Quick Reference Guide for Alumni
and Friends
NCAA Rules and Regulations
his
publication was prepared by the Department of Intercollegiate
Athletics to assist alumni and friends in complying with NCAA
rules and regulations governing the conduct of Florida International
University athletic programs.
Introduction
Florida International University, as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, is responsible for insuring that its various constituencies (e.g., University staff and faculty, student-athletes, alumni and friends) abide by the NCAA Rules and Regulations. Under those rules, alumni and friends can be categorized as "representatives of Florida International University athletic interests."
This brochure is presented as a quick reference to the many NCAA rules which apply to our "athletic representatives." Since it does not include all applicable situations, please call us if you have any questions before having any contact with a prospective or enrolled student-athlete. We appreciate your interest and support but remind you that an inappropriate contact or an inadvertent action on your part can jeopardize the eligibility of our student-athletes and prospects and the compliance of the University with NCAA regulations.
The University is proud to have the loyal support of and continued interest in its athletic programs by our alumni and friends. As we strive for excellence, we must always seek the highest standard of ethical conduct. With your assistance and cooperation, we believe we can accomplish both goals.
Whom Do I Contact?
If you have any questions about contact with a prospective or enrolled student-athlete, please direct these questions to:
Office of Compliance
Florida International University
University Park - GPA
Miami, FL 33199
(305) 348-2843
Am I a "Representative of Athletic Interests?"
YES, if you:
· are or ever have been a member of the Golden Panther Club
· have ever made a donation to the Florida International University men's or women's athletic programs
· have ever helped to arrange or have provided summer employment for enrolled student-athletes.
· have ever contacted (by letter, telephone or in person) a high school student, grades 9-12, for the purpose of encouraging the student to participate in the Florida International University athletic program.
· have ever assisted in providing any benefit to enrolled student-athletes or their families.
· have ever been involved in any way with the FIU athletic program.
The NCAA stipulates that once you have become an "athletic
representative" you retain that identity forever, even if
you no longer contribute to the athletic program.
Who is a Prospective Student-Athlete?
A prospective student-athlete is a person who has begun classes for the ninth grade. However, it is possible for a younger student to be a prospect, so it is prudent to treat ALL athletes as prospects.
Important Rules You Should Know
Rule #1
Only coaches and athletic department staff members can be involved in the recruiting process. All "athletic representatives" who are not employed by the University are prohibited from contacting a prospective student-athlete or members of the prospect's family by telephone, letter or in person on or off campus for the purpose of encouraging participation in the FIU athletic program.
Rule #2
FIU athletic representatives cannot provide an "extra benefit" or special arrangement to a prospective OR to an enrolled student-athlete. Specific application as they apply to the NCAA extra benefit rule to prospects and enrolled student-athletes, their relatives of friends state that you:
·May not
give them cash or loans in any amount.
·May not sign
or co-sign a note with an outside agency to arrange a loan.
·May not employ
relatives or friends of a prospect as an inducement for the enrollment
of the prospect at Florida International University.
·May not give
them gifts of any kind (e.g. birthday, Christmas, Valentine's
Day) or free services (e.g., clothing, airline tickets, laundry,
car repair, hair cuts, meals in restaurants).
·May not provide
special discounts for goods or services.
·May not provide
use of an automobile.
·May not provide
them hospitality in your home other than for special occasions
(e.g., Thanksgiving, birthday).
·May not invite
them to your summer home to go water skiing, sailing, etc.
·May not entertain
or contact a prospect or prospect's family on or off campus.
·May not provide
them transportation within or outside of the campus area (e.g.,
from campus to your home, from the airport to campus, to summer
jobs, etc.).
·May not provide
rent free or reduced rent housing.
·May not provide
a benefit connected with on or off campus housing (e.g., individual
television sets or stereo equipment, specialized recreational
facilities).
·May not provide
tickets to an athletic, institutional or community event.
·May not provide
guarantee of a bond.
·May not provide
promise of financial aid for post- graduate education.
·May not provide
promise to a prospect of employment after college graduation.
Rule #3
You can assist the coaching staff in the recruiting process by notifying them of any student you think would be a strong addition to the University and to the athletic program. The coach can make the appropriate contact with the prospect.
Rule #4
As an athletic representative, you are not precluded from continuing friendships with families who have prospective or enrolled student-athletes (e.g., backyard barbecues, picnics). You simply cannot encourage a prospect's participation in the FIU athletic program or provide benefits to the student-athlete that you were not providing before he or she became a prospect of an enrolled student-athlete.
Please Help
If you have knowledge of improprieties, intentional or unintentional, please let our Athletic Department know immediately so that we can take corrective action.
NCAA Rules Regarding Contacts with High School and Community College Student-Athletes (Prospects)
·DO NOT become directly or indirectly involved in making arrangements for a prospect, the prospect's relatives or friend to receive money or financial aid of any kind.
·DO NOT provide ANYTHING to or for a prospect, relatives or friends, without first checking with the Athletic Department administration.
·DO NOT 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 a prospect approaches you off campus regarding the athletic program, explain that NCAA rules do not permit you to discuss the program. Suggest that the prospect contact the head coach of the sport for information.
·DO NOT transport, pay 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 the campus, NCAA regulations prohibit that activity for a prospective student-athlete.
·DO NOT 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 Florida International University.
·DO NOT entertain high school, prep school or community college COACHES at ANY location.
·DO NOT provide tickets or transportation for high school, prep school or community college COACHES at any location. Only the Athletic Department can provide complimentary admissions and only to home athletic events for those coaches.
·DO NOT entertain or provide tickets at no or reduced cost to FIU's home or away athletic or non-athletic events for prospects, their relatives or friends. Only the Athletic Department can provide complimentary admissions to prospective student-athletes and only for HOME athletic events.
·DO NOT contact any enrolled student-athlete at another institution for the purpose of encouraging transfer to FIU and participation in our athletic program.
·DO NOT pay or offer to pay registration fees for summer sports camps for a prospect.
·DO NOT contact the prospect's 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.
·DO NOT invite
only SELECTED junior or senior high school or community college
prospective student-athletes to alumni events. Since the NCAA
prohibits contact between prospects, alumni and "athletic
representatives", care must be taken to invite, for instance,
ALL high school seniors who have received academic and athletic
awards.
However...
·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 started with you, respond in a civil manner but DO NOT discuss the Florida International University 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 the FIU Athletic Department.
·DO continue established family relationships with friends and neighbors. Contacts with sons or daughters of these families certainly are permitted as long as they are not made for recruiting purposes and are not initiated by FIU's coaching staff members. You are permitted to play "pick up" basketball or softball games, continue neighborhood picnics or backyard barbecues and engage in your normal activities with prospects and their parents who are family friends. Again, you simply are not permitted to attempt to recruit the prospect of discuss the athletic program.
·DO feel free to attend a public event (e.g., a high school awards banquet or dinner) at which prospects are in attendance. No attempt should be made to recruit the prospect.
·DO send to the FIU coaching staff any newspaper clippings or other information about prospects which you think would be of interest. Your assistance in this way is very helpful. The coaching staff will then make the contact with the prospect.
·DO feel free to offer assistance to members of the Florida International University coaching staff who are recruiting in you community.
NCAA Rules Regarding Contacts with Currently Enrolled Student-Athletes
·DO NOT provide a student-athlete or friend any benefit or special arrangement. The NCAA considers these as an "extra benefit" and they are specifically prohibited.
·DO NOT provide room and/or board or any type of transportation during the summer for a student-athlete with eligibility remaining.
·DO NOT provide room, board or transportation costs incurred by friends or family of an enrolled student-athlete to visit campus or attend an away athletic contest.
·DO NOT expend funds to entertain student-athletes, their friends or relatives. You are not even permitted to buy a soda or a cup of coffee for them.
·DO NOT 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. Even the SALE of a picture of an enrolled student-athlete would jeopardize eligibility.
·DO NOT provide any payment of expense or loan of any automobile for a student-athlete to return home or to any other location of ANY reason.
·DO NOT provide awards or gifts to a student-athlete for his or her athletic performance. All awards must conform to NCAA regulations and must be approved Florida International University.
·DO NOT provide an honorarium to a student-athlete for a speaking engagement. Only necessary travel expenses can be given when speaking to educational or charitable groups. All speaking engagements must be approved in advance by the Athletic Department.
·DO NOT allow a student-athlete, his or her friends or relatives to use your telephone to make free long distance calls.
However...
·DO feel free to invite a student-athlete to you home for a home cooked meal but only for a special occasion (e.g., Thanksgiving, birthday). Remember, the student-athlete must provide his/her own transportation.
·DO feel free to invite a team for dinner or to meet with a group of alumni in a city where they are competing. The NCAA permits student-athletes AS A TEAM to receive special benefits not permitted as individuals. Arrangements for such events must be made in advance with the head coach or Athletic Department.
NCAA Rules Regarding Employment of Prospective
and Enrolled Student-Athletes
·DO NOT employ or arrange for the employment of a prospective or enrolled student-athlete without checking first with the FIU Athletic Department. The department is permitted to make arrangements for summer employment for prospects prior to enrollment as freshmen and to enrolled student-athletes during the summer and semester breaks. Stringent rules apply in these instances and written records must be kept regarding employment.
·DO NOT provide transportation for prospects or student-athletes in your employment unless transportation is provided for all other employees.
·DO NOT provide employment for student-athletes during the academic year without contacting the FIU Athletic Department first. The NCAA has strict rules about the amount and source of outside funds during the academic year.
However...
·DO pay student-athletes employed by you only for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate for similar services in the community and your own business.
·DO notify the head coaches of job possibilities for student-athletes.
Most Commonly Asked Questions:
Q. Once an individual has been identified as a "rep", how long does he or she retain this identity?
A. Forever.
Q. Can boosters entertain relatives and friends of a prospective student-athlete at any site off campus?
A. No.
Q. During an official visit to campus, is it permissible for a booster to entertain, buy a complimentary meal for or expend any funds on the prospective student-athlete, his or her legal guardian(s), relatives or friends?
A. No. On an official visit to campus, the prospect is limited to three complimentary tickets distributed solely by the institution to a home athletic event. The prospect may not be entertained whatsoever by "reps." Absolutely no funds may be expended by "reps" for the purpose of entertaining a prospect on his/her official visit.
Q. Is it permissible for a booster to provide free admission to the institution's away-from-home contests to prospects, their friends or relatives?
A. No.
Q. Is it permissible for a booster to pay in whole or in part registration fees associated with summer sports camps?
A. No.
Q. Is the contact rule applicable to established family friends or neighbors?
A. No. However, it must be understood that such contacts are not made for recruiting purposes and are not initiated by the institution's coaching staff members.
Q. May a recruit call a booster?
A. A booster may have a telephone conversation with a prospect only if the prospect initiates the call. The telephone call may not be prearranged by an institutional staff member, and the booster is not permitted to have a recruiting conversation with the prospect but may exhibit normal civility. The booster must refer any question about the institution's athletic program to the athletic department staff.
Q. May a booster attend a public even (e.g., high school awards banquet or dinner) at which prospects are in attendance?
A. Yes, but any contact with a prospect may not be prearranged by an athletic department staff member, and no attempt may be made to recruit the prospect.
Q. May a booster engage in evaluation activities on behalf of the institution?
A. The legislation does not preclude a booster from viewing a prospect's contest on the booster's initiative, subject to the understanding that the booster may not contact the prospect. In addition, the booster is prohibited from contacting the prospect's coach, principal or counselor in an attempt to evaluate the prospect, as well as from visiting the prospect's educational institution to pick up film or transcripts pertaining to the evaluation of the prospect's academic or athletic ability.
Q. Is it permissible to a booster to expend funds to entertain student-athletes and friends?
A. No.
Q. Is it permissible for a booster to pay or provide the actual
and necessary expenses (room, board and transportation costs)
incurred by friends or relatives to visit and enrolled student-athlete?
A. No.
Q. Is it permissible for a booster to provide gifts or awards
to a student-athlete for his or her athletic performance?
A. No. All awards must conform to NCAA awards regulation and must
be approved by the institution.
Q. Is it permissible for a booster to provide enrolled student-athletes
with professional services (for which a fee would normally be
charged) for personal reasons?
A. No. Professional services provided at less than normal or at
no expense to a student-athlete are considered extra benefits.
Better Safe Than Sorry...
Compliance with NCAA regulations is of the highest priority for
our athletic programs and institution. We need your assistance
in complying with NCAA rules. When you are faced with a situation
and unsure as to how to respond, we strongly urge you to contact
our Office of Compliance at (305) 348-2843 before acting. Your
continued interest and support of the Florida International University
athletic programs is most appreciated.
Job Opportunities
We do encourage your assistance in making the Division of Athletics
aware of job opportunities for enrolled student-athletes. This
includes during the summers and semester breaks. All information
should be forwarded to our Office of Compliance.
