College Corner
College Bound? Read This!
Sandy Thielz
USA Gymnastics College CoordinatorIf your gymnasts are considering a competitive career in women's collegiate gymnastics, then plan ahead. Know the NCAA rules and policies regarding professionalism, recruiting, and eligibility. Gymnasts can become ineligible even before college if they are unaware of the NCAA rules.
The “NCAA Guide for the College Bound Athlete” states:
Don't lose your college eligibility by becoming a professional. You are a professional if you:
- 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.
- Use your athletics skill for pay in any form (e.g., TV commercials, demonstrations, advertisements).
- Play on a professional athletics team.
- Participate on an amateur sports team and receive any salary, incentive payment, award, gratuity, educational expenses, or expense allowances (other than playing apparel, equipment, and actual and necessary travel, and room and board expenses).
- You jeopardize your college eligibility in a sport if you agree (verbally or in writing) to be represented by an agent in high school or college, regardless of whether the agreement becomes effective immediately or after your last season of college eligibility.
Before enrolling in college you may:
- Try out (practice with but not participate against outside competition) with a professional sports team at your expense.
- Receive actual and necessary expenses from any professional sports organization for one visit.
- Receive a fee for TEACHING a lesson in a particular sport.
Make certain your gymnasts do not lose their eligibility. Before accepting any offers such as cash, awards, endorsement opportunities, commercials, advertisement offers, check with the NCAA Hotline (1-800-638-3731) or the NCAA (913-339-1906). Also the National Association for Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women offers a booklet which includes the NCAA Guide for College Bound Student Athletes as well as information on recruiting, Clearinghouse, Eligibility, etc. This is a must for any gym club. Contact:
Lynn Crane Brueckman, Women's Gymnastics Coach
Bielfeldt Athletic Administration Building
17000 Fourth Street
Champaign, IL 61820This article appears in the October 1996 issue of Technique, Vol. 16, No. 9.
[ Home ]
[ Publications ]
[ Technique Index ]
About USA Gymnastics Online.
Please report problems to our webmaster.
Copyright © 1996 USA Gymnastics. All rights reserved.URL: http://www.usa-gymnastics.org/publications/technique/1996/9/college.html
