Tips for Alumni, Donors and Friends
Representatives of Athletics Interests
Under the NCAA rules a "representative of the institution's athletics interest" (athletics representative/booster) is any individual who has ever:
1. Made any type of contribution to the Department of Athletics and Recreational Sports or booster club;
2. Joined a Saint Mary's College booster club;
3. Provided benefits (e.g., summer jobs) to prospective or enrolled student-athletes or their families;
4. Assisted, in any manner, in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes; or
5. Promoted the athletics program in any manner.
Please make special note of three important points:
1. You become a representative by any action on your part to assist the Department of Athletics and recreational Sports in any manner.
2. Once you become a representative of the institution's athletics interests, you retain that identity forever.
3. NCAA rules hold the institution responsible for all actions of its athletics representatives. Boosters involved in NCAA violations may lose benefits and privileges associated with the athletics program.
Recruiting
As a representative of Saint Mary's College's athletics interests, you MAY:
1. View a prospect's athletics event (but not contact the prospect, his/her parents, legal guardians or coaches on such occasions);
2. Talk to a prospect on the telephone if he/she calls you, as long as you do not talk about the athletics program;
3. Talk to a prospect about summer employment, subsequent to completion of their senior year of high school, after her/she has signed a national letter of intent (in all instances, please contact the Director of Compliance before contacting the prospects); or
4. Recommend a prospect to the appropriate Saint Mary's College coach.
As a representative of Saint Mary's College athletics interests, you MAY NOT provide a prospect with improper recruiting inducements, including but not limited to:
1. Contact a prospect's coach, principal, or counselor in an effort to evaluate a prospect;
2. Visit a prospect's educational institution to pick up film or transcripts pertaining to the evaluation of the prospect's academic eligibility or athletic ability;
3. Contact a prospect, his/her relatives, or legal guardians by telephone;
4. Write a prospect, his/her relatives or legal guardians; or
5. Make special arrangements for entertaining a prospect on an official visit (e.g., by providing donations, goods, services or discounts).
The following financial aid or other benefits MAY NOT be offered to a prospect or to the prospect's relatives or friends:
1. Cash or like items;
2. Any tangible items, including merchandise;
3. Gift of clothing or equipment;
4. Payment of any fees (e.g., camps, special tutoring);
5. Free or reduced cost services; rentals or purchases of any type;
6. Free or reduced cost housing;
7. An employment arrangement for a prospect's relatives; or
8. Providing loans to a prospect's relatives or friends.
Enrolled Student-Athletes
As a representative of Saint Mary's College's athletics interests, you MAY NOT:
1. Provide a student-athlete with extra benefits or services, including, but not limited to:
a. A loan of money;
b. A guarantee of bond;
c. The use of an automobile;
d. Signing or co-signing a note with an outside agency to arrange a loan or housing;
e. Rent free or reduced cost housing in the summer, fall, winter or spring.
2. Make services available to a student-athlete (e.g., movie tickets, dinners, use of car) from commercial agencies (e.g., movie theaters, restaurants, car dealers) without charge or at a reduced cost;
3. Provide a student-athlete with a special discount, payment arrangement, or credit on a purchase or service;
4. Provide a student-athlete with professional services without charge or at a reduced cost;
5. Allow a student-athlete to use a telephone or credit card without charge or at a reduced cost; or
6. Serve as a "sponsor" or a "family" for an enrolled student-athlete;
7. Promise of employment after college graduation;
8. Invitations to your summer home for water skiing, sailing, fishing, etc.
As a representative of Saint Mary's College's athletics interests, you MAY:
1. Provide an occasional family home meal. The meal must be provided in an individual's home and must be restricted to infrequent and special occasions (e.g., Thanksgiving, Christmas). Please contact the Director of Compliance before inviting a student-athlete to your home.
2. Provide summer employment for enrolled student-athletes under the following conditions:
a. Must be only for work actually performed;
b. Must be at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for similar services; and
c. Cannot include payment for the value or utility that the student-athlete may have for the employer because of the publicity, reputation, fame or personal following that he or she has obtained because of athletic ability.
3. Meet with and receive autographs from student-athletes during SMC sponsored events. Please be aware it is NOT permissible for you to sell the autographs, even to raise money for a special project.
PLEASE NOTE
When you have any doubts as what you may or may not do in regard to any aspect of the Department of Athletics and Recreational Sports operation (recruiting, student-athlete benefits, employment, etc.) please call Saint Mary's College of Athletics at (925) 631-4399.
Also check out www.SMCGaels.com under recruiting/compliance for more recruiting information and booster guidelines.
GO GAELS!
NCAA Rules Education for Representatives of Athletics Interest
- 2010 Booster Newsletter
- Conditions to Purchasing Group Tickets
- Conditions to Receiving SMC Memorabilia
- SMC Auction Item Request Form
