High School Rules Language

Dazed and Confuzed wrote:

Can high school runners accept $100 cash, or $100 in Gift Cards/Gift Certificates as well as any kind of merchandise valued at $100 or less?

Or, are kids not allowed to accept ANY Cash, Gift Cards/Gift Certificates, but can accept merchandise valued at $100 or less?

The rules you provided clearly state that you can accept up to $100 in cash or merchandise.

It's ambiguous. I'd guess that it means that you're not allowed to accept any amount of money at all, but that you can accept merchandise up to $100 in value. Gift certificates probably fall in to the merchandise category. If this is really an issue for you (and if you're a distance runner who does some off season road races, it may definitely be so), send a question in to your state association's appropriate officer.

I wouldn’t say it “clearly” states that. It says you ANY amount of money or merchandise of $100 retail...

Basically, the rules are poorly written. “Any” implies all amounts of money ($.01-Billions). Also, that $100 value is stated ‘as valued at $100 retail.’ Cash isn’t valued and sold as retail so it seems to indicate $100 is only in reference to merchandise value and that accepting “any” amount of money is a violation of the rules.

It should say: A) accepting any amount of money

B)accepting merchandise In the value of over $100 retail.

If it is supposed to say you CAN accept $100 cash it should say.

A) accepting money in excess of $100 or merchandise valued over $100 retail.

Wow, that is poorly written.

It could be interpreted as the athlete could not take $1 but could take a jacket value at $100.

Also while I am thinking this is aimed at prize money, what about a random drawing at a race? To me, that should be fine since all entrants have the same chance to win and the person is not winning because of his/her accomplishments or who they are.

Not sure. wrote:

I wouldn’t say it “clearly” states that. It says you ANY amount of money or merchandise of $100 retail...

Basically, the rules are poorly written. “Any” implies all amounts of money ($.01-Billions). Also, that $100 value is stated ‘as valued at $100 retail.’ Cash isn’t valued and sold as retail so it seems to indicate $100 is only in reference to merchandise value and that accepting “any” amount of money is a violation of the rules.

It should say: A) accepting any amount of money

B)accepting merchandise In the value of over $100 retail.

If it is supposed to say you CAN accept $100 cash it should say.

A) accepting money in excess of $100 or merchandise valued over $100 retail.

Would you consider a gift card or gift certificate cash or merchandise?

Thanks for you honest impression of this language, many coaches agree!

Although we are not sure if our runners are forbidden from accepting the $1 cash in your example, it is my understanding that high school runners in our state can accept items from a random draw or a door prize.

Had Some Myself wrote:

It's ambiguous. I'd guess that it means that you're not allowed to accept any amount of money at all, but that you can accept merchandise up to $100 in value. Gift certificates probably fall in to the merchandise category. If this is really an issue for you (and if you're a distance runner who does some off season road races, it may definitely be so), send a question in to your state association's appropriate officer.

The language I initially posted is what our state association provides when we ask if a runner can accept a gift certificate for winning a road race. We rarely are given actual answers to our simple questions - just the language where we are supposed to unearth the answer. This, then, usually results in more follow up questions, and then more poorly written language thrown back at us from the state association.

I don't see it as very clear, but would seem odd if high school runners could accept a $100 jacket, but not a $5 gift card for the local ice cream shop.

When I was in high school we couldn't accept anything except like a ribbon, or a medal. But race entries were like $5 and $10 and we didn't care much because usually everyone got a t-shirt for entering and some decent food after the race. Are there good prizes at road races now where high schools runners can really get in trouble for taking a prize?