As a Division I student-athlete, you shall lose your amateur status and thus shall not be eligible for competition in a particular sport if you or your parents on your behalf:
- Use your athletic skills (directly or indirectly) for pay in any form in that sport (unless expressly permitted under NCAA or CAA rules);
- Accept a promise of pay even if such pay is to be received following your completion of intercollegiate athletics eligibility;
- Sign a contract or commitment of any kind to play professional athletics regardless of the legal enforceability of the contact or any consideration received;
- Receive, directly or indirectly, a salary, reimbursement of expenses or any other form of financial assistance from a professional sports organization based upon athletics skill or participation, except as permitted by NCAA rules and regulations;
- Compete on any professional athletics team even if no pay or remuneration for expenses was received;
- Subsequent to initial full-time collegiate enrollment, you enter into a professional draft or enter into an agreement with an agent (this shall affect your eligibility for competition in ALL sports regardless if the agent represents you in the same sport in which you compete in for William & Mary).
Involvement with Professional Teams/Professionals
After initial full-time collegiate enrollment, an individual who has eligibility remaining:
- May try out with a professional athletics team (or participate in a combine including that team) at any time, provided the individual does not miss class and the individual does not sign a contract with the professional athletics team or an agent. A student-athlete may receive actual and necessary expenses in conjunction with one 48-hour tryout per professional team (or a combine including that team). A tryout may extend beyond 48 hours if the individual self-finances additional expenses, including return transportation.
- May participate in practice sessions conducted by a professional team provided the individual does not receive any compensation for participation in practice sessions; does not enter into a contract or agreement with the professional athletics team or sports organization; and does not take part in any outside competition (games or scrimmages) as a representative of a professional team.
- May compete against professionals singly or as a member of an amateur team against professional athletes or professional teams.
- MAY NOT compete as an amateur on a professional team or may not sign a contract with a professional athletics team or an agent.
General Rule. An individual shall be ineligible for participation in an intercollegiate sport if he or she ever has agreed (orally or in writing) to be represented by an agent for the purpose of marketing his or her athletics ability or reputation in a sport.
Negotiations. An individual may request information about professional market value without affecting his or her amateur status. Further, an individual or his or her legal guardians may enter into negotiations with a professional sports organization without the loss of the individual's amateur status. An individual who retains an agent shall lose amateur status.
Nonbinding Agreement. An individual who signs a contract or commitment that does not become binding until the professional organization's representative or agent also signs the document is ineligible, even if the contract remains unsigned by the other parties until after the student-athlete's eligibility is exhausted.
Representation for Future Negotiations. An individual shall be ineligible if he or she enters into a verbal or written agreement with an agent for representation in future professional sports negotiations that are to take place after the individual has completed his or her eligibility in that sport.
Benefits from Prospective Agents. An individual shall be ineligible if he or she (or his or her relatives or friends) accepts transportation or other benefits from:
- Any person who represents any individual in the marketing of his or her athletics ability. The receipt of such expenses constitutes compensation based on athletics skill and will result in a loss of your amateur status.
- An agent, even if the agent has indicated that he or she has no interest in representing the student-athlete in the marketing of his or her athletics ability or reputation and does not represent individuals in the student-athlete's sport.
Legal Counsel. Securing advice from a lawyer concerning a proposed professional sports contract shall not be considered contracting for representation by an agent under this rule, unless the lawyer also represents the individual in negotiations for such a contract. Any advice from a lawyer may not be pro bono and the regular hourly rate paid by all clients must be the same rate charged to the student-athlete for similar services.
Presence of a Lawyer at Negotiations. A lawyer may not be present during discussions of a contract offer with a professional organization or have any direct contact (i.e. in person, by telephone or by mail) with a professional sports organization on behalf of the individual. A lawyer's presence during such discussions is considered representation by an agent. Violations of NCAA agent legislation impacts the eligibility of student-athletes for further participation in NCAA competition. Violations also may result in harsh penalties on the team and the university (NCAA sanctions that can result in repayment of monies received from NCAA championship competition, forfeiture of contests and other penalties). It is strongly advised that you ask your Head Coach and the Compliance Office for permission
prior to speaking with an agent, representative or other legal counsel in order to protect your eligibility.
