Prize money and the NCAA

You can not accept ANYTHING!!! If you do it is a violation and you will have to pay it back. No money no matter how little it is. Taking shoes is the same violation.

If you want to run in college just put off accepting any prizes for 4 years.

Of course you can take it and hope no one turns you in, but is the little money that it prolly is worth taking that risk? You make the choice.

dont take it wrote:

You can not accept ANYTHING!!! If you do it is a violation and you will have to pay it back. No money no matter how little it is. Taking shoes is the same violation.

If you want to run in college just put off accepting any prizes for 4 years.

Of course you can take it and hope no one turns you in, but is the little money that it prolly is worth taking that risk? You make the choice.

That\'s not true. You can accept gift certificates up to a certain amount. Cash, though, is always off limits.

Read up.

You can only take up to your actual expenses to compete in the competition. So entry fee, travel costs, etc... Keep detailed records and receipts too in case someone trys to call you on it. And I have no idea how a gift certificate is legal. There is so much hear say about this topic. Due to that even with what is allowed you're better off turning down everything but that plastic trophy. It's not worth the risk.

Secondly, you can't compete in outside competition (road races) during the NCAA season and most state HS associations have simular rules.

Link the the NCAA bylaw:

https://goomer.ncaa.org/wdbctx/LSDBi/LSDBi.LSDBi_LP_Search.D1_DisplayProposal?p_ID=597&p_HeadFoot=1&p_CallCount=1&p_BylawTerms=ThisIsADummyPhraseThatWillNotBeDuplicated&p_IntentTerms=ThisIsADummyPhraseThatWillNotBeDuplicated&p_RationaleTerms=ThisIsADummyPhraseThatWillNotBeDuplicated

Pre-college you can accept money up to the cost of travel and participation.

Link 2: Road Racing:

https://goomer.ncaa.org/wdbctx/LSDBi/LSDBi.LSDBiPackage.GetBylawToDisplay?p_Division=1&p_Key=194&p_Bylaw=12.1.2.3&p_ViewAdopted=Adopted&p_TextTerms=

(money)%20AND%20(prize)&p_TitleTerms=ThisIsADummyPhraseThatWillNotBeDuplicated&p_HeadFoot=1&p_CallCount=1

Once an athlete is in college, NO MONEY, PRIZE, GIFT CERTIFICATE, NOTHING.

Don't take any money! I made 5 grand winning LV marathon while in JUCO and tried every way to take it but couldn't even donate it. I had turned down several hundred dollars previously but never 5 grand. Take shoes, gift certificates, etc., no one will declare those things or turn you in but cash will put a bounty on your scalp. If you are good enough to score cash while in college in road races then weigh out the cost/scholarship differential to see what meets your needs. For me, my D1 college (after one year of competing for them) gave me post eligibility pay so running road races for cash and having my tuition paid for was worth giving up eligibility for.