Introduction
The NCAA has many rules and regulations governing intercollegiate sports. One primary area of focus is the recruitment of student-athletes by alumni and friends of member institutions. It is for this reason that the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Indianapolis feels that it is important for you as alumni and friends to know what is allowed by the NCAA. Many of you recognize high school students who are talented athletically. We appreciate your support and request that you adhere to the following regulations when it comes to the "recruitment" of prospective student-athletes for the University of Indianapolis.
General Rules Information
To better understand the NCAA's bylaws, you should be familiar with the terms "representative of athletics interests" and "prospective student–athlete."
Representative of Athletics Interests (NCAA Bylaw 13.02.12)
A representative of the University of Indianapolis athletics interests is an individual who is known (or who should have been known) by a member of the University of Indianapolis athletics administration to:
- Have participated in or to be a member of an agency or organization promoting the institution's intercollegiate athletics program;
- Have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of the institution;
- Be assisting or to have been requested (by the athletics department staff) to assist in the recruitment of prospects;
- Be assisting or to have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families; or
- Have been involved otherwise in promoting the institution's athletics program.
As University of Indianapolis alumni, friends, fans or boosters, you may be considered representatives of athletics interests. Once you become a representative, this is a status that you will retain indefinitely.
Prospective Student–Athlete (NCAA Bylaw 13.02.10)
A prospective student–athlete ("prospect") is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. A person remains a prospect even after signing a letter of intent with University of Indianapolis. A prospect only loses this status when classes begin or at the beginning of official team practice before the start of classes. Please note: A prospect may not be contacted for recruitment purposes until June 15th following his/ her junior year in high school.
Representatives' Recruiting Restrictions
Alumnae, friends or boosters of the University of Indianapolis should be aware of the following points that are stressed and enforced by the NCAA:
- You may not telephone a prospect.
- You may not make in–person, off–campus recruiting contacts to a prospect, his/her relatives or legal guardians.
- You may not contact a prospect's coach, principal or counselor in an attempt to evaluate him/her.
- You may not visit a prospect's school to acquire films or transcripts to evaluate his/her academic or athletic eligibility.
- You may not entertain; provide tickets or gifts and other benefits to junior or senior high school, preparatory school or junior college coaches at any time.
- You may not contribute to the payment of registration fees for a prospect to attend sports summer camps.
- You may not contribute to the payment of transportation costs for a prospect or his/her relatives or friends to visit the University of Indianapolis campus. This includes commercial transport or transportation in your vehicle.
- You may not contact a student–athlete enrolled in another four–year institution to explore the possibility of his/her transfer to the University of Indianapolis and its athletic program.
However, you CAN help in the athletic department's recruiting efforts by forwarding all information about a prospective student–athlete to the athletic department and/or the coaching staff. We appreciate your help in recognizing potential student–athletes who might be well suited for the University of Indianapolis.
Extra Benefit Rule
The University of Indianapolis representatives cannot provide an extra benefit or special arrangement to a prospective or enrolled student–athlete. An extra benefit is any special arrangement by a University of Indianapolis employee or a representative of the University of Indianapolis's athletics interests to provide a student–athlete or the student–athlete's relatives or friends a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation (NCAA Bylaw 16.02.3). Activities that are prohibited include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Providing gifts or free or reduced–cost services.
- Providing a loan, or arranging or co–signing for a loan.
- Employing relatives or friends of a prospective student–athlete.
- Providing use of an automobile.
- Providing rent free or reduced rent housing.
- Providing tickets to an athletic, institutional or community event.
- Entertaining or contacting a prospective student–athlete or his/her family off campus.
- Promising to provide any of the above.
You may provide benefits or services that are demonstrated to be generally available on the same basis to the entire student–body.
PLEASE NOTE: As an athletic representative, you are not precluded from continuing friendships with families who have prospective or enrolled student–athletes (e.g., backyard barbecues, picnics). You simply cannot specifically encourage a prospect's participation in the University of Indianapolis athletic program or provide benefits to the student–athlete that you were not providing before he/she became a prospect or an enrolled student–athlete. You may, however, simply encourage him/her to attend the University of Indianapolis. Upon the discovery that a student–athlete is a prospect or has enrolled at the University of Indianapolis, please notify the athletic department of any prior relationship you have had with the individual.
Points to Remember
The NCAA permits only coaches and the Athletic Department staff members to recruit student–athletes.
- Avoid involvement with prospective or enrolled student–athletes unless you receive authorization from the University of Indianapolis Director of Athletics.
- You may speak to student–athletes if they initiate the conversation. Speak civilly but refer all questions relating to the University of Indianapolis athletic program to the Athletic Department staff.
- When in doubt about what you can and cannot do, please call the University of Indianapolis compliance office at 317–788–3306.
