2-29-12
Q: Can the athletes also accept the shorts if every other participant at Disney Spring Training receives the same entry gift?
A: Athletes may only accept a t-shirt according to the Amateur Status rule. They must pay for shorts, polo shirts/sweatshirts, or any other merchandise. It's important to note the rule is that cash or merchandise cannot be accepted for athletic achievement. If a non-school tournament is open to anyone who wants to enter and everyone gets a pair of shorts, there is no violation, because awarding of a pair of shorts was not based on athletic achievement. The Disney Spring training event is school sponsored (West Orange High School), NFHS sanctioned, and contains school teams. This same thing cannot be said of a school-sponsored tournament however, because that competition is open only to individuals who have achieved team status, therefore receiving the pair of shorts would be based on athletic achievement.
Q: Can I offer an incentive like a pair of spikes or a gift card for the top seller in a team fundraiser?
A: The WIAA does not direct nor encourage fundraisers in member schools; however, should a member school identify a need to create monies, fundraisers are not prevented. School administrators and coaches must review and follow their governing body's fundraising policies and procedures.
When student-athletes are being used in the project, they should be informed of what they are going to sell, what the money is going to be used for, and what benefit they will receive personally. They also need to be aware of their liability should they lose their fund-raising items or money. Student-athletes need to be aware that participation in fundraisers is a voluntary duty and cannot be used as criteria for going out for a school team or for making a school team.
WIAA Amateur Status regulations can impact student-athletes involved in a fundraiser:
1. If student-athletes provide endorsement as an athlete, or appear as an athlete, in the promotion of a commercial advertisement and/or profit-making event, item, plan or service.
2. Receives compensation or benefit, directly or indirectly, for the use of name, picture, and/or personal appearance, as an athlete. This includes but is not limited to: receiving free and/or reduced rates on equipment, apparel, camps/clinics/instruction and competitive opportunities that are not identical for all other participants.
Pre-season fundraisers must indicate that any eligible student-athlete can participate in the fundraiser. They may not be limited to student-athletes who are believed to be making the team at a future time. Rewards for the fundraising activity are acceptable, provided they are available to everyone participating in the fundraising activity and not limited to athletes. My best advice is to open the fundraising activity to any and all students in the school and not limit it to team members.
4-24-10
Q.: Can we place volleyball booster information on our Web site along with different summer training opportu- nities without being in violation? For example... Can we post fitness training opportunities, camps, clinics and tournaments on our site. None of these opportunities will be sponsored by our school or coaches but may be by our booster club and/or held in our buildings.
A.: The member schools do not have a rule against a school providing space on the school Web site for nonschool groups. It does raise some concerns which you may wish to be proactive with: Be sure the page with the information indicates that these are nonschool opportunities. Have some sort of disclaimer stat- ing that all out-of-season opportunities are voluntary and not mandatory. Camps and clinics must be paid in full by the student and/or family.
12-18-09
Q.: I have a student business group working on a project who wishes to sell rally towels at basketball games. To cut down on the cost, they have sponsorship which would be on the towel. Would these towels violate any regulations?
A.: Page 8 of the Sportsmanship Reference Guide – No printing except the school name, team nickname, and/or school mascot and tournament host may prohibit them.
Q.: I am a high school girls basketball coach. Our girls basketball team would like to hold a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society this coming season and I just want to check that how we plan on doing it will not vio- late any WIAA rules. Here's our plan, our fundraiser will be based on how many free throws the girls varsity team makes during the season. Each player will solicit funds or donations based on the free throw made. People could donate a lump some or could donate X amount per free throw made. As an example last year we made 205 free throws, if you pledged a dollar per free throw, you would be donating $205 at year end for the team to donate to the American Cancer Society. No funds are kept by or for the team.
A.: While we appreciate the causes which our schools and athletes support, I recommend that you find a different method to raise funds. The Board of Control has made it clear that fundraisers connected to performance in competition are NOT allowed. Both from the sportsmanship perspective, as well as from the "paid to perform" and or gaming/gambling end of things, it is a not a good idea and not allowed. Your plan would be allowed in a practice setting.
10-23-09
Q.: I have two questions regarding fundraisers: My baseball coach wants to host an indoor whiffle ball tourna- ment in February. He would like potential baseball players to help run the tournament/fundraiser. Is this legal? My baseball coach also wants to host a baseball camp on Sunday's in January. His potential players would not help or be involved in anyway, but some adults would come in and run the camp and the money would go to the baseball program. Is this legal? He would like to call it the Bronco Baseball Camp. It would be for kids 1st – 8th grade.
A.: Schools may not sponsor sports out-of-season with the exception of the five unrestricted days. A non- school organization may host a whiffle ball tournament such as a booster club. The key is that the camp, tournament, or clinic must be non-school during the school year. For the whiffle ball tournament, the coach could run the tournament without the players or the non-school organization could run the tournament with the players. For the camp, it must be run by a non-school organization, checked out as any other organization would check out a gym, be voluntary, open to anyone, and not be team specific with limitations. The players could work as clinicians without the presence of the coach.
Q.: I have a question regarding the fees for summer basketball leagues. Can a booster group pay the registration fee for a basketball team to participate in a summer basketball league? I know what the rule reads as far as sending individuals to camps and clinics, that it is the responsibility of the parents.
A.: Yes. So long as any student who wants to have fees paid for the opportunity can also get reimbursed. This opportunity may not be a "benefit" based on performance, e.g. making the varsity. See III-F of the Rules At A Glance. 5-8-09
2-13-09
Q.: We have an idea for a fundraiser. We were thinking of hosting a dodge ball tournament. We would open it up to the schools and have students sign up with teams of seven. My question is if we invite other schools and they have teams made up of off-season and/or in-season athletes will that conflict with WIAA rules? Example: If the two teams playing each other are basketball players for their schools but are here to play dodge ball. Will that be a problem?
A.: As you know, the WIAA does not sponsor dodge ball. I see no obvious conflicts with season regulations and/or rules of eligibility should you wish to host a dodge ball event for student athletes, whether they are in, or out-of-season. About the only dimension to still/always keep an eye on is amateur status. That is appearing, promoting, endorsing – as an athlete.
12-12-08
Q.: I have question regarding our volleyball team. Our National Honor Society wants to have a fund-raiser for a local family and another local charity. They want to put on a volleyball tournament. The teams involved would pay an entry fee to play in the tournament. They would also ask for admission to be paid to watch the tourna- ment. They would like the winner of the tournament to play our varsity volleyball team. Our team would not pay anything to get into the tournament or receive any financial compensation for their participation. Would this par- ticipation jeopardize the varsity volleyball team's eligibility?
A.: There are a number of possible concerns inherent in this idea as described. First; when is the event planned? Keep in mind the National Honor Society is a school sponsored organization, thus, it becomes "school sponsored" volleyball and member schools may only sponsor interscholastic volleyball during the actual school season of the sport. If this would be done outside of the school season, then it could only include seniors and others were not a part of the school volleyball team "last season." Do not allow under- classmen who have remaining volleyball eligibility to take part in an out-of-season school volleyball event. Lastly, remember that you are allowed X number of interscholastic volleyball competitions. Do not exceed that number. Perhaps the club should consider finding a non-school entity, like optimists...to sponsor the tournament and then "gift" the fund-raised dollars back to the club.
10-24-08
Q.: I am wondering what the WIAA's posture is on sponsors donating money to a fund after a score, by just the home team, during a football game? I understand that the intention of donating money to a worthy cause is admirable, but an unintended message maybe that the team may attempt to run up the score.
A.: The Board of Control has made it clear that fundraisers connected to performance in competition are not allowed. Both from the sportsmanship perspective, as well as from the 'paid to perform' and or gaming/gambling end of things, it is a bad idea and not allowed.
9-19-08
Q.: I am sending this in regard to the fact that our community has a festival and is interested in having a foot- ball player "cookie eating" contest. No prizes would be given to the contestants but they are hoping to generate interest in having people buy a raffle ticket on the player who can eat the most. The proceeds would go to the festival committee but they have said they would donate a portion to our athletic fund for our help. Is this accept- able or in violation of the policies? I did access the Handbook but seemed to see vague answers to this problem.
A.: If school administration wished to allow and if students wished to volunteer as participants in this event that would be there prerogative. We can see no obvious peril in their taking part in a cookie eating contest, beyond indigestion.
7-18-08
Q.: Is it OK to sell desk calendars as a fundraiser for teams and have a different individual or team picture (in uniform) featured each day? The team would be earning $8 per calendar sold.
A.: This sort of calendar can be done as a fundraiser without peril for students or member school pro- grams. It is appropriate to be thoughtful/careful – if local businesses are used as sponsors for the calendar - where and how those sponsors are identified. A couple other high schools have done calendars with their teams. We have worked closely with both to make sure there were no amateur status related concerns.
5-22-08
Q.: We have student clubs that do fundraisers during the year. My questions is "Can club money be used to fund summer league involvement?"
A.: If the money is kept in school activity accounts it is "school money," regardless how it got there. School money can be used to cover leagues/tournaments, camps clinics that take place on your five unrestricted contact days in the summer and during the actual school season. If the fund raised money is kept in a booster club account and the booster's wished to cover the costs for all students interested in summer league play, they could cover costs associated with competition.
2-8-08
Q.: Our booster club would like to do a fundraiser which is called Subway Shootout. Anyone in attendance can participate provided they pay $1. The rules would be: Shoot a free throw make it you get a card good for one free ice cream cone. If you make the free throw you can advance to next shot. That would be a 3-point shot, you make and you get a card for a free 6" sub from Subway If you make the 3-point shot you advance to half-court shot. If you make half-court shot the local bank will give out a $50 savings bond. Can this be done? Can basketball players participate?
A.: As described – do not allow student athletes to take part. For fundraisers and/or promotions associated with schools and school programs - if it is going to involve/include student-athletes in scenarios where cash/merchandise can be won for the performance of sport and/or skill of sports performance, the opportunity to do so can only be done by random draw/serendipitous opportunity.
If everyone who buys a ticket gets the opportunity: 1) don't allow athletes to participate, or 2) change the prizes to those items which a student can receive without amateur status peril (Bylaws Art. XI, Rules of Eligibility Art. IV).
If using random draws to identify contestants, be sure your participant group is broad and includes everyone (the whole student body or everyone in attendance at the event). Be sure the person whose name is drawn – must be the person who performs the contest – or draw another name. Do not allow for passing opportunity to another, by doing so, the opportunity is no longer random.
8-20-07
Q.: I am a high school soccer coach and I was wondering if you can thank businesses on the back of shirts, t- shirts that you give to the high school athletes to train in, they are not jerseys or used to warm up. I have a few businesses that have made donations to the program and want to thank them on the back of these. Another sport in an area community did this.
A.: An athlete can be given a t-shirt. The idea you outline would not 'automatically' render a student inel- igible for 'promoting/endorsing' a business/product/service. But care is advised. Be thoughtful/careful of what might be put on a t-shirt. What's said and how it's said is significant. Second - personal 'taste'/opin- ion - Some schools would never ask or permit coaches to make the student athletes into billboards or carry sandwich signs when there are literally countless other ways to say thanks and recognize donors. Your school may feel differently. You certainly may argue that Nike, Adidas, Russell have already turned all of us into message boards for them.
7-13-07
Q.: I was visiting with someone from an area school. They were talking about clinic fees being paid for by their wrestling club for their kids. I told them I believed that to be illegal. They called them scholarships; I still told them that I didn't believe that was allowable. This then made me question the following: If a family is on free or reduced lunch we waive or reduce the athletic fees that we collect, and have them do some type of commu- nity service at school. Are we legal with the procedure outlined? This is done on a very limited basis and only in extreme cases of hardship.
A.: You are 100 percent correct. There is one possible caveat, but in that scenario the camp/clinic is in the five unrestricted days. Then the school could cover costs for any student interested in attending. In that scenario, booster members should 'gift' the school. The time period involved must be between the end of school to July 31. See Rules At A Glance, III-F and do all you can to encourage them to get in touch. Or if found to be in violation, school may lose tournament eligibility – it's potentially that serious. If accepting money, kids are not eligible. See Handbook, p. 38 C-5. We view the waiving of fees by the school - for the competitive school sport season, based on free and reduced – as 'costs associated with competition'. This is permissible within amateur status provisions. If you wished to waive fees for a summer camp/clinic – even if you hosted it – Could not! Would need to be free for all, reduced for all – but either way, same for all and for camps...kids must cover 100 percent of any cost. Tons of this on the web under Regulations icon See: Eligibility Q/A.
Q.: I am a football coach and am interested in doing a fundraiser to raise money for a team camp. Is this legal?
A.: There are no huge red flags automatically associated with student's voluntarily fund raising. This topic is regularly covered in the WIAA Bulletin - You must be careful and specific in where the funds go, how they are used/dispersed, however. Camp attendance must also be voluntary. If this 'team camp' is held between the end of school and July 31 AND is going to be identified as your coaches unrestricted contact days, (football has up to four contact days – must be consecutive) "school money" could be used (money
placed in school activity accounts - is school money). If the camp is outside those dates and/or not to be your approved contact days, then kids should take their money home and may send in their own camp applications, etc. Related, SEE: Rules At A Glance, III-F. Also, Q/A on the website. Regardless of 'sport' being discussed, the rules and principles apply the same.
5-4-07
Q.: I have a question for next year and would like to get your input. It was recently brought to our booster club's attention that back in 1999 they paid for the trainer for the youth football team. They would like the booster club to again pay for this expense. One issue is that the money for the booster club is run through the school district and I feel it would be wrong to pay for nonschool sports, since the youth football team is a feeder program. My question to you is are there any WIAA rule against schools funding nonschool sports?
A.: You are wise to be cautious in this area. What was done in 99 - may/or may not have been approved and appropriate - we can't say for certain. But wise to double check. I'd recommend a conversation with your supt., principal and auditor or dist. business mgr. Get clarification whether use of 'school funds' in this manner will be authorized. And see that what ever direction you go, you get the written approval for doing so...especially if school funds are going to be directed to nonschool programs. This is one of the rea- sons that most booster organizations are not (technically) controlled by the school....and will keep their funds separate and outside of school...non school funds have more flexibility for out-of-season and non- school use.