Playing for free?

[Dozerdog]

Is playing for a team that allows your DD to play for free when other pay fees an NCAA violation? As my DD has gotten older i hear of this more. Is there any issues with this other than it pisses other parents off?

[PDad]

Generally speaking, athletes can have their "actual and necessary expenses" covered as long as it comes from an allowed source (e.g. not an agent).

[mfrmorg]

In general, NCAA amateurism requirements do not allow:

Contracts with professional teams
Salary for participating in athletics
Prize money above actual and necessary expenses
Play with professionals
Tryouts, practice or competition with a professional team
Benefits from an agent or prospective agent
Agreement to be represented by an agent
Delayed initial full-time collegiate enrollment to participate in organized sports competition

Additional detail regarding NCAA amateurism rules is available on the NCAA Eligibility Center’s website. Another resource is the NCAA Guide for the College Bound Student-Athlete.

Every future NCAA athlete must formally register for their amateurism certification through the NCAA Eligibility Center. Once the athlete is certified, the NCAA Eligibility Center sends the certification to the compliance department of the university they will be enrolling. This process is typically wrapped up between April and July of the athlete’s senior year of high school.

As part of the amateurism certification process, every athlete has to complete an online questionnaire. In this questionnaire there are a series of questions that relate to travel/club ball expenses/waivers/reimbursements. One may guess that if a team directly asked the NCAA if their team can waive/cover/reimburse the fees/expenses for some players, and not other players, the likely answer from the NCAA would be that it would not be allowed. It is reasonable to guess that very few, if any, declare in the amateurism questionnaire that their travel ball fees were waived. I don’t believe that there has ever been an athlete declared ineligible over this issue.

It is certainly a practice that is more prevalent than openly recognized.

I also know of players who have not accepted travel ball fee waiver offers because they do not want to risk future eligibility problems.

Some unsolicited advice, avoid creating a team drama with other parents over an issue like this. Focus on what is in your control and directly effects your daughter. If it still insults your moral sensibilities and/or continues to “piss” you off, go to another team.

[Dozerdog]

I appreciate the insight. It doesnt bother me one bit. I know it happens way more than people think. My kid has played on teams that have done this. I was just curious if this could bite you in the end. Like a vindictive coach who eventually was left by the player that hasn't paid to play for their team.

[Sam]

In general, NCAA amateurism requirements do not allow:

Contracts with professional teams
Salary for participating in athletics
Prize money above actual and necessary expenses
Play with professionals
Tryouts, practice or competition with a professional team
Benefits from an agent or prospective agent
Agreement to be represented by an agent
Delayed initial full-time collegiate enrollment to participate in organized sports competition

Additional detail regarding NCAA amateurism rules is available on the NCAA Eligibility Center’s website. Another resource is the NCAA Guide for the College Bound Student-Athlete.

Every future NCAA athlete must formally register for their amateurism certification through the NCAA Eligibility Center. Once the athlete is certified, the NCAA Eligibility Center sends the certification to the compliance department of the university they will be enrolling. This process is typically wrapped up between April and July of the athlete’s senior year of high school.

As part of the amateurism certification process, every athlete has to complete an online questionnaire. In this questionnaire there are a series of questions that relate to travel/club ball expenses/waivers/reimbursements. One may guess that if a team directly asked the NCAA if their team can waive/cover/reimburse the fees/expenses for some players, and not other players, the likely answer from the NCAA would be that it would not be allowed. It is reasonable to guess that very few, if any, declare in the amateurism questionnaire that their travel ball fees were waived. I don’t believe that there has ever been an athlete declared ineligible over this issue.

It is certainly a practice that is more prevalent than openly recognized.

I also know of players who have not accepted travel ball fee waiver offers because they do not want to risk future eligibility problems.

Some unsolicited advice, avoid creating a team drama with other parents over an issue like this. Focus on what is in your control and directly effects your daughter. If it still insults your moral sensibilities and/or continues to “piss” you off, go to another team.

I would like to now formally request that nobody ask mfrmorg what time it is......I really don't want to know the origins of time, clocks, and watches....and how to build them....

[Dugout Dad]

In general, NCAA amateurism requirements do not allow:

Contracts with professional teams
Salary for participating in athletics
Prize money above actual and necessary expenses
Play with professionals
Tryouts, practice or competition with a professional team
Benefits from an agent or prospective agent
Agreement to be represented by an agent
Delayed initial full-time collegiate enrollment to participate in organized sports competition

Additional detail regarding NCAA amateurism rules is available on the NCAA Eligibility Center’s website. Another resource is the NCAA Guide for the College Bound Student-Athlete.

Every future NCAA athlete must formally register for their amateurism certification through the NCAA Eligibility Center. Once the athlete is certified, the NCAA Eligibility Center sends the certification to the compliance department of the university they will be enrolling. This process is typically wrapped up between April and July of the athlete’s senior year of high school.

As part of the amateurism certification process, every athlete has to complete an online questionnaire. In this questionnaire there are a series of questions that relate to travel/club ball expenses/waivers/reimbursements. One may guess that if a team directly asked the NCAA if their team can waive/cover/reimburse the fees/expenses for some players, and not other players, the likely answer from the NCAA would be that it would not be allowed. It is reasonable to guess that very few, if any, declare in the amateurism questionnaire that their travel ball fees were waived. I don’t believe that there has ever been an athlete declared ineligible over this issue.

It is certainly a practice that is more prevalent than openly recognized.

I also know of players who have not accepted travel ball fee waiver offers because they do not want to risk future eligibility problems.

Some unsolicited advice, avoid creating a team drama with other parents over an issue like this. Focus on what is in your control and directly effects your daughter. If it still insults your moral sensibilities and/or continues to “piss” you off, go to another team.

I would like to now formally request that nobody ask mfrmorg what time it is......I really don't want to know the origins of time, clocks, and watches....and how to build them....

3 questions:
https://youtu.be/pWS8Mg-JWSg

[Pale Rider]

https://youtu.be/pWS8Mg-JWSg

CLASSIC ! Shame kids wont watch stuff like that...requires a bit of higher level sense of humor...

Moral of that is ..."When you plan to cross the bridge of death...Know ya Swallows!!!

Know of several kids who play for a team out of NOLA that's famous for having 3-4 pickups (free) who have a 'free ride'...as in no dues, stay in motels with other players (free) and usually don't even buy food for themselves...and when coach is asked about it they get "Shes a pick up, pickups don't pay"...nor do they sit...

Simply be aware of that, if yours OK with it...then party on Garth...If not seek another team...