The definition may be vague, but the definition is extremely important.  Since 2008, over 75 secondary violations and 28 major violations have been self-reported by member institutions to the NCAA involving the receipt of an extra benefit by a student-athlete or the student-athlete's relatives or friends. 

NCAA Bylaw 16.02.3

An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of the institution's athletics interests to provide a student-athlete or the student-athlete's relative or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation.  Receipt of a benefit by student-athletes or their relatives or friends is not a violation of NCAA legislation if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution's students or their relatives or friends or to a particular segment of the student body determined on a basis unrelated to athletics ability.

NCAA Bylaw 16.01.4

Receipt by a student-athlete of an award, benefit or expense allowance not authorized by NCAA legislation renders the student-athlete ineligible to compete while representing the institution in the sport for which the improper award, benefit or expense was received. If the student-athlete receives an extra benefit not authorized by NCAA legislation or an improper award or expense allowance in conjunction with competition that involves the use of overall athletics skill (e.g., "superstars" competition), the individual is ineligible in all sports.

Coaches, Staff, and Booster should be aware of the following nonexhaustive list of impermissible benefits to student-athletes:

1.      A student-athlete cannot accept anything from an employee of UW-Green Bay or a Green Bay athletics booster (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 any Green Bay employee or booster of Green Bay's athletic programs. This includes in Green Bay, 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 any Green Bay employee or booster of Green Bay's athletic programs.

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.      On infrequent, special occasions (e.g., a birthday, Thanksgiving, etc.), a student-athlete may accept an invitation from an employee of Green Bay or an athletic booster for a meal. Meals provided by Green Bay employees may take place at any location, while meals provided by boosters are limited to that booster's home.

6.      A student-athlete cannot use a Department of Athletics copy machine, fax machine or make long distance phone calls using departmental equipment or the long distance access code of an employee of Green Bay or an athletic booster, except as permitted by NCAA rules.

7.      Members of the Department of Athletics staff or an athletic booster are not permitted to type reports, papers, letters, etc., for a student-athlete.

8.      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 an employee of Green Bay or an athletic booster.

9.      A Green Bay employee or a booster 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.

10.  A student-athlete is now permitted to accept frequent flier miles awarded in conjunction with institutionally funded air travel. However, miles may not be gained through institutionally funded non-flight activities, such as hotel stays.

11.  A Green Bay employee may provide a student-athlete only reasonable and occasional local (i.e., within a 30-mile radius of the Green Bay campus) transportation. However, a Green Bay employee may not utilize a University vehicle for purposes of assisting a student-athlete's move from one residence to another.