Compliance

What Parents of University of Miami Student-Athletes Should Know About NCAA Rules

• Boosters Compliance Guide
• Agents
• Financial Aid & Your Son Or Daughter
• Do’s & Don’ts During Your Child’s Collegiate Eligibility

Penni Key Associate Athletic Director for Internal Services pkey@miami.edu

Tony Hernandez Director of Compliance thernandez@miami.edu

Andrea Nordmann Assistant Director of Compliance for Financial Aid anordmann@miami.edu

Kristine R. Kuhr Assistant Director of Compliance for Eligibility kkuhr@miami.edu

Lindsey Rogers Compliance Assistant (305) 284-2692

Dear Parents:

Each year the NCAA Manual is published and sent to over 900 schools. As members of the NCAA, these institutions commit to following the many, many rules that are contained in the 450+ pages of that manual. The pressure to comply with all of those rules has increased dramatically in the 1990’s to the point where most large athletic departments have several full time administrators whose primary responsibility is ensuring compliance with those rules. As the Assistant Athletic Director in charge of Compliance here at the University of Miami, my staff and I have created this brochure to share with you the NCAA rules we think are most important for you to know and understand. Please read the information in this brochure and feel free to call us with any questions you may have regarding it’s contents.

Penni Key
Associate Athletic Director for Internal Services

Agents

During your child’s college enrollment, he or she might be contacted by a sports agent, financial advisor or “runner”.

A sports agent is someone who may want to represent your child in contract negotiations or for commercial endorsements if he or she shows the potential to be a professional athlete in a particular sport.

Agents or their representatives may have contacted your child already in an attempt to gain an advantage over other individuals who may want to represent them once their collegiate eligibility has expired. Many times, these individuals will not represent themselves as agents, but as individuals interested in your child’s overall welfare and athletics career. These individuals also may attempt to provide gifts or benefits to you, your child, and your family.

Your child’s collegiate eligibility will be jeopardized in a sport if you or your child agrees (orally or in writing) to be represented by an agent while in high school or college, regardless of whether the agreement becomes effective immediately or after his or her last season of collegiate eligibility. The receipt of any benefits or gifts by you, your child, your family or friends from an agent or runner will also jeopardize your child’s intercollegiate eligibility in that sport. If an individual attempts to contact you or your child regarding the marketing of your son or daughter’s athletics ability in any manner, be careful. If you have concerns regarding a sports agent, please contact the coach, the Compliance Department, the director of athletics or the NCAA national office for assistance.

Financial Aid & Your Son or Daughter

One-Year Limit

There is no guaranteed four-year scholarship in Division I athletics. The NCAA rules do not permit an institution to award an athletics scholarship for a period longer than one academic year. This scholarship may be renewed (or not renewed) at the end of the year for the next academic year.

Renewals and Nonrenewals of Athletics Aid

If your child is receiving an athletics scholarship from the University of Miami, the NCAA rules require that your child be notified by July 1 of each year whether the athletic scholarship will be renewed. The official notification will come from the financial aid office and not from the athletics department. If Miami decides not to renew your child’s athletics scholarship for the upcoming year, you will be provided a hearing opportunity (on request) from a group outside of the athletics department.

Reduction or Cancellation During Period of Award

During the period of your financial aid award (e.g., the term, the year), your athletics scholarship may be reduced or canceled if you:

• Become ineligible for intercollegiate competition;
• Fraudulently misrepresent any information on an application, letter of intent or financial aid agreement;
• Engage in serious misconduct warranting substantial disciplinary penalty; or
• Voluntarily withdraw from your sport at any time for personal reasons.

Do’s & Don’ts During Your Child’s Collegiate Eligibility

The Do’s

• You may request information from a professional team or organization concerning your child’s professional market value.
• You are permitted to use the University of Miami’s Compliance Department or head coach of your child’s sport to contact agents, professional sports teams or professional sports organization’s on your child’s behalf. (The Compliance Department nor the head coach are permitted to receive compensation for such services.)
• You, as a parent, along with your child, are permitted to negotiate with a professional team.
• You may secure advice from an attorney or third party concerning a proposed professional contract for your child, 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 discussions is considered representation. (You are required to pay such an individual his or her normal rate of pay.)
• Your child 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.
• Your child may borrow against future earnings potential from an established and accredited commercial lending institution for the purpose of purchasing insurance against a disabling injury/illness, provided a third party is not involved in arranging for the loan.

Remember: Ask Before You Act!

The Don’ts

• You or your child may not agree (orally or in writing) to be represented by an agent for the purpose of marketing your child’s athletics ability or reputation in that sport.
• Once an agreement (oral or written) is made with an agent or to compete in professional athletics, your child is ineligible for participation in that intercollegiate sport, regardless of the legal enforceability of the contract.
• You or your child may not agree (orally or in writing) to be represented by an agent in the future (after your eligibility is exhausted).
• You or your child may not agree (orally or in writing) to be represented by an agent until after your child’s eligibility has ended, including the team’s postseason competition.
• You (as a parent), your relatives, friends, or your child may not accept benefits from an agent, financial advisor, runner, or any other person associated with an agency business. These benefits include (but are not limited to) transportation, money and gifts, regardless of the value of the benefit or whether it is used.
• If your child reaches an agreement with an agent, his or her college has the choice of whether to cancel the athletics scholarship from that day forward.
• Your child may not receive preferential benefits or treatment because of his or her reputation, skill or pay back potential as a professional athlete.

Any Questions?
Call the University of Miami Compliance Department at (305) 284-2692