Post by The Cats on Jul 31, 2020 7:17:43 GMT -5
Boosters
Western Carolina University, as a member of the Southern Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, is responsible for ensuring that its coaches, student-athletes, faculty and staff, alumni, donors, boosters and friends abide by conference and NCAA regulations. Under those rules, alumni, donors, boosters and friends are categorized as a “representative of athletics interest” of WCU. A “representative of Western Carolina’s athletic interest” is bound by the same rules and regulations as coaches and other athletics administrators and staff members. When violations occur, whether intentional or unintentional, WCU is responsible for these actions and ignorance of the rules cannot be used as an excuse. The below information provides a brief overview of the NCAA regulations and how inappropriate contact or inadvertent actions may jeopardize the eligibility of WCU’s enrolled or prospective student-athletes.
What is a "booster"?
Under NCAA rules the individuals that we commonly referred to as "boosters" are also known as Representatives of an Institution's Athletics Interests. These individuals are considered representatives of the athletics departments and Western Carolina University is responsible for making sure that they follow all NCAA rules.
How does someone become a Booster/ Representative of Athletics Interest?
According to NCAA rules, a booster is any individual, independent agency, corporate entity (e.g., apparel or equipment manufacturer) or other organization who is known (or who should have been known) by a member of the institution's executive or athletics administration to:
(a) Have participated in or to be a member of any organization that promotes the institution's intercollegiate athletics program;
(b) Have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of that institution;
(c) Be assisting or to have been requested (by the athletics department staff) to assist in the recruitment of prospects;
(d) Be assisting or to have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families; or
(e) Have been involved otherwise in promoting the institution's athletics program.
Once an individual, independent agency, corporate entity or other organization is identified as such a representative, the person, independent agency, corporate entity or other organization retains that identity indefinitely.
So if I am a booster, can I help with recruiting prospective student-athletes to come to Western Carolina University?
No. The NCAA has very strict rules about who can recruit prospective student athletes. Boosters are prohibited from any involvement in any recruiting activity. If a prospective student-athlete contacts you for information about the WCU Athletics program, please refer them to a member of the coaching staff!
What is a Prospective Student-Athlete/Prospect?
-A prospective student-athlete is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective student-athlete if the institution provides such an individual (or the individual's relatives or friends) any financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students generally. It is recommended that all athletes be treated as prospects.
Actions by athletics staff members or athletics representatives that cause a prospective student-athlete to become a recruited prospective student-athlete/prospect are:
-Providing the prospect with an expense paid visit to an institution;
-Having an arranged, in-person, off-campus encounter with the prospect or the prospect’s parents or legal guardians; or
-Initiating or arranging a telephone contact with the prospect, family member, or guardian for the purpose of recruitment.
Important Definitions for a Booster to Know
-A CONTACT is any face-to-face encounter between a prospect, or the prospect’s parents, relatives, or legal guardian, and an institutional staff member or athletics representative during which a dialogue occurs in excess of a greeting.
-A RECRUITED STUDENT-ATHLETE is a student whose enrollment was solicited by a member of the athletics staff or other representative of athletics interests with a view toward the student’s ultimate participation in the intercollegiate athletics program.
-RECRUITING is any solicitation of a prospect or a prospect’s family member (or guardian) by an institutional staff member who has passed an NCAA Recruiting Test, for the purpose of securing the prospect’s enrollment and ultimate participation in the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program.
-An EXTRA BENEFIT is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or an athletics representative to provide a student-athlete or the student-athlete’s relatives or friends with a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation.
RULES OF THE GAME FOR ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVES/BOOSTERS
-NO on- or off-campus in-person contact with a prospect or his/her parents.
-NO written or telephone correspondence may be made with a prospect or his/her parents.
-NO contact with a coach or any individual associated with the prospect to assist in the recruitment of a prospect.
-NO contact at the prospect's high school or junior college is permitted.
-Boosters may NOT pick up videos or transcripts of prospects for WCU coaches.
-Boosters may NOT provide/pay a prospect's transportation/camp expenses to attend a WCU athletic camp.
-Only coaches and athletics department staff members can be involved in the recruiting process. All “athletics representatives” who are not employed by the school are prohibited from contacting a prospect or members of the prospect’s family by telephone, letter or in person on or off campus for the purpose of encouraging participation in Western Carolina University’s athletic programs.
NCAA Bylaw 13.14.1 (Use of Recruiting Funds – Institutional Control). All funds for the recruiting of prospects shall be deposited with the member institution, which shall be exclusively and entirely responsible for the manner in which such funds are expended.
EXTRA POINTS
Established relationships between athletic representatives and prospects or student-athletes, their parents, and relatives MAY meet an exception to the extra benefit rules. CONTACT the compliance office immediately to verify if you meet the exception and ensure the prospect's eligibility at WCU is not jeopardized.
YOU MAY…
-Attend high school, community college, and public events in which prospects are participating. However, no attempt should be made to contact or recruit the prospects at these events.
-Continue established family relationships with prospects or student-athletes, their parents, and their relatives. Contact is permitted as long as it is not made for recruiting purposes. You simply cannot encourage a prospect’s participation in Western Carolina University’s athletic programs or provide benefits to the student-athlete that you were not providing before he or she became a prospect or enrolled student-athlete.
-An athletic representative MAY employ a prospective student-athlete. The prospect MUST be hired in the same manner as the general public and be a qualified candidate for the position. Compensation MUST be based on work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate in the locality for similar services. Prospects may NOT receive/accept benefits (e.g. transportation, bonuses) unless provided for all other employees.
Employment of Prospects and Enrolled Student-Athletes Reminders
DO NOT
-Employ or arrange for the employment of a prospect or enrolled student-athlete without checking first with the athletics department.
-Provide transportation for prospects or student-athletes whom you employ unless transportation is provided for all other employees.
-Provide student-athletes employment during the academic year without contacting the athletics department.
DO
-Pay student-athletes employed by you only for work actually performed and at the same rate for similar services in the community and your own business.
-Notify the athletics department of employment possibilities for student-athletes
What are Extra Benefits?
An extra benefit is any special arrangement from the institution, its staff or its boosters to provide a benefit to student-athletes or their friends or family unless that benefit is (1) provided to the institution's students generally or (2) specifically permitted by NCAA rules.
YOU MAY NOT…
Provide gifts of any kind (i.e. birthday, Christmas, Valentine’s Day), free or reduced cost services including meals, drinks, clothing, airline tickets, car repair, meals in restaurants, laundry, haircuts, legal fees, or other benefits to prospects, student-athletes, their relatives, or friends.
Provide tickets to any athletic, institutional, or community event for a prospect, student-athlete or his/her relatives or friends
Contact prospective student-athletes for recruiting purposes. This includes emails, phone calls, letters, face-to-face contact, and personal websites (i.e., facebook, twitter)
Provide cash, loans (or co-sign for a loan) in any amount, entertainment, use of your home, or other items of value
Provide the use of an automobile, cell phone or phone card
Provide rent free or reduced cost housing for any length of time
Provide prospects or student-athletes with special discounts, payment arrangements (e.g., co-sign a loan), credit on a purchase (e.g., airline ticket, clothing), or services (e.g., dry cleaning, transportation).
Provide employment for relatives or friends as a result of their relationship to a prospect or student-athlete.
Provide employment to a student-athlete based on his/her athletic ability. The regular search process should be followed (e.g., responding to a posting in the classifieds) and the student-athlete must be the most qualified person for the position.
Use student-athletes for the purpose of advertising, endorsing, or promoting commercial products or services.
Provide a benefit connected with on or off campus housing (i.e. individual television sets or stereo equipment, specialized recreational facilities, etc.).
Provide promise of financial aid for post-graduate education.
Provide promise to a prospect of employment after college graduation.
Provide them hospitality in your home other than on an occasional basis.
Provide them transportation within or outside of the campus area (i.e. from campus to your home, from the airport to campus, to summer job, etc.)
Entertain or contact a prospect or prospect’s family on or off campus.
Examples of Permissible Benefits the institution may provide:
-Athletics scholarships
-Appropriate equipment for practice and competition
-Travel expenses for competition
-Complimentary admissions to their contests for family and friends
-Awards to recognize their participation and achievement
-Medical treatment
-Academic support services
NCAA Rules Regarding Contacts With High School and Junior College Prospects
DO
-Feel free to attend high school and community college athletic events. You simply cannot have any contact with the prospective student-athletes or relatives. Should you find yourself seated next to parents of a prospect, DO NOT initiate conversation with the relatives. If conversation is initiated with you, respond in a civil manner but DO NOT discuss Western Carolina University’s athletic program with them. If they raise questions about the program, remind them that the NCAA prohibits you from discussing the program with them. Direct their questions to WCU’s Athletic Department.
-Continue longtime established family relationships with friends and neighbors. Contacts with sons and daughters of these families are permitted as long as they are not made for recruiting purposes and are not initiated by a WCU coaching staff member.
-Feel free to attend a public event (i.e. a high school awards banquet or dinner) at which prospects are in attendance. No attempt should be made to recruit the prospect.
DO NOT
-Become directly or indirectly involved in making arrangements for a prospect, the prospect’s family or friends to receive money or financial aid of any kind.
Provide anything to or for a prospect, relatives or friends, without first checking with Athletics Department administration.
-Make any contact with a prospect or the prospect’s family on or off campus. If a coach has a recruit at an athletic event, you should not approach the coach until the prospect and family have gone elsewhere. If the prospect approaches you off campus regarding the athletic program, explain that NCAA rules do not allow you to discuss the program. Suggest that the prospect contact the head coach of the sport for more information.
-Transport, pay for or arrange for payment of transportation costs for a prospect, relatives or friends to visit campus or elsewhere. While it is permissible for a friend or neighbor to transport a high school or community college student who is NOT an athlete to campus, NCAA regulations prohibit that activity for a prospective student-athlete.
-Provide room and/or board, transportation of any kind or any other benefit to a recruited student-athlete during the summer prior to enrollment for fall classes at Western Carolina University.
-Entertain high school, prep school or community college coaches at any location.
-Provide tickets or transportation for high school, prep school or community college coaches at any location.
-Contact an enrolled student-athlete at another institution for the purpose of encouraging transfer to Western Carolina University and for participation in WCU’s athletic program.
-Pay for or offer to pay the registration fees for summer sports camps for a prospect.
-Contact the prospects coach, principal or counselor for the purpose of evaluating the prospect. You are not permitted to pick up films or transcripts from the prospect’s educational institution.
-Invite only selected junior or senior high school or community college prospective student-athletes to alumni events. NCAA rules prohibit contact between prospects and alumni at both on-campus and off-campus sites.
NCAA Rules Regarding Contacts With Currently Enrolled Student-Athletes
DO NOT
-Provide a student-athlete any benefit or special arrangement. The NCAA considers these as an “extra benefit” and they are specifically prohibited.
-Provide room and/or board or any type of transportation during the summer for a student-athlete with remaining eligibility.
-Provide room, board or transportation costs incurred by friends or family of an enrolled student-athlete to visit campus or attend any away contest.
-Expend funds to entertain student-athletes, their friends or relatives. You are not even permitted to buy a soft drink or cup of coffee for them.
-Use the name or picture of an enrolled student-athlete to directly advertise, recommend or promote sales or use of a commercial product or service of any kind. The sale of a picture of an enrolled student-athlete will jeopardize eligibility.
-Provide any payment of expense or loan of any automobile for a student-athlete to return home or to any other location for any reason.
-Provide awards or gifts to a student-athlete for their athletic performance.
-Provide an honorarium to a student-athlete for a speaking engagement.
-Allow a student-athlete, their friends or relatives to use your telephone to make free long distance calls.
Western Carolina University, as a member of the Southern Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, is responsible for ensuring that its coaches, student-athletes, faculty and staff, alumni, donors, boosters and friends abide by conference and NCAA regulations. Under those rules, alumni, donors, boosters and friends are categorized as a “representative of athletics interest” of WCU. A “representative of Western Carolina’s athletic interest” is bound by the same rules and regulations as coaches and other athletics administrators and staff members. When violations occur, whether intentional or unintentional, WCU is responsible for these actions and ignorance of the rules cannot be used as an excuse. The below information provides a brief overview of the NCAA regulations and how inappropriate contact or inadvertent actions may jeopardize the eligibility of WCU’s enrolled or prospective student-athletes.
What is a "booster"?
Under NCAA rules the individuals that we commonly referred to as "boosters" are also known as Representatives of an Institution's Athletics Interests. These individuals are considered representatives of the athletics departments and Western Carolina University is responsible for making sure that they follow all NCAA rules.
How does someone become a Booster/ Representative of Athletics Interest?
According to NCAA rules, a booster is any individual, independent agency, corporate entity (e.g., apparel or equipment manufacturer) or other organization who is known (or who should have been known) by a member of the institution's executive or athletics administration to:
(a) Have participated in or to be a member of any organization that promotes the institution's intercollegiate athletics program;
(b) Have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of that institution;
(c) Be assisting or to have been requested (by the athletics department staff) to assist in the recruitment of prospects;
(d) Be assisting or to have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families; or
(e) Have been involved otherwise in promoting the institution's athletics program.
Once an individual, independent agency, corporate entity or other organization is identified as such a representative, the person, independent agency, corporate entity or other organization retains that identity indefinitely.
So if I am a booster, can I help with recruiting prospective student-athletes to come to Western Carolina University?
No. The NCAA has very strict rules about who can recruit prospective student athletes. Boosters are prohibited from any involvement in any recruiting activity. If a prospective student-athlete contacts you for information about the WCU Athletics program, please refer them to a member of the coaching staff!
What is a Prospective Student-Athlete/Prospect?
-A prospective student-athlete is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective student-athlete if the institution provides such an individual (or the individual's relatives or friends) any financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students generally. It is recommended that all athletes be treated as prospects.
Actions by athletics staff members or athletics representatives that cause a prospective student-athlete to become a recruited prospective student-athlete/prospect are:
-Providing the prospect with an expense paid visit to an institution;
-Having an arranged, in-person, off-campus encounter with the prospect or the prospect’s parents or legal guardians; or
-Initiating or arranging a telephone contact with the prospect, family member, or guardian for the purpose of recruitment.
Important Definitions for a Booster to Know
-A CONTACT is any face-to-face encounter between a prospect, or the prospect’s parents, relatives, or legal guardian, and an institutional staff member or athletics representative during which a dialogue occurs in excess of a greeting.
-A RECRUITED STUDENT-ATHLETE is a student whose enrollment was solicited by a member of the athletics staff or other representative of athletics interests with a view toward the student’s ultimate participation in the intercollegiate athletics program.
-RECRUITING is any solicitation of a prospect or a prospect’s family member (or guardian) by an institutional staff member who has passed an NCAA Recruiting Test, for the purpose of securing the prospect’s enrollment and ultimate participation in the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program.
-An EXTRA BENEFIT is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or an athletics representative to provide a student-athlete or the student-athlete’s relatives or friends with a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation.
RULES OF THE GAME FOR ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVES/BOOSTERS
-NO on- or off-campus in-person contact with a prospect or his/her parents.
-NO written or telephone correspondence may be made with a prospect or his/her parents.
-NO contact with a coach or any individual associated with the prospect to assist in the recruitment of a prospect.
-NO contact at the prospect's high school or junior college is permitted.
-Boosters may NOT pick up videos or transcripts of prospects for WCU coaches.
-Boosters may NOT provide/pay a prospect's transportation/camp expenses to attend a WCU athletic camp.
-Only coaches and athletics department staff members can be involved in the recruiting process. All “athletics representatives” who are not employed by the school are prohibited from contacting a prospect or members of the prospect’s family by telephone, letter or in person on or off campus for the purpose of encouraging participation in Western Carolina University’s athletic programs.
NCAA Bylaw 13.14.1 (Use of Recruiting Funds – Institutional Control). All funds for the recruiting of prospects shall be deposited with the member institution, which shall be exclusively and entirely responsible for the manner in which such funds are expended.
EXTRA POINTS
Established relationships between athletic representatives and prospects or student-athletes, their parents, and relatives MAY meet an exception to the extra benefit rules. CONTACT the compliance office immediately to verify if you meet the exception and ensure the prospect's eligibility at WCU is not jeopardized.
YOU MAY…
-Attend high school, community college, and public events in which prospects are participating. However, no attempt should be made to contact or recruit the prospects at these events.
-Continue established family relationships with prospects or student-athletes, their parents, and their relatives. Contact is permitted as long as it is not made for recruiting purposes. You simply cannot encourage a prospect’s participation in Western Carolina University’s athletic programs or provide benefits to the student-athlete that you were not providing before he or she became a prospect or enrolled student-athlete.
-An athletic representative MAY employ a prospective student-athlete. The prospect MUST be hired in the same manner as the general public and be a qualified candidate for the position. Compensation MUST be based on work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate in the locality for similar services. Prospects may NOT receive/accept benefits (e.g. transportation, bonuses) unless provided for all other employees.
Employment of Prospects and Enrolled Student-Athletes Reminders
DO NOT
-Employ or arrange for the employment of a prospect or enrolled student-athlete without checking first with the athletics department.
-Provide transportation for prospects or student-athletes whom you employ unless transportation is provided for all other employees.
-Provide student-athletes employment during the academic year without contacting the athletics department.
DO
-Pay student-athletes employed by you only for work actually performed and at the same rate for similar services in the community and your own business.
-Notify the athletics department of employment possibilities for student-athletes
What are Extra Benefits?
An extra benefit is any special arrangement from the institution, its staff or its boosters to provide a benefit to student-athletes or their friends or family unless that benefit is (1) provided to the institution's students generally or (2) specifically permitted by NCAA rules.
YOU MAY NOT…
Provide gifts of any kind (i.e. birthday, Christmas, Valentine’s Day), free or reduced cost services including meals, drinks, clothing, airline tickets, car repair, meals in restaurants, laundry, haircuts, legal fees, or other benefits to prospects, student-athletes, their relatives, or friends.
Provide tickets to any athletic, institutional, or community event for a prospect, student-athlete or his/her relatives or friends
Contact prospective student-athletes for recruiting purposes. This includes emails, phone calls, letters, face-to-face contact, and personal websites (i.e., facebook, twitter)
Provide cash, loans (or co-sign for a loan) in any amount, entertainment, use of your home, or other items of value
Provide the use of an automobile, cell phone or phone card
Provide rent free or reduced cost housing for any length of time
Provide prospects or student-athletes with special discounts, payment arrangements (e.g., co-sign a loan), credit on a purchase (e.g., airline ticket, clothing), or services (e.g., dry cleaning, transportation).
Provide employment for relatives or friends as a result of their relationship to a prospect or student-athlete.
Provide employment to a student-athlete based on his/her athletic ability. The regular search process should be followed (e.g., responding to a posting in the classifieds) and the student-athlete must be the most qualified person for the position.
Use student-athletes for the purpose of advertising, endorsing, or promoting commercial products or services.
Provide a benefit connected with on or off campus housing (i.e. individual television sets or stereo equipment, specialized recreational facilities, etc.).
Provide promise of financial aid for post-graduate education.
Provide promise to a prospect of employment after college graduation.
Provide them hospitality in your home other than on an occasional basis.
Provide them transportation within or outside of the campus area (i.e. from campus to your home, from the airport to campus, to summer job, etc.)
Entertain or contact a prospect or prospect’s family on or off campus.
Examples of Permissible Benefits the institution may provide:
-Athletics scholarships
-Appropriate equipment for practice and competition
-Travel expenses for competition
-Complimentary admissions to their contests for family and friends
-Awards to recognize their participation and achievement
-Medical treatment
-Academic support services
NCAA Rules Regarding Contacts With High School and Junior College Prospects
DO
-Feel free to attend high school and community college athletic events. You simply cannot have any contact with the prospective student-athletes or relatives. Should you find yourself seated next to parents of a prospect, DO NOT initiate conversation with the relatives. If conversation is initiated with you, respond in a civil manner but DO NOT discuss Western Carolina University’s athletic program with them. If they raise questions about the program, remind them that the NCAA prohibits you from discussing the program with them. Direct their questions to WCU’s Athletic Department.
-Continue longtime established family relationships with friends and neighbors. Contacts with sons and daughters of these families are permitted as long as they are not made for recruiting purposes and are not initiated by a WCU coaching staff member.
-Feel free to attend a public event (i.e. a high school awards banquet or dinner) at which prospects are in attendance. No attempt should be made to recruit the prospect.
DO NOT
-Become directly or indirectly involved in making arrangements for a prospect, the prospect’s family or friends to receive money or financial aid of any kind.
Provide anything to or for a prospect, relatives or friends, without first checking with Athletics Department administration.
-Make any contact with a prospect or the prospect’s family on or off campus. If a coach has a recruit at an athletic event, you should not approach the coach until the prospect and family have gone elsewhere. If the prospect approaches you off campus regarding the athletic program, explain that NCAA rules do not allow you to discuss the program. Suggest that the prospect contact the head coach of the sport for more information.
-Transport, pay for or arrange for payment of transportation costs for a prospect, relatives or friends to visit campus or elsewhere. While it is permissible for a friend or neighbor to transport a high school or community college student who is NOT an athlete to campus, NCAA regulations prohibit that activity for a prospective student-athlete.
-Provide room and/or board, transportation of any kind or any other benefit to a recruited student-athlete during the summer prior to enrollment for fall classes at Western Carolina University.
-Entertain high school, prep school or community college coaches at any location.
-Provide tickets or transportation for high school, prep school or community college coaches at any location.
-Contact an enrolled student-athlete at another institution for the purpose of encouraging transfer to Western Carolina University and for participation in WCU’s athletic program.
-Pay for or offer to pay the registration fees for summer sports camps for a prospect.
-Contact the prospects coach, principal or counselor for the purpose of evaluating the prospect. You are not permitted to pick up films or transcripts from the prospect’s educational institution.
-Invite only selected junior or senior high school or community college prospective student-athletes to alumni events. NCAA rules prohibit contact between prospects and alumni at both on-campus and off-campus sites.
NCAA Rules Regarding Contacts With Currently Enrolled Student-Athletes
DO NOT
-Provide a student-athlete any benefit or special arrangement. The NCAA considers these as an “extra benefit” and they are specifically prohibited.
-Provide room and/or board or any type of transportation during the summer for a student-athlete with remaining eligibility.
-Provide room, board or transportation costs incurred by friends or family of an enrolled student-athlete to visit campus or attend any away contest.
-Expend funds to entertain student-athletes, their friends or relatives. You are not even permitted to buy a soft drink or cup of coffee for them.
-Use the name or picture of an enrolled student-athlete to directly advertise, recommend or promote sales or use of a commercial product or service of any kind. The sale of a picture of an enrolled student-athlete will jeopardize eligibility.
-Provide any payment of expense or loan of any automobile for a student-athlete to return home or to any other location for any reason.
-Provide awards or gifts to a student-athlete for their athletic performance.
-Provide an honorarium to a student-athlete for a speaking engagement.
-Allow a student-athlete, their friends or relatives to use your telephone to make free long distance calls.