The Green Mountain College (GMC) Eagles are certainly very grateful for the support of our Eagle Athletic Association (EAA) members and other boosters.  EAA members often have questions about NCAA rules and what these rules permit members to do. The following is a summary of what is permitted and some examples of frequent problem areas.  For more information, please refer to the NCAA Manual Here.

The NCAA defines an extra benefit as any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of the institution's athletics interest (booster) to provide a student-athlete (or a student-athlete's relative or friend) a benefit that is not generally available to other GMC students and their relative and/or friends or, is not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Therefore, please be aware of the following:

1. A student athlete cannot accept anything from an employee of GMC or an EAA member (e.g., use of a car, clothing, gifts, money, tickets for any kind of entertainment, payment of long distance telephone calls).

2. A student athlete cannot accept free or reduced cost room and/or board from a GMC employee or an EAA member.  This includes in Vermont, in the student athlete's home city or any other location. This would preclude a student-athlete from "house sitting" without paying rental costs at a comparable rate for similar housing in that locale.

3. A student athlete may not accept free or reduced cost storage room for personal belongings for the summer months from a GMC employee or an EAA member.

4. A student athlete cannot accept free or reduced merchandise or services from any merchant unless that free or reduced cost item is also available to the general public.

5. A student-athlete cannot eat at a restaurant as the guest of a GMC employee or an EAA member.

6. On infrequent, special occasions (e.g., a birthday, Thanksgiving, etc.), a student athlete may accept an invitation to the home of a GMC employee or an EAA member for a meal.

7. A student athlete cannot use an Athletics Department copy machine, fax machine or make long distance phone calls using departmental equipment or the long distance access code of a GMC employee or an EAA member.

8. Members of the Athletic Department staff or an EAA member are not permitted to type reports, papers, letters, etc., for a student athlete.

9. A student athlete cannot receive a special discount, payment arrangement or credit on a purchase (e.g., airline ticket, clothing), or service (e.g., laundry, dry cleaning) from a GMC employee or an EAA member.

10. A GMC employee or an EAA member cannot provide a student athlete with a loan of money, a guarantee of bond, the use of an automobile or the signing or co-signing of a note to arrange a loan.

11. A student athlete may not accept frequent traveler miles for trips that are financed by the Athletic Department.

12. A GMC employee may provide a student-athlete only reasonable and occasional local transportation. However, a GMC employee may not utilize a College vehicle for purposes of assisting a student athlete's move from one residence to another.

The acceptance by a student athlete of any of the above extra benefits is a violation of NCAA regulations and places the student athlete's eligibility for intercollegiate competition in immediate jeopardy. It is extremely important for both EAA members and Green Mountain College employees to know and abide by all NCAA regulations. If you have any questions regarding NCAA regulations, please ask the Athletic Director before doing something that may jeopardize a student athlete's eligibility to participate in intercollegiate athletics.