Information for Current Student-Athletes
Extra Benefits
An extra benefit is any special arrangement by a University employee or a representative of the University'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 University'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.
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Playing And Practice Seasons
NCAA bylaws define when and how much time a student-athlete may be required to participate in athletically related activities. The limits and type of activities differ based upon the season.
A student-athlete may not be required to participate in more than four hours per day and 20 hours per week during the playing season (championship and non-championship seasons). One day per week must be an "off day" in which no athletically related activities are permitted. A week is defined as seven consecutive days beginning at the discretion of the institution and cannot change during the year once declared. Hourly and weekly limitations do not apply during preseason and official vacation periods.
"Practice" is defined as any physical activity, instruction, or meeting involving sports-related information and having an athletics purpose, held for one or more student-athletes, at the director of or supervised by any member of the coaching staff. Students may not be required to miss class for practice purposes (Exception: Golf-Host team may miss class for practice round in tournament.).
"Competition" is defined as any game, match, exhibition, scrimmage or joint practice session with another institution's team, in which competition occurs between a team or individual representing the University and any other team or individual not representing the student-athlete's institution. Competition, regardless of length, counts as three (3) of the 20-hour weekly limit. Students may be required to miss class for competition. A practice may not be conducted after the conclusion of competition (Exception: between tournament contests).
Playing Season
A student-athlete's participation in countable athletically-related activities shall be limited to a maximum of four hours per day and 20 hours per week. A week is defined as seven consecutive days beginning at the discretion of the institution and once declared, cannot change during the term. All athletically-related activities are prohibited during one day per week. A travel day may be considered as the "day off" provided no athletically-related activities occur that day. Hourly and weekly limitations do not apply during preseason (before classes begin) and official vacation periods.
Off-Season
A student-athlete's participation is limited to a maximum of eight hours per week. All athletically-related activities are prohibited during two days per week. The off-season period is limited to the following activities:
- Weight training and condition activities.
- A physical fitness class conducted by an athletic staff member.
- Two hours per week of skill instruction.
Skill-Instruction
Participation by student-athletes in individual skill-related instruction in sports other than football is permitted outside the institution's declared playing season, from the institution's first day of classes of the academic year or September 15, whichever occurs earlier, to one week prior to the beginning of the institution's final examination period at the conclusion of the academic year. More than four student-athletes from the team may be involved in skill-related instruction with their coaches from September 15 through April 15. Prior to September 15 and after April 15, no more than four student-athletes from the same team may be involved in skill-related instruction with their coach(es) at any one time in any facility.
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Countable Athletically-Related Activities
The following activities count in the weekly or daily time limitations:
- Practice (see definition above).
- Competition (against an outside team).
- Required weight-training or conditioning held at the direction of or supervised by a staff member.
- Participation in a physical fitness class conducted by a member of the athletics staff.
- Film or video reviews of athletic practices required, supervised or monitored by athletic staff members.
- Meetings initiated by coaches of staff members for athletics purposes.
- Individual workouts required or supervised by a member of the coaching staff (Exceptions: sports with safety considerations and voluntary workouts in the summer for individual sports only).
- On-court/field activities called by a member of the team (captain) and confined primarily to members of that team that are considered requisite for that sport.
- Visiting the competition site (counts only for cross country and golf).
Non-countable Athletically-Related Activities
The following are examples of activities that do not count in the weekly or daily time limitations:
- Voluntary individual workouts, provided they are not required or supervised by a coaching staff member (Exception: safety considerations for track/field events).
- Academic tutoring or study hall.
- Meetings with coaches for non-athletic purposes.
- Visiting the competition site (sports other than cross country or golf).
- Medical examinations or treatment.
- Recruiting activities (i.e., hosting a prospect during an official visit).
- Promotional activities related to the student-athlete's sports.
- Travel to and from practice and competition.
- Dressing, showering, or taping.
- Individual consultations with a coach, initiated by a student-athlete, provided they do not engage in athletically-related activities.
- Use of athletic facilities by student-athletes provided the activities are not supervised by or held at the direction of the coaching staff. Athletic facilities may be reserved for student-athletes.
- Involvement of a strength and conditioning staff member (departmental-wide responsibilities) either in a supervisory capacity with weight training or assisting in conditioning programs.
Documentation
Countable time must be recorded on a
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daily basis on each student-athlete. Student-athletes and coaches are required to verify in writing that their practice and competition activities comply with the limitations set forth above.
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Employment
Student-athletes are now allowed to be employed year-round. Please check with the Compliance Office before becoming employed. Prior approval is required. Regardless of when the employment occurs, the student-athlete's employment must meet the following basic guidelines:
- Any earnings MAY NOT be based on the publicity, reputation, fame, or personal following the student-athlete has obtained because of athletic ability.
- Compensation must be only for work actually performed.
- Must be compensated at the going rate in that locality for similar services.
- The Athletics Department must be aware of the employment (Student-athlete must provide a form to be signed by the employer.).
Fee-For-Lesson Instruction
A student-athlete may receive compensation for teaching or coaching sport skills or techniques in his or her sport on a fee-for-lesson basis, provided:
- Institutional facilities are not used;
- Playing lessons shall not be permitted;
- The institution obtains and keeps on file documentation of the recipient of the lesson(s) and the fee for the lesson(s) provided during any time of the year;
- The compensation is paid by the lesson recipient (or the recipient's family) and not another individual or entity;
- Instruction to each individual is comparable to the instruction that would be provided during a priv
ate lesson when the instruction involves more than one individual at a time; and
- The student-athlete does not use his or her name, picture or appearance to promote or advertise the availability of fee-for-lesson sessions.
Camp/Clinic Employment
A student-athlete may be employed by Ole Miss, by another institution, or by a private organization to work in a camp or clinic as a counselor, unless otherwise restricted by NCAA legislation. Out-of-season playing and practice limitations may restrict the number of players from the same institution who may be employed in that institution's camp.
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Player Ticket And Admission Policy
NCAA Rules
- Eligibility And Number Of Tickets: Student-athletes whose names appear on the official NCAA squad list are permitted to receive a maximum of four complimentary passes per contest in the sport in which they participate. Freshmen "partial qualifiers" are permitted complimentary passes for home contests only.
- Procedure: Complimentary admission shall be provided only through a pass list for individuals designated by the student-athlete. "Hard tickets" cannot be issued to either the student-athlete or the individual on the pass list. Individuals on the pass list will be provided a ticket "stub" to identify their seat.
- Payment For Tickets: The receipt of money or items of value in exchange for complimentary passes is prohibited.
- Identification: Individuals using a student-athlete's complimentary pass must present identification at the pass gate. The person will be provided a ticket "stub" to identify the location of their seat.
- Purchase Of Tickets: Student-athletes may purchase additional tickets only through procedures available to other students or the general public. No special purchase agreements may be given to a student-athlete. Tickets purchase by student-athletes may not be sold at a price greater than the face value.
- "Dress Only": Non-scholarship student-athletes who are included in the "dress only" category (i.e., dress but not permitted to play) are limited to the maximum number of tickets they would normally have qualified for had they not dressed (UM policy: two complimentary admissions).
- Maximum ticket purchase: Student-athletes are not permitted to purchase more than four tickets.
University Rules (Student-Athlete's Sport)
- Scholarship Student-Athletes: Scholarship student-athletes may receive a maximum of four admissions in their sport for both home and away games.
- Non-Scholarship Athletes: Non-scholarship student-athletes who are on the official dressing list for a contest may receive a maximum of four admissions in their sport for both home and away games for which they are dressing (Exception: in the sport of football and soccer the "dress only" student-athletes are limited to two complimentary admissions).
- Non-Scholarship Athletes Not Dressing: Non-scholarship student-athletes whose name appears on the official SEC squad list, but who are not dressing for a contest, may receive a maximum of two complimentary admissions in their sport for home games. For away games, a maximum of two complimentary tickets may be received but only if the student-athlete attends the game and personally uses one of the admission passes (i.e., produces an ID card and enters through the player family pass list). Admission passes for away games will be dependent upon the number of tickets the home team allocates to visiting teams. First-year non-scholarship student-athletes who have not yet been certified on the SEC squad list do not qualify for any complimentary passes except one personal admission through the student-athlete pass gate.
- Non-Dressing Team Members, Home Contests: Student-athlete not dressing for a home contest may be admitted to the contest one of two ways. The first method is to use one of their four/two complimentary admissions by submitting their own name to the ticket office as one of the complimentary admission names, then enter through the family/guest pass gate on gameday and sit in a reserved seat. The second method is to enter the game through the designated player pass gate. The player's name must appear on the official squad list and a UM student ID card must be produced at the gate. Students being admitted through the family/guest pass gate will have a reserved seat. Student-athletes admitted through the player pass gate will be seated in the student section (non-reserved seating). The player pass gate is for home contests only.
- Managers, Trainers, Videographers, etc.: Student support staff may receive a maximum of two complimentary admissions in their sport. They are not permitted to assign their passes to players.
Ticket Request And Distribution Procedure
Student-athletes are responsible for submitting the names of those who are to receive complimentary admission passes (including themselves) to the Athletic Ticket Office via the PlayerGuest.Com website not later than two days prior to the contest. Student-athletes who do not intend to use some or all of their tickets may assign their unused tickets to another player by signing over their tickets at the ticket office. SEC schools require that any person entering an event facility, regardless of age, must have a ticket.
No name substitutions may be made at the gate on gameday. Substitutions must be submitted to the ticket manager by the student-athlete prior to the contest.
Sports Other Than Football
For away contests, the host school will manage the pass gate. The names of family/guests to receive complimentary passes are to be provided by the visiting team to the host institution's ticket office on a form approved by the SEC.
Admission To A Contest In A Sport Other Than The Student-Athlete's Sport
Student-athletes may be admitted to all on-campus intercollegiate athletics contests only through a student-athlete pass gate (does not apply to away contests). Student-athletes admitted through the player pass gate will be seated in the student section (non-reserved seating).
The student-athlete's name must appear on the team's official squad lists, and the student must show his/her student ID card at the gate to be admitted. Student support staff (managers, trainers, etc.) may be included on this list if their supervisor submits their name to be coded.
Abuse Of Ticket Privileges
Student-athletes who deliberately violate NCAA, SEC, or University admission and ticket policies are subject to disciplinary action which could include loss of ticket privileges for one or more games or the loss of eligibility if the violation is severe.
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Agents
Student-athletes with remaining eligibility may engage in the following activities without jeopardizing their eligibility in that sport:
- You may seek counseling about a future professional athletics career through your institution's professional sports counseling panel. Panels can help you with any or all of the following issues: negotiating a contract, setting up an agent interview program, assisting you with getting disability insurance and helping you understand NCAA rules. Contact the Compliance Office to learn whether your school sponsors a professional sports counseling panel.
- You may request information from a professional team or organization concerning your professional market value.
- You are permitted to use an institution's professional sports counseling panel or your head coach to contact agents, professional sports teams or professional sports organizations on your behalf (Please note: panel members or the head coach are not permitted to receive any compensation for such services.).
- You, your parents, or legal guardians, or your institution's professional sports counseling panel may negotiate with a professional team.
- You may secure advice from an attorney or third party concerning a proposed professional contract, provided the attorney or third party does not represent you in negotiations for that contract. An attorney may not be present during discussions of a contract offer with a professional team nor may the attorney have direct contact (e.g., in person, by telephone, by mail) with the professional sports organization on your behalf. Presence of an attorney during such is considered representation (You are required to pay such an individual at his or her normal rate.).
- You may compete professionally in one sport and be an amateur in another (e.g., You may sign a professional baseball contract and still play college basketball.).
- You may retain an agent whose duties are specifically limited in writing to representing you only in the sport(s) in which you compete as a professional. You may still retain your eligibility in the other sport.
- You may have an "entertainment" agent for purposes of pursuing appearances on radio, television, and theater, provided your status as an athlete is not used to secure such an opportunity.
- In the sport of basketball, you may enter a professional league's draft one time during collegiate enrollment without jeopardizing your eligibility in that sport, provided you are not drafted, and you declare in writing to your institution's director of athletics your intention to resume intercollegiate basketball participation within 30 days after the draft.
- In the sport of football, you may enter the NFL draft one time during collegiate enrollment without jeopardizing your eligibility in that sport, provided you are not drafted, and you declare in writing to your athletic director your intention to resume intercollegiate football participation within 72 hours following the draft declaration date.
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Gambling
The NCAA opposes all forms of gambling and adamantly opposes all forms of sports gambling. The NCAA membership has adopted specific legislation prohibiting institutional staff members and student-athletes from engaging in gambling activities involving intercollegiate or professional athletics. The NCAA opposes sports gambling because it undermines or carries the potential to undermine the integrity of sports contests and because it sends the wrong message concerning the purpose and meaning of "sport." The rationale behind this policy is that once gambling activities are permitted in a specific jurisdiction, then the potential to expand into sports betting rises to a new level. Further, there is an increased acceptability of gambling activities (i.e., land-based casinos and river boat gambling) once it is introduced into a particular municipality or regional area.
A student-athlete, coach and/or employee of the Ole Miss Intercollegiate Athletic Department shall not knowingly:
- provide information to individuals involved in organized gambling activities concerning intercollegiate athletics competition;
- solicit a bet on any intercollegiate team;
- accept a bet on any team representing Ole Miss;
- solicit or accept a bet on any intercollegiate competition for any item (e.g., cash, T-shirt, dinner) that has tangible value; or
- participate in any gambling activity that involves intercollegiate athletics or professional athletics, through a bookmaker, a parlay card or any other method employed by organized gambling.
What are the consequences (sanctions) for student-athlete violations?
Permanent loss of all regular and post-season eligibility in all sports if a student-athlete engages in activities designed to influence the outcome of an intercollegiate contest (i.e., "throw the game") or in an effort to affect win-loss margins (i.e., "point shaving") or who solicits or accepts a bet or participates in any activity employed by organized gambling that involves wagering on the student-athlete's own institution.
Loss of one year of eligibility if a student-athlete solicits or accepts a bet or participates in any gambling activity (e.g., bookmaker, parlay card, etc.) that involves wagering on any intercollegiate or professional athletic team or event.
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Financial Aid
Athletic scholarships are not entitlements. They are initially awarded based upon athletics ability and on the condition that the recipient satisfy academic eligibility requirements and participate in the sport for the entire award period. After fulfilling the award period, an athletic scholarship may be renewed, non-renewed, or reduced based upon the recommendation of the head coach. Non-athletic scholarships are awarded conditionally and renewed only afer the student has satisfied specific criteria established by the awarding agency. It is consistent and reasonable to expect that student-athletes be required to meet minimum athletic standards before athletic aid is renewed for subsequent years.
Summary Of NCAA Legislation
- Award Period. Athletic scholarships may not be awarded or guaranteed for a period longer than one academic year but may be renewed on an annual basis for a maximum of four years.
- Criteria for Non-Renewal. While specific criteria exists for reducing or cancelling financial aid during the award period, there are no corresponding criteria for renewal or non-renewal beyond the one-year award period. The decision to renew or not renew and the criteria for making such decisions are left to each institution.
- Maximum Scholarship Limit. Each team is limited to a maximum number of athletic scholarships.
- Notification Requirement. Student-athletes with eligibility remaining must be notified in writing annually, not later than July 1, whether their athletic scholarship will be renewed, non-renewed, or renewed but reduced.
- Hearing Opportunity. A student-athlete whose aid is not renewed or whose aid is reduced, must be notified in writing by the Director of Financial Aid that he/she has the opportunity to a hearing before an institutional committee composed of individuals outside the athletics department.
- Consequences of a Successful Appeal. If a student-athlete's appeal is successful, financial aid will be restored in the amount received the previous year and count against team financial aid limits. However, team membership and participation opportunities will remain the decision of the head coach. In cases where a successful appeal places the institution over the NCAA scholarship limit in that sport, the institution will be penalized with the loss of twice the number of scholarships (or equivalencies) the subsequent year.
Standards For Renewal
While NCAA legislation permits non-renewal (or reduction) for any reason, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has developed general criteria for non-renewal (or reduction). An athletics scholarship may be non-renewed (or reduced) for any of the following reasons:
- Failure to satisfy NCAA, SEC, or UM eligibility requirements by the end of the award period;
- Failure to develop athletic skill levels established by the head coach;
- Poor academic performance (i.e. less than a 2.00 cum gpa or % of degree deficiency);
- Misconduct involving criminal law, or institutional, departmental, or team rules;
- Possession or use of illegal or banned substances or the failure to report for a scheduled institutional or NCAA drug test;
- Unexcused absences from scheduled contests, practices, meetings, or conditioning;
- Failure to make a conscientious effort to improve strength and conditioning or rehabilitate an injury; and
Performance Evaluations And Advisement
- Coaches Responsibility. Coaches are expected to counsel with those student-athletes who are not meeting expectations and explain what improvements are necessary. Every effort should be made within the first two years of a student-athletes enrollment to determine if the student-athlete has the athletic potential to justify renewal for subsequent years.
- Non-Renewals based on Athletic Ability. Under normal conditions, non-renewal based solely on athletics ability should not be made if the student-athlete has fewer than two years of eligibility remaining, unless the aid was renewed conditionally the previous year (i.e. the student-athlete informed the aid was for one year only and would not be renewed).
- Non-Renewal Procedures. All non-renewal (or reduction) recommendations are to be reviewed by the Director of Compliance, approved by the Director of Athletics (or Senior Women's Administrator if a women's sport), and personally communicated by the coach to the student-athlete prior to submitting a non-renewal recommendation to the Director of Financial Aid. The Director of Financial aid will subsequently send a letter to the student-athlete notifying him/her of the decision not to renew the athletic scholarship, but informing them of their right to request a hearing to review the decision. The request must be made within two weeks after notification.
- Documentation. Standards for non-renewal are to be made available in writing to student-athletes. Coaches must be prepared to document and justify non-renewal (or reduction) decisions which are appealed to the Financial Aid Hearing Committee.
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Red and Blue Compliance Review
September 2012
August 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
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NCAA Division I Manual (2010-11)
Student-Athlete Newsletter (May 2011)
The University Of Mississippi Office Of Student-Athlete Academic Support
The University Of Mississippi Financial Aid Department
The University Of Mississippi Office Of Student Disability Services
NCAA Special Assistance Grant Application
NCAA Opportunity Fund Application
The University Of Mississippi Student-Athlete Employment Form
The University Of Mississippi Student-Athlete Fee-For-Lesson Form
PlayerGuest.Com Player Tickets Website
M Club Information And Letter Awards (coming soon)
The NCAA And Drugs
NCAA Banned Drug List (As of June 2009)
Transfer Information
"Don't Bet On It" Interactive Web Site
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