AMATEURISM -- EXCEPTIONS TO AMATEURISM RULE -- PRIZE MONEY PRIOR TO FULL-TIME COLLEGIATE ENROLLMENT -- TENNIS -- $10,000 PER YEAR

Status: Withdrawn

Intent: In tennis, to specify that, prior to full-time collegiate enrollment, an individual may accept prize money based on his or her place finish or performance in open athletics events, not to exceed $10,000 per calendar year; further, to specify that once the individual has reached the $10,000 limit, he or she may receive additional prize money on a per event basis, provided such prize money does not exceed his or her actual and necessary expenses for participation in the event.

Bylaws: Amend 12.1.2.4, as follows:

Source: Ivy Group.

Effective Date:May 1, 2008 for prize money earned on or after May 1, 2008.

Proposal Category: Amendment

Topical Area: Amateurism

Rationale: Prospective student-athletes and their families spend exorbitant amounts of money for travel and other expenses related to competing in tennis events. Rather than limiting prospects to accepting prize money only equal to or lesser than expenses on a per tournament basis, this proposal would allow prize money to be accepted on the aggregate to help cover further expenses. Estimates place the top college tennis student-athletes as having made significantly less than $10,000 per year in prize money as prospective student-athletes, and combined with the financial costs to their families most are not earning any prize money in excess of their expenses. This proposal will allow prospective student-athletes to earn up to $10,000 without having to produce extensive documentation for prize money, as is currently required.

Estimated Budget Impact: None.

Impact on Student-Athlete's Time (Academic and/or Athletics): None.

Position Statement(s):

Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee		The committee does not see a compelling reason to support allowing tennis players to accept prize money up to $10,000. The prohibition on acceptance of money for an individual's athletics ability is a fundamental principle of amateurism. Carving out an exception for tennis would create a major shift in the Association's amateurism principle. In addition, the information provided from the tennis community discusses the expenses associated with participation in tennis. Current legislation allows an individual to accept prize money up to his or her actual and necessary expenses. The receipt of expenses seems to address the outlined rationale. Further, the committee is uncomfortable with the ramifications for other student-athletes who accept prize money in other sports if this legislation were to be adopted in tennis only.
Academic/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet		The cabinet opposes Proposal No. 2007-23. The cabinet expressed concern related to different applications of the prize money legislation to different sports and a further blurring of the line between amateurism and professionalism.

History

Jul 11, 2007:	Submit; Submitted for consideration.
Sep 4, 2007:	Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee, Recommends Defeat
Sep 12, 2007:	Academic/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet, Recommends Defeat
Oct 17, 2007:	Proposal renumbered as Proposal No. 2007-23-A. An alternative is Proposal No. 2007-23-B.
Jan 13, 2008:	Mgmt Council 1st Review, Withdrawn by the Sponsor
Jan 13, 2008:	Withdrawn; Withdrawn - Final

Legislative References

Division	Number	Title
I	12.1.2.4.1	Exception for Prize Money Based on Performance -- Sports Other Than Tennis.