Can NCAA-Bound Shooters Accept Monetary Awards?

by
posted on September 25, 2017
0514_ssusa_archive.jpg

In 2002, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors approved a change to its bylaws regarding NCAA athletes and amateur status. Previously, the bylaws did not allow athletes to accept any prize monies. According to the changes, an individual is permitted to accept prize money, prior to collegiate enrollment, if it is based on place finish and the prize accepted does not exceed necessary expenses for that match. If done accordingly, an individual’s eligibility will not be affected. (See NCAA Rule 12.1.1 regarding Amateur Status.)

The NCAA bylaws also state that prize money may not exceed necessary expenses on an event-specific basis. To ensure that an athlete does not jeopardize their eligibility in doing this, it is recommended that the athlete keep records of all expenses and awards received for each match, prior to college enrolment. Any monies accepted that exceed the necessary expenses will render the athlete ineligible. For a complete list of actual and necessary expenses, contact the NCAA.

2014 NCAA Championships, Murray State University
Once enrolled in college, an athlete may not accept any monetary awards, or the equivalent. Any athlete caught accepting monetary prizes will be deemed ineligible.

For more information regarding the NCAA and collegiate eligibility, contact the NCAA Eligibility Center at (317) 917-6222, or visit their website at www.ncaa.org. For more information regarding collegiate shooting, contact Victoria Croft, manager of NRA Collegiate and Schools Programs at (703) 267-1473 or go to collegiate.nra.org.

Latest

2025 Usashooting Nationals 1
2025 Usashooting Nationals 1

Top Collegiate, Junior Athletes Claim Titles At 2025 USA Shooting Rifle & Pistol National Championships

NCAA standouts Griffin Lake and Gabriela Zych dominate rifle events; William Regala and Terry Hur shine in pistol at 2025 USA Shooting Nationals.

The Heartbeat Of USPSA: Level 1 Club Matches

USPSA competition is about people and community.

Kicking Off The 2025 USPSA Shotgun Season

USPSA opens 2025 Shotgun Series, marking a historic shift to performance-based team selection for the 2026 World Shoot in Greece.

Upgrading Your Firearms With LOK Grips

LOK Grips’ Thin Bogies: slim, grippy and built for control.

Share Your Local Match Results With Shooting Sports USA

Want your match results in Shooting Sports USA? Submit Score Sheets with full details, photos and a great story.

Looking Back At The 2016 NRA Intercollegiate Pistol Championship

In 2016, Ohio State won its third straight NRA Pistol title; West Point’s Schanz and North Dakota State’s Townsend led standout performances at Ft. Benning.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.