SF0053

Requires high school students representing Wyoming schools in sanctioned sports to maintain amateur status and specifies activities that forfeit or preserve that status.

• Establishes that students participating in Wyoming high school activities association-sanctioned sports must maintain amateur status. (W.S. 21-25-401(a))
• Students forfeit amateur status by competing for or accepting money, monetary compensation, or awards exceeding amounts approved by the Wyoming high school activities association for that sport or activity. (W.S. 21-25-401(b)(i), W.S. 21-25-401(b)(ii))
• Students forfeit amateur status by capitalizing on athletic fame or using their name, image, or likeness to receive money, gifts, merchandise, or other consideration related to competing in their sport or activity. (W.S. 21-25-401(b)(iii))
• Students forfeit amateur status by signing a professional playing contract, though signing letters of intent to colleges is permitted if no compensation is received while participating in high school sports. (W.S. 21-25-401(b)(iv))
• Students may accept money or compensation from family members to encourage participation in their sport or activity without forfeiting amateur status. (W.S. 21-25-401(c)(i))
• Students may accept compensation for time spent in non-sanctioned competitions, camps, or events up to amounts specified by the Wyoming high school activities association, provided they declare in writing that they will not accept prize money contingent on performance or finish. (W.S. 21-25-401(c)(ii))
• Students may accept necessary meals, lodging, and transportation for competitions; nominal fees for instructing or officiating youth sports; school-sponsored memberships or fees paid directly to programs; awards not exceeding association-approved amounts; and awards from Olympic and junior national teams. (W.S. 21-25-401(c)(iii), W.S. 21-25-401(c)(iv), W.S. 21-25-401(c)(v), W.S. 21-25-401(c)(vi), W.S. 21-25-401(c)(vii))
• Students may accept funds from the United States Olympic Committee's Operation Gold program and participate in school or charitable fundraising activities using athletic ability without compensation or performance-based prizes.