Question:

May coaches and student-athletes teach lessons to prospects?

Answer:

1. Coaches teaching lessons ...

Except for in the sports of women's golf and equestrian, it is not permissible for institutional staff members to teach lessons to prospects (high school or junior college). The tryout rule (Bylaw 13.11.1) prohibits an institution from conducting, on its campus or elsewhere, any physical activity during which one or more prospects reveal, demonstrate, or display their athletics abilities in any sport.

Women's golf and equestrian coaches may teach lessons to prospects provided the following conditions are met:

a) The prospect resides within a 50-mile radius of the institution's main campus;

b) The coach makes lessons available to the general public;

c) In women's golf, lessons are only provided to female prospects and the coach is a teaching professional certified pursuant to the Ladies Golf Professional Association (LPGA) and/or Professional Golf Association (PGA) certification program;

d) Fees charges to the prospect are at a rate commensurate with fees charged to all individuals;

e) Fees of the prospect are not paid by individuals or entities other than the prospect's parent or legal guardian(s); and

f) The institution keeps on file in the office of the director of athletics documentation of the fee charged for the lessons and the name of any individual receiving any portion of the fee.

2. Student-athletes teaching lessons ...

Student-athletes may receive compensation for teaching or coaching sport skills or techniques on a fee-for-lesson basis, provided:

a) Institutional facilities are not used;

b) Playing lessons are not be permitted;

c) The institution obtains and keeps on file documentation of the recipient of the lesson(s) and the fee for the lesson(s) provided during any time of the year;

d) The compensation is paid by the lesson recipient (or the recipient's family) and not another individual or entity;

e) Instruction to each individual is comparable to the instruction that would be provided during a private lesson when the instruction involves more than one individual at a time.

f) The student-athlete does not use his or her name, picture, or appearance to promote or advertise the availability of fee-for-lesson sessions.

If you have questions about the information contained in this "Question of the Week" or any other compliance matter, contact the Compliance Office.