NCAA and VCU Athletics rules permit student-athletes to participate in legitimate employment opportunities. However, the NCAA has established several requirements designed to ensure that a student-athlete’s employment is consistent with the principles of amateurism and the prohibition of extra benefits.
To avoid jeopardizing your eligibility, you must review and comply with the following rules. You must also notify your coach and the Compliance Office before you begin any type of employment. Failure to do so can result in your ineligibility and/or forfeiture of contests.
- A student-athlete may receive employment compensation:
- Only for work that is actually performed
- Only for the number of hours actually worked
- At a rate commensurate with the going rate for similar services in the area
- A student-athlete may not receive:
- Payment for the value that you bring to the employer because of publicity, your reputation, fame or personal following that you obtained because of your athletic ability
- Transportation to work or other benefits, unless the same benefit is available equally to all employees
- Compensation for working at any facility owned in any part by the athletics department
- The following limitations apply if you are providing instruction in your sport (i.e., “Fee for Lesson”):
- You may receive payment for giving lessons in your sport as long as you do not use VCU facilities.
- You must actually provide skill instruction; “playing lessons” are not permitted.
- Your payment must be made by the lesson recipient or the recipient’s family and not another outside individual or entity.
- You may not use your identity to advertise lesson availability.