Upcoming Event: Track & Field versus NCAA First Round on May 28, 2026
Track & Field
vs NCAA First Round
The University of Utah Athletics
Awards & Extra Benefits
NCAA Bylaw 16 governs the provision of extra benefits and awards to student-athletes. Student-athletes who receive an award , benefit or other allowance not authorized by NCAA legislation through the Compliance Office renders the student-athlete ineligible for athletics competition.
The Compliance Office has various procedures in place to maintain the eligibility of all student-athletes. The sub-menu will provide additional information and required forms that must be completed to document any award or benefit provided student-athletes.
Student-athletes may be provided occasional meals in accordance with NCAA regulations. Such meals must be approved in advance by the Compliance Office. The sub-menu contains information regarding how approval may be obtained.
Extra Benefits Defined
An extra benefit is any special arrangement provided by coaches, staff, or boosters to a student-athlete or a prospective student-athlete that is not generally available to students or prospective students at the University of Utah. Preferential treatment is any other special arrangement provided to a student-athlete or prospective student-athlete on the basis of his/her athletics ability or reputation. Both are violations of NCAA rules and both may render a student-athlete permanently ineligible.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of benefits that may not be provided to student-athletes or prospective student-athletes:
- Free or reduced-cost services of any kind (e.g., airline tickets, clothing, meals, nightclub admissions, Jazz tickets)
- Arrangement for employment of the student-athlete or prospective student-athlete's friends or relatives
- Cash
- Providing or co-signing of loans
- Guarantee of bail/bond
- Use of an institutional or staff member's vehicle
- Holiday or birthday presents
- Personal use of copy machines, fax machines, or long distance telephone calls
NCAA Bylaw 16 limits the types and values of awards that may be provided to student-athletes in recognition for outstanding academic or athletic achievement. An award may not be provided to a student-athlete unless the award receives pre-approval from the Compliance Office. Student-athletes receiving benefits not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation will have their eligibility adversely impacted.
Each year, the head coach of each sport must complete an Awards Tracking Form (COMPbnft_004) following the conclusion of the playing season and submit this form to the Compliance Office. This ensures that all awards are within the amount limitations placed by the NCAA.
Occasional Meals
An institutional staff member may provide a student-athlete or an entire team an occasional meal either in a restaurant in the locale of the institution or at the staff member's home. Reasonable local transportation may be provided (by an institutional staff member and not a booster) to attend such meals. These meals must be approved in advance by the Head Coach and Compliance Office.
Boosters ("representatives of athletics interests") may provide a student-athlete or an entire team with an occasional meal, provided:
- The meal is approved in advance by the Head Coach and Compliance Office,
- It is done only on an infrequent and special occasion,
- The meal (which can be catered) must be provided at the home of the booster, and
- Any local transportation provided to attend the meal (1) is reasonable (no helicopters or limousines) and (2) is provided only by the booster hosting the event.
All occasional meals must be approved in advance by the Head Coach and the Compliance Office. In order to ensure that these meals are provided by staff and boosters in accordance with NCAA requirements, the coach must complete the Occasional Meals form (COMPbnft_001) and have it reviewed prior to the meal.