Hilltopper Athletics

NCAA Booster Rules: 10 Tips for Effective Recruiting

  1. Learn the guidelines before meeting with prospects. Call the Athletics director or the compliance office with any questions — it’s always better to check first than to find out later that you’ve violated a regulation. NCAA rules are complex and not uniformly applied. Some apply only to Division I schools, so you may find you have more flexibility at St. Edward’s.

  2. Active recruiting is limited to coaches. Coaches are the only individuals who may meet a prospect or the prospect's parents in person, place a phone call to the prospect or write to a prospect. Boosters are prohibited from making in-person and off-campus recruiting contacts, as well as writing or calling a prospect or the prospect's family.

  3. Alumni/booster events can violate recruiting regulations if prospects are in attendance. A coach's appearance at an event where prospects are present could make it a "recruiting event," and everyone present would be committing a violation. If you are arranging or attending alumni or booster events, do not bring or invite prospects. Explain to parents the importance of prospect-age youngsters not attending.

  4. Extra benefits or any special arrangements made by a St. Edward’s employee or booster for currently enrolled student-athletes or prospects — or their parents and relatives — not expressly authorized by the NCAA or not available to all students in general is a violation. Boosters shall not provide or arrange financial assistance, directly or indirectly, for the prospect's educational or living expenses beyond summer employment.

  5. Attending athletic programs at schools in your community is permitted, but contacting a prospect, prospect's parents or prospect's coach there is prohibited. If you see or hear of a potential prospect while at an event, contact the coaches with basic prospect information (school, position, coach).

  6. Occasional meals with families at their homes may be provided to an enrolled student-athlete, or an entire team.The meal cannot be at a restaurant, though it may be catered. Such meals must be restricted to infrequent and special occasions. Only the host and university staff members may provide transportation to the function. NCAA regulations do not permit sponsor families or “adopt-a-player” arrangements.

  7. In specific instances, unavoidable incidental contact with a prospect is not a violation. This is true if the meeting was not prearranged, did not take place on the grounds of the prospect's educational institution or the site of a competition, was not made for the purpose of recruitment, and involves interaction considered typical among acquaintances. For example, if you meet a prospect in the normal course of your business, there is no violation as long as you do not try to influence the prospect's choice of schools. If you attend an athletic event and come into contact with a prospect or the prospect's parents, there would be no violation if you excuse yourself in a timely and courteous manner and do not discuss St. Edward’s (even if the other party brings up the subject). If there is an established, long-time relationship with a prospect and his or her family, you can continue that relationship, but you should not become involved in the prospect's consideration of which school to attend.

  8. Employing student-athletes and prospects is permissible in limited situations. A booster can employ a prospect only during the summer immediately prior to the prospect attending St. Edward’s. Enrolled student-athletes are limited by financial aid considerations in their job arrangements. In all cases, the individual must be paid the same as others employed in similar positions in your area and must actually perform the work.Contact the athletics director before employing prospects or student-athletes.

  9. Student-athlete appearances are permissible at a local church, school, charity or non-profit agency. The appearances must be carefully arranged and have the prior written approval of the athletics director (not just a coach).

  10. Using a student-athlete’s name, picture or likeness is permitted only if the purpose of the ad is to recognize the individual (or team) or to extend best wishes. In this case only the name, address and official logo of the business may appear in the ad. Advertising for a commercial product or service of any kind, which includes the use of an enrolled student-athlete's picture, is not permitted. This applies to group pictures where individuals are not identified and/or not in uniform, such as a "game action" photo.