RULES COMPLIANCE IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY!!!

The NCAA's Principle of Rules Compliance

Each institution shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the NCAA in the conduct of its intercollegiate athletics programs. It shall monitor its programs to assure compliance and to identify and report to the NCAA instances in which compliance has not been achieved. In any such instance, the institution shall cooperate fully with the NCAA and shall take appropriate corrective actions. Members of an institution's staff, student-athletes, and other individuals and groups representing the institution's athletics interests shall comply with the applicable NCAA rules, and the member institution shall be responsible for such compliance.

GAMBLING RULE:

Contact with Austin Peay student-athletes and/or staff for the purpose of acquiring information to be used in sports wagering is strictly prohibited. Such action is in direct violation of federal law and NCAA rules and regulations and could result in severe disciplinary ramifications against our program and swift litigation against the violator.

From the NCAA: The NCAA opposes all forms of legal and illegal sports wagering on college sports. NCAA rules specifically prohibit student-athletes, athletics department staff members, conference office staff and NCAA national office employees from wagering on intercollegiate, amateur and professional sports in which the Association conducts championships, plus Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision. For example, NCAA student-athletes and personnel are prohibited from betting on National Basketball Association contests since the NCAA conducts championships in basketball.

PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETES:

The NCAA provides a comprehensive guide to the recruiting process and the rules of collegiate athletic recruitment, as well as information regarding necessary actions that you should take before becoming a collegiate athlete. You can find this guide online at www.eligibilitycenter.org.

REGARDING AMATEURISM:

A student-athlete puts their amateurism – and thus their eligibility to play athletics collegiately – if they perform any of the following actions:

• Are paid (in any form) or accept the promise of pay for playing in an athletics contest;
• Sign a contract or verbally commit with an agent or a professional sports organization; 
• Ask that your name be placed on a draft list [Note: In basketball, once you become a student-athlete at an NCAA school, you may enter a professional league's draft one time without jeopardizing your eligibility provided you are not drafted by any team in that league and you declare your intention in writing to return to college within 30 days after the draft]; 
• Use your athletics skill for pay in any form (for example, TV commercials, demonstrations); 
• Play on a professional athletics team; or 
• Participate on an amateur sports team and receive any salary, incentive payment, award, gratuity, educational expenses or expense allowance (other than playing apparel, equipment and actual and necessary travel, and room and board expenses). 

AGENTS

Remember, if you enter into an agreement with an agent – either in writing or verbally – you have lost all remaining eligibility in your sport.

OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT

Money you earn at outside employment does not count when calculating financial aid limitations. However, this outside employment is required to pay you only for work actually performed and at the going rate for the job you are performing. You may not receive compensation based on the value your employer places on you as a student-athlete and the reputation of your athletic ability. Employment must be approved by your sport coach and approved by the Compliance Office. Please contact the Compliance Office prior to beginning your employment so that the proper paperwork may be completed.

OUTSIDE COMPETITION

BE CAREFUL! Outside competition during the academic year is strictly prohibited unless approved by your sport coach and the Compliance Office. If you are considering participating in outside competition please contact the Compliance Office immediately.

IF YOU ARE A COLLEGE TRANSFER STUDENT READ THIS:

Based on current NCAA rules, Austin Peay State University CANNOT respond via e-mail or phone to any four-year college transfer student without the student-athlete first obtaining a release from their institution and faxing the release to the Austin Peay State University athletic department at (931) 221-7830. Once the release is obtained from your current or previous institution, then the APSU coach will be able to contact you. In sports other than basketball and baseball, four-year college transfer students should make sure their current institution releases them to be immediately eligible to compete before transferring to Austin Peay State University.

Always remember to ASK BEFORE YOU ACT. If you have further questions regarding this or any other compliance issue, please consult with the Austin Peay State University Director of Compliance.