OSPREY FANS NCAA COMPLIANCE FOR BOOSTERS 1
Welcome to The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey Home of the Ospreys. As a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Stockton is dedicated to comply with all the rules and regulations set forth by those governing organizations. The goal of the department is to avoid violations of these rules and regulations through the administration of a comprehensive compliance program. The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey participates at the NCAA Division III level. As defined by the NCAA, Division III institutions do not award financial aid on the basis of athletic ability -- only on the basis of financial need. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships. Our goals and responsibilities as an NCAA member are to educate everyone involved in our athletic programs including prospects, enrolled students, coaches, athletics staff, college faculty and staff, and athletic boosters. We intend to take a proactive role in this arena by opening and maintaining clear lines of communication. This encourages individuals to "ASK BEFORE THEY ACT" and to "SEEK PERMISSION INSTEAD OF FORGIVENESS". The end result is maintaining the integrity of intercollegiate competition and the positive image of The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and its athletic programs. Through a commitment of honesty and sportsmanship, the STOCKTON Office of Athletics and Recreation has compiled several useful things in order to maintain intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of the educational program and the athlete as an integral part of the student body. The following pages will assist every booster of STOCKTON: 2
Booster Rules and Regulations As a member of the NCAA, it is our responsibility to ensure that alumni, boosters and friends of the college are well informed about the NCAA rules and regulations. Under those rules, alumni, boosters and friends are categorized as "representatives of The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey athletics interests." The NCAA has explicit guidelines for what a Representative of Athletics Interests, traditionally known as boosters, can and cannot do. The Stockton Office of Athletics and Recreation is providing you with this information to assist with any questions you may have regarding the recruitment of prospective student-athletes and contact with currently enrolled student-athletes. Since it does not include all applicable situations, please contact the athletic department before having contact with a prospective or enrolled student-athlete. We appreciate your interest and support but remind you that an inappropriate contact or inadvertent action on your part can jeopardize the eligibility of our student-athletes and prospects and the compliance of the College with NCAA regulations. Stockton is proud to have the loyal support and continued interest in its athletics programs by our alumni, boosters and friends. As we strive for excellence, we must always seek the highest standard of ethical conduct. With your assistance and cooperation, we can accomplish both goals. Are you a Booster? Rules for Boosters Regarding Recruiting Extra Benefits Boosters Can and Cannot Give to a Student-Athlete Boosters Related to Student-Athlete Employment What Boosters can do for Student-Athletes Who to Contact 3
Are you a Booster? You are a Representative of Athletics Interests (booster) if you: Participate in or have ever been a member of The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey Alumni Association Make or have made a donation to any of the Osprey men's or women's athletics programs Provide or have helped to arrange employment for 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 Stockton athletics program (Please note that this action is not permitted by NCAA rules) Have ever assisted in providing any benefit to enrolled student-athletes or their families Are the parent(s) or legal guardians of an enrolled student-athlete Have ever been involved in any way with the Osprey athletic program (former student-athlete) REMEMBER... as a Representative of Athletics Interests, you are responsible for making the Stockton Athletic Department aware of any potential violations of NCAA rules you know have occurred. ONCE A BOOSTER...ALWAYS A BOOSTER. According to the NCAA, once an individual has been identified as an Athletics Representative, he or she retains this identity forever, even if that person no longer contributes to the athletics program 4
Rules for Boosters Regarding Recruiting The Definitions You Must Know: A Prospective Student-Athlete is any student who has started classes for the ninth grade. The NCAA, however, does not have a minimum age limit. As a result, a student of any age who is contacted for recruitment purposes becomes a prospect. It is prudent to treat ALL athletes as prospects. A Recruiting Contact is any face-to-face encounter between a prospect, or a prospects parent or legal guardian, and a College staff member or Representative of Athletics Interests during which any dialogue occurs in excess of an exchange or a greeting. The Rules to Remember: Only coaches and College staff members can be involved in the recruiting process. All athletics representatives are prohibited from contacting a prospective student-athlete or members of the prospects family by telephone, letter, or in person on or off campus for the purpose of encouraging participation in the Stockton athletic program. A prospective student-athlete remains a prospect even after he or she has registered for classes at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. The prospect does not lose this prospect status until the start of fall classes at the College or until the beginning of official team practice prior to the start of fall classes. Please note that you may not provide room and board, transportation, or any kind of benefit to a prospective studentathlete during the summer prior to enrollment for fall classes at Stockton. As an athletics representative, you are not precluded from continuing established friendships with families who have prospective or enrolled student-athletes. You simply cannot encourage a prospects participation in the Osprey athletic program or provide benefits to the student-athlete that you were not providing before he or she became a prospect or enrolled student-athlete. An athletics representative cannot become directly or indirectly involved in making arrangements for a prospect, the prospects relatives or friends to receive money or financial aid of any kind. 5
An athletics representative should 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 rules prohibit that activity for a prospective student-athlete. An athletics representative is not permitted to provide entertainment, tickets or transportation for high school, preparatory school or community college coaches at any location. Only the Office of Athletics and Recreation can provide complimentary admissions to home athletic events for those coaches. An athletics representative shall not provide entertainment or complimentary tickets at reduced cost to Stockton s home or away athletic or non-athletic events for a prospect, the prospect s relatives or friends. Only the Office of Athletics and Recreation can provide complimentary admissions to home athletic events for prospective studentathletes. An athletics representative is prohibited from contacting an enrolled student-athlete at another institution for the purpose of encouraging them to transfer to Stockton and participation in our athletic program. An athletics representative is not permitted to pay or offer to pay registration fees for summer sports camps for a prospect. An athletics representative is not permitted to invite only selected junior or senior high school or community college prospective student-athletes to alumni events. Since the NCAA prohibits contact between prospects and alumni and athletic representatives, care must be taken to invite, for instance, all high school seniors who have received academic and athletic awards. An athletics representative can assist the coaching staff in the recruiting process by notifying them of any student you think would be a strong addition to the College and to the athletics program. You may also send the Osprey coaching staff any newspaper clippings or other information about prospects which you think would be of interest. The coach can then make the appropriate contact. When in doubt, ASK. Do not provide anything to or for a prospect, the prospects relatives or friends, without first checking with the Office of Athletics and Recreation. 6
The Questions You May Ask: Question: May an athletics representative aid the Stockton coaching staff by observing or evaluating high school or community college prospects? Answer: An athletics representative may view a prospect s game on his or her own initiative as long as he/she does not contact the prospect or the prospect s family on such occasions. If a prospect approaches you on or off campus regarding the Osprey 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. An athletics representative may not contact a prospects coach, principal or counselor in an attempt to evaluate the prospect or visit the prospects education institution to pick up game films or transcripts. Question: May a prospect call an athletics representative? Answer: Yes. An athletics representative may have a telephone conversation with a prospect ONLY if the prospect initiates the call. An institutional staff member may not prearrange the telephone call and the discussion should be limited to the College in general. All athletically related questions must be referred to the Office of Athletics and Recreation. Question: Is it permissible for athletics representatives to have any contact with prospective student-athletes? Answer: The only contacts an athletics representative may have are... 1. If an athletics representative is discussing summer employment opportunities with a prospect after he or she has begun classes at Stockton. 2. If an established family relationship exists between an athletics representative and the prospect. Contacts with sons or daughters of these families are permitted as long as they are not made for recruiting purposes and are not initiated by Stockton s coaching staff members. You may continue friendly relationships with family, friends, and neighbors. You are permitted to play pick up basketball or 7
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 take advantage of these relationships for recruitment purposes. 3. If unavoidable incidental contact occurs which involves only an exchange of greetings. Question: What should an athletics representative do if he or she has contact with a prospect or group of prospects at a Stockton athletics event? Answer: Once again, the NCAA understands that unavoidable incidental contacts may occur. As long as... 1. The contact is not prearranged, 2. No attempt at recruitment is made, and 3. Only an exchange of greetings takes place... the athletics representative will not be held responsible for making the recruiting contact. Question: What are some examples of extra benefits to prospective or enrolled student-athletes that are prohibited by the NCAA? Answer: An athletics representative may not provide an extra benefit or special arrangement to a prospect, an enrolled student-athlete or their families. Extra benefits include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Providing cash or loans in any amount. 2. Signing or co-signing a note with an outside agency to arrange a loan. 3. Employing relatives or friends of prospects as an inducement for the enrollment of the prospect at Stockton. 4. Giving any type of gift (e.g. birthday, holidays), gift-in-kind or free service (e.g. clothing, airline tickets, laundry, car repair, haircuts, meals in restaurants). 8
5. Arranging or providing special discounts for goods or services, credits or special payment arrangements on any purchase or service. 6. Providing the use of an automobile. 7. Providing typing or tutoring services or covering the related expenses for courserelated papers or projects. 8. Providing hospitality in your home other than for an occasional home meal (e.g. birthday, holidays). All occasional home meals must be approved in advance by the Office of Athletics and Recreation. 9. Providing hospitality at your summer home to go water skiing, sailing, etc. 10. Providing transportation within or outside of the campus area (e.g. from campus to your home, from the airport to campus, to summer jobs, etc.). However, you are permitted to provide reasonable local transportation to student-athletes to attend an occasional home meal at your home. 11. Entertaining or contacting a prospect or prospects family on or off campus. 12. Providing rent free or reduced rent housing. 13. Providing a benefit connected with on or off campus housing (e.g. individual television sets or stereo equipment, specialized recreational facilities). 14. Providing a ticket to an athletics, institutional or community event. 15. Providing a guarantee of a bond. 16. Promising financial aid for post-graduate education. 17. Promising employment after their college education. 9
Extra Benefits Boosters Can and Cannot Give to a Student-Athlete The Definitions You Must Know: AN ENROLLED STUDENT-ATHLETE is a student who is enrolled at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and presently is participating in athletics or has completed his/her eligibility but is still enrolled at the institution. AN EXTRA BENEFIT is any special gift or arrangement provided to an enrolled studentathlete or a student-athletes relative or friend who is not available to the general student body of that institution. Extra benefit legislation also may apply to gifts or arrangements (other than legitimate jobs) subsequent to the student-athletes graduation. The Rules To Remember: An athletics representative cannot provide an extra benefit or special arrangement to an enrolled student-athlete that is not available to all other students at the College. An athletics representative cannot provide room and board or any type of transportation during the academic year or summer for a student-athlete with eligibility remaining. An athletics representative cannot provide room and board or transportation costs incurred by relatives or friends of an enrolled student-athlete to visit campus or attend an away athletic contest. An athletics representative cannot expend funds to entertain student-athletes, their relatives or friends. You are not even permitted to buy a soda or a cup of coffee for them. It is not permissible to use the name, picture or appearance of an enrolled studentathlete to directly advertise, recommend or promote the sale 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. All promotional activities must be approved in advance by the Office of Athletics and Recreation. 10
An athletics representative may not provide any transportation, payment of expense or loan of any automobile for a student-athlete to return home or to any other locations for any reason. An athletics representative may not provide awards or gifts to a student-athlete for his or her athletics performance. All awards must conform to NCAA regulations and must be approved in advance by the Office of Athletics and Recreation. It is not permissible to 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 Office of Athletics and Recreation. An athletics representative may not permit a student-athlete, their relatives or friends to use your telephone to make free long distance telephone calls. If a student-athlete accepts any benefit based on his or her athletic ability, that athlete will jeopardize his or her eligibility for intercollegiate athletic competition. If a student-athlete has completed eligibility, the institution is responsible and may receive penalties applied to the Office of Athletics and Recreation. Additionally, the athletics representative involved may be required to disassociate themselves from the Osprey athletics program. Disassociation would result in a loss of any benefits or privileges related to the College and the Office of Athletics and Recreation. Remember that an athletics representative may invite a student-athlete to their home for an occasional home meal but only for infrequent and special occasions (e.g. birthday, holidays). You may provide reasonable local transportation to the student-athlete for this occasional home meal only if the meal is in your own home. All occasional home meals must be approved in advance by the Office of Athletics and Recreation. 11
Boosters Related to Student-Athlete Employment The Rules To Remember regarding prospective and enrolled student-athletes: An athletics representative is not permitted to employ or arrange for employment of a prospective or enrolled student-athlete without checking first with the Stockton Office of Athletics and Recreation. The Office is permitted arrange for summer employment for prospects prior to enrollment as freshman under certain circumstances. Stringent rules apply in these instances and written records must be kept regarding employment. Before the commencement of employment, the student-athlete and the employer must sign a written statement to be kept on file in the Office of Athletics and Recreation, which specifies that the student-athlete has not been hired based on the value or utility he or she may have for the employer based on publicity, reputation, or fame that he or she has obtained because of athletics ability, and that the student-athlete is to be compensated only for work actually performed at the going rate for similar services. An athletics representative is not permitted to provide transportation for prospects or student-athletes in your employment unless transportation is provided for all employees. The Questions You May Ask: Question: Are there any restrictions on the rate of pay for student-athletes? Answer: An athletics representative may only pay student-athletes employed by you for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate for similar services in the community and your own business. Question: If after an athletics awards banquet a senior student-athlete strikes up a conversations with an athletics representative about possible post-graduation job opportunities, what is the athletics representative permitted to discuss? Answer: An athletics representative is not permitted to promise anything of value to an enrolled student-athlete. An athletics representative may, however, contact the head coaches or the Career Services Office who helps arrange employment for student-athletes. 12
What Boosters can do for Student-Athletes The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey Athletics thanks every booster for their continuous support. While it may seem like there are quite a few rules boosters are asked to follow, we would like to remind you that there are permissible activities for boosters to get involved in. The following are just a few examples. If you have any questions, regarding your activity in Osprey Athletics, please contact the Office of Athletics and Recreation at (609) 652-4217. For the PROSPECTIVE student-athlete, a booster may... 1. Contact a prospect for the purpose of arranging summer employment after he or she has begun classes at Stockton. At Stockton, initial contact should be made through the Career Services Office. 2. Provide a specific coach with names or newspaper clippings of talented prospective student-athlete in your area. For the ENROLLED student-athlete, a booster may... 1. Have contact with enrolled student-athletes on campus. 2. Invite a student-athlete(s) or the entire team to your home for a meal. The meal, which may be catered, should be limited to infrequent and special occasions (e.g. birthday, holiday). Please note that all occasional home meals must be approved in advance by the Office of Athletics and Recreation. 13
Who Should I Contact If you have questions about NCAA rules or contact with a prospective or enrolled student-athlete, please direct these questions to: Office of Athletics and Recreation The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey PO Box 195 Jim Leeds Road Pomona, New Jersey 08240-0195 609-652-4217 (phone) 609-626-5510 (fax) Lonnie Folks Director of Athletics & Recreation 609-652-4877 folksl@stockton.edu Linda Yost Associate Director of Intercollegiate Sports 609-652-4875 yostl@stockton.edu Osprey Athletics Website www.stockton.edu/ospreys 14