Who is a Representative of Athletics’ Interests?
NCAA rules state that all alumni, friends, and employees of the University are categorized as
"representatives of athletics interests." The NCAA stipulates that once an individual has been
identified as a representative or "booster/donor" of the University's athletics programs, he or she
retains this status forever even if the individual is no longer associated with the athletics
program. Furthermore, the NCAA states that it is possible to be a representative of athletics
interest at more than one university at the same time.
A representative of athletics interests is anyone who has ever:
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made any type of contribution to the athletics department or to a booster club
joined the institution's booster club or any sport specific support group
provided or helped arrange employment for a student-athlete
provided benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families
assisted in any manner in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes
promoted the institution's athletics program in any manner
purchased season tickets from the University
As a representative of athletics interests (booster/donor), you may not:
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contact a prospect's coach, principal or counselor in an effort to evaluate a prospect
visit the prospect's institution to pick up film or transcripts pertaining to the evaluation of
the prospect's academic eligibility or athletic ability
contact a prospect, his/her parents, legal guardians or spouse on or off campus
contact a prospect by telephone or by letter
make special arrangements for entertainment for recruiting purposes
provide extra benefits to a prospect, student -athlete at UT or another institution or to
the parents, family and/or guardians of the prospects or student athlete's
Don't forget about transfer
students!
A Prospective Student-Athlete
is any individual who begins
classes for the ninth-grade.
As a representative of athletics
interest you are not permitted to
contact any student-athlete or the
family member/guardian of a
student-athlete who is or has
enrolled at another institution for
the purposes of recruiting and/or
to determine the possibility of
transferring to JCSU. The same
rules apply to these students as
they do for prospective studentathletes.
What is an extra benefit?
The NCAA defines an extra benefit as any special arrangement by an institutional employee or
a representative of the institution's athletics interest ("booster/donor") to provide a studentathlete (or a student-athlete's relative or friend) a benefit that is not generally available to other
JCSU students and their relative and/or friends. Therefore, please be aware of the following:
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A student-athlete cannot accept anything from an employee of JCSU or athletic
booster/donor (e.g., use of a car, haircut, clothing, gifts, money, tickets for any kind of
entertainment, payment of long distance telephone calls).
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A student-athlete cannot accept free or reduced cost room and/or board from any
JCSU employee or booster/donor of JCSU's athletic programs. This includes on or off
campus, 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.
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A student-athlete may not accept free or reduced cost storage room for personal
belongings for the summer months from any JCSU employee or booster/donor of
JCSU's athletic programs.
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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.
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A student-athlete cannot eat at a restaurant as the guest of an athletic booster/donor or
an employee of JCSU.
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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 JCSU or athletic booster/donor.
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Members of the Department of Athletics staff or an athletic booster/donor are not
permitted to type reports, papers, letters, etc., for a student-athlete.
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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 JCSU or an athletic booster/donor.
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A JCSU employee or a booster/donor 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, or pay or provide other compensation for work not performed or
at unreasonable levels for work performed.
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On infrequent, special occasions (e.g., a birthday, Thanksgiving, etc.), a student-athlete
may accept an invitation to the home of an employee of JCSU or an athletic
booster/donor for a meal.
How can Boosters assist the Athletic Department?
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Forward information about prospective student-athletes to the appropriate coaching
staff.
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You may discuss aspects of attending JCSU other than athletics with prospective
students (i.e. campus life, admissions process, academic programs)
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Continue established relationships with friends and neighbors of prospects. Contacts
with sons or daughters of these families are permitted as long they are not made for
recruiting purposes or encouraged by JCSU coaches.
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Employ current student-athletes. The student-athlete must be paid for work actually
performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate for similar services in the
community and your own business. Further, the student-athlete must receive written
approval from the athletics department prior to commencing employment.
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Report possible violations to the Office of Compliance