Coaches and Athletics Staff Members
The University of Nevada takes pride in the athletic achievements of its student-athletes and teams, and recognizes that to achieve the goal of developing current Wolf Pack student-athletes into future leaders, these athletics achievements must come without compromise in the areas of competitive ethics, NCAA and Mountain West Conference rules, or academic success.
Compliance with NCAA and Mountain West rules is a shared responsibility. Coaches are responsible for having a general knowledge of NCAA rules, detailed knowledge within their specific areas of responsibility (such as recruiting and countable hours legislation), and knowing when to contact Compliance staff for clarification or rules interpretations.
Below you will find a brief overview of some important NCAA rules, as well as links to commonly-used forms and documents related to NCAA compliance. If you have questions about the information below, or about anything else related to rules compliance, do not hesitate to contact the Office of Compliance. As always, ASK before you ACT.
Thank you, and go Pack!
Brian M. Barrio
Sr. Associate Director of Athletics for Intercollegiate Services
bbarrio@unr.edu
NCAA Bylaw 16.02.3 – Extra Benefits
An “extra benefit” is any special arrangement by a Nevada employee or booster to provide a student-athlete (or his/her family member or friend) a benefit not expressly permitted under NCAA rules.
Examples of extra benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Gifts of any kind or value
- Arrangements for free or reduced-rate services such as legal services, airfare, haircuts, personal training, cellular phone, etc.
- Payment, discount, or waiver of any living expenses (e.g. apartments, lodging, meals, etc.)
- Use of a corporate discount (e.g. Nike discount code, employee discounts at stores, etc.)
- Loans of any kind or value
- Free or discounted use of an automobile or vacation home
NCAA rules permit the Athletics Department to defray some costs for student-athletes in financial need through the NCAA Student Assistance Fund, and to provide some additional meals and academic- or medical-related support services.
However, these expenses must be documented and funds disbursed through the Athletics Department in conjunction with the Office of Compliance – not by individual coaching staffs.
NCAA Bylaw 11.7 – Coaching Staff Duties and Numerical Limits
Each sport has a numerical limit on countable coaches. “Countable coaches” include any individual who:
- Provides technical or tactical instruction related to the sport to a student-athlete at any time;
- Makes or assists in making tactical decisions related to the sport during on-court or on-field practice or competition; or
- Engages in any off-campus recruiting activities
It is not permissible for any individual to coach Wolf Pack student-athletes without being documented, in writing, as a head coach, assistant coach, volunteer coach, graduate assistant coach, or student assistant coach, subject to applicable limits within his/her sport.
It is the responsibility of the head coach to be aware of applicable coaching limits and to ensure that an up-to-date coaching staff declaration is maintained at all times with the Office of Compliance.
At no time is it permissible for an outside individual or consultant to engage in any coaching activity with Nevada student-athletes by arrangement or at the direction of Nevada coaches or staff.
NCAA Bylaw 17 – Playing Seasons and Countable Athletically-Related Activities
Each sport has limitations on days in the playing season and on competitions/dates of competition. It is the responsibility of the head coach to know the applicable limits and to maintain at all times an accurate playing season declaration in the Office of Compliance.
Countable Athletically-Related Activities (CARA) include competition, practice, film review, strength and conditioning workouts, team meetings, and any other sport-related activities that are required, recorded, or conducted in the presence of a coach. In all sports, in-season CARA is limited to a maximum of
20 total hours per week and
4 hours per day. Student-athletes are required to be provided with one day per week completely free of CARA during the playing season.
Outside the playing season, CARA is limited to
8 total hours per week, and student-athletes are required to be provided with two days per week completely free of CARA.
NCAA Bylaw 10 – Sports Wagering/Gambling
NCAA rules prohibit any student-athlete or athletics staff member from wagering on any sport sponsored by the NCAA. This includes gambling on professional, college, or international sports; fantasy sports conducted for prizes or cash; as well as any pools, futures wagers, or parlay cards.
Although sports wagering is legally permissible in the State of Nevada,
the NCAA prohibition still applies to all Nevada coaches, staff, and student-athletes.
Compliance Links for Coaches and Athletics Staff
JumpForward
Nevada Admissions
Nevada Financial Aid
NCAA Manual
NCAA Recruiting Calendar
NCAA Guide to International Recruiting
National Letter of Intent Homepage
Social Media Do’s and Don’ts
Nevada Compliance Forms (PDF)
Agents/Advisors Registration
Camp Approval Form
Coaching Staff Declaration Form
Coaching Staff Declaration Form - Football
Employment Form for Student-Athletes
Local Sports Club Form
Occasional Meal Form
Outside Competition Form
Promotional Activity Form
Unofficial Visit Form
