Current WilmU Student-Athletes

The information provided in this section will help develop a basic understanding of NCAA Division II rules and regulations to ensure student-athlete eligibility is not threatened and student-athletes have an understanding of NCAA bylaws. Furthermore, links to important compliance related sites and forms for student-athletes are located after NCAA compliance definitions.

Definitions

Extra Benefits and Awards: An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee, a representative of the institution's athletics interests, or booster to provide a student-athlete or the student-athlete's relative or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Receipt of a benefit by student-athletes or their relatives or friends is not a violation of NCAA legislation, if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution's students or their relatives or friends or to a particular segment of the student body.

A student-athlete who receives an award, benefit or expense allowance not authorized by NCAA rules will be deemed immediately ineligible for athletic competition in the sport for which the improper award, benefit or expense was received.

An award is an item given in recognition of athletic participation or performance. Student-athletes should not accept any awards, or anything that might be perceived as an "extra benefit" until they have received prior permission from their coach and/or the Athletic Compliance Office.

Outside Competition: Outside competition is athletics competition against any other outside athletics team (including an alumni team) that does not represent the intercollegiate athletics program of the same institution. A student-athlete may not participate during the academic year as a member of any outside team in any non-collegiate, amateur competition. To do so would render that student-athlete ineligible for the rest of that academic year and for the next academic year.

A student-athlete may compete outside of the institution's declared playing and practice season as a member of an outside team in any non-collegiate, amateur competition during any official vacation period published in the institution's catalog.

Practice and Playing Season / Countable Athletic Related Activities (CARA)

Each sport must declare an official practice and playing season at the beginning of the academic year for the championship and non-championship (if applicable) segment. During the playing season (In-Season), a student-athlete's participation is limited to a maximum of four hours per day for a total of 20 hours per week. One day off must be provided within every seven-day period. A day of competition is equivalent to a three-hour block of time, no matter how long or how short the actual duration of competition.

During the non-championship segment, student-athletes may practice or compete in team activity up to a maximum of 20 days within a 30 day consecutive window.

Outside of the playing season for sports other than football (Out-of-Season), a student-athlete's participation is limited to weight training, conditioning, team activities, or skill instruction for a maximum total of eight hours per week

Gambling:

Student-Athletes shall not knowingly participate in sports wagering activities or provide information to individuals involved in or associated with any type of sports wagering activities concerning intercollegiate, amateur or professional athletics competition. A student-athlete who engages in activities designed to influence the outcome of an intercollegiate contest or in an effort to affect win-loss margins (i.e., "point shaving") or who participates in any sports wagering activity involving the student-athlete's institution shall permanently lose all remaining regular-season and postseason eligibility in all sports. Furthermore, A student-athlete who participates in any sports wagering activity through the Internet, a bookmaker or a parlay card shall be ineligible for all regular-season and postseason competition for a minimum period of one year from the date of the institution's determination that a violation occurred and shall be charged with the loss of a minimum of one season of eligibility. If the student-athlete is later determined to have been involved in a violation of any portion of Bylaw 10.3 (Sport Wagering Activities), the student-athlete shall permanently lose all remaining regular-season and postseason eligibility in all sports.

  • The prohibition against sports wagering applies to any institutional practice or any competition (intercollegiate, amateur or professional) in a sport in which the Association conducts championship competition, in bowl subdivision football and in emerging sports for women.

Amateurism:

In a particular NCAA sponsored sport, only amateur student-athletes are eligible for competition. A student-athlete loses amateur status if one of the following occurs:

  • Is compensated or accepts the promise of compensation for participation in an athletic contest.
  • Signs a contract or makes or enters in a verbal contract with an agent, financial advisor, or professional sports organization
  • Requests his or her name be placed on the draft list of a professional sports league
  • Uses his or her athletic skill directly for compensation
  • Plays on a professional athletic team