NCAA Rules and Regulations

NCAA Rules Summary

Here are a set of rules for student-athletes, potential student-athletes, Lynchburg College staff members, friends of the college, and their families from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The following is a summary of what is permitted and some examples of frequent problem areas.

The NCAA defines an extra benefit as any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of the institution's athletics interest to provide a student-athlete (or a student-athlete's relative or friend) a benefit that is not generally available to other Lynchburg College students and their relative and/or friends or, is not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation.

A "representative of Lynchburg College's athletic interests" is any individual who is known by the college to have been promoting, assisting, or financially supporting the athletic program.

Therefore, please be aware of the following:

1. A student-athlete cannot accept anything from an employee of Lynchburg College or a representative of Lynchburg College's athletic interests (e.g., use of a car, clothing, gifts, money, tickets for any kind of entertainment, payment of long distance telephone calls).
2. A student-athlete cannot accept free or reduced cost room and/or board from any Lynchburg College employee or a representative of Lynchburg College's athletic interests. This includes in Virginia, in the student-athlete's home city or any other location. This would preclude a student-athlete from "house sitting" without paying rental costs at a comparable rate for similar housing in that locale.
3. A student-athlete may not accept free or reduced cost storage room for personal belongings for the summer months from any Lynchburg College employee or a representative of Lynchburg College's athletic interests.
4. A student-athlete cannot accept free or reduced merchandise or services from any merchant unless that free or reduced cost item is also available to the general public.
5. A student-athlete cannot eat at a restaurant as the guest of a representative of Lynchburg College's athletic interests or an employee of Lynchburg College.
6. A student-athlete cannot use a Department of Athletics copy machine, fax machine or make long distance phone calls using departmental equipment or the long distance access code of an employee of Lynchburg College or representative of Lynchburg College's athletic interests.
7. Members of the Department of Athletics staff or a representative of Lynchburg College's athletic interests are not permitted to type reports, papers, letters, etc., for a student-athlete.
8. A student-athlete cannot receive a special discount, payment arrangement or credit on a purchase (e.g., airline ticket, clothing), or service (e.g., laundry, dry cleaning) from an employee of Lynchburg College or Representative of Lynchburg College's athletic interests.
9. A Lynchburg College employee or a representative of Lynchburg College's athletic interests cannot provide a student-athlete with a loan of money, a guarantee of bond, the use of an automobile or the signing or co-signing of a note to arrange a loan.
10. A student-athlete may not accept frequent traveler miles for trips that are financed by the Lynchburg College Department of Athletics.
11. A Lynchburg College employee may provide a student-athlete only reasonable and occasional local (i.e., within a 30-mile radius of the Lynchburg’s campus) transportation. However, a Lynchburg College employee may not utilize a College vehicle for purposes of assisting a student-athlete's move from one residence to another.

The acceptance by a student-athlete of any of the above extra benefits is a violation of NCAA regulations and places the student-atheltes' eligibility for intercollegiate competition in immediate jeopardy. It is extremely important for both you and Lynchburg College to know and abide by all NCAA regulations. If you have any questions regarding NCAA regulations, ask an athletic administrator or contact the athletic department at 434-544-8286 before doing something that may jeopardize a student-athlete's eligibility to participate in intercollegiate athletics.