What are considered necessary expenses?
To maintain your amateur athlete status before you enter college, there are several rules you need to follow.
It’s important to know these rules if you plan on competing at a college or university. One of the rules that the NCAA enforces involves accepting money from a sports team or organization. This money can come in the form of a stipend, prize money, or endorsements.
In order to remain eligible to be cleared by the NCAA, high school athletes cannot accept money or other benefits whose total exceeds necessary expenses needed for their sport or team.
The NCAA stipulates that high school athletes “may not receive expenses from an outside amateur sports team or organization in excess of actual and necessary travel, room and board expenses, and apparel and equipment…”. If you accept anything more than what is considered necessary expenses for your sport or team, your amateur status may be in jeopardy.
If you violate your amateur status, then you will not be cleared to compete in college. Here is a complete guide to your amateurism requirements in the NCAA Guide to the College Bound Student Athlete.