Official Interpretation of Food Rule

By Jeanne Acton | Wednesday, July 28, 2010 11:15 AM

Official Interpretation of the UIL Athletic Amateur Rule, section 441 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules:

(a) VALUABLE CONSIDERATION SCHOOL TEAMS AND ATHLETES MAY ACCEPT:

1. Pre-Season. School athletic teams may be given pre-season meals, if approved by the school.
2. Post-Season. School athletic teams may be given post-season meals if approved by the school. Banquet favors or gifts are considered valuable consideration and are subject to the Awards and Amateur Rules if they are given to a student athlete at any time.
3. Other. If approved by the school, school athletic teams and athletes may be invited to and may attend functions where free admission is offered, or where refreshments and/or meals are served. Athletes or athletic teams may be recognized at these functions, but may not accept anything, other than food items, that is not given to all other students.

(b) ADDITIONAL VALUABLE CONSIDERATION THAT SCHOOL TEAMS AND ATHLETES MAY ACCEPT

Examples of additional items deemed allowable under this interpretation if approved by the school, include but are not limited to:

1. meals, snacks or snack foods during or after practices;
2. parties provided by parents or other students strictly for an athletic team

Local school district superintendents continue to have the discretion to allow student athletes to accept small "goodie bags" that contain candy, cookies or other items that have no intrinsic value and are not considered valuable consideration.