Student-Athlete Handbook

ATHLETIC FACILITIES

McGugin Center
The headquarters for Vanderbilt University Athletics is McGugin Center, located on Jess Neely Drive across from Vanderbilt Stadium and Hawkins Baseball Field. The 110,000-square-foot complex includes state-of-the-art training facilities, the Sports Medicine Center, the Stratton Foster Academic Center, two strength and conditioning weight rooms, locker rooms, the Hendrix Dining Room, and various meeting rooms in addition to all coaching and athletic administrative offices. The football, soccer, and track practice fields are located behind McGugin Center.

Vanderbilt Stadium/Dudley Field
The 41,000-seat Vanderbilt Stadium is built on the site where Vanderbilt has played football for over sixty years. A new playing surface that utilizes the latest technology in natural turf was placed on Dudley Field prior to the 1999 season.

Memorial Gymnasium
Memorial Gymnasium is the home of all men’s and women’s basketball games. Dedicated in 1952 as a “memorial” to all Vanderbilt men and women who served in World War II, this unique structure with an elevated court holds 14,168 spectators. Memorial Gym has undergone an extensive $24.1 million renovation, which includes additional practice facilities, making it one of the premier basketball venues in the country. The building also contains a wellness center, an auxiliary gym, dance studio, and a six-lane swimming pool. Memorial Gymnasium is located along 25th Avenue South next to Hawkins Field and Vanderbilt Stadium.

Hawkins Baseball Field
Located at the corner of Jess Neely Drive and 25th Avenue South, Hawkins Baseball Stadium seats 1,600 spectators. Hawkins Field is sandwiched between Vanderbilt Stadium and Memorial Gymnasium. The field measures from home plate 310 feet down the left field line, 375 feet to left center, 400 feet to center, 375 to right center, and 330 feet down the right field line. All home baseball games are played at Hawkins Field.

Brownlee O. Currey Tennis Center
The team tennis courts inside Vanderbilt Tennis Center are used for practice and competition and public rental. In addition, nine lighted outdoor courts next to the Vanderbilt Tennis Center are used for intercollegiate practice and competition and as a resource for the community. The Vanderbilt Tennis Center is located at the corner of Jess Neely Drive and 25th Avenue South.

Track Facilities
Vanderbilt offers a wealth of training facilities for its track and crosscountry teams. The Mondo surface covering the 400-meter, eight-lane track allows for fast times in training and competition. The track will once again be the site of the Commodore Classic this spring. Percy Warner Park, on the outskirts of Nashville, serves as the regular training ground for Vanderbilt’s cross-country teams.

Percy Warner Park and the adjacent Edwin Warner Park offer eleven miles of trails, with easy access for runners wanting to train off road. Vanderbilt annually hosts a Cross-Country Invitational on the Vaughn’s Creek course which offers an 8km race for men and a 5km race for women.

Golf Courses
The Legends Golf Course was recently acquired by Vanderbilt University and has become the primary home of the Commodore men’s and women’s golf teams. The Legends Club of Tennessee comprises two 18- hole courses. The Ironhorse Course plays at par 72 and is 7,190 yards in length; the Ropers Knob Course is a par 71 and is 7,100 yards in length. Both teams also practice and compete on the following area courses:
• Belle Meade Country Club 6,209 yds. par 72
• Hermitage Golf Course 6,215 yds. par 72
• Hillwood Country Club 6,794 yds. par 72
• Golf Club of Tennessee 7,000 yds. par 71
• Greystone Golf Club 7,200 yds. par 72
• Nashboro Village 6,887 yds. par 72
• Nashville Golf and Athletic Club 7,477 yds. par 72
• Old Natchez Country Club 6,900 yds. par 72
• Richland Country Club 6,900 yds. par 72
• Springhouse Golf Club at the Opryland Hotel 7,100 yds. par 72

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Amateurism
Only an amateur student-athlete is eligible for intercollegiate athletic participation in a particular sport. Always contact your Head Coach and the Compliance Office before participating in athletic competition outside your sport.

The following are NCAA guidelines for maintaining amateur status.

Student-athletes cannot
• permit the use of their name or picture to advertise, recommend, or promote directly the sale or use of a commercial product or service of any kind;
• accept benefits such as gifts, meals, loans of cars or money, discounts on airplane tickets, clothing, dry cleaning, credit cards, use of a phone, movies, theatre, or professional sporting events, as offered by athletic interest groups (e.g., alumni or booster organizations) or anyone within the athletic program of the University;
• be represented by an agent or organization for the purpose of marketing their athletic ability or reputation in that sport;
• receive any benefit that is not available to other students, their relatives, or friends;
• participate in a non-NCAA-sanctioned summer sports league;
• accept payment, or promise of payment (e.g., in cash prizes, gifts, or travel) for intercollegiate athletics participation;
• request to be placed on the draft list of a professional league or try out with a professional team or permit the professional team to conduct medical exams during any part of the academic year (including vacation) unless eligibility has been exhausted;
• play on any professional athletics team;
• have athletically related financial aid determined by anyone other than the University; or
• participate on teams other than those of Vanderbilt during the season (this includes exhibition or tournament games).

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Institutional Financial Aid and Athletic Scholarships
For student-athletes who need financial assistance, three forms of aid are available: scholarships (including athletic scholarships), loans, and jobs. Awards are made on the basis of ability and promise, with the amount of the award varying according to the financial needs of the students and their families. The amount of annual aid will be determined by a new evaluation of need, recalculated each year on the basis of updated financial information. The proportion of scholarship to loan generally is determined by each student’s academic record. The University attempts to fill the gap between the cost of attending Vanderbilt and what students and their families can reasonably expect to contribute. Student-athletes receiving an athletic scholarship need to consult with their coach before receiving institutional need-based aid. This aid will count against team financial aid limitations.

An athletic scholarship can be a full or a partial scholarship. A full scholarship includes tuition, fees, books, room, and board. Football, Women’s Tennis, and Men’s and Women’s Basketball are considered “head count sports” for the reason that these student-athletes receive full scholarships. Vanderbilt’s other sports are called “equivalency sports” because the majority of these student-athletes receive partial scholarships. Per NCAA rules, student-athletes receiving athletic scholarships shall be awarded this aid for one academic year. Before July 1, student-athletes will receive a letter from the Office of Financial Aid notifying them that their athletic aid will be renewed, non-renewed, or reduced for the following academic year. If athletic aid is not renewed or is reduced, the student-athlete may request a hearing through the Office of Financial Aid. Through this hearing, the final decision to renew, reduce, or suspend a scholarship will be made.

NCAA Rule 15.3.3.1 One-Year Limit. Where a student’s athletics ability is taken into consideration in any degree in awarding financial aid, such aid shall not be awarded in excess of one academic year.

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MEDICAL CARE

Physical Examinations
Every freshman student-athlete is required to have an incoming physical examination conducted by the Sports Medicine Center. Each subsequent year, student-athletes will fill out a health questionnaire that will update their health file. In addition, all student-athletes will receive a follow-up physical exam every other year throughout their career. Exit physicals will be performed when student-athletes have completed their eligibility.

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Medical/Athletic Training Room Policies

I. INSURANCE
A. Since not all illnesses and injuries are financially covered by Vanderbilt University, ALL STUDENT- ATHLETES must be covered under a private health insurance policy or purchase student health insurance through Vanderbilt University.
B. According to NCAA regulations, Vanderbilt University may help pay for only those “Permissible Medical Expenses” which are most often the direct result of participation in organized conditioning, practice, competition, or sanctioned team travel in the student-athlete’s designated sport. If a student-athlete becomes injured or ill under these circumstances, a claim will be filed with the studentathlete’s personal insurance policy. Deductible costs or rejected claims for sport-related injuries or illnesses will be covered by the University during the period that the student is enrolled.
C. Any injury or illness that is a “Non-Permissible Medical Expense” will be the financial responsibility of the student-athlete and his/her family.

I I. MEDICAL CONSULTATIONS
A. All medical consultations must be arranged by a team physician or by a member of the athletic training staff.
B. Routine dental and optical services are your responsibility.

I I I. TRAINING ROOM RULES
A. The training room is off limits to spit cups and the use of smokeless tobacco.
B. Food and drinks are not allowed in the training room.
C. Please ask a staff Athletic Trainer before taking anything from the training room.
D. The training room is a co-ed facility. Please dress and act appropriately. Student-athletes who are unable to act appropriately will be asked to leave the training room.
E. No steel or molded cleats are to be worn in the training room.
F. All student-athletes must wear a T-shirt and shorts when receiving treatment. The wearing of workout tights while receiving treatment is discouraged.
G. Please shower before receiving treatment.
H. The training room offices and phones are off limits to athletes unless accompanied by a staff Athletic Trainer.

IV. INJURIES AND ILLNESSES (PRE-SEASON AND REGULAR SEASON)
A. All injuries and illnesses are to be reported to a staff Certified Athletic Trainer as soon as they occur. The athletic training staff will refer you to the team physician as necessary.
B. Injuries and illnesses can appear during the night. If this happens you must be seen in the training room by 7:30 a.m. the following morning. If an emergency occurs, call the Vanderbilt Sports Medicine Center at 322-7878. They answer the phone 24 hours a day and will page one of the staff trainers.
C. If you are injured and unable to practice, you are required to report to the training room by 7:30 a.m. An injury report must be submitted by 8:00 a.m. NO EXCUSES!

V. MEDICATIONS
A. Never take a prescription medication that was prescribed for a teammate, another student-athlete, or any other individual.
B. If you feel you have a need for a medication, whether over-thecounter or prescription, contact a member of the athletic training staff. Only the team physicians can decide when medications are necessary and will administer medications when appropriate.
C. Notify the athletic training staff of all medications that you are currently taking, who prescribed it, and for what condition. Training Room Hours and Phone Numbers

HOURS

In Season:
Monday–Thursday ...............................7:30 a.m.–Finished
Friday....................................................8:30 a.m.–Finished
Saturday ...............................................By Appointment
Sunday..................................................By Appointment
Off-Season:
Monday–Friday ....................................9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday..................................By Appointment
Summer:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday ....12:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Wednesday ...........................................9:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m.

PHONE NUMBERS
Sports Medicine Center (24 hrs/day) .....322-7878
Memorial Training Room .......................322-8032
McGugin Training Room:
Tom Bossung........................................322-4119 hm-356-1902
Ann Caslin ...........................................343-7763 hm-352-9141
Kris Mack..............................................343-2593 hm-373-0600
Mollie Malone......................................343-7762 hm-269-5897
Rod Newman .......................................322-8003 hm-353-1465

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Policy on University Responsibility to Injured Athletes
Students who participate in intercollegiate athletics assume certain inherent risks of injury arising out of their participation. In the event of the occurrence of such injuries, the University will endeavor to provide the appropriate medical diagnosis, treatment, and care for its studentathletes. However, the providing of such medical services by the University is not without limitations, nor does the University wish to either expressly state or imply that it has responsibility to provide continuing medical services indefinitely.

University Obligations
When a student-athlete is injured during practice, competition, or under University-sponsored travel to or from competition under University Men’s or Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Department auspices, the University will provide the following assistance to the injured student. For the purposes of this policy, the “University-sanctioned activity” includes all practices on University facilities of which the coach knows or should have known, and any events to which the athlete travels with University support or financial assistance.

A. Student athletic financial assistance in an amount of no less than that which the athlete was receiving at the time of the injury will be continued until the student reaches his or her baccalaureate degree or through the fifth year of enrollment, whichever comes first.

B. Approved medical costs associated with the injury will be submitted to the student-athlete’s personal insurance policy. Deductible costs or rejected claims will be covered by the University during the period the student is enrolled, as well as summers and breaks between semesters. The University reserves the right to determine the necessity and reasonableness of any particular treatment of an injury.

C. In the event a student suffers a disabling injury that prevents the student-athlete from continuing his/her academic pursuits, the University will provide disability payments for a time and amount specified in the current contract of insurance provided for this purpose by the University.

The term “disabling injury” shall include coma, spinal injury resulting in paralysis, total or partial loss or use of an extremity, and brain injury or that definition for such injury as may be set forth in the contract of insurance provided for these purposes.

Limitations
The University’s obligations to the student-athlete are subject to the following limitations:

A. Student-athletes who sustain an injury or have a diagnosed illness prior to enrollment at the University must so notify their University coach and athletic trainer. Without such notification, subsequent re-injury or exacerbation of the illness will not entitle the student to the benefits described in Part I of the Medical/ Athletic Training Room Policies.

B. If appropriate University medical staff certify that an injured athlete has recovered sufficiently to reasonably permit him/her to compete, and that student-athlete nonetheless voluntarily chooses not to participate in athletics, the obligation of the University to provide medical care and financial aid is simultaneously terminated.

C. All treatment of injuries must be authorized or administered by the University. Any outside treatment obtained by an injured athlete without University authorization will not create entitlement to reimbursement from the University.

D. An athlete injured in events or competition not conducted or sanctioned by the men’s or women’s Intercollegiate Athletics programs of the University is not eligible for continued assistance.

E. Subject to the provisions of the prevailing play or practice accident insurance policy, an injured athlete who withdraws or graduates from the University is not eligible for continued assistance.

F. Financial aid to an injured student-athlete will be terminated upon completion of a baccalaureate degree or fifth year enrollment. Continuation of medical care and disability payment will be subject to the terms and conditions of the policy or policies of play/practice insurance existing at the time of the student’s injury. Any extension of medical or disability benefits beyond those provisions contained in play/practice insurance policy shall not be on merit and needs to be solely at the discretion of the University without any obligation to provide the same.

This policy shall be used to determine the limit of entitlement benefits available to student-athletes injured as a result of their participation in the University’s Intercollegiate Athletics Program.

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Substance Abuse Program
The Athletic Department of Vanderbilt University recognizes that drug and alcohol abuse is a significant problem in modern society. Specifically, the misuse or abuse of prescription drugs, non-medically indicated drugs, street drugs, and alcohol have a negative effect on the performance of student-athletes, both in the classroom and in sports, and will not be permitted at Vanderbilt University. Therefore, the Athletic Department, in conjunction with the Medical Center, has established a drug and alcohol abuse prevention and screening program in order to allow its student-athletes to progress toward their athletic and academic goals in a drug-free environment.

The objectives of the Sports Medicine Center in the Athletic Department are:
• to educate the student-athlete concerning the physical, psychological, and social effects of drug and alcohol abuse;
• to identify through periodic testing those student-athletes who may be involved in drug or alcohol abuse;
• to provide a comprehensive counseling and rehabilitation program.

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Drug Education
All student-athletes will be required to attend a general educational session within two weeks of arrival on campus each year. This session will include a discussion of the testing programs at Vanderbilt University and the consequences of positive testing. In addition, a discussion of state and federal laws regarding possession and use of alcohol and drugs, particularly as they relate to university campuses, will be presented.

Subsequent programs during the sports seasons will be presented on a team by team basis. These programs will include discussion of the reasons people use drugs, those individuals who are at risk, and some of the physiological and psychological dangers associated with different types of drug abuse.

A session for coaches and trainers will be held on a yearly basis to help them develop skills for identifying suspicious behaviors and signs of drug use or abuse. Examples of these are poor or erratic athletic performance, inappropriate hostility, poor academic performance, and inappropriate social interactions.

Other programs may be presented as the need arises or as special speakers become available.

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Drug Testing
Drug testing will be performed on all Vanderbilt student-athletes on a random, mandatory basis. Testing may also be performed “for cause” at the discretion of the Director of Sports Medicine and in consultation with coaches, trainers, and academic advisors. Several student-athletes will be selected every two weeks using a random lottery system from the rosters of all athletics teams at the University, in or out of season. These student-athletes will be required to provide a urine sample, approximately 100ml, under the strict supervision of personnel selected by the Director of Sports Medicine. The student-athlete may have a witness accompany him or her to the testing to certify identification and to monitor the proceedings. Each specimen will be divided into two samples, which will be sealed under the observation of the studentathlete and witness. The student-athlete will be assigned a personal code number from a list provided which will be recorded on the studentathlete’s signature form and on the test bottles.

One part of the sample will be analyzed for presence of drugs banned by NCAA Proposition #30 and may include
• psychomotor and central nervous system stimulants
• psychomimetic amines
• anabolic steroids
• diuretics
• street drugs
• other drugs at the discretion of the Director of Sports Medicine

All positive tests will be reported to the Director of Sports Medicine who will contact the student-athlete involved and notify the Director of Athletics and the Head Coach. The second specimen will then be tested using gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy techniques for confirmation.

Refusal to participate in the drug testing procedures will be treated as a positive test.

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Consequences of Positive Testing
The primary purpose of the consequences specified below is rehabilitation of the student-athlete. However, any positive test may constitute a violation of the University’s Student Conduct Code and that studentathlete may be subject to disciplinary action under the University’s Judicial System.

FIRST OFFENSE
1) The athlete’s parent(s) or guardian(s) are notified by the Head Coach and Director of Athletics. The Head Coach will provide copies of documentation of this conversation to the Director of Athletics.
2) The Dean or Associate Dean of Residential and Judicial Affairs will be notified of a positive drug test by the Director of Athletics or his/her designee.
3) The athlete must attend mandatory evaluation and counseling sessions under the supervision of a substance abuse counselor at the Student Health Center. The counselor will report attendance to the Dean of Residential and Judicial Affairs and Director of Sports Medicine.
4) The athlete is tested weekly during counseling and randomly thereafter for the remainder of the academic year.
5) The Head Coach will take appropriate team disciplinary action.

SECOND OFFENSE
1) The athlete’s parent(s) or guardian(s) are notified.
2) The athlete receives mandatory assessment and counseling by the Student Health Center. (Consultation with VITA or other specialized substance abuse units is obtained, as indicated by the counseling services.)
3) Follow-up drug testing is done on a case-by-case basis.
4) The student-athlete is suspended from any participation in intercollegiate athletics for a minimum of one (1) calendar year. Reinstatement to full athletic participation is contingent upon completion of the recommended rehabilitation program.

THIRD OFFENSE
1) The athlete’s parent(s) or guardian(s) are notified.
2) The athlete is permanently suspended from all athletic participation and loses all athletic financial aid at the completion of that academic semester.

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Policy Statement Regarding Performance Supplements
Only those nutritional performance supplements that are reviewed, evaluated, and approved by the Vanderbilt Sports Medicine staff will be considered for monitored distribution to selected student-athletes. Furthermore, student-athletes identified as recipients of a specific nutritional performance supplement must attend an educational seminar prior to receiving that supplement. Specific educational seminars will be arranged by the Vanderbilt Sports Medicine staff and the Vanderbilt Strength and Conditioning staff.

Student-athletes are discouraged from purchasing, accepting, or obtaining for self-use any nutritional performance supplement that has not been reviewed, evaluated, and approved by the Vanderbilt Sports Medicine staff. Student-athletes are also discouraged from self-administering quantities of nutritional performance supplements that are in excess of the quantity distributed by the Strength and Conditioning staff.

Since many types of supplementation are readily available (e.g., exercise, fitness, and body building magazines), student-athletes are encouraged to present all questions and concerns to one of the Athletic Trainers or Strength and Conditioning Coaches for review.

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Strength and Conditioning
To become a successful student-athlete, you must reach and maintain your optimal physical condition, which will help prevent injuries, increase athletic potential, and build confidence and discipline. The Department of Athletics has provided you with two fully staffed weight rooms to help you achieve the best physical condition. Facilities are located in the McGugin Center and offer individualized, computerized workouts.

Although equal in quality, the weight rooms are different in their rules, equipment, and hours of operation. Individual and team workouts are to be made by appointment. Once a workout is scheduled, it becomes mandatory to attend. Rules and consequences for tardiness and absences will be administered on a team-by-team basis.

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Commodore Weight Room Rules and Regulations
Use of the Strength and Conditioning facilities is a privilege not a right. Failure to comply with any of the following rules may result in the loss of weight room privileges.

1) Use of the Vanderbilt athletic weight rooms is restricted to the following — No Exceptions:
• current varsity intercollegiate athletes — peak hours are limited to current varsity athlete use only!
• ex-varsity intercollegiate athletes currently enrolled in school
• Athletic Department coaches and support staff

Any others must be pre-arranged and approved by the Strength and Conditioning staff.
2) Attire — Proper weight-lifting attire is required at all times (tennis shoes, shorts, shirts, tights, or sweats). No street clothes, jeans, jean or dress shorts, sandals, thongs, or attire with team logos other than Vanderbilt’s!
3) Replace all weights when finished with each exercise.
4) No food or drink is allowed, except water bottles. No tobacco of any kind is allowed.
5) Always use spotters when lifting.
6) No horseplay in weight room for any reason (includes running, wrestling, throwing or bouncing balls).
7) Report any injuries, no matter how seemingly insignificant, to the Strength staff.
8) Respect other athletes. Do not monopolize equipment—share. Do not swear or argue.
9) Do not change stereo station or volume without prior permission of Strength staff.
10) Report all damaged or broken equipment immediately.
11) Weight room offices and phones are off limits to athletes, unless accompanied by Weight Room staff.

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STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING STAFF
Head Coach John Sisk
Assistant Coach Lori Alexander
Assistant Coach Mark Davis
Assistant Coach John Moore

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Team Travel
It is imperative that your professors be kept informed of your travel schedule well in advance. The Academic staff enables you to do this in two ways.

First, your coach will give you a memorandum from the Director of Academic Affairs in Athletics for you to personally deliver to each of your professors during the first week of class each semester. This notice will include all days you are tentatively scheduled to miss class for that semester due to athletic competition. Therefore, if major conflicts are detected, they can usually be alleviated during the drop/add period. However, it is your responsibility to make sure each of your professors has been given a copy of this letter. If you did not receive this memo from your coach by the second day of classes each semester, see your Athletic Academic Counselor immediately.

Second, as each travel date approaches, you will receive an additional travel letter that will give your professors a reminder of your upcoming excused absence. You will receive this letter from your coach, and you are responsible for making sure it is given to your professors by the class period before the one(s) you will be missing. As with the earlier memorandum, if you do not receive this letter from your coach, see your Athletic Academic Counselor promptly. Even if a professor does not have an announced or stated attendance policy, you MUST inform each professor of your impending travel. Providing this letter is both good public relations and helps prevent “zeroes” in the event unannounced in-class work occurs while you are traveling. “After the fact” travel letters to prove that you were representing the University are problems for YOU, the professor, and VU Athletic Department staff. Therefore, always submit your letter before traveling.

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Equipment/Locker Rooms
Clothing and equipment are issued through the windows of the equipment rooms. Each student-athlete is assigned a locker and is expected to keep it free of trash and food. Lockers are equipped with combination locks; personal locks are not allowed. Always keep valuables secure inside the locker.

Equipment and clothing are always handed out by the staff. No one is allowed in the equipment room without supervision by the staff. Hours of the equipment room vary with each season and the needs of the student- athletes.

Football players with damaged equipment are to report to the equipment manager for repair or replacement of the equipment. Do not attempt to repair the damaged equipment yourself. If you are moved to a different position, notify the equipment manager of the change as soon as possible. The new position might require different equipment such as a face mask or shoulder pads.

Students “walking on” teams must be approved before they are issued a locker. Also, because the NCAA limits its member schools to eighty-five football jersey numbers, the coaches decide which football walk-ons are issued jersey numbers by the equipment room to maintain the limit of eighty-five.

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Complimentary Admission to Sporting Events
Complimentary admissions are distributed to student-athletes in accordance with NCAA rules and regulations. Under NCAA guidelines, student- athletes are not allowed hard tickets. However, student-athletes, including walk-ons, may receive four complimentary admissions for each game in their respective sport. For football and basketball, three of the complimentary admissions may be received only by family members, relatives, and students from any four-year university or college. The fourth complimentary admission is a wildcard and can be used by anyone designated by the student-athlete. For future revenue sports that charge admission, all four complimentary admissions may transfer to a teammate. However, under SEC regulations for football and basketball, only one wildcard is allowed per student-athlete per event.

All admissions will be issued via a pass list, and all guests will be required to identify themselves by showing either a driver’s license or a current student identification card to be admitted to the athletic competition.

Student-athletes playing football must submit proper information requesting complimentary admissions no later then the Tuesday prior to the next game day. Student-athletes playing basketball and baseball have no later than 12:00 noon the day before a game to request complimentary admissions.

Prior to the start of each season, every sport is informed as a team of the policies and procedures for complimentary admissions. Each studentathlete is required to complete a master list of potential admissions before the season starts. Forms will be mailed to their parents in August.

All student-athletes that wish to attend football and men’s and women’s basketball games must get their tickets the same way the general student population acquires their game tickets. The student ticket policy is distributed to the student population prior to the start of the football and basketball seasons.

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Non-Scholarship Student-Athletes
The University extends to all non-scholarship student-athletes (recruited or non-recruited) the same benefits as those for scholarship studentathletes (excluding grant-in-aid awards). Once certified as eligible to participate, a student-athlete receives the following benefits:
• academic counseling (e.g., tutoring and career opportunities)
• training room treatment for athletically related injuries
• use of strength and conditioning facilities
• referrals for vacation and permanent employment
• team travel and equipment use
• athletic letter awards

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Hosting a Prospective Student-Athlete
When a prospective student-athlete visits Vanderbilt, 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, you may receive $30 for each day you host a prospective student-athlete. This is to cover all actual costs of entertaining the prospect, the prospect’s parents, legal guardians, or spouse. These funds cannot be used to buy tangible items such as souvenirs, T-shirts, or other mementos. Additionally, no cash may be given to the visiting prospect or anyone else. If you entertain more than one prospective student-athlete, you may receive an additional $15 for each prospect.

You may not use vehicles provided or arranged for by any coach, staff member, or supporter of the University. In the event you transport the prospect, you must stay within a thirty-mile radius of the campus (for example, driving to Churchill Downs would violate the rule).

You will be asked, by the recruiting coordinator or your coach, to sign a form stating that you received expense money and/or complimentary tickets. At this time, the rules for hosting a prospective student-athlete are being reviewed.

If you receive complimentary admissions to an athletic event on campus, you may accompany the prospective student-athlete to that event during the prospect’s visit to campus. Admission to games will be through the “NCAA Pass Gate” for prospects and parents of studentathletes.

The host for a prospective student-athlete is selected by the recruiting coach (head or assistant) or an assistant coach in conjunction with the head coach.

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