October 18th: Extra Benefits vs. Preferential Treatment

There is a difference between extra benefits and preferential treatment?

*The provision of extra benefits involve institutional staff members or boosters

*Preferential treatment occurs when institution does not have knowledge of the treatment, benefit or services being provided to the individual

Bo Gee is a golf student-athlete at Ocean State University (OSU).  Bo asks his coach to call the pro at a country club in his hometown, so that he can have some free time in the indoor driving range during the Christmas holiday.  The coach arranges for Bo to hit balls free of charge.  This country club offers student discount rates throughout the year.

Does this arrangement constitute a violation?

Yes, other college students are not able to play for free.  They pay a discounted rate.

Is this an extra benefit or preferential treatment?

This arrangement is an extra benefit because of the coach’s involvement.

Would this arrangement still be a violation if the coach was not involved?

 Yes, the violation would be preferential treatment.

Would the answers remain the same if Bo was a student-athlete at James River Institute or Country Roads College?

Yes.

Division I NCAA Bylaw 12.1.2.1.6 defines preferential treatment, benefits or services because of the individual’s athletics reputation or skill or pay-back potential as a professional athlete, unless such treatment, benefits or services are specifically permitted under NCAA legislation.

Division II NCAA Bylaw 12.1.4(r) defines preferential treatment, benefits or services because of the individual’s athletics reputation, skill or pay-back potential as a professional athlete, unless such treatment, benefits or services are specifically permitted under NCAA legislation.

Division III NCAA Bylaw 12.1.1 states that it is impermissible to receive preferential treatment, benefits or services because of the individual’s athletics reputation or skill, or pay-back potential as a professional athlete, unless such treatment, benefits or services are specifically permitted under NCAA legislation. [R] (Revised: 1/11/94, 10/22/07, 2/4/10)

Division I NCAA Bylaw 16.02.3 states that 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 or the student-athlete’s relative or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Receipt of a benefit by student-athletes or their relatives or friends is not a violation of NCAA legislation if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution’s students or their relatives or friends or to a particular segment of the student body (e.g., foreign students, minority students) determined on a basis unrelated to athletics ability.

Division II NCAA Bylaw 16.02.3 states that 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 or the student-athlete’s relative or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Receipt of a benefit by student-athletes or their relatives or friends is not a violation of NCAA legislation, if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution’s students or their relatives or friends or to a particular segment of the student body (e.g., international students, minority students) determined on a basis unrelated to athletics ability. (Revised: 1/10/91, 2/24/11)

Division III NCAA Bylaw 16.02.3 states that 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 or the student-athlete’s relative or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Receipt of a benefit by student-athletes or their relatives or friends is not a violation of NCAA legislation if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution’s students or their relatives or friends or to a particular segment of the student body determined on a basis unrelated to athletics ability. (Revised: 1/10/91, 10/15/08)