NCAA rules and regulations you should know
NCAA Rules and regulations for AlumnI and friends
BOOSTERS AND STUDENT-ATHLETES
Are You a Representative of Athletics Interests?
“Representatives of athletics interests” are more commonly known as “boosters.” Any individual, organization, business, corporation or agency is considered a “representative of athletics interests” if you:
• Have ever made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of Coastal Carolina University, such as the Chanticleer Athletic Foundation;
• Have ever participated in or are a member of any organization that promotes the Coastal Carolina University athletics program;
• Have ever provided any benefits to a prospective or enrolled student-athlete or their families (e.g. arranging summer employment);
• Have ever been a season ticket holder for any Coastal Carolina University sport;
• Have ever been a student-athlete at Coastal Carolina University;
• Have ever assisted in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes (e.g. provided lodging, meals or transportation to a Coastal Carolina University coach);
• Have been involved otherwise in promoting Coastal Carolina University athletics.
REMEMBER: Once you have become a representative of the University’s athletics interests, you retain this status indefinitely, even if you no longer contribute to the athletics program at Coastal Carolina University.
Penalties for Improper Actions
Violations of NCAA rules are a very serious matter. Impermissible actions on your part, even if unintentional, will undoubtedly result in penalties for the institution and could render a student-athlete ineligible while tarnishing the reputation of Coastal Carolina University. Engaging in any non-permissible activity could result in one or more of the following penalties:
• Revocation of your ticket privileges;
• An enrolled student-athlete being declared ineligible to compete;
• A prospective student-athlete declared ineligible to represent Coastal Carolina University;
• Forfeiture of wins and championships;
• Reduction in scholarships;
• Inability for a team to participate in postseason competitions;
• Suspension of coaches;
• Fines or sanctions imposed on the institution;
• Recruiting restrictions placed on Coastal Carolina University coaches.
We are counting on you, as supporters of Coastal Carolina University and its athletics program, to remain diligent in adhering to all University, Big South Conference, and NCAA rules.
Extra Benefits
The NCAA defines an extra benefit as any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of the institution’s athletics interests to provide a student-athlete or the student-athlete’s relative or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Receipt of a benefit by studentathletes or their relatives or friends is not a violation of NCAA legislation if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution’s students or their relatives or friends or to a particular segment of the student body (e.g., foreign students, minority students) determined on a basis unrelated to athletic ability.
Student-athletes, as well as their parents, relatives and friends, are strictly prohibited from receiving extra benefits. Receipt of extra benefits by any such persons will result in severe penalties for the student-athlete and the institution.
Extra benefits include, but are not limited to:
• Cash or loans in any amount;
• Co-signing or arranging for a loan;
• Transportation;
• Special discounts;
• Credit on a purchase;
• Providing holiday or birthday gifts;
• Free or reduced rent or housing;
• Use or payment of long distance telephone calls;
• Financial aid;
• Free or reduced tickets to any event;
• Employment of a student-athlete at a higher rate than wages paid for similar work;
• Providing expenses for family or friends to visit a student-athlete;
• Gifts or free services (e.g. airline tickets, cash, meals, summer storage);
• Providing a gift or award to a student-athlete based on their athletic performance.
Basic Rules Regarding Current Student-Athletes
As a representative of athletics interests, YOU CAN:
• Employ a current student-athlete during the summer and academic year, provided the student-athlete is compensated at a normal rate of pay and is paid for actual work performed. You are required to notify the Athletics Compliance Office before employing a student-athlete as they are required to complete an Employment Verification Form before commencing any employment opportunity.
• Provide a student-athlete an occasional meal at your home, to include transportation to the meal (the occasional meal guideline exists here).
As a representative of athletics interests,YOU CAN NOT:
• Provide a currently enrolled student-athlete, their parents or friends any extra benefits or special arrangements.
• Use the name, picture, or appearance of an enrolled student-athlete to advertise, recommend or promote sales or use of a commercial product or service of any kind. Any use of a student-athlete’s name, picture or appearance must first receive authorization from the Athletics Compliance Office.
• Entertain student-athletes or their family and friends. The lone exception is providing of an occasional meal. Restrictions do apply.
• Pay for, or arrange for payment, of room, board or any type of transportation for a student-athlete or their family or friends.
Basic Rules Regarding Prospective Student-Athletes
As a representative of athletics interests, YOU CAN:
• Forward information about prospective student-athletes to the appropriate coaching staff.
• Have a telephone conversation with a prospect only if the prospect initiates the call. Such a call may not be prearranged by a coach or institutional staff member and you are not permitted to have a recruiting conversation, but may exhibit normal civility. You must refer any questions that the prospect may have about our athletics programs or recruiting to an athletics department staff member or coach.
• Attend a prospect’s athletic contest at your own initiative provided you do not contact the prospect or their parents.
• Have telephone contact with a prospect regarding summer employment, provided the prospect has completed high school and signed a National Letter of Intent. In addition, you must contact the Athletics Compliance Office to inform them that you are making these employment arrangements.
• Continue to have established family relationships with friends and neighbors. Contacts with children of these families are permitted as long as they are not made for recruiting purposes or encouraged by Coastal Carolina University coaches.
• Make financial donations to a high school athletics program in your hometown’s immediate locale provided you make the donation on your own accord, your donation is distributed through the normal channels established by the high school and your donation is not earmarked for a specific prospect.
As a representative of athletics interests, YOU CAN NOT:
• Call, write or e-mail a prospective student-athlete or their parents in an effort to recruit them.
• Make arrangements to provide money, financial aid or a benefit of any kind to a prospect or the prospect’s family or friends.
• Contact a prospect’s coach, principal or counselor in an attempt to evaluate the prospect;
• Make contact with a prospect or their parents when they are on campus during an official or unofficial visit.
• Contact a prospect to congratulate them on signing a National Letter of Intent to attend Coastal Carolina University.
• Transport, pay or arrange for payment of transportation costs for a prospect, their relatives or friends to visit campus or elsewhere.
• Pay or arrange for payment of summer camp registration fees for a prospect.
• Have any contact with a student who is enrolled at any other two-year or four-year institution about transferring to Coastal Carolina University.
Don’t forget the rule of thumb, “When in doubt, find out!” The Athletics Compliance Office is happy to assist you; please feel free to contact us any time at 843-349-2976.