Now that many of the University of Miami teams have concluded their seasons, it is important to remember that NCAA rules remain in effect outside of the playing season. Student-athletes, coaches, institutional staff members, and fans should remain informed and in compliance with NCAA rules during the summer..
Use of student-athletes name, image, or likeness
Under Florida law, student-athletes are permitted to reach agreements with local businesses, individuals, and other entities for the use of their name, image, and/or likeness (NIL). Institutional officers and staff members may not “cause” compensation for NIL activities to current student-athletes or prospective student-athletes (i.e., organize or facilitate a meeting between a booster or NIL entity and a current or prospective student-athlete). Additionally, the latest guidance from the NCAA states explicitly that third-party NIL entities that promote and support a specific institution may be deemed “boosters” under NCAA legislation, which could make the University responsible for any recruiting or pay-for-play violations those entities commit. Student-athletes (or their families) and prospective student-athletes (or their families) may not agree to an NIL activity that is contingent upon enrollment at the University of Miami. Boosters may not engage in recruiting conversations with prospective-student-athletes.
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.
Recruiting
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. Additionally, boosters and other NIL entities may not engage in social media recruiting conversations as part of NIL agreements. Find out more about communicating online with prospective student-athletes.
For more information about NCAA or ACC rules, contact the University of Miami Compliance Department at athleticscompliance@miami.edu or 305-284-8232.
Read more compliance reminders.
