16.1.1 Application of Awards Legislation.

16.1.1.1 Before Enrollment. Individuals may receive any award(s) prior to initial full-time collegiate enrollment. (See Bylaw 14.4.3.4.2 regarding effects on eligibility.)

16.1.1.2 Awards Received for Participation While Representing the Institution. The awards limitations of Bylaw 16.1 apply to awards received by a student-athlete for participation in competition while representing their institution. [R]

16.1.1.3 Awards Received for Participation While Not Representing the Institution. Awards received by a student-athlete for participation in competition while not representing the institution shall conform to the regulations of the recognized amateur organization that governs the competition. Such awards may include gift certificates, but not cash. [See Bylaw 14.4.5-(c) for prize money based on place finish in individual sports.] [R]

16.1.1.4 After Completion of Athletics Eligibility. Awards limitations apply to enrolled student-athletes who have exhausted their intercollegiate athletics eligibility. An institution shall be held responsible through the Association's enforcement procedures for the provision of improper awards to graduating seniors by the institution or its booster organizations. Awards to graduating seniors may not include cash, gift certificates, a cash-equivalent award (i.e., an item that is negotiable for cash or trade or other services, benefits or merchandise) for athletics participation, or a country club or sports club membership.

16.1.1.5 Olympic or Paralympic Games. It is permissible for a student-athlete to receive a nonmonetary award associated with participation in the Olympic or Paralympic Games at any time regardless of when the Games are held or whether the student-athlete is enrolled as a regular student during the academic year.

16.1.2 Uniformity of Awards. Awards presented by a member institution, conference or other approved agency must be uniform for all team members receiving the award. [R]

16.1.3 Types of Awards, Awarding Agencies, Maximum Value and Numbers of Awards. Athletics awards given to individual student-athletes shall be limited to those approved or administered by the member institution, its conference or an approved agency as specified in the following subsections and shall be limited in value and number as specified in this section. Each of the following subsections is independent of the others so that it is permissible for an individual student-athlete to receive the awards described in all subsections. [R]

16.1.3.1 Participation Awards. Awards for participation in intercollegiate athletics may be presented each year, limited in value and number as specified in Figure 16-1. Awards for participation in special events may be provided only to student-athletes eligible to participate in the competition. [R]

16.1.3.1.1 Senior Scholar-Athlete Award. An institution may provide a maximum of two senior scholar-athlete awards each year to graduating seniors. The award may consist of a tangible item valued at not more than $200 and a postgraduate scholarship not to exceed $10,000. The postgraduate scholarship shall be used for graduate studies at the recipient's choice of institution and shall be disbursed directly to that institution. Such a scholarship only may be awarded to a student-athlete who will complete the requirements for a baccalaureate degree within one term of the award and no funds will be distributed prior to the completion of the baccalaureate degree. A student-athlete who has received an institutional postgraduate scholarship as part of a senior scholar-athlete award shall no longer be eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics, except that the student-athlete may complete the remainder of any season currently in progress at the time of the award (e.g., postseason competition in the spring sport which occurs after graduation). [R]

16.1.3.2 Awards for Winning Conference and National Championships. Awards for winning an individual or team conference or national championship may be presented each year, limited in value and number as specified in Figure 16-2. Awards for winning a conference or national championship in a team sport may be provided only to student-athletes who were eligible to participate in the championship event. The total value of any single award received for a conference championship may not exceed $325, and the total value of any single award received for a national championship may not exceed $415. Each permissible awarding agency is subject to a separate $325 or $415 limit per award, respectively. Each permissible awarding agency may provide only a single award for each championship to each student-athlete. Separate awards may be presented to both the regular-season conference champion and the postseason conference champion (with a separate $325 limitation), but if the same institution wins both the regular-season and postseason conference championship, the combined value of both awards shall not exceed $325. [R]

16.1.3.3 Special Achievement Awards. Awards may be provided each year to individual student-athletes and teams to recognize special achievements, honors and distinctions, limited in value and number as specified in Figure 16-3. [R]

16.1.3.4 Local Civic Organization. A local civic organization (e.g., Rotary Club, Touchdown Club) may provide awards to an individual student-athlete or member institution's team(s). The following regulations shall apply to such an event: [R]

(a) All awards must be approved by the institution and must be counted in the institution's limit for institutional awards; and

(b) The organization may not recognize or provide awards to prospective student-athletes at the banquet.

16.1.3.5 Recognition by Professional Sports Organization. A student-athlete may accept a complimentary admission to a professional sports contest during which the student-athlete and/or collegiate team is being recognized by the professional sports organization for extraordinary achievements. Further, it shall be permissible for the professional sports organization to promote this event to the general public.

16.1.4 Purchase Restrictions.

16.1.4.1 Assignment of Normal Retail Value. Normal retail value shall be assigned as the value of an award when determining whether an award meets specified value limits, even when a member institution receives institutional awards from an athletics representative or organization free of charge or at a special reduced rate. Normal retail value is the cost to the institution that is based solely on volume and is available to all purchasers of a similar volume and that does not involve an obligation to make additional purchases to enable the supplier to recover the costs for the original purchase.

16.1.4.2 Supplementary Purchase Arrangement. An institution may not enter into a supplementary purchase arrangement with an awards supplier whereby the supplier agrees to sell an award (e.g., a watch or ring) at a price below the maximum amount specified by NCAA legislation with the understanding that the institution will make additional purchases of other unrelated items to enable the supplier to recover the costs for the original purchase. Such an arrangement would exceed the specific value limitations placed on permissible awards. [R]

16.1.4.3 Combining Values. An institution may not combine the value limits of awards given in a sport during the same season, or given to athletes who participate in more than one sport, to provide an award more expensive than permissible under separate application to some or all of its participating student-athletes. [R]

16.1.4.4 Student Contribution to Purchase. A student-athlete may contribute to the purchase of an award, but the value of an award may not exceed specified value limits. [R]

16.1.5 Awards Banquets.

(a) Institutional. An institution may conduct awards banquets to commemorate the athletics and/or academic accomplishments of its student-athletes.

(b) Booster Club Recognition Banquet. One time per year, an institution's athletics booster club may finance an intercollegiate team's transportation expenses to a recognition banquet, provided all expenses are paid through the institution's athletics department and no tangible award is provided to members of the team. [R]

16.2.1.2 General Regulations. Complimentary admissions shall be distributed only to persons designated by the student-athlete who have identified themselves and signed a receipt therefore. A violation of this administrative procedure shall be considered an institutional violation per Bylaw 7.01.9; however, such a violation shall not affect the student-athlete's eligibility. The student-athlete's eligibility shall be affected by involvement in action contrary to the provisions of Bylaws 16.2.1.1 and 16.2.2 (e.g., receipt of more than the permissible four complimentary admissions or the sale or exchange of a complimentary admission for any item of value).

16.2.1.2.1 Partial Qualifier. A partial qualifier (per Bylaw 14.02.19.2) may receive a complimentary admission to all of the institution’s regular-season home intercollegiate athletics contests during the first academic year of residence.

16.2.2.1 Sale of Complimentary Admissions. A student-athlete may not receive payment from any source for their complimentary admissions and may not exchange or assign them for any item of value.

16.2.2.4 Sale Above Face Value. A student-athlete may not purchase tickets for an athletics contest from the institution and then sell the tickets at a price greater than their face value. [R]

16.3.1 Permissible. A member institution may finance academic, career and other support services that the institution, at its discretion, determines to be appropriate and necessary for the academic success of its student-athletes, including internship/job placement services available exclusively to student-athletes, provided the student-athlete is not placed in a position in which the student-athlete uses their athletics ability.

16.3.1.1 Coaching and/or Athletics Administration Career Educational Programs. An institution or conference may provide actual and necessary expenses to a student-athlete to attend a coaching and/or athletics administration career educational program (e.g., Women's Basketball Coaches Association -- So You Want To Be A Coach, Black Women in Sports Foundation -- Next Step Program, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee -- Minority/Women in Coaching Leadership). [R]

16.3.1.2 Exception -- Use of Computers. [R] A student-athlete shall use institutionally owned computers only on a check-out and retrieval basis.

(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 15.3.2.2.4 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 food and housing to student-athletes who report for preseason practice before the start of the academic year, it being understood that the student-athletes have been accepted for admission to the institution at the time such benefits are received. The institution may provide an evening meal and lodging on the evening prior to the first scheduled practice or the designated equipment and squad picture day.

(c) Meals and Snacks Incidental to Participation. An institution may provide meals and snacks to student-athletes as a benefit incidental to participation in intercollegiate athletics.

(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 they have previously paid for the meal (either individually or through the food element of a scholarship). An institution shall not provide student-athletes with a meal and cash for the same meal.

(2) Meals or Snacks in Conjunction With Competition. For both home and away-from-home competitions, all student-athletes are permitted to receive a pregame meal as a benefit incidental to participation and all student-athletes are permitted to receive a meal(s) or snack(s) [or cash in the amount equal to the cost of a meal(s) or snack(s)] at the institution's discretion from the time the student-athlete reports on call (at the direction of the student-athlete's coach or comparable authority) and becomes involved in competition-related activities to the end of competition and the release by the appropriate institutional authority, as a benefit incidental to participation. An institution shall not provide student-athletes with a meal or snack and cash for the same meal or snack.

(d) Vacation-Period Expenses. The institution may provide the cost of food and housing to student-athletes during official institutional vacation periods in the following circumstances:

(1) Student-athletes who are required to remain on or return to 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 food and housing may not be provided by the institution, other than to permit the student-athlete to participate in team meals incidental to practice sessions. If an institution does not provide a meal to its student-athletes, a cash allowance may be provided, not to exceed the amount provided by the institution to institutional staff members on away-from-campus trips. The institution may provide an evening meal and lodging on the evening prior to the first scheduled practice or the designated equipment and squad picture day.

(i) Winter Break Expenses. It is permissible for an institution to provide a student-athlete an evening meal and lodging in the locale of the institution on the final day of the seven-day legislated winter break when the student-athlete must return to campus for organized practice or competition occurring on the first day following the legislated winter break.

(2) Student-athletes who return to campus during the institution's official vacation period occurring during a regular academic term (e.g., not including vacation periods between terms) from competition. Under such circumstances, food and housing 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 food and housing may not be provided by the institution.

(3) Student-athletes who return to campus during the institution's official vacation period between regular academic terms (e.g., summer-vacation period) from competition. Under such circumstances, food and housing 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 food and housing may not be provided by the institution.

(1) Institutional Staff Member. A student-athlete or the entire team in a sport may receive an occasional meal in the locale of the institution on infrequent and special occasions from an institutional staff member. An institutional staff member may provide reasonable local transportation to student-athletes to attend such meals.

(2) Boosters. A student-athlete or the entire team in a sport may receive an occasional family home meal from a booster provided the meal is in the individual's home, on campus or at a facility that is regularly used for home competition and may be catered. The booster or an institutional staff member may provide reasonable local transportation to student-athletes to attend such meals.

(3) Occasional Meals to Team Members Provided by Relatives or Legal Guardians. Occasional meals to team members provided by the relatives or legal guardians of a student-athlete are permissible and may be provided at any location (e.g., tailgating).

16.5.1.1 Effect of Violation -- Preseason Practice Expenses. A violation of Bylaw 16.5.1-(b) due to a miscalculation of the permissible start date for preseason practice shall be considered an institutional violation per Bylaw 7.01.9; however, the student-athlete's eligibility shall not be affected.

16.9.2 Transportation Between Campus and Bus Station, Train Station or Airport. An institution may provide a student-athlete with transportation between the campus and any bus station, train station or airport at any time for any reason.

16.11.1.1 General Rule. Receipt of a benefit (including otherwise prohibited extra benefits per Bylaw 16.11.2) by student-athletes, their relatives or friends is not a violation of NCAA rules if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution's students and their relatives or friends.

16.11.1.2 Deferred Pay-Back Loan. A student-athlete may receive a loan on a deferred pay-back basis without jeopardizing their eligibility, provided: [R]

(a) The loan arrangements are not contrary to the extra-benefit rule; and

(b) The student-athlete's athletics reputation, skill or pay-back potential as a future professional athlete is not considered by the lending agency in its decision to provide the loan.

16.11.1.3 Loan From Established Family Friend. A student-athlete may receive a loan from an established family friend without such arrangement constituting an extra benefit, provided: [R]

(a) The loan is not offered to the student-athlete based in any degree on their athletics ability or reputation;

(b) The individual providing the loan is not considered a booster; and

(c) The relationship between the individual providing the loan and the student-athlete existed before the initiation of the student-athlete's recruitment by the member institution.

16.11.1.4 Retention of Athletics Apparel and Equipment. A student-athlete may retain athletics apparel items and used equipment at the end of the individual’s collegiate participation. [R]

16.11.1.5 Summer Use of Athletics Equipment. A student-athlete may retain and use institutional athletics equipment (per the institution’s normal equipment policy) during a summer-vacation period.

16.11.1.6 Research Studies. A student-athlete may receive compensation for participation in institutional and noninstitutional (e.g., NCAA) research studies. Such compensation shall be consistent with the going rate for compensation offered in studies involving nonathlete populations. The study may not be sponsored or conducted by an institution's athletics department, and compensation may not be provided or determined by the athletics department. There shall be no indication that the student-athlete expressly or implicitly endorses any commercial product or service. [R]

16.11.1.7 Frequent Flyer Miles. A student-athlete may retain frequent flyer points and/or miles earned while traveling to and from intercollegiate practice and/or competition.

16.11.1.8 Miscellaneous Benefits. An institution may provide or arrange for the following benefits for a student-athlete: [R]

(a) The use of a return ticket at any time after conclusion of a foreign tour;

(b) Participation in receptions and festivities associated with championships, conference tournaments or all-star events hosted by and conducted on the institution's campus;

(c) Telephone calls;

(d) Reasonable tokens of support in the event of serious injury, serious illness, or death of a relative or legal guardian (See Bylaw 16.6.1.2 for transportation expenses);

(e) Fundraisers for student-athletes (or their family members) under the following conditions:

(1) Extreme circumstances should be extraordinary in the result of events beyond the control of the student-athlete;

(2) The proceeds must be designated for a specific purpose;

(3) The proceeds may be given directly to the beneficiaries, with receipt kept on file by the institution, which must include the amount of expenses incurred and the total amount received; and

(4) The excess proceeds must be given to a not-for-profit organization with the receipt kept on file by the institution.

(f) The payment of admission costs or a meal for any student-athlete being honored at a nonathletics ceremony; and

(g) Apparel to be used for events at which the student-athlete is representing the institution (e.g., community engagement activities, community service activities).

16.11.2 Nonpermissible.

16.11.2.1 General Rule. The student-athlete shall not receive any extra benefit. The term "extra benefit" refers to any special arrangement by an institutional employee or booster to provide the student-athlete or their relatives or friends with a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. [R]

16.11.2.2 Discounts and Credits. A student-athlete may not receive a special discount, payment arrangement or credit on a purchase (e.g., airline ticket, clothing) or a service (e.g., laundry, dry cleaning) from an institutional employee or a booster. [R]

16.11.2.2.1 Free or Reduced-Cost Services. A booster may not provide a student-athlete with professional services (for which a fee normally would be charged) without charge or at a reduced cost except as permitted elsewhere in this bylaw. Professional services provided at less than the normal rate or at no expense to a student-athlete are considered an extra benefit, unless they are available on the same basis to the general student body. [R]

16.11.2.2.2 Credit Cards. It is not permissible to allow a student-athlete to use a credit card for personal reasons without charge or at a reduced cost. [R]

16.11.2.2.3 Entertainment Services. A student-athlete may not receive services (e.g., movie tickets, dinners, use of car) from commercial agencies (e.g., movie theaters, restaurants, car dealers) without charge or at reduced rates, or free or reduced-cost admission to professional athletics contests from professional sports organizations, unless such services also are available to the student body in general. [R]

16.11.2.3 Other Prohibited Benefits. An institutional employee or booster may not provide a student-athlete with extra benefits or services, including, but not limited to: [R]

(a) A loan of money;

(b) A guarantee of bond;

(c) An automobile or the use of an automobile;

(d) Transportation that is not generally available to the institution's students and their friends and relatives (see Bylaw 16.11.1.1); or

(e) Signing or cosigning a note with an outside agency to arrange a loan.

16.11.2.4 Camp Concession. It is not permissible for a member institution or a member of its athletics department staff conducting a sports camp to permit a student-athlete (enrolled in the institution) to operate, at the student-athlete's own expense, a concession selling items related to or associated with the camp to campers or others in attendance (see Bylaw 13.12.2.3). [R]

16.11.2.5.1 Exception. A student-athlete may purchase equipment necessary for practice and competition from a manufacturer at the institution's discounted or reduced rate and retain the equipment, provided:

(a) Such equipment is not otherwise provided to student-athletes by the institution;

(b) The institution certifies the equipment is necessary for practice and competition and not for personal use; and

(c) The institution approves the transaction.

16.11.2.6 Sponsor Families. A member institution shall not permit individuals outside the institution to serve as "sponsors" or "families" for student-athletes who are enrolled in the institution, unless such a sponsorship program exists to provide the same benefits and support services to all students at the institution. [R]

16.11.2.7 Civic-Group Gifts. A member institution shall not permit a civic group to provide a student-athlete a trip to a postseason football game or to pay summer-camp expenses for a student-athlete. [R]

16.11.2.8 Assistance in Payment of Bills. A member institution is not permitted to administer a fund for a student-athlete (even if funds are provided by the student-athlete) in order to assist the student-athlete in making payments for various personal expenses (e.g., utility bills, rent, fees and entertainment expenses), unless the institution provides such a service to all students and formal accounting procedures are used. [R]

16.12 Expense Waivers.

16.12.1 Incidental to Participation. The Legislative Relief Committee may approve a member institution's request to provide additional expenses, which may include reasonable local transportation incidental to a student-athlete's participation in intercollegiate athletics.

16.12.1.1 Previously Approved Incidental Expenses. Specific incidental expenses that previously have been approved may be processed by an institution or conference. Documentation of each approval shall be kept on file and made available for examination on request by an authorized representative of the NCAA.

Figure 16-1 Participation Awards

Figure 16-2 Championship Awards

Figure 16-3 Special Achievement Awards