/29/04, 5/2/05, 5/8/06, 5/9/06, 5/26/06, 12/12/06, 1/8/07 effective 8/1/07, 4/17/07, 4/26/07, 4/24/08 effective 8/1/08, 4/14/09, 9/24/09, 4/14/14, 4/24/14, 8/7/14, 10/20/14, 10/30/14)

(a) Summer-Dormitory Rentals. An institution may rent, at the regular institutional rate, dormitory space to a prospective or enrolled student-athlete during the summer months if it is the institution's policy to make dormitory space available on the same basis to all prospective or enrolled students (see Bylaw 15.2.2.3 for permissible housing benefits for student-athletes eligible to receive financial aid while attending summer school).

(b) Preseason Practice Expenses. The institution may provide the cost of room and board to student-athletes who report for preseason practice prior to the start of the academic year, it being understood that the student-athlete has been accepted for admission to the institution at the time such benefits are received.

(c) Training Table Meals. An institution may provide only one training table meal per day to a student-athlete during the academic year on those days when regular institutional dining facilities are open (see Bylaw 15.2.2.1.5). A student-athlete who does not receive institutional athletically related financial aid covering the full cost of board, including a walk-on or partial scholarship recipient, may purchase one training table meal per day at the same rate that the institution deducts from the board allowance of student-athletes who receive athletically related financial aid covering board costs pursuant to Bylaw 15.2.2.1.5.

(d) Meals Incidental to Participation. An institution may provide meals to student-athletes as a benefit incidental to participation in intercollegiate athletics. An institution shall not provide student-athletes with a meal and cash for the same meal.

(1) Cash for Missed Meal Due to Practice Activities. An institution may provide to a student-athlete the cash equivalent of a meal missed due to practice activities only if he or she has previously paid for the meal (either individually or through the board element of a scholarship).

(2) Meals in Conjunction With Home Competition. All student-athletes are permitted to receive meals at the institution's discretion beginning with the evening before competition and continuing until they are released by institutional personnel. An institution shall not provide cash to student-athletes in lieu of meals during this time period. An institution, at its discretion, may provide a meal or cash (not to exceed $15), but not both, to student-athletes at the time of their release by institutional personnel.

(3) Meals in Conjunction With Away-from-Home Competition. An institution may provide meals to student-athletes in conjunction with away-from-home competition pursuant to one of the following options:

(i) All student-athletes are permitted to receive a pregame or postgame meal as a benefit incidental to participation in addition to regular meals (or meal allowances per institutional policy). An institution, at its discretion, may provide cash, not to exceed $15, in lieu of a postgame meal; or

(ii) All student-athletes are permitted to receive meals at the institution's discretion from the time the team is required to report on call for team travel until the team returns to campus. If a student-athlete does not use team travel to return to campus, he or she may receive meals at the institution's discretion up to the point he or she is released from team-related activities by the appropriate institutional authority. An institution shall not provide cash to student-athletes in lieu of meals under this option before their release. An institution may provide a meal or cash (not to exceed $15), but not both, to a student-athlete at the time of his or her release by the institutional authority, regardless of whether he or she uses team travel to return to campus.

(e) Snacks. An institution may provide snacks to a student-athlete at any time.

(f) Vacation-Period Expenses. The institution may provide the cost of room and board to student-athletes (during official institutional vacation periods) in the following circumstances. If an institution does not provide a meal to its student-athletes under such circumstances, a cash allowance may be provided, not to exceed the amount provided by the institution to institutional staff members on away-from-campus trips:

(1) Student-athletes who are required to remain on the institution's campus for organized practice sessions or competition during the institution's official vacation period. If the student-athlete lives at home during the vacation period, the cost of room and board may not be provided by the institution, other than to permit the student-athlete to participate in team meals incidental to participation;

(2) Student-athletes who return to campus during the institution's official vacation period occurring during a regular academic term (not including vacation periods between terms) from institutional competition. Under such circumstances, room and board expenses may be provided beginning with the student-athlete's arrival on campus until the institution's regular dormitories and dining facilities reopen. If the student-athlete lives at home during the vacation period, the cost of room and board may not be provided by the institution; or

(3) Student-athletes who return to campus during the institution's official vacation period between regular academic terms (e.g., summer-vacation period) from institutional competition that occurs at the end of the institution's playing and practice season or a segment thereof. Under such circumstances, room and board expenses may be provided for not more than a 48-hour period, beginning with the student-athlete's return to campus. If the student-athlete lives at home during the vacation period, the cost of room and board may not be provided by the institution.

(g) Nutritional Supplements. An institution may provide permissible nutritional supplements to a student-athlete for the purpose of providing additional calories and electrolytes. Permissible nutritional supplements do not contain any NCAA banned substances and are identified according to the following classes: carbohydrate/electrolyte drinks, energy bars, carbohydrate boosters and vitamins and minerals.