THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

The National Collegiate Athletic Association, commonly known as the NCAA, is the national governing body for amateur collegiate sports in the United States. As a member in good standing of the NCAA, the University of Richmond is obligated to abide by NCAA rules and regulations governing the eligibility, amateur status and recruiting of student-athlete. Under these rules, boosters of the University are just as responsible for rules compliance as are our coaches and staff members. Thus, the Department of Athletics must take every effort to educate those supporting our program.

WHO ARE UR'S BOOSTERS?

'Booster' is the common term for individuals the NCAA defines as 'Representatives of Athletics Interests.' You are considered a booster if you belong to the Spider Club or other athletic support groups for UR athletics; contribute to UR's athletic program in any way; are involved in any manner in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families (e.g., summer jobs); or are involved in promoting UR's athletics program.

As a booster, UR is responsible for anything you do relating to prospective and enrolled student-athletes, their families or friends, whether it is by accident or on purpose. Once you become a booster, you remain so indefinitely.

RULES GOVERNING PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETES

Definition of a Prospective Student-Athlete: A prospective student-athlete or prospect is any student who has started classes for the ninth grade. It is possible for a younger student to be considered a prospect under certain conditions so it is best to treat all young student-athletes as prospects. A prospect remains a prospect even after signing a National Letter of Intent to attend a particular institution or enrolling in a preparatory school or junior college. Additionally, any student enrolled in a four-year college who has been given a release to transfer is considered a prospect and all applicable NCAA legislation applies. An individual remains a prospect and all NCAA legislation regarding prospects applies until (a) the individual reports for regular squad practice, (b) the individual officially registers and is enrolled, or (c) the prospect attends a class in any regular term.

1. In Division I you are prohibited from making in-person on- or off-campus recruiting contacts with, writing to, or calling prospects or their relatives or legal guardians. A contact is any face-to-face encounter with a prospective student-athlete or his or her parents/legal guardians during which any dialogue occurs in excess of an exchange of greeting. Any face-to-face encounter which is prearranged and which takes place on the grounds of the prospect's school or at the site of competition or practice is considered a contact, regardless of the conversation that occurs.
2. You may not entertain, buy a complimentary meal for, transport to on- or off-campus events, or expend any funds on the prospect or his or her guardians, relatives, or friends.
3. Contacts between a prospect and you related to permissible preenrollment activities (e.g., summer employment arrangements) after the prospect signs the National Letter of Intent are permissible.
4. You may view a prospect's contest on your initiative, subject to the understanding that you may not contact the prospect. You are prohibited from contacting the prospect's coach, principal, or counselors in an attempt to evaluate the prospect, as well as from visiting the prospect's school to pick up film or transcripts pertaining to the evaluation of the prospect's academic or athletics ability.
5. You may contact an UR coach if you know of a talented student-athlete who might benefit our program or who is already interested in attending UR. Feel free to send recommendation letters, newspaper clippings or similar information about prospects to coaches.
6. You may not contribute to the payment of registration fees for prospects to attend sports summer camps.
7. You may not mail anything including newspapers, clippings, posters, programs, etc. to prospects or their families.
8. You may not transport, entertain, or provide expenses for a high school, preparatory school, or two-year college coach.
9. You may not contact a prospect electronically, i.e., on instant messanger, web board, chat room.
   
   

RULES GOVERNING CURRENTLY ENROLLED STUDENT-ATHLETES

1. Unless expressly authorized by NCAA legislation, you may not make any special arrangement or provide any special inducement for a student-athlete. Simply put, you cannot treat an athlete any different from a nonathlete. Inducements (extra benefits) that are prohibited include but are not limited to the following: cash, loans, promise of employment after college, special discounts or payment arrangements on loans; involvement in arrangement for free or reduced charges for professional or personal services; use of an automobile; providing transportation to or from a summer job or to any other site; signing or co-signing a note for a loan; the loan or gift of money or other tangible items (e.g., clothes, cars, jewelry, electronic/stereo equipment); guarantees of bond; any financial aid other than that administered by the institution; and the promise of financial aid for postgraduate education, free or reduced cost housing arrangements.
2. You may not allow a SA to use a phone or credit card without charge or at a reduced cost.
3. You may provide summer employment provided the athlete is paid only for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for similar services. Transportation related to the job may not be provided unless it is provided to all employees in that particular job.
4. You may provide an occasional family home meal. The meal must be provided in an individual's home and must be restricted to infrequent and special occasions.
5. You may not buy Christmas, birthday, or other gifts or provide awards for athletic performance to any student-athlete.
   
   

WHAT IF THERE IS A VIOLATION?

Violations of NCAA legislation will result in the ineligibility of the involved prospect/student-athlete at UR. In addition, multiple violations can jeopardize an entire program. Provisions of extra benefits can result in the institution being placed on probations or forfeiture of games, revenues, and/or championships. As a booster, you may be given certain benefits or privileges associated with your contributions; any such benefits or privileges may be withheld if you engage in conduct that is determined to be a violation of NCAA legislation.

THE UR COMPLIANCE TEAM

The Compliance Team at UR consists of all members of the Department of Athletics and administrators throughout the University. The Compliance Office is staffed by George Ivey, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Compliance Coordinator and Kristen Ball, Recruiting Coordinator/Associate Compliance Coordinator. Both are available to answer questions as they arise. Our rule of thumb is, if you have to ask, it may be a violation.