Information for Representatives of Athletics

Interests (Booster)

Who Is A Representative Of WSSU'S Athletics Interests (Booster)?

Article 6 of the NCAA Constitution mandates that the University exercise institutional control over its intercollegiate athletics program. Article 6.4.1, provides that an institution's responsibility "shall include responsibility for the acts of an independent agency, corporate entity (e.g., apparel or equipment manufacturer) or other organization when a member of the institution's executive or athletics administration . . . has knowledge that such agency, corporate entity or other organization is promoting the institution's intercollegiate athletics program."

A representative of WSSU's athletics interests is an individual, business, or organization who is known (or who should have been known) by a member of the institution's executive or athletics administration to:

Have participated in or is 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 that institution (e.g., Amon Booster Club);
• Have assisted or have been requested (by the athletics department staff) to assist in the recruitment of prospects;
• Have assisted or to have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families.

The NCAA stipulates that once an individual has been identified as a "Representatives of Athletics Interests" (Booster) of the University's athletics programs, he or she retains this status forever. This is true even if the individual no longer contributes to the athletics program.

Recruiting Issues Regarding WSSU's Athletics Representatives

Q: What are the basic provisions of the NCAA regulations in this area?

A: The so-called "Representatives of Athletics Interests -ban" legislation (NCAA Bylaw 13.01.5.) applies to all NCAA Division I schools and became effective August 1, 1987. It reads as follows:

"In Division I, representatives of an institution's athletics interests (as defined in NCAA Bylaw 13.02.11) are prohibited from making in-person, on-or off-campus recruiting contacts, or written or telephonic communications with a prospect or the prospect's relatives or legal guardians."

Q: Is the Winston-Salem State University responsible for the acts of Representatives of Athletics Interests/ Booster and their support groups?

A: Yes.

Q: During the recruitment of a prospective student-athlete, or prior to an individual's enrollment at WSSU, can a Representatives of Athletics Interests (Booster) be involved directly or indirectly in making arrangements for a prospect's relatives or friends to receive money, financial aid, or equivalent inducements even if similar aid, benefits or arrangements are available to prospective WSSU students, their relatives and friends in general?

A: No, the NCAA considers such arrangements or aids to be an impermissible recruiting inducement.

Q: What specific types of inducements are prohibited by the NCAA?

A: Types of NCAA-prohibited inducements include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Cash or loans, promise of employment after completion of college education;
• Special discounts or payment arrangements on loans;
• Employment of relatives of a prospective student-athlete;
• Arrangements for free or reduced charges for professional or personal service, purchases, or charges;
• Use of an automobile;
• Providing transportation to or from a summer job(unless provided to all employees);
• Signing or co-signing a note for a loan;
• The loan or gift of money or other tangible items (e.g. clothes, cars, jewelry, electronic/stereo equipment);
• Guarantees of bond;
• Purchasing items or services from a prospect or the prospect's family at inflated prices;
• Providing transportation for student-athletes to enroll.

Q: Is it permissible for a Representatives of Athletics Interests (Booster) to transport, pay or arrange for the payment of transportation costs incurred by relatives or friends of a prospective student-athlete to visit campus?

A: No

Q: Can Representatives of Athletics Interests entertain prospective student-athletes and/or relatives and friends of prospective student-athletes at any site either on-or off- campus?

A: No