In Compliance

AN OCCASIONAL COLUMN
Amy Dames Smith, NCAA Compliance Officer

The seriousness of NCAA violations are in the news again with the recent resignation of Ohio State University football coach Jim Tressel. Though NCAA Division I rules differ greatly from Division III rules in some areas, the definition and requirement of Amateurism is not one of them. 

In the case of Tressel and Ohio State, it was the Amateurism rule that was broken when football players received improper benefits.

Linfield and other Division III schools, operate under the following Amateurism rule from the NCAA Division III Manual:
A student-athlete shall not be eligible for participation in an intercollegiate sport if the individual takes or has taken pay, or has accepted the promise of pay in any form, for participation in that sport, or if the individual has violated any of the other regulations related to amateurism set forth in Bylaw 12 (Bylaw 14.01.3.1).

Another key piece of information referred to in the media was a form Tressel signed last fall stating he was unaware of any violations of NCAA Rules. Linfield coaches and student-athletes are required by the NCAA to sign such a form as well.  All student-athletes must sign the form before they can practice and coaches sign it at the start of each academic year. 

It’s always good to be “in the know” when it comes to NCAA rules, so we can stay In Compliance!