Fans' Guide to NCAA Rules Compliance:

The accompanying information has been developed by Virginia Commonwealth University's Athletic Department to serve as a brief summary of NCAA legislation governing alumni and friends of NCAA institutions.

This information outlines rules and regulations which pertain to situations encountered by alumni and friends, and their requests for assistance in complying with NCAA legislation. Your efforts to follow this legislation are greatly appreciated because violations could: affect the eligibility of involved prospects or student-athletes; result in NCAA penalties being imposed on Virginia Commonwealth University; and lead to restrictions regarding your involvement with VCU's athletics program.

All NCAA legislation cannot be covered in this limited format. Additional questions should be forwarded to Patty Powis, Interim Compliance Officer at VCU, or Kathleen Hallock, Assistant Commissioner at the Colonial Athletic Association.

IMPORTANT TERMS

1) Booster - Under NCAA rules, a representative of the institution's athletics interests, or a "booster" is any individual that has ever:
 - joined the institution's booster organization
- contributed to the athletics department or its booster organization
- assisted in recruiting prospects
- provided benefits (e.g., summer jobs) to enrolled student-athletes
- otherwise promoted the institution's athletics program.

Please note the important points regarding this definition:
once an individual becomes a booster, he or she remains as such forever, and under NCAA rules, the institution is responsible for all actions of its boosters.

2) Prospective Student-Athlete ö Commonly referred to as a ãprospect,ä is any student who has started classes for 9th grade. A student remains a prospect until enrollment has occurred at a collegiate institution.

3) Extra Benefit ö The term ãextra benefitä refers to any special arrangement to provide a student-athlete or his or her relatives of friends with a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation.

1. ISSUES PRIOR TO ENROLLMENT

   NCAA legislation does not allow a booster to be involved in the recruiting process. Restricted areas include items listed below and apply to the prospect as well as the prospect's parents/legal guardians and relatives.

   1. Contacts – Boosters may not make in-person recruiting contacts with the prospect or his/her relatives at any site. This includes when a prospect is on campus for a visit.
   2. Gifts – The provision of any financial aid or other benefits (e.g., clothing, special discounts, tickets to events, loans of money or other items) to prospects or their relatives is prohibited.
   3. Evaluation – A booster may observe a prospect's contest, but may not contact the prospect, prospect's parents/legal guardians/relatives, prospect's coach, principal or counselor in an attempt to evaluate the academic or athletic abilities of the prospect.
   4. Employment – Employment or arranging of employment for a prospect before the completion of his/her senior year is prohibited. After graduation a booster may employ a prospect as long as compensation is for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with experience.
   5. Sports Camps – A booster cannot contribute financial support in the name of Virginia Commonwealth University or designate such a contribution to specific high school athletes for them to attend a sports camp. A booster may respond to a request for donations to send high school students to camps. The high school and the student must make the decision as to which camp the student attends. These funds may not be designated for a specific student for his/her attendance at a specific camp. A booster may donate to a high school booster club, provided this booster club has made a concerted effort to solicit funds from the general public and not just VCU boosters.

   ISSUES AFFECTING CURRENTLY ENROLLED STUDENT-ATHLETES

   After enrollment at a college institution, only benefits expressly authorized by the NCAA are permitted for student-athletes. Restricted areas include items listed below:

   1. Telephone and Credit Cards – It is not permissible to allow a student-athlete to use a telephone or credit card for personal reasons free of charge or at a reduced rate.
   2. Special Benefits – The student-athlete shall not receive any extra benefits, as defined in the prior section.
   3. Special Arrangement – A student-athlete may not receive a special discount, payment arrangement, credit on a purchase (e.g., airline ticket, clothing) or a service (e.g., laundry, dry cleaning). A booster may not cosign a loan for a student-athlete.
   4. Speaking Engagement - Student-athletes may receive only necessary travel expenses, not an honorarium. All speaking engagements must be approved in advance by the Director of Athletics.
   5. Employment – A booster may provide employment with compensation only for work performed and at a rate commensurate with experience. Further, a student-athlete may not be employed to sell equipment related to his or her sport.
   6. Services – An athletics representative may not provide a student-athlete with professional services, for which a fee normally would be charged, free of charge or at a reduced cost.
   7. Entertainment – A student-athlete may not receive services (e.g., movie tickets, dinners, use of car) from commercial agencies free of charge or at reduced rates.

   FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

   Q: Can a representative of athletics interests be involved when a prospect is on an official or unofficial visit?

   A: No. Representatives of athletics interests are precluded from all recruiting activities, including face to face contacts with a prospect or his/her relatives.

   Q: May a student-athlete's name or picture be used to directly or indirectly to advertise, recommend, or promote the sale or use of a commercial product or service?

   A: No. Such activities would jeopardize the eligibility of the student-athlete. Student-athletes may not be involved in the promotion of commercial products.

   Q: May a booster attend a public event (e.g., high school awards banquet or dinner) at which prospects are in attendance?

   A: Yes. However, contact with a prospect or a prospect's parents/legal guardians/ relatives may not occur. No attempt may be made to recruit the prospect.

   Q: May a student-athlete make a public appearance at a business establishment for any purpose such as signing autographs, etc.?

   A: No. Such appearances are considered a direct or indirect endorsement of the commercial establishment, thus jeopardizing the eligibility of the student-athlete.
   Condensed Student-Athlete Handbook.(pdf)