University of Tennessee Athletics
Student-Athletes
ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITYÂ
To be eligible for competition, student-athletes must maintain progress toward degree by meeting the following requirements:
- You must be enrolled full-time, which is a minimum of 12 credits, at all times during the semester.
- In your initial year of enrollment, you must successfully complete at least 24 credits towards your designated degree program during the fall, spring and summer to be eligible next year. A minimum of 18 credits must be earned during the regular academic year.
- You must pass at least 6 hours each semester to remain eligible.
- Football student-athletes must pass nine hours and earn the APR eligibility point each fall term of enrollment.
- Failing to do so will render the student-athlete ineligible for the first four games of the following season.
- A student-athlete may regain eligibility for the four games by successfully completing 27-hours prior to the beginning of the next fall. This is a one-time exception during your playing career.
In addition, student-athletes must:
- Have a 1.8 GPA prior to beginning their second year.
- Designate a degree prior to the beginning of their third year.
- Have 40% of their designated degree completed and 1.9 GPA, prior to the beginning of their third year.
- Have 60% of their designated degree completed and 2.0 GPA, prior to the start of their fourth year.
- Have 80% of their designated degree completed and maintain a 2.0 GPA, prior to the start of their fifth year
- Football student-athletes must pass nine hours and earn the APR eligibility point each fall term of enrollment.
- Failing to do so will render the student-athlete ineligible for the first four games of the following season.
- A student-athlete may regain eligibility for the four games by successfully completing 27-hours prior to the beginning of the next fall. This is a one-time exception during your playing career.
ATHLETICS ACTIVITIES
Â| Period | Daily Hour Limit | Weekly Hour Limit | Minimum Off Days |
| In-season | 4 | 20 | 1 / Week |
| Out-of-Season | 4 | Â 8* | 2 / Week |
| Vacation Period | Unlimited (In-Season Only) | 1 / Week | |
* In football: A maximum of 2Â hours per week may be spent on film review and walk-throughs
* In sports other than football: A maximum of 4 hours per week may be spent on skill instruction
Policies & Procedures:
- Annual Calendar Declaration
- On an annual basis, each sport is required to submit a calendar declaration that includes in- and out-of-season segments and regular days off (e.g. 20-hour/1-day off, 8-hour/2-days off), the additional fourteen (14) additional days off, the required seven (7) discretionary period at end of championship segment and a competition schedule.
- This declaration must be reviewed and approved by each sport's SAAC representatives.
- Monthly TMP Submissions
- Sports are required to submit a Monthly Time Management Plan (TMP) calendar in Teamworks prior to the of preseason practice, or the day prior to the start of the fall term (whichever is earlier), and by the 25th day of the month prior thereafter.
- Each monthly submission must include required days off, specific practice and conditioning times/activities, including CARA and RARA.
- Upon submission, student-athletes and support staff will be notified that the monthly TMP is available to view on Teamworks.
- Changes/Notifications
- A minimum of 24-hour notice should be provided for any change. All parties should be notified via Teamworks of any changes in times or locations of required activities, changes in previously declared days off, or any additional student obligations.
- For change requests within 24 hours of the required activity or changes to required days off, sports are encouraged to contact the sport administrator and SAAC representatives to discuss proposed changes.
- Weekly CARA Logs
- Sports are required to submit Countable Athletics Related Activity (CARA) Logs seven (7) calendar days following the conclusion of the previous week.
- A notification will be sent to all student-athletes to review via Teamworks, ensure any changes/omissions are reflected and provide any additional feedback to the Compliance Office anonymously.
Additional Notes & Reminders:
- A day off is required each week during in-season vacation and preseason periods, however daily/weekly CARA hour limits do not apply
- The following activities are not permissible on a day off: compliance meetings, organized team promotional activities, recruiting activities and student host duties, media activities, fundraising events, required community service events, team-building activities, and travel days
- Travel days may not be used as off days (exception for return to campus between midnight and 5 am if no CARA occurs for a continuous 24-hour period)
- Days during an extended road trip may not be used as a required day off, even if no CARA or RARA occur on a given day
- A sport is not required to provide a day off during a week in which an SEC or NCAA Championship event takes place.
- Student-athletes must be provided an additional 14 days off per academic year in addition to the required days off outlined above.
- A competition day is considered three (3) hours of activity regardless of the actual duration of the event (this includes pre-game warm-ups, shoot-around, etc.). No countable activities may take place after a competition.
- Required Athletically Related Activities (RARA) (e.g., compliance meetings, recruiting activities, media activities, etc.) do not count toward the hour limitations displayed above, but may not be required on a student-athlete's day off.
- Voluntary Athletically Related Activities (VARA) do not count toward the limitations displayed above. However, any activity at which a coach is present must count against daily and weekly hour limits (other than meetings initiated by student-athletes during which no other countable activities occur). Academic and medical meetings do not count against daily and weekly limits.
Bylaw 17 Resources:
- NCAA Figure 17-1 (Maximum Number of Contests and Dates of Competition for Each Sport)
- NCAA Figure 17-2 (First Practice, Contest or Date of Competition, and End-of-Season Dates)
- NCAA Division I Championship Dates & Sites
For a copy of your playing season declaration or for more information on athletics activities, contact Bill Timpano at timpano@utk.edu or (865) 974-3822
COMPLIMENTARY ADMISSIONS
As a Tennessee student-athlete, you may receive up to four (4) complimentary admissions for each home contest in your sport (if ticketed). Away-from-home contest complimentary admission availability varies by sport and event. Complimentary admissions, which may be provided only through a pass list, may be assigned to your family members, relatives and friends. You may assign your complimentary admissions through the player-guest ticket system subject to submission deadlines communicated by the Ticket Office and your coaching staff.
You may not receive payment from any source for your complimentary admissions nor may you exchange your tickets for any item of value. The same restrictions apply to individuals assigned to receive your complimentary admissions. The sale or exchange of complimentary admissions will result in a violation of NCAA legislation and jeopardize your intercollegiate athletics eligibility.
For more information, contact Tayloe Locke at tlocke@utk.edu or (865) 974-2908
EMPLOYMENT
The Compliance Office is required to maintain written records of all student-athlete employment activities in order to ensure compliance with NCAA regulations. Athletics Department staff members are permitted to arrange employment for student-athletes. However, all employment arrangements must be pre-approved by the Compliance Office. Please see the NCAA regulations below pertaining to the different types of student-athlete employment.
General Employment
For general employment that is not athletically-related, student-athletes must submit the Student-Athlete Employment Form on Teamworks and are subject to the following regulations:
- May not be hired based on your athletics ability
- May be compensated only for work actually performed at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for similar services
- Transportation to work or any other benefits (e.g., meals) from the student-athlete's employer may not be provided unless the benefit is provided for all other employees
Fee-for-Lesson Instruction
A student-athlete may receive compensation for teaching or coaching sports skills or techniques in his or her sport on a fee-for-lesson basis, subject to the conditions below. Student-athletes must submit the Student-Athlete Fee-For-Lesson Form on Teamworks for this type of employment.
- All of the general employment regulations listed above are met
- University of Tennessee facilities may not be used
- Actual lessons must be provided (to be compensated to simply "play" against the individual is not permissible)
- Payment must be made by the lesson recipient (or the recipient's family) and not another individual or entity
Non-Institutional Camps/Clinics
Student-athletes may work at University of Tennessee sports camps/clinics as well as non-institutional sports camps/clinics subject to the conditions below. Employment at UT sports camps/clinics will be reported by the team's coaching staff. Employment at non-institutional sports camps/clinics (e.g., any camp/clinic other than a UT camp/clinic) should be reported by student-athletes through completion of the Student-Athlete Non-Institutional Camp Employment Form on Teamworks.
- All of the general employment regulations listed above are met
- Student-athletes must perform actual duties in order to be paid for employment at a camp/clinic
- Student-athletes may not be paid solely for lecturing or demonstrating, and student-athletes may not conduct their own camps/clinics
For more information, contact Mallory Gardner Feigl at mgfeigl@utk.edu or (865) 974-2908Â
EXTRA BENEFITS
Student-athletes must be aware of limitations on the interactions they may have with individuals the NCAA identifies as a booster. The NCAA stipulates that once an individual has been identified as a "representative" of the University of Tennessee's athletics programs, he or she retains that status forever. Per NCAA regulations, student-athletes and their friends or relatives are prohibited from receiving "extra benefits" from individuals who have come to know them as a result of their achieved status, reputation or participation as an athlete. Specifically, discounted or special purchase, rate, payment arrangement or credit may not be accepted by a student-athlete unless it is unrelated to athletics (i.e., non-athletically-related group discount) and advertised to the general student body or public.
The following is a sample of extra benefits or services that are prohibited under NCAA legislation:
- Car or any use of a car or other transportation
- Clothing
- Haircut or other miscellaneous service
- Gift(s)
- Money, loan(s), a guarantee of bond or signing / co-signing of a note to arrange a loan
- Ticket(s) for any kind of entertainment
- Payment of long distance telephone calls
- Free or reduced-price merchandise from a merchant (unless it is available to the general public)
- Free or reduced-price meals at a restaurant
- Free or reduced room and/or board from a booster (This includes in Knoxville, your home city or any other location)
- Members of the athletic department staff (including tutors) may not type reports, papers, letters, etc.
- Special discounts, payment arrangements or credit on a purchase (e.g., airline tickets) or service (e.g., laundry, dry cleaning)
- Tattoos
- Cover charges at nightclubs
For more information, contact our office at utcompliance@utk.edu or (865) 974-3871
FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
Terms & Conditions of Athletics Aid Agreements:
- National Letter of Intent (NLI)
- Southeastern Conference Aid Agreement (PDF)
- University of Tennessee Athletics Aid Agreement (PDF)
Additional Resources:
For more information, visit One Stop Student Services or contact Tayloe Locke at tlocke@utk.edu or (865) 974-2908
OUTSIDE COMPETITION
Student-athletes must receive approval from the Compliance Office prior to participating in competition as a member of an outside sports team or as an individual via the submission of the Student-Athlete Outside Competition Form on Teamworks. Pending approval, student-athletes in all sports (except football) may compete in any non-collegiate, amateur competition during select time periods (e.g., summer break, official UT vacation periods when team is out-of-season). Per NCAA regulations, student-athletes may not participate as a member of an outside team during the academic year.
Receipt of prize money or training expenses from outside sources should be immediately reported to the coaching staff and the Compliance Office. The receipt of such expenses will not jeopardize the eligibility of a student-athlete, provided the source of the funding has been approved and he or she has taken action to provide documentation of actual and necessary expenses incurred to offset any expenses or prize money received.
The number of UT student-athletes on any one outside team shall not exceed the following NCAA limitations:
| Sport | Maximum UT Athletes/Team |
| Baseball | 4 |
| Basketball | 2 |
| Football | 0 |
| Golf | Unlimited |
| Rowing | Unlimited |
| Soccer | 5 |
| Softball | 4 |
| Swimming & Diving | Unlimited |
| Tennis | Unlimited |
| Track & Field/Cross Country | Unlimited |
| Volleyball | 2 |
For more information, contact Keenan Johns at kjohn268@utk.edu or (865) 946-3910
PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES
Student-athletes may participate in promotional activities, subject to the following conditions:
- A student-athlete's name, image or likeness may not be used to advertise or promote any commercial products, services, jobs or employers regardless of whether compensation is offered.
- A student-athlete may be involved in a promotional activity (e.g., half-court basketball shooting contest, involvement in a golfing money scramble) provided all members of the general public or student-body are eligible to participate and are selected at random.
- Charitable organizations often request assistance from student-athletes in fund-raising activities. Requests to participate in such activities are initiated in the Thornton Center.
- Student-athletes may not miss class to participate in promotional activities.
For more information, contact Mallory Gardner Feigl at mgfeigl@utk.edu or (865) 974-2908Â
SPORTS WAGERING
NCAA regulations prohibit student-athletes and staff members from wagering on any NCAA-sponsored sport. Impermissible sports wagering includes placing, accepting or soliciting a wager (on a staff member's or student-athlete's own behalf or on the behalf of others) of any type with any individual or organization on any intercollegiate, amateur or professional team or contest. Examples of sports wagering include, but are not limited to, the use of a bookmaker or parlay card; Internet sports wagering; auctions in which bids are placed on teams, individuals or contests; and pools or fantasy leagues in which an entry fee is required and there is an opportunity to win a prize. Click HERE for more information..
- You may NOT knowingly provide information to individuals involved in organized gambling activities concerning intercollegiate athletics competition.
- You may NOT solicit a bet on ANY intercollegiate team or on ANY professional team.
- You may NOT accept a bet on any team representing the University of Tennessee or participate in any gambling activity that involves intercollegiate athletics through a bookmaker, a parlay card or any other method employed by organized gambling.
Any violation of the above regulations will be sanctioned as follows:
- If the gambling activity involves the University of Tennessee, you will lose all remaining eligibility in all sports.
- If the gambling activity involves any other team aside from the University of Tennessee, you will be ineligible for a minimum of one year, at which time we may elect to seek reinstatement for you.
- Any subsequent violation will result in the loss of all remaining eligibility in all sports.
- Any student-athlete who engages in activity designed to influence the outcome of an intercollegiate contest (ie: point shaving), shall permanently lose all remaining eligibility in all sports.
For more information, contact our office at utcompliance@utk.edu or (865) 974-3871
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STUDENT ASSISTANCE FUND (SAF) REQUESTS
The NCAA Student Assistance Fund (SAF) is intended to assist student-athletes with special needs that are not covered by a scholarship. All student-athletes are eligible to receive SAF benefits. Student-athletes may request SAF benefits through completion of the SAF Request Form in Teamworks. Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
For more information, contact Tayloe Locke at tlocke@utk.edu or (865) 974-2908
RESOURCES & RULES EDUCATION
State of Tennessee - Athlete Agent RegistrationNCAA - Agents & Amateurism
NCAA - Basketball Agent Certification
Outgoing Transfer Student-Athlete Policy and Procedures
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Contact Compliance
