This site is intended to highlight some pertinent NCAA rules for you as a representative of Vanguard University’s athletics interests. It is impossible to cover every NCAA rule that impacts you, and this site is just intended to answer some frequently asked questions. However, if you ever have any questions about NCAA rules and regulations, please contact the Compliance Office staff.
Definition of a Representative of Athletics Interests
In general, you are considered a representative of athletics interests (or a booster) if any of the following apply:
- You are the parent or legal guardian of an enrolled Vanguard student-athlete
- You are a former student or fan of Vanguard Athletics
- You are or have been a member of any athletic booster club associated with Vanguard
- You have participated in promoting the Vanguard athletics program
- You have assisted in the recruitment of prospects to Vanguard
- You have made any sort of financial contribution to Vanguard Athletics
Note: Once you trigger "booster status", you will always be considered a booster and held to NCAA rules.
Essential Information for Representatives of Athletics Interests
Extra Benefits
An extra benefit is any special arrangement to provide a student-athlete or student-athlete's relative, coach or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Extra benefits for prospects are called offers or inducements and are prohibited. An institution's staff member or any representative of its athletics interests shall not be involved, directly or indirectly, in making arrangements for giving or offering to give any financial aid or other benefits to a prospect or to a prospect's relatives, coach or friends. Examples of prohibited extra benefits include but are not limited to:
- Cash or loan in any amount
- Gift, clothing or equipment (i.e. holiday gift, birthday present, gift certificate)
- Special discount, payment arrangements or free or reduced cost services
- The purchase of a meal or service at a commercial establishment
- Free or reduced cost rent or housing
- Use of a car or other personal property (i.e. house)
- Promise of employment after graduation
- Employment for a prospect's friends or relatives
- Payment of registration fees for athletic camps
Recruiting
Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospect or the prospect's family by an institutional staff member or by an institution's representative of athletics interests (i.e. booster) for the purpose of securing that prospect's enrollment and participation in the institution's intercollegiate athletics program. NCAA rules restrict the ways that boosters can be involved in the recruiting process. Below is a breakdown of the do's and don'ts for representatives of Vanguard’s athletics interests as it concerns recruiting.
As a representative of Vanguard's athletics interests, you are permitted to:
- Observe a potential student-athlete's (PSA's) athletic contest, provided there is no contact with the prospect or his/her parents and or relatives.
- Notify the coaching staff of outstanding prospects in the area.
- Continue to have normal contact with any neighbor, relative, or family friend that might be a prospect. so long as you do not engage in the recruitment process.
- Refer any and all recruiting questions to an athletic department staff member.
- Meet with a recruit on the University campus but only at the direction of the Athletics Department.
As a representative of Vanguard's athletics interests, you are NOT permitted to:
- Write or call a prospect or his/her parents or legal guardians.
- Contact a coach, high school principal, and/or counselor, to evaluate a prospect.
- Visit a prospect's school to pick up a transcript or video to evaluate his/her academic or athletic ability or to provide to an athletics department staff member.
- Provide extra benefits to prospects, enrolled University student-athletes or their relatives or friends (e.g. movie or event tickets, dinner, gift cards or special discounts).
- Meet with a prospect or his/her immediate family members off campus; or have any recruiting contact unless on the University campus at the direction of the athletics staff.
- Pay for prospect's registration fees for athletics camps at any time
For more information, please refer to our
Vanguard Fans and Friends Guide.
