ARTICLE 25

NCAA GUIDELINES FOR SPORTS INFORMATION PERSONNEL APPENDIX E

NCAA GUIDELINES FOR SPORTS INFORMATION PERSONNEL

Recruiting Materials

Permissible Printed Recruiting Materials Bylaw 13.4.1.

The University may not provide recruiting materials to a prospect (including general correspondence related to athletics) until September 1 at the beginning of the prospect's junior year in high school. The University is permitted to provide only the printed materials listed below to prospects, their parents/legal guardians, coaches or any other individual responsible for teaching or directing an activity, in which a prospect is involved. The University is not permitted to provide prospects with any recruiting materials not listed below (e.g., films, video tapes, newspaper clippings):

1. Correspondence. Correspondence includes letters, blank postcards issued by the US Postal Service, and institutional note cards. Such correspondence cannot include pictures of Department of Athletics personnel or enrolled student-athletes. Greeting cards may not be sent to prospects. Other than letterhead, all correspondence must be black ink on white paper.
2. NCAA Educational Information This includes any educational information published by the NCAA (e.g., NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete). This information may be provided prior to September 1 at the beginning of the junior year in high school.
3. Preenrollment Information Any necessary preenrollment information regarding orientation, conditioning, academics, and practice activities may be sent to a prospect who has signed a National Letter of Intent. In sports not using the NLI, such material may be sent to anyone who has been officially accepted.
4. Nonathletic Publications Such publications that are available to all students may be sent to prospects, including admission information or video tapes.
5. Questionnaires Questionnaires may be sent prior to September 1 at the beginning of the prospect's junior year.
6. Summer Camp Brochures Brochures may be provided prior to September 1 at the beginning of the prospect's junior year.
7. Game Programs Game programs may not be sent to prospects. They may be provided only during official and unofficial visits. They may not include posters.
8. Athletic Publications In addition to the game program, the University may produce either a recruiting brochure or a media guide (but not both) and send it to prospects. The publication may have only one color ink inside.

    

University staff members may respond to a prospect's letter requesting information from the athletic department prior to September 1 at the beginning of the prospect's junior year in high school. The written response may not include information that would initiate the recruitment of the prospect or information related to the athletic program. None of the materials listed above may be sent except NCAA educational material, questionnaires, and summer camp brochures.

The University may not develop a separate media guide or recruiting brochure to send to the media or alumni that do not meet the criteria of number eight above.

An NCAA member conference may not provide recruiting materials to prospects.

Videotapes Bylaw 13.4.2.1

The University may show a highlight film/videotape to a prospect or the prospect's coach but may not send it to or leave it with the prospect or coach. Highlight films/videotapes are game clips that contain informational material that is related to a particular event or sports season. Any narration on the highlight film/videotape must relate specifically to the event or sports season.

Promotional Activities by Student-Athletes

Name-the-Player Contest Bylaw 12.5.2.3.1

A student-athlete may not permit the use of his or her name or picture in a name-the-player contest conducted by a commercial business for the purpose of promoting the business.

Athletic Equipment Ads Bylaw 12.5.2.3.2

A student-athlete's name or picture may not be used by an athletics equipment company or manufacturer to publicize the fact that the University's team uses it equipment.

Promotional Contests Bylaw 12.5.2.3.3

A student-athlete, prospect, or member of either's family may not receive a prize for winning promotional activity (e.g., making a half-court basket, being involved in a moneyscramble) held conjunction with the University's intercollegiate competition unless the prize is won through a random drawing in which all members of the general public are eligible to participate.

Institutional, Charitable, Educational, Nonprofit Promotions Bylaw 12.5.1

The University or recognized entity thereof (e.g., fraternity, sorority, or student government organization), a member conference or a noninstitutional charitable, educational, or nonprofit agency may use a student-athlete's name, picture, or appearance to support its charitable or educational activities or to support activities considered incidental to the student-athlete's participation in intercollegiate athletics, provided the following conditions are met:

1. The student-athlete receives written approval to participate from the Director of Athletics;
2. The specific activity or project in which the student-athlete participates does not involve cosponsorship, advertisement, or promotion by a commercial agency other than through the reproduction of the sponsoring company's officially registered trademark or logo on printed materials such as pictures, posters, or calendars. The company's emblem, name, address, and telephone number may be included with the trademark or logo. Personal names, messages, and slogans (other than officially registered trademark) are prohibited;
3. The student-athlete does not miss class;
4. All monies derived from the activity or project go directly to the University, member conference, or charitable, educational, or nonprofit agency;
5. The student-athlete may accept legitimate and normal expenses from the University, member conference, or charitable, educational, or nonprofit agency related to participation in such activity, provided it occurs within the state or, if outside the state, within a 100-mile radius of the University's campus;
6. The student-athlete's name, picture, or appearance is not used to promote the commercial ventures of any nonprofit agency;
7. Any commercial items with names or pictures of student-athletes may be sold only at outlets controlled by the charitable or education organization (e.g., location of the charitable or educational organization, site of charitable event during the event) or the University at which the student-athlete is enrolled, and
8. The student-athlete and an authorized representative of the charitable, educational, or nonprofit agency sign a release statement ensuring that the student-athlete's name, image, or appearance is used in a manner consistent with the requirements of this section.

Trading Cards Bylaw 12.5.1.1.2

Player trading cards featuring student-athletes with eligibility remaining may not be sold by any organization. The University or a recognized entity thereof (e.g., fraternity, sorority, or student government organization), a conference, or a noninstitutional charitable, educational, or nonprofit agency may distribute but may not sell player trading cards that bear a student-athlete's name or picture.

Publicity of Prospects

Comments Prior to Signing Bylaw 13.11.1

Before a prospect signs a National Letter of Intent or Grant-in-Aid, the University may comment publicly only to the extent of confirming its recruitment of the prospect. The University may not comment generally about the prospect's ability or the contribution that the prospect might make to the institution's team. The University may not comment in any manner as to the likelihood of the prospect's signing with the University.

Institutional Broadcasts Bylaw 13.11.2.2

A prospect may not be interviewed during the broadcast or telecast of a University intercollegiate contest. The University may not permit a station telecasting a game to show a videotape of competition involving high school, prep school, or two-year college players.

Prospect's Visit Bylaw 13.11.3

The University may not publicize or arrange for publicity of a prospect's visit to campus.

Introduction of Prospects Bylaw 13.11.4

The University may not introduce a visiting prospect at a function (e.g., the University's sports award banquet or an intercollegiate athletic contest) that is attended by media representatives or open to the general public.

Intent to Enroll Bylaw 13.11.5

The University may not publicize or arrange for publicity of a prospect's intention to accept its offer of financial aid.

Photos of Prospects Bylaw 13.11.6

The University may photograph a prospect during a campus visit. The photograph may then be used in the University's permissible publicity and promotional activities (e.g., press release, media guide), but the photograph may not be given to the prospect.

Announcement of Signings Bylaw 13.11.7

The University may publicize a prospect's commitment to attend the University only after the prospect signs the University's written offer of admission and/or financial aid. Such publicity must be limited to those media forms normally used by the University and by the schools currently and formerly attended by the prospect.

University press conferences, receptions, dinners, and similar meeting held to announce a prospect's signing are prohibited. The University may hold a press conference on-campus for the sole purpose of presenting at one time the names of all prospects who have accepted offers of admission and/or athletically-related aid in a particular sport from the University. No prospects or their friends or relatives may be in attendance.

Press conferences to announce a signing may be arranged independently by the prospect or his/her family, provided there is no arrangement or involvement whatsoever by the University or representatives of its athletic interests.

University staff members are expressly prohibited from personal contact with media representatives at the site of the signing or at any other prearranged site when a prospect accepts an offer made by the institution.

The University is responsible for signings on-campus. Any contact by the media with prospects on campus during the time the prospect signs a National Letter of Intent or Grant-in-Aid shall be considered to be prima facie evidence of institutional involvement in arranging media involvement. Such an arrangement is prohibited.

Promoting Prospects Bylaw 13.4.5.3

The University and representatives of its athletic interests may not finance, arrange for, or use recruiting aids (e.g., newspaper advertisements, bumper stickers, message buttons) designed to publicize its interests in a particular prospect.

Radio and Television

Radio or TV Show Appearances By Prospects or Noninstitutional Coaches Bylaw 13.11.2

The University shall not permit a prospect or a high school, college preparatory, or two-year college coach to appear, be interviewed, or otherwise be involved (in person or via film, audio tape, or video tape) on:

1. A radio or television program conducted by the University's coach;
2. A program in which the University's coach is participating, or
3. A program for which a member of the University's athletics staff has been instrumental in arranging for the appearance of the prospect or coach or related program material.

High School, College Prep or Two-Year College Broadcast Bylaw 13.11.2.1

A member of the University's athletics staff may not serve as an announcer or commentator for a high school, college preparatory school, or two-year college contest. He or she may not appear (in person or by means of film, audio tape, or videotape) on a radio or television broadcast of such contest.

Prospects on Institutional Broadcasts Bylaw 13.11.2.2

A prospect may not be interviewed during the broadcast or telecast of a University inter- collegiate contest. The University may not permit a station telecasting a game to show a video- tape of competition involving high school, prep school, or two-year college players.

Radio and TV Appearances by Student-Athletes Bylaw 12.5.3

If a student-athlete's appearance on radio or TV is related in any way to athletics ability or prestige, he/she may not receive any compensation for that appearance. The student-athlete may not make any endorsement, expressed or implied, or any commercial product or service. The student-athlete may receive legitimate and normal expenses directly related to the appearance, provided it occurs within a 30-mile radius of the campus. The University may provide expenses for such an appearance in the general locale of an away-from-home competition.

Expenses from Media Bylaw 16.11.1.6

A magazine or other media enterprise may pay transportation expenses to a particular location (outside a 30-mile radius of the community in which the student-athlete's institution is located) in order to take a picture of or write a story about a student-athlete only if the photograph or story is in conjunction with the receipt of an establishment award at that location.

Miscellaneous

Schedule Cards Bylaw 12.5.1.4.1

An advertisement on the University's wallet-size playing schedule that include the name or picture of a student-athlete, may include language other than the commercial product's name, trademark, or logo, provided the commercial language does not appear on the same page as the picture of the student-athlete.