Guide to NCAA Rules for Alumni & Friends
Representative of Athletics Interests:
Under NCAA rules a "representative of the institution's athletic interests" (athletics representative/booster) is any individual who has ever:
Made any type of contribution to the Department of Athletics and Recreational Sports or booster club;
Joined a Saint Mary's College booster club;
Provided benefits (e.g., summer jobs) to prospective or enrolled student athletes or their families;
Assisted, in any manner, in their recruitment of prospective student athletes; or
Promoted the athletics program in any manner.
Please make special note of three important points:
You become a representative by any action on your part to assist the Department of Athletics and Recreational Sports in any manner.
Once you become a representative of the institution's athletics interests, you retain that identity forever.
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 athletic program.
RECRUITING:
As a representative of Saint Mary's College's athletics interests, you may:
View a prospect's athletics event (but not contact the prospect, his/her parents, legal guardians or coaches on such occasions);
Talk to a prospect on the telephone if he/she calls you, as long as you do not talk about the athletics program;
Talk to a prospect about summer employment, subsequent to completion of their senior year of high school, after he/she has signed a national letter of intent (In all instances, please contact the Associate Athletic Director for Compliance before contacting the prospect.); or
Recommend a prospect to the appropriate Saint Mary's College coach.
As a representative of Saint Mary's College's athletics interests, you may not provide a prospect with improper recruiting inducements, including but not limited to:
Contact a prospect's coach, principal or counselor in an effort to evaluate a prospect;
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;
Contact a prospect, his/her relatives, or legal guardians, by telephone;
Write a prospect, his/her relatives or legal guardians; or
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:
Cash or like items;
Any tangible items, including merchandise.
Gift of clothing or equipment;
Payment of any fees (e.g., camps, special tutoring);
Free or reduced cost services; rentals or purchases of any type;
Free or reduced cost housing;
Co-signing of loans;
An employment arrangement for a prospect's relatives; or
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:
Provide a student-athlete with extra benefits or services including, but not limited to:
- a loan of money,
- a guarantee of bond,
- the use of an automobile, or
- signing or co-signing a note with an outside agency to arrange a loan;
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 reduced rates;
Provide a student-athlete with a special discount, payment arrangement, or credit on a purchase or service;
Provide a student-athlete with professional services without charge or at a reduced cost;
Allow a student-athlete to use a telephone or credit card without charge or at a reduced cost; or
Serve as a "sponsor" or a "family" for enrolled student-athletes.
As a representative of Saint Mary's College's athletics interests, you may:
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 Associate Athletic Director for Compliance before inviting the student-athlete to your home.
Provide summer employment for enrolled student-athletes under the following conditions:
-rate of compensations is commensurate with the pay scale in that locality for similar services, and
- transportation related to the job is not provided unless it is provided to all employees in that particular job.
When you have any doubt as to 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 Stephanie Shrieve, Associate Athletic Director for Compliance/SWA, at (925) 631-4521.
Also check out
www.SMCGaels.com under recruiting/compliance for more recruiting information and booster guidelines.
The Saint Mary's College Department of Athletics and Recreational Sports depends on its friends for its continued success. Help us by paying attention to these guidelines to endure our ability to operate a winning program of the highest integrity