Hatter Club Membership Information (.pdf file)

 Guide to NCAA Regulations (.pdf file)

 Compliance Brochure for Boosters (.pdf file)

REPRESENTATIVES OF ATHLETICS INTEREST

A representative of the Institution’s Athletics Interest (booster) is anyone who is known (or should be known) to be a member of the institution’s executive or athletic administration to: Participate in or has been a member of a sport support group or a booster club.

Provide or have helped arrange employment for student-athletes or provided benefits to enrolled student-athletes.

Have been involved, in any way promotion of the University’s athletics program.

Participated as a varsity athlete at Stetson University.

Note: Once an individual is identified as a Representative of the Institution’s Athletics Interest, theperson retains that identity forever.

Make or have made a donation to the Stetson University Athletic program, development or booster club.

Institutional Control and Compliance

Institutional Control of athletics is a fundamental requirement of NCAA Legislation. Specifically, the NCAA constitution provides that each institution shall be responsible for:

Controlling its intercollegiate athletics program in compliance with the rules and regulations of the NCAA.

Monitoring its program to insure compliance, identifying and reporting to the NCAA instances in which compliance has not been achieved and taking appropriate corrective actions.

Insuring that members of the institution’ staff, student-athletes and other individuals or groups representing the institutions athletics interests comply with NCAA rules.

Rules Governing the Recruitment of Prospective Student-Athletes

• A prospective student-athlete is defined by the NCAA as any person who has begun classes for the ninth grade.
• A prospective student-athlete remains a prospect even after he or she has signed a National Letter of Intent or accepts an offer of financial aid to attend Stetson University.
• The prospect remains a prospect until they report for the first day of classes for a regular term (fall or spring).
• Only coaches and athletic department staff members can be involved in the recruiting process. A contact is defined as any face to face encounter between a prospect or the prospect’s parent or legal guardians during which time any dialogue in excess of an exchange of a greeting occurs.
• In general, all representatives of the institution’s athletics interest who are not employedby Stetson University are prohibited from contacting a prospect or prospect’s family to encourage the prospect to participate in intercollegiate athletics at Stetson University.

You are prohibited from:

• Contacting a prospect in person on or off our campus.
• Writing or telephoning a prospect or a member of the prospect’s family.
• Making arrangements for a prospect or the prospect’s relatives or friends, to receive money or financial aid of any kind.
• Providing transportation for a prospect or the prospect’s relatives or friends to visit our campus.
• Providing free tickets or tickets at a reduced cost for prospects or the prospect relatives or friends to attend an athletic event.
• Entertaining high school, prep school or community college coaches.

You are permitted to:

• Attend high school or two-year college athletic contests or other events where prospects may compete, however, you may not contact the prospect or the prospect’s relatives.
• Notify our coaches about prospects in your area that may be strong additions to our teams.
• Continue existing friendships with families of prospects, but you may not attempt to recruit the prospect.

Rules Governing Contacts and Benefits for Student-Athletes

In addition to regulating contact of our representatives of athletics interest with prospects, the NCAA also regulates contact with current Stetson University student-athletes, as well as their relatives and friends.

An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of athletics interest to provide a student-athlete, prospect, or their relatives or friends a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation.

In general, you may not provide anything or make special arrangements for student-athletes and prospective student-athletes that are not available to the general student population.

EXAMPLES OF PROHIBITED EXTRA BENEFITS NOT ALLOWED BY NCAA RULES, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Providing cash or loans in any amount, or signing or co-signing for a loan.

Providing gifts of any kind, including birthday cards and holiday gifts.

Providing special discounts for goods and services (e.g., car repairs, legal services, haircuts).

Providing free rent or reduced rent, housing.

Purchasing complimentary admissions from a student-athlete.

Providing an honorarium to a student-athlete for a speaking engagement.

YOU ARE PERMITTED TO:

Invite a student-athlete into your home for an occasional meal (once a semester), but please coordinate such activity with the Compliance Office.

Meet with and receive autographs from student-athletes during Stetson University sponsored events (e.g., Fan Photo Day, or Meet the Team).

 

Rules Governing Student-Athlete Employment

Stetson University’s athletic department is permitted to arrange employment for prospective student-athletes during the summer prior to their enrollment as freshman and for enrolled student-athletes.

Beginning August 1, 1988, student-athletes receiving grant-in-aid will be eligible for employment during the regular academic year as well as during the university’s official vacation periods (e.g., Christmas and spring break) and the summer.

In reference to this new legislation regarding employment during the academic year, student-athletes may earn up to the value of a full grant in aid plus $2,000 through employment provided:

The student-athlete has spent one academic year in residence at Stetson University.

The student-athlete is academically eligible to compete at the institution.

THE FOLLOWING RULES ARE APPLICABLE TO STUDENT-ATHLETE EMPLOYMENT:

Employers must receive prior approval before hiring any student-athletes.

The student-athlete is compensated only for work actually performed at a rate commensurate with The going rate in that locality for similar services.

The student-athlete has not been hired based on his or her athletics ability.

Transportation to work for student-athletes is not provided unless transportation is provided for all other employees.

Rules Governing Promotional Activities for Student-Athletes

All charitable, educational and nonprofit promotional activities involving student-athletes must have prior approval from the Compliance Office.

All such events are coordinated through the Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance. For information, please call (386)-822-7490.

Student-Athletes are not permitted to be involved in the advertisement, recommendation or promotion of sales or use of a commercial product or service of any kind.

Rules Governing Agents and Amateurism

A student-athlete loses their amateurstatus and shall not be eligible for intercollegiate competition in a particular sport if:

The student –athlete or family member negotiates, signs or enters into any written or oral agreement with an agent.

The student-athlete or family member accepts or receives any extra benefits from an agent or anyone who wishes to represent the student-athlete.

The student-athlete competes with a professional sports team or competes as a professional in an individual sport and receives any compensation for participation.

The student-athlete uses his or her athletic skills for pay or promise of pay.

 

Rules Governing Gambling

A student-athlete, coach and/or employee of Stetson University athletic department may not provide information to individuals involved in any type of organized gambling concerning sporting events. In addition,student-athletes, coaches and employees of the athletic department may not solicit or accept any wager on any intercollegiate or professional athletics contest.

Consequences to Boosters for NCAA Violations

Institutions are required by the NCAA to notify boosters of consequences regarding rules violations. Boosters found in violation of NCAA rules are subject to losing benefits and privileges, including season tickets.

The NCAA Committee on Infractions has processed cases in which penalties have included both the disassociation of boosters with the institution and the loss of season ticket privileges.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q Can an athletics representative be involved in any way when a prospect is on an official or unofficial visit?

A No. Athletics representatives are precluded from all recruiting activities.

Q Is it permissible for an athletics representative to provide summer employment for student-athletes?

A Yes. Please remember that compensation must be paid only for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for services of like character. Such employment should be arranged through the Compliance Office.

Q May a student-athlete’s name or picture be used to directly or indirectly advertise, recommend, or promote the sale or use of a commercial product or service?

A No. Such activity would jeopardize the eligibility of the student-athlete. The NCAA membership has always maintained that student-athletes not be involved in the promotion of a commercial product.

Q Is it permissible for a booster to reimburse the coach of a prospect for expenses incurred in transporting a prospect to visit the campus?

A No.

Q Is it permissible for a booster to pay in whole or in part registration fees associated with sport camps?

A No.

Q Is the contact rule applicable to established family, friends, and neighbors?

A No. However, it must be understood that such contacts may not be made for recruiting purposes and are not initiated by a member of the institutions coaching staff.

Q May a booster attend a public event (e.g., high school award banquet or dinner) at which prospects are in attendance?

A Yes. Please remember that contact with a prospect may not be prearranged by an athletics department staff member, and no attempt may be made to recruit the prospect.

Q Is it permissible for an athletics representative to provide enrolled student-athletes a home cooked meal?

A Yes. Provided it is on an "Occasional" basis and any such meal is not at a restaurant. Please note: all requests must receive prior approval from the Compliance Office.

Q Is Stetson University responsible for the acts of boosters and booster support groups?

A Yes. Boosters are governed by the same NCAA and institutional rules and regulations as those placed upon all institutional athletics staff members.

Q When does a prospect become considered a student-athlete?

A A prospect becomes a student-athlete when he or she reports for regular squad practice or attends classes in any regular term (fall, spring).

Q Is it permissible for a booster to provide an enrolled student-athlete with professional services (for which a fee would normally be charged) for personal reasons?

A No. Professional services provided at a fee less than the normal rate or at no expense to a student-athlete are considered extra benefits.

Q May a student-athlete make a public appearance at a business establishment for any purpose such as signing autographs etc.?

A No. Such appearances can be construed as a direct or indirect endorsement of the commercial establishment, thus jeopardizing the eligibility of the student-athlete. It should be noted that student-athletes may make appearances at schools, hospitals, or other non-profit or charitable organizations provided they do not receive compensation and such activities are authorized by the athletic department.

Q Is it permissible for a booster to provide gifts or awards to a student-athlete for his or her athletics performance?

A No. All awards must conform to NCAA awards legislation and must be approved by Stetson University.

REMEMBER, ASK BEFORE YOU ACT!