Outside Competition Educational Column ATHLETIC COMPLIANCE OFFICE
It is permissible for a student-athlete to compete outside of his/her team's declared playing season as a member of an outside team in a non-collegiate, amateur competition provided the competition occurs during an official vacation period and the number of Southeast Missouri State athletes participating in the competition does not exceed NCAA limitations. Prior to competing in any outside competition, student-athletes must complete the Outside Competition Permission Form located at http://gosoutheast.com/documents/2011/6/1/OutsideCompetitionForm.pdf?id=30 since all sports have different regulations. Question: Is it permissible for Southeast to provide expenses (e.g. meals, entry fee, lodging) for a student-athlete to compete unattached, when the studentathlete is not representing Southeast in competition (ineligible or redshirting)? Answer: No. Southeast may not provide any expenses (transportation, meals, etc.) to the participating student-athlete competing unattached as they are competing as an individual, representing only himself/herself. Question: May an unattached student-athlete wear a Southeast uniform? Answer: No. The student-athlete may not wear a Southeast uniform because the uniform constitutes representation of Southeast and, therefore, he/she would not be considered to be competing unattached. Question: May Southeast provide athletics training support and other medical services prior to and after the event for student-athletes that are competing unattached? Answer: No. As a general rule, such expenses may not be provided by Southeast when the student-athlete is competing unattached since such services constitute receipt of expenses related to competition. If the trainer has been designated by the competition host to provide services to all participants, then such services may be provided to the unattached student-athlete. Question: Is it permissible for Southeast coaches to provide coaching and instruction to an unattached student-athlete? Answer: No. A coach providing coaching or instruction to an unattached student-athlete would result in the student-athlete to be competing as a representative of Southeast Athletics. Question: Is it permissible for a sports club to provide expenses to an individual competing unattached? Answer: No. A student-athlete is permitted to receive actual and necessary expenses from an amateur club only when representing such a team in competition. It is important to note that in Division I sports other than basketball, a student-athlete may not represent an outside team in competition during the academic year except during vacation periods OUTSIDE the declared playing and practice season. Basketball student-athletes are not permitted to partake in any organized basketball competition except while representing Southeast, except during the period of June 15 and Southeast's opening day of classes (NCAA certified summer league). Thus, if a student-athlete is competing unattached, all expenses must be self-funded. Question: May an unattached student-athlete's institutional affiliation be identified in any manner (e.g. program, announcer)? Answer: It is adviseable that the unattached student-athlete's participation is clearly defined as being independent, however identification of the unattached student-athlete's institutional affiliation, in and of itself, does not constitute representation of Southeast. Question: May a student-athlete compete on an intramural team during the academic year? Answer: Yes. Intramural competition is not considered to be outside competition. Question: May a student-athlete compete in an alumni contest at their local high school during the fall term? Answer: No. It would only be permissible for the student-athlete to compete in the alumni game during an institutional vacation period. Question: May a student-athlete compete for an outside team during the academic year if he/she is competing in a qualifying tournament for the World Championships or Pan American Games? Answer: Yes. It is permissible for a student-athlete to compete in Olympic Games, Official Pan American Games tryouts or competition, U.S. National Teams, Official World Championships, World University Games, World Cup tryouts and competition, and multisport events (officially recognized state and national multisport events). Question: May a basketball student-athlete compete in any organized basketball competition aside from intercollegiate competition while representing Southeast? Answer: No. It is not permissible for a basketball student-athlete to participate in any organized basketball competition except while representing Southeast in intercollegiate competition, except during the period between June 15 and Southeast's opening day of classes. The organized basketball team must play in an NCAA certified summer league and receive approval from the Compliance Office. Failure to adhere to outside competition legislation may result in a student-athlete being declared ineligible.