Now that many of the University of Miami teams have concluded their seasons, it is important to remember that NCAA rules affect student-athletes, coaches, institutional staff members, and fans throughout the year, not just during the playing season. The following are a few reminders that everyone should keep in mind during the summer.
Use of student-athletes name, image, or likeness
NCAA bylaws prohibit boosters and local business and corporate entities from using a student-athlete’s name, picture, or likeness to promote any commercial product. Neither can a student-athlete authorize the use of his or her name or picture on commercial items.
Employing student-athletes
Student-athletes can earn only the going rate in the locale of their employment. This means, for example, that if the going wage in a certain field is $20 an hour, it would be impermissible to pay a student-athlete $50 an hour for the same job. Additionally, student-athletes may be paid only for work actually performed and, to ensure the work is actually completed, should not be paid in advance. There have been many NCAA violations concerning student-athletes who were paid for work they never performed. Student-athletes who receive payment without performing work would jeopardize their eligibility and subject the University to seek their reinstatement, or face other potential penalties. Learn more about employing student-athletes.
Extra benefits
An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee, or a representative of the institution’s athletics interests, to provide a student-athlete, a prospective student-athlete, their friend or a family member with a benefit not authorized by the NCAA. However, if the same benefit is available to the general student population, or a particular segment of the student body that includes the student-athlete, the receipt of that benefit is not a violation of NCAA rules.
Online communications
Fans are not permitted to use social networking websites—including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram—to contact or otherwise attempt to correspond with prospective student-athletes. This includes, but is not limited to, posting on a prospect’s Facebook wall, using the inbox or email feature, instant messaging, "@replies," "mentions," or direct messaging. As electronic communication technology continues to advance, the opportunity for athletics program supporters to have impermissible contact with a prospect or a prospect's family is greatly increased, but the institution’s responsibility for that contact remains the same. Find out more about communicating online with prospective student-athletes.
For more information about NCAA or ACC rules, contact University of Miami Athletics at athleticscompliance@miami.edu or 305-284-2692.
Read more compliance reminders.
