Booster Education for Ursuline College Alumni and Friends
Ursuline College is responsible for the actions of coaches, student-athletes and staff, as well as alumni, boosters and fans. The following information is intended to help athletic boosters and organizations so they can best support college athletes without putting the institution at risk.
Boosters: What is a booster? You are a Booster, or Representative of Athletics Interest, if you:
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Have participated in or ever have been a member of a booster organization that supports Ursuline athletics;
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Have made any financial contribution to the athletics department or any athletic organization;
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Have been involved in the recruitment of a prospect or have been asked to assist in the recruitment of a prospective student-athlete;
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Have provided or are providing benefits to an enrolled student-athlete or his or her relatives or friends;
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Have otherwise been involved in promoting Ursuline College athletic program in any way;
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Have helped arrange employment for student-athletes;
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Are a parent or guardian of an enrolled student-athlete;
NOTE: Once someone has been identified as a Booster/representative of Ursuline athletics, they will retain that identity forever.
Recruiting: What is a prospective student-athlete?
A prospective student-athlete is any person who has begun classes in the ninth grade. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective student-athlete, if the institution provides a benefit or assistance not provided to prospective students in general. A prospective student-athlete remains so even after signing a National Letter of Intent or accepting financial aid and until they report for the first day of classes.
What are Boosters prohibited from doing?
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Contacting a prospect in person on or off campus;
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Writing or telephoning a prospect or member of the prospect’s family;
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Making arrangements for the prospect or the prospect’s relatives or friends to receive money or financial aid;
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Providing transportation for a prospect or the prospect’s family or friends to visit the campus;
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Providing free tickets or reduced priced tickets to attend an athletic event to the prospect or the prospect’s family or friends;
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Entertaining coaches of prospects.
What are boosters permitted to do?
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Notify coaches about prospects in your area;
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Attend athletic contests where prospects compete, but may not contact the prospect or prospect’s relatives;
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Continue existing friendships with families of prospects, but not attempt to recruit.
Enrolled Student-Athletes: What contact can Boosters have with currently enrolled student-athletes?
A booster may not provide a student-athlete any benefit or special arrangement that would not be offered to the rest of the general student population. This would include:
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May not entertain student-athletes or their friends or family;
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May not purchase a meal or beverage for a student athlete;
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May not use the name or picture of an enrolled student-athlete to advertise, recommend, or promote any product or service;
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May not provide awards or gifts to student-athletes;
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May not allow a student-athlete to use a telephone to make free calls, or allow use of a free or discounted automobile;
NOTE: An enrolled student-athlete may be invited to a boosters home for an occasional home cooked meal, but may not be taken to a restaurant. NCAA regulations do not permit sponsor families or adopt-a-player arrangements.
Employment:
A student-athlete may be employed so long as compensation is only for work actually performed, at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for similar work, and the student-athlete was not hired based on athletics ability. Contact the Athletic Director before employing prospects or student-athletes.
NOTE: Employment may be arranged for a prospect provided the employment does not begin before the completion of the prospects senior year.
Institutional Control:
Ursuline College is responsible for the actions of boosters and booster support groups. Boosters are regulated by the same NCAA rules and regulations placed upon all institutional athletics staff members. Ask before you act. Contact the Athletic Director Cindy McKnight or Compliance Coordinator Micki Stewart if you have questions.
