Rockhurst University thanks you for your interest in and support of Rockhurst Athletics. The information below is intended to highlight some topics pertinent to you as a representative of athletics interests. It is difficult to cover every possible rule and regulation governing representatives of athletics interests; therefore, we request that you please contact Michael Koehler (
), Associate Director of Athletics and Compliance Officer, before taking any action that may be contrary to NCAA rules. In the world of compliance, it is better safe than sorry, so please ASK BEFORE YOU ACT if there is any question as to whether an action would be allowed under NCAA bylaws.
Under NCAA rules, a representative of the University's athletics interests, or “booster,” is any individual who has ever:
• made any type of contribution to the athletics department or to a booster club
• provided benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families (this includes the families of current student-athletes)
You become a representative by any action on your part to assist Rockhurst in any manner. Once you become a representative of Rockhurst's athletics interests, you retain that identity forever. NCAA rules hold Rockhurst responsible for all actions of its athletics representatives.
BOOSTERS & PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETES
As a booster, the NCAA restricts the involvement that you may have with prospective student-athletes. Only coaches and authorized employees may be involved in the recruiting process. NCAA rules prohibit boosters from engaging in recruiting activities designed to secure a prospect’s enrollment at Rockhurst.
PERMISSIBLE BOOSTER ACTIVITIES:
• Continuing to have contact with an established family friend or neighbor who is a prospect
• Viewing a prospect’s game on your own initiative
• Notifying a Rockhurst coaching staff member of prospects
• Following a prospect on their social media site such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram
• Receiving a call from a PSA only if the PSA initiates the call and is at the expense of the prospect. The call may not be for recruiting purposes (no discussion about the athletic program, but about the institution itself, i.e. academics, student life, etc.)
AS A BOOSTER, YOU MAY NOT:
• Contact a prospect, his/her parents, legal guardians, or spouse on or off Rockhurst’s campus unless you have a longstanding relationship with the prospect (relationship must pre-date the ninth grade)
• Contact a prospect's coach, principal, or counselor
• Assist with the actual evaluation of talent, i.e. visit the prospect's institution to pick up film or transcripts pertaining to the evaluation of the prospect's academic eligibility or athletic ability
• Make special arrangements for entertainment for recruiting purposes
• Publicly display on any social media site comments relating to the prospect’s abilities or contribution the prospect might make to any Rockhurst team
• Make any type of communication on a prospect’s social media including writing on a prospect’s Facebook wall, “liking” or commenting on any social media post, or making any @mentions on social media sites
• Publicize the campus visit or verbal commitment of a prospect
• “Re-tweet” any announcement or @mention made by a prospect
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
May a booster speak to a prospect who is accompanied by an RU athletics coach?
NO. If an RU coach is with a prospect during a visit to RU, do not approach the coach until prospect and his/her family are off campus.
AS A BOOSTER, YOU MAY NOT GIVE/PROVIDE A PROSPECT (THIS LIST IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE):
• Free or reduced cost services, rentals, or purchases of any type (e.g. meals, drinks, clothing, laundry, haircuts, legal fees, tattoos, rounds of golf, car repairs, etc.)
• Admission to an event (e.g. athletic events, movies, banquets, clubs, special events/parties, concerts, etc.)
• Cash or loans of any amount (including co-signing)
• Use of your credit card or telephone card
• Use of an automobile or transportation
• Gifts of any kind, including those on special occasions such as birthdays, religious holidays, finals week, graduation, etc.
• Free/reduced-cost housing for any length of time
• Use of an automobile or transportation
• Payment of bills (e.g. cell phone, gas money, rent, etc.)
• Awards
• Provide a meal outside of your home or at Rockhurst University
• Free academic assistance of any kind (e.g. tutoring, editing papers/projects, assistance in completion of class work, use of computer, etc.)
May a booster call a prospect or send a congratulatory note once the prospect has signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) or athletic aid agreement?
NO. He/she remains a prospect until the 1
st day of enrollment or 1st day of practice, whichever is first. Until that time, all contact rules regarding prospects are in effect.
May a booster accompany a Rockhurst athletics coach when he/she visits a local high school or prospect’s home?
NO. A booster may not accompany a coach during ANY recruiting activities.
May a prospect call a booster?
YES. A prospect may call a booster at his/her own expense. A booster may speak to a prospect ONLY if the prospect initiates the call and the call is not prearranged by a Rockhurst staff member. Discussion must be limited to general RU topics with no reference to athletics. All athletically related questions must be referred to the athletics department.
BOOSTERS & ENROLLED STUDENT-ATHLETES
As a booster, the NCAA restricts the involvement that you may have with student-athletes enrolled at Rockhurst. NCAA rules prohibit boosters from providing a student-athlete with an extra benefit and doing so may result in the student-athlete being declared ineligible to compete on behalf of Rockhurst Athletics. Extra benefit violations include any special gift or arrangement provided to a student-athlete, or a student-athlete’s friend or family member that is not available to the general public or Rockhurst University student body.
PERMISSIBLE BOOSTER ACTIVITIES:
• Employ a student-athlete (see employment section below for details)
• Host a meal at your home or at Rockhurst University campus on an occasional basis that has been approved by the Rockhurst Compliance Director prior to the meal occurring.
• Speak with student-athletes at athletic events, banquets, etc.
• Following a prospect on their social media site such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram
AS A BOOSTER, YOU MAY NOT GIVE/PROVIDE A STUDENT-ATHLETE (THIS LIST IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE):
• Use of an automobile or transportation
• Free or reduced cost services, rentals, or purchases of any type (e.g. meals, drinks, clothing, laundry, haircuts, legal fees, tattoos, rounds of golf, car repairs, etc.)
• Admission to an event (e.g. athletic events, movies, clubs, special events/parties, concerts, etc.)
• Gifts of any kind, including those on special occasions such as birthdays, religious holidays, finals week, graduation, etc.
• Cash or loans of any amount (including co-signing)
• Use of your credit card or telephone card
• Free/reduced-cost housing for any length of time
• Payment of bills (e.g. cell phone, gas money, rent, etc.)
• Awards
• Provide a meal outside of your home or at Rockhurst University
• Academic assistance of any kind (e.g. tutoring, editing papers/projects, assistance in completion of class work, use of computer, etc.)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
May a booster host a meal for current student-athletes?
YES. A booster may host a meal on an occasional basis for any number of current student-athletes, provided the meal is approved by the Rockhurst Compliance Director in advance. The meal must either be hosted at the booster’s home or on the Rockhurst campus. The meal may be catered.
May a booster purchase an item that belongs to a current student-athlete?
NO. A booster may not purchase an item that belongs to a current student-athlete. If a current student-athlete attempts to sell his/her personal items to you, this will immediately affect his/her eligibility at RU. This includes purchasing his/her gear, apparel, jerseys, helmets, gloves, game balls, awards, shoes, etc.
May a booster receive a ticket to an athletic event from a current student-athlete?
NO. A booster may not receive a complimentary admission to an RU athletic event from a student-athlete, unless there is a pre-existing relationship between the booster and the student-athlete (predates the S-A beginning the 9th grade).
May a booster speak with a current student-athlete at an athletic event or banquet?
YES. Communication with a current student-athlete at an athletic event or banquet is not restricted under NCAA rules. You are NOT ALLOWED to speak with
prospective student-athletes at the same events.
Employment of Current Student-Athletes:
Employment of a current student-athlete is allowable, provided all five (5) of the following conditions are met:
- The student-athlete is only paid for the work actually performed
- The student-athlete is paid at the rate commensurate with the going rate in that locale for similar services.
- The student-athlete is not compensated in any manner for any value or utility that he or she may have for the employer because of any publicity, reputation, fame, or personal following that he/she may have obtained because of their athletic ability.
- The student-athlete must register all jobs during the academic year and summer by completing the Student-Athlete Employment Form and submitting it to the Rockhurst Compliance Director prior to beginning work, and
- Employers MUST confirm the employment of Rockhurst student-athletes prior to their employment beginning.
Gambling Activities:
NCAA rules prohibit student-athletes and athletic department staff from participating in any sports gambling activity. Rockhurst student-athletes, coaches and/or employees may not provide information to individuals involved in any type of organized gambling concerning sporting events. In addition, Rockhurst student-athletes, coaches and employees may not solicit or accept any wager on any intercollegiate or professional athletics contest, including, but not limited to, NCAA tournament brackets, fantasy sports, and Super Bowl pools.
Promotional Activities, Student-Athletes:
• Student-athletes are not eligible for participation in intercollegiate athletics if he/she accepts compensation or permits the use of his/her name or photo to promote a commercial enterprise
• Student-athletes are prohibited from being involved in the advertisement, recommendation or promotion of sales or use of any commercial product or service of any kind
.
•
All charitable, educational and nonprofit promotional activities involving student-athletes must have prior approval from the athletics department.
What Are Extra Benefits?
NCAA legislation expressly prohibits University supporters from providing "extra benefits" to student-athletes. An extra benefit is any special arrangement to provide a student-athlete, or his/her family or legal guardians, a benefit not authorized by NCAA legislation. In general, you may not provide anything or make special arrangements for student-athletes or prospective student-athletes that are not available to the general student population.
Examples of prohibited "extra benefits" include, but are not limited to:
• providing cash or loans in any amount, or signing or co-signing for a loan
• a guarantee of bond
• the use of an automobile
• gifts of any kind, including birthday cards, flowers and holiday gifts
• gift of cash or like items, or clothing or equipment
• providing loans to relatives or friends, including co-signing for a loan
• providing any tangible items, including merchandise
• free or reduced-cost services, rentals or purchases of any type
• free or reduced-cost housing
• providing special discounts for goods and services (e.g., car repairs, legal services, haircuts, etc.)
• purchasing complimentary admissions from a student-athlete
• providing an honorarium to a student-athlete for a speaking engagement
What Are The Consequences To Boosters For NCAA Violations?
Rockhurst University is required by NCAA regulations to notify boosters of consequences regarding rules violations. Boosters found in violation of NCAA rules are subject to losing benefits and privileges with the university. Probationary periods or complete dissolution of the relationship between institution and booster are possible depending on the severity of the violation.
