Athletics Risk Management and Compliance Services: Current Longhorns — Amateurism

Student-athletes must be amateurs in order to be eligible to compete in college sports. Student-athletes are required to submit an Outside Competition form before participating in any non-UT competition or practicing on any non-UT team, so that the Compliance Office can make sure our student-athletes do not participate in any activity that would jeopardize their amateur status.

Some of the things that can affect your amateur status are:

• Competing with a Professional Team
• Receiving Expenses from Professional Team
• Entering Draft (This does not include drafts in which an athlete is placed on the draft list involuntarily, such as the Major League Baseball draft.)
• Accepting Prize Money
• Agents

Terms and Definitions
Professional Team: Any team that provides its members anything in excess of actual and necessary expenses or calls itself professional.

Actual and Necessary Expenses: reasonable expenses based on fair market value in the locality of the players limited to the following:
(1) Meals directly tied to competition and practice held in preparation for such competition;
(2) Lodging directly tied to competition and practice held in preparation for such competition;
(3) Apparel, equipment and supplies;
(4) Coaching and instruction;
(5) Health/medical insurance;
(6) Transportation (expenses to and from practice competition, cost of transportation from home to training/practice site at the beginning of the season and from training/practice site to home at the end of season);
(7) Medical treatment and physical therapy;
(8) Facility usage;
(9) Entry fees; and
(10) Other reasonable expenses.

Prize Money: Any cash or benefits based on an individual or team's place finish or performance in an event or competition.