Student Athlete Handbook

SPORTS PARTICIPATION

NCAA LIMITATIONS FOR ATHLETICALLY RELATED ACTIVITIES

What are the daily and weekly time limitations on countable athletically related activities?
Student-athletes may not participate in countable athletically related activities for more than:

 The daily and weekly hour limitations DO NOT apply to the following time periods :

• During preseason practice prior to the first day of classes or the first scheduled contest, whichever is earlier.
• During an institution’s term-time official vacation period (e.g., Thanksgiving, spring break), as listed in the institution’s official calendar, and during the academic year between terms when classes are not in session.

Are student-athletes required to have a day off from countable athletically related activities?

 During the academic year, student-athletes shall not engage in any countable athletically related activities on one day per week during the playing season and two days per week outside the playing season. The required day(s) off may occur on any day of the week and may change from week to week. A “week” is defined as any seven consecutive days, determined at the institution’s discretion.

 The following is a partial list of common activities considered countable athletically related activities that MUST BE COUNTED in the daily and weekly limitations:

•  Practice (not more than 4 hours/day) and Competition (which counts as 3 hours)
  * Note: no countable athletically related activities may occur after the competition
• Required weight training and conditioning held at the direction of, or supervised by an institutional staff member
• Field, floor or on-court activity
• Setting up offensive and/or defensive alignments
• Participation in a physical fitness class for student-athletes only and taught by a member of the coaching staff
• Review and discussion of game films or videotapes related to the sport
• Athletics meetings with a coach initiated or required by a coach (e.g., end of season individual meeting)
• Required participation in camps, clinics or workshops
• Participation outside of the regular season in individual skill-related instructional activities with a member of the coaching staff
• On-court or on-field activities called by any member of a team (confined primarily to members of that team) which are considered as a requisite for participation in that sport
• Visiting the competition site in the sports of cross country and golf

 The following is a partial list of common activities considered non-countable athletically related activities and are not counted in the daily and weekly limitations:  

• Compliance meetings, Drug and Alcohol educational meetings and CHAMPS/Life Skills meetings
• Student-athlete advisory committee meetings
• Competition-related meals, team banquets
• Fund raising activities or public relations/promotional activities and community service projects
• Training Room activities (e.g., treatment, taping) rehabilitation activities and medical examinations
• Academic meetings, study hall or tutoring sessions
• Travel to and from practice and competition, provided no countable activities occur (e.g., film review)
• Medical examinations or treatments
• Voluntary sport-related activities (e.g., initiated by student-athlete, no attendance taken, no coach present)
• Individual consultation with coaches initiated voluntarily by student-athlete, provided coach and student-athlete do not engage in athletically related activities
• Recruiting activities (e.g., student-host)
• Use of athletics facilities by student-athlete, provided activities are not supervised by institutional staff members
• Voluntary strength and conditioning not conducted by a coach or staff member

 What is the difference between in-season and out-of-season?

    In-Season (20 hours)

•  Time between the team’s first officially recognized practice session and the last practice session or competition, whichever occurs later.
• Sports other than football and basketball may have their seasons separated into two distinct segments: championship segment and nonchampionship segment.
• During the in-season period (i.e., championship and nonchampionship segments), a student-athlete may participate in a maximum of 20 hours per week of countable athletically related activities.

   Out-of-Season (8 hours)

• The remaining days during the academic year not included in the in-season period.
• A student-athlete may participate in a maximum of 8 hours per week of countable athletically related activities and may not participate in any countable athletically related activities on 2 days per week during the out-of-season period.
• Participation in up to 2 hours of required or voluntary individual skill instruction is permissible. In football, skill instruction activities are limited to review of game film.

Outside the playing season (during the academic year), student-athletes are limited to not more than 8 hours per week of certain countable athletically related activities. Those activities are shown below:

HOSTING A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETE

When a prospective student-athlete visits the University, you may be asked to serve as a host. From your own recruitment experience, you know that the NCAA has strict rules and regulations that must be followed.

• If you are a student-athlete host, it is permissible to provide you with a maximum of $30 for each day you host a prospective student-athlete. If you entertain more than one prospective student-athlete, you may receive an additional $15 for each. This money is to cover all actual costs of entertaining the prospect (prospect's parents, legal guardians or spouse), excluding the cost of meals and admission to campus athletics events. These funds may not be used for the purchase of souvenirs, such as T-shirts or other institutional mementos. In addition, you cannot transport a prospect outside a thirty (30) mile radius from campus and allow any in-person contacts to occur between a prospect and an Alumnus and/or Booster.

You will sign a form stating that you received student-host expense money and that you have reviewed and will adhere to the rules regarding hosting a prospective student-athlete. Serving as a Student Host is an important function to Wake Forest University Athletics. Appropriate conduct is both expected and required of you; therefore,

PER NCAA RULES & REGULATIONS, The following expectations apply during any prospect’s visit to the WFU campus:

• No use of alcohol.
• No use of drugs.
• No use of sex as a recruiting device.
• No activity that violates criminal law.
• No gambling/gaming activities.
• No use of strippers, gentlemen’s club or an equivalent, or escort services.
• No return to lodging after the curfew, if applicable.
• No activities or events at any location that may cause a perception of impropriety.
• DO NOT engage, or allow the prospect to engage in any activity that would bring harm to you, the prospect or the reputation of Wake Forest University and/or the Athletics Program.

Violations of any of these rules will result in a report to the WFU Director of Athletics and the ACC and/or NCAA with a copy to the President of the University. Student-athletes involved in such violations will automatically be suspended from competition until the Director of Athletics or his designee reviews the incident. WFU prospects in violation of these standards may be denied admission to WFU. It should be clear that WFU will not tolerate inappropriate recruiting activities. Violations may result in loss of athletics aid and participation opportunities.

In addition to the above, the following rules apply to your serving as a student-host:

• You must be enrolled in a full-time program of studies at Wake Forest University and be an approved student-host.
• A maximum of $30.00 per day may be provided to cover the entertainment expenses of both yourself and the prospect. You may be provided with an additional $15.00 per day for each additional prospect entertained by you. The money provided may only be used to entertain you, the prospect, the prospect’s parents (legal guardian) or spouse.
• No cash may be given to the prospect or anyone else.
• You may not use the entertainment funds to purchase, or otherwise provide the prospect with, gifts of value (e.g., souvenirs, clothing, etc.).
• You may not use any vehicle provided or arranged for by any institution staff member, booster or representative of our athletics interests.
• You may not transport the prospect or anyone accompanying the prospect more than 30 miles from the campus.
• You should not allow any conversations to occur, on- or off-campus, between the prospect and a donor/friend of/booster of the athletics program. If an unplanned meeting occurs, only an exchange of greetings is permissible.
• You may receive a complimentary admission to a home athletics contest when accompanying a prospect.
• You may receive a complimentary meal at which you accompany the prospect.
• Any and all activities and entertainment must be approved by your coach.

If you receive complimentary admissions to an athletics event on campus, you may accompany the prospective student-athlete to that event during the prospect's visit to campus. Admission to athletics events will be via a pass list.

You the student-athlete have been entrusted with prospective student-athlete(s). You are to demonstrate good judgment in all you do especially in the area of alcohol consumption. Law prohibits the use of alcohol for anyone under the age of twenty-one (21). You as host, regardless of your age, are expected NOT to drink or allow the person(s) whom you are hosting to drink. Remember that under no circumstances should you allow the prospect to ride in a vehicle driven by anyone who has been drinking.

COMPLIMENTARY ADMISSIONS AND TICKET BENEFITS

The Department of Athletics may provide four complimentary admissions per home or away contest to a student-athlete in the sport in which the individual participates (either practices or competes), regardless of whether the student-athlete competes in the contest.

Complimentary admissions shall be provided only through a pass list for individuals designated by the student-athlete. "Hard tickets" shall not be issued. The Department shall be responsible for this administrative procedure. Receipt of more than the permissible four complimentary admissions or the sale or exchange of a complimentary admission for any item of value is prohibited and will result in loss of eligibility.

Student Admissions

• Football
  Students must present their valid ID with a student athletic pass at the student gate (gate five) for admission to home football games.
•  Basketball
  There will be designated dates and times for basketball ticket pick-ups. Students must present their valid ID with an athletic pass at the pickup. An information sheet with specific dates and times will be distributed to all students during October.

Guest Tickets

• Football guest tickets may be purchased at the ticket office up until the last business day preceding the game.
• Basketball guest tickets are subject to availability and may be purchased during student ticket distribution when available.

It is the policy of the Department of Athletics that:

• Students are not guaranteed a ticket. A specific game’s popularity may result in some students not receiving a ticket.
• There is a $25.00 replacement fee for lost student athletic passes.
• A student may not allow another person to use his/her athletic pass for any purpose other than picking up tickets for that student.
• A student may not sell a ticket for a home athletics event.

Other Wake Forest Athletic Events: Wake Forest University students will be admitted free to all other home non-NCAA/ACC sponsored athletic events, (i.e., women's basketball games, baseball games, soccer games, tennis matches, track meets, volleyball games) with a validated Wake Forest University I.D. All NCAA/ACC sponsored events require a paid admission.

EQUIPMENT ROOM

There are three Equipment Rooms that provide service for the student-athletes. The David “Sarge” Tinga Equipment Room is located in Room 114 in Reynolds Gym and offers services for Baseball, Cross Country & Track, Field Hockey, Golf, Soccer, Tennis, and Volleyball. The Miller Center Equipment Room services Men’s and Women’s Basketball. The Football Equipment Room is located in the Pruitt Football Wing of the Manchester Athletic Center.

All athletic equipment and apparel issued by the Athletic Department remains the property of the Athletic Department. Equipment and apparel is issued for the purpose of practice and competition. To be eligible for Equipment Room services, student-athletes must meet

• NCAA requirements and remain eligible;
• be medically cleared by Sports Medicine staff;
• have no outstanding debts to the Equipment Room.

The student-athlete accepts responsibility for items issued throughout the year. Equipment and apparel must be returned at the end of each academic year or when the student-athlete is no longer on the approved team roster. Lost items must be paid for at the replacement cost to the Athletic Department.

Laundry Loops, towels, sweat shirts, and sweat pants are issued new to student-athletes prior to each season. Tee shirts, shorts, socks, sports bras and/or supporters are issued annually to all student-athletes. Sport specific equipment and apparel is issued upon the request of the Head Coach. All equipment and apparel will be replaced for fair wear and tear for as long as the student-athlete is eligible.

Practice and game clothing is washed daily on the issued laundry loops. All clothing must be turned in to the Equipment Room after each practice and/or competition in order to be ready for the next issue. Personal laundry is the responsibility of the student-athlete, not the Equipment Room.

Equipment Room hours of operation are posted.

Issuance of Awards

Letter award jackets are issued through the Equipment Room. If you have earned a letter award jacket, the Equipment Supervisor will determine a date and time for your jacket fitting. Additional information regarding awards can be found in the Recognition section of this Handbook.