NCAA HC asks everyone on the team to donate money to an upcoming fund raising event. Wondering if anyone has experienced this or knows if it is allowed under NCAA regulations? Sounds at a minimum inappropriate but not sure how to find out if it crosses any designated line. Thoughts?
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Not much info....but seems a little strange. If my son's HC asked him to donate, I'm guessing my son would say "I don't have any" 
Exactly! These kids have no $ to begin with. Here's a little more context: The school has an annual athletics fundraising event. After practice, HC told all players to come to practice with $20 tomorrow that he expected them to donate to the event. I found out for exactly the reason you mentioned, junior texted and said he needed me to put money on his card because he currently had a $2 balance.
Well, let's not kid ourselves. Any request for money or fundraising participation from player is a thinly veiled request for parents and family to contribute... more.
It seems more and more common for schools to ask players to be actively involved in fundraising events and, in some cases, pitch in if they are unable to solicit others to contribute/participate. It does seem odd that they would be asked directly for cash... curious to see what those in the know have to say about NCAA legality on that one.
We've seen everything from Xmas tree sales, team apparel sales, golf tourneys, dinners, hit-a-thons, etc. Another was to contribute toward some specific extra spirit pack type item for the players. "Get participants, buyers or sponsors or else" is usually the directive to the players. Some consequences have included working exra events that team is also doing to raise funds. My experience is that player fundraising is far less common at D1 but not unusual at all other levels.
My son's team (D1) has done a raffle each fall....each kid was required to sell 30 tickets @ $10 each or just pay the $300. They gave away a bunch of donated MLB & MiLB tickets. Figured it was an easy way for the program to make $10k....but not sure where the $$$ goes.
What division does your son play? My D3 and my JC both have had fund raisers to cover various unfunded "extras" such as spring break trip and spirit packs. I expected it from D3 but not from JC but nothing says the school has to supply everything coaches want. It's the D1's that get the paid for perks. Still boys get a chance to continue playing so I don't complain.
He is at a D2 school. I agree that the ask for cold, hard cash from students is what seemed odd to me. I'm all for fundraising and do a lot of it at the youth and HS level. We always have players help. This particular approach is one that I haven't experienced and it took me by surprise at the collegiate level.
Appreciate all that have weighed in. Thanks!
My son's at a D3 program. Their fundraiser is a bunch of Kids' Nights Out, where the boys babysit/run the kids ragged several Fridays in the fall/winter. A good deal on both ends, I think! We were asked to buy son's plane tix to spring break in FL, plus some $$ towards the cost of lunches parents provide between double headers during the year. All seems reasonable to me...
My son is a a D3 program and their fall fundraiser was selling evergreen wreaths and garland before Christmas. Everyone was required to sell $330 of stuff even if you didn't get to make the spring break trip. They also were required to buy a pair of shorts for workouts. The school provided them with 2 t-shirts, a fleece warm-up shirt, hat, socks and belt. I tell you, D3 kids were just as hard as D1/D2 athletes. The NCAA should allow schools to provide just as much equipment as D1 for their time representing the university just no scholarships.
