Amateur

Amateur (Fr.), one who does anything for love, as distinguished from one who makes it a profession. There is no general definition of an amateur applying to all sports, and different associations are by no means in accord. Thus, by the Amateur Athletic Association an amateur is defined as 'one who has never competed for a money-prize or staked bet, or with or against a professional for any prize, or who has never taught, pursued, or assisted in the practice of athletic exercises as a means of obtaining a livelihood.' By the rules, again, of the Amateur Rowing Association, 'no person shall be considered an amateur oarsman, sculler, or coxswain, (1) who has ever taken part in any open competition for a stake, money, or entrance-fee; (2) who has ever knowingly competed with or against a professional for any prize; (3) who has ever taught, pursued, or assisted in the practice of athletic exercises of any kind for profit; (4) who has ever been employed in or about boats, or in manual labour for money or wages; (5) who is or has been by trade or employment for wages a mechanic, artisan, or labourer, or engaged in any menial duty.' The bicycling rules differ, and certain competitions are allowed between amateurs and professionals; while many so-called amateurs are men in the pay of manufacturers of bicycles, and ride in races for the purpose of advertising their employers' machines. In cricket it has been said that the difference between amateur and professional is, that the amateur receives two or three times as much money as the professional. In lawn-tennis and archery contests, money-prizes are openly played for, and nobody thinks of calling the players professionals. In golf, the line between amateur and professional has always been difficult to draw, on account of the number of boys employed to carry clubs, who afterwards develop into tradesmen. The latest deliverance on the subject defines an amateur as one who does not play for, or accept, money prizes in a competition open to professionals.