EKU Compliance - Boosters, Alumni and Friends of EKU
o
Booster Information Handout
The administration and operation of a major university athletics program in a highly regulated environment requires constant attention to compliance. As a member institution of the NCAA, EKU is committed to adherence to the rules of the association. While some may disagree with some of the rules, they nonetheless have been adopted by the member institutions and must be followed and enforced.
The obligation to adhere to NCAA rules extends beyond the athletics department to the greater university community and to representatives of the institution's athletics interests. Because of your relationship with our athletics department, it is necessary for us to inform you of certain rules which may apply to you and to provide you with the current interpretations of NCAA legislation.
By knowing and understanding the rules we can all best serve the Colonel Athletics program. Please review the booster information guide linked above and other information provided on our website. Should you have any questions, or need further information, please contact the Compliance Office at 859-622-8541.
Thank you for your support of the program. Without you and other Colonel supporters, we would not be able to have the successful program that we do.
Links of Interest
Representative of Athletics Interests |
Extra Benefit |
Who is a Prospective Student-Athlete?
Who is an Enrolled EKU Student-Athlete? |
Who is a Contact? |
What is an Evaluation of a Prospect?
What is the Definition of Recruiting? |
Impermissible Activities |
Permissible Activities
Employment of Student-Athletes |
What do I do if ... ?
Per NCAA Bylaw 13.02.14, a “representative of the institution's athletics interests” is an individual, independent agency, corporate entity (e.g., apparel or equipment manufacturer) or other organization who is known (or should be known) by a member of the institution's executive or athletics administration to:
• Have participated in or to be a member of an agency or organization promoting the institution's intercollegiate athletics program;
• Have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of that institution;
• Be assisting or to have been requested (by the athletics department staff) to assist in the recruitment of prospects;
• Be assisting or to have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families; or
• Have been involved otherwise in promoting the institution's athletics program.
Per NCAA Bylaw 13.02.14.1, once an individual, independent agency, corporate entity or other organization has been identified as such a representative, the person, independent agency, corporate entity or other organization retains that identity indefinitely.
Per 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 not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation 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 (e.g., international students, minority students) determined on a basis unrelated to athletics ability.
Extra Benefits that are not authorized by the NCAA regulations would include, but are not limited to:
• A loan of money
• A guarantee of bond
• An automobile or the use of an automobile
• Provide any form of transportation
• Signing or cosigning a note with an agency to arrange a loan
• Discount and/or credit arrangements
• Free or reduced-cost services
• Payment to a student-athlete for work not performed
• Expending funds to entertain prospects
• Funding a prospect's sports camp attendance
Per NCAA Bylaw 13.02.12, a prospective student-athlete (prospect) 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 generally provide to prospective students. An individual remains a prospective student-athlete until one of the following occurs (whichever is earlier):
• The individual officially registers and enrolls in a minimum full-time program of studies and attends classes in any term of a four-year collegiate institution’s regular academic year (excluding summer); or
• The individual participates in a regular squad practice or competition at a four-year collegiate institution that occurs before the beginning of any term; or
• The individual officially registers, enrolls and attends classes during the summer prior to initial enrollment.
A prospective student-athlete remains a prospect even after committing to or signing a National Letter of Intent to attend EKU or any other institution. Both the institution and the prospect continue to be governed by NCAA recruiting legislation regarding prospects until that prospect reports for regular squad practice or the prospect attends his/her first day of classes in any term.
An enrolled student-athlete is any student who is enrolled at EKU and is presently participating on a varsity athletic team or has completed his/her eligibility but is still enrolled at the university.
A contact is any face-to-face encounter between a prospect or the prospect’s parent/legal guardian and an EKU booster during which any dialogue occurs in excess of an exchange of a greeting. Any such face-to-face encounter that is prearranged or that takes place on the grounds of the prospect’s educational institution or at the site of an organized competition/practice involving the prospect or the prospect’s high school, preparatory school, two-year college or all-star team shall be considered a contact, regardless of the conversation that occurs.
An evaluation is any off-campus activity designed to assess the academic qualifications or athletics ability of a prospect, including any visit to a prospect’s educational institution (during which no contact occurs) or the observation of a prospect participating in any practice or competition at any site.
Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospect or the prospect’s family by a university employee or booster for the purpose of securing the prospect’s enrollment at the university and/or participation in the athletics program. All recruiting must be done by designated members of the EKU athletics department.
• Do not contact or evaluate any prospective student-athletes off campus.
• Do not telephone or write to a prospective student-athlete for the purpose of soliciting his or her participation in the athletics program.
• Do not make in-person contact with a prospective student-athlete either on or off the college campus. If a booster approaches a coach who is entertaining one or more prospects at an event on the EKU campus, the coach should not allow the booster to have contact with the prospect(s).
• Do not contact a prospect's coach, principal or counselor in order to evaluate the prospect's academic or athletics ability and do not pick up films or transcripts from a prospect's educational institution.
• Do not directly or indirectly become involved in making special arrangements for a prospect or for the prospect's relatives or friends to receive money or other benefits regardless of whether or not these benefits are available to prospective students in general, their relatives or friends.
• Do not provide a prospect, the prospect’s relative or friend with a free ticket or tickets at a reduced cost to any EKU home or away event.
• Do not provide a prospect, the prospect's relative or friend with any transportation, including transportation to campus to attend athletic events.
• Do not invite selected high school athletes to alumni events.
• Do not perform any duties or arrangements to prospects or enrolled student-athletes without specific authorization from the EKU Athletics Department.
• Do not become involved in the recruiting process. Recruitment of prospective student-athletes is the sole responsibility of the coaching staff at EKU.
• Do not give money to any student-athlete. All funds for expenses must be provided through the University.
• Do not provide employment to a student-athlete during the regular academic year or summer months unless you have checked with the Compliance staff regarding NCAA rules and regulations.
• Do not buy athletic event tickets from student-athletes. The NCAA prohibits a student-athlete from receiving and selling game tickets.
• Do not provide benefits or arrangements to currently enrolled student-athletes or parents of student-athlete regardless of if similar benefits or arrangements are available to students in general.
• Do not use the name, picture or appearance of a currently enrolled student-athlete to promote the sale or use of a commercial product or service of any kind.
• Do notify the EKU coaching staff of outstanding prospects in your area.
• Do observe a prospect’s athletic contest, provided there is no contact with the prospect or the prospect’s parents and/or relatives.
• Do continue having normal contact with any neighbor, relative or family friend that might be a prospect as long as you do not engage in the recruiting process.
• Do accept a phone call from a prospect, as long as the prospect initiates the call. All questions regarding EKU’s athletics department should be directed to members of the athletics staff.
• You may provide an occasional meal to a student-athlete on a special occasion, if the meal is coordinated through the Compliance Office.
Do not provide or arrange employment to a prospect or EKU student-athlete at any time without first completing the necessary documentation and obtaining authorization from the EKU Compliance Office.
To ensure that the student-athlete employment program maintains the highest degree of integrity and fully complies with NCAA rules, you as the employer must abide by several conditions and procedures:
• The student-athlete’s compensation does not include any remuneration for value or utility that the student-athlete may have for the employer because of the publicity, reputation, fame or personal following that he or she has obtained because of athletics ability;
• The student-athlete is compensated only for work actually performed; and
• The student-athlete is compensated at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for similar services.
With all the rules that are out there, sometimes you may find yourself in a situation and not know what the limitations may be. Here are just a few common situations you may encounter. In addition, always feel free to contact our office for specific questions and concerns!
1. The son or daughter of an old friend is being actively recruited by an EKU coach. Do I have to stop having any contact with the prospect and his or her parents?
No, you may continue to enjoy the same relationship with the family that you had before the child became a prospect. You may not, however, use your relationship to urge that the son or daughter chooses EKU, and you may not allow a coach to enlist you in the recruitment process.
2. What should I do if I encounter a prospect while watching my son or daughter's high school/club/AAU athletic contest?
The NCAA rules prohibit boosters from having in-person contacts with prospects, their families or their coaches. However, the rules recognize that a booster may inadvertently (without pre-arrangement) come into contact with a prospect in a public place, such as the grocery store or a mall. In this situation, the booster may exchange polite greetings with the prospect, but must then terminate the encounter. However, if the booster intentionally goes to a site where the prospect is competing, there is NO contact allowed.
3. May I attend a public event - for example; a community picnic or a high school banquet or awards dinner - if prospects are also in attendance?
Yes, you may. Be sure, though, that you do not have any recruiting contact with the prospects.
4. May I give a discount on clothing, food or car rentals to student-athletes or prospects as part of my business?
No. A discount that is specifically designed for student-athletes is considered an extra benefit and against NCAA rules. However, if you provide a discount to all EKU students or the general public, then student-athletes can also receive the same discount.
5. May I loan my car to the parents of a student-athlete who are in town visiting their son or daughter?
No. The NCAA's prohibition on extra benefits for student-athletes also applies to their relatives and friends.
6. May I talk to a prospect's coach after an athletic event, before I inform the EKU coach about the prospect?
No. NCAA rules prohibit contact with the prospect and family members, the coach, the principal, and counselors.
7. If an EKU team is competing in a city with an EKU Alumni Club, can the club host a team dinner?
Yes. Arrangements for the event must be made with the head coach and the athletics department in advance; but, the NCAA allows the team (but not individual student-athletes) to receive this benefit.
