Booster:
This page is intended to provide you with a basic understanding of NCAA rules and regulations that you should know as someone who cares about intercollegiate athletics. While this pamphlet does not include all applicable provisions, it does include the most common situations encountered by alumni and friends and the most important rules governing these situations.
We thank you for your support.
Compliance with NCAA rules is of the highest priority for our athletics program and institution. As a member of the NCAA, the University of Kentucky is responsible for the actions of its boosters and fans. Even the best-intentioned action on your part may be a violation of NCAA rules. Please contact the Compliance Office if you have any questions regarding what is permissible. We encourage our boosters and fans to "Ask Before You Act."
Inquires should be addressed to Sandra D. Bell, Assistant Athletics Director, at this address:
University of Kentucky
Room 8 - Memorial Coliseum
Lexington, KY 40506-0019
859/257-6482
Email: sbell@uky.edu
If, for any reason, you are uncomfortable reporting a violation or a concern directly to the athletics department, you may use the "ComplyCat" hotline. This is a toll-free phone number that is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year, by an independent contractor. The contractor is professionally trained to take your calls about possible violations, or to arrange for you to receive answers to any questions you have about compliance issues. You will be asked to identify yourself; however, you may remain anonymous if you choose to do so. A case number will be assigned to you along with a call-back date to receive information on how the information you have reported has been investigated. The ComplyCat hotline can be reached by dialing 1-866-275-2287
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 Association;
Monitoring its program to insure compliance, identifying and reporting to the Association instances in which compliance has not been achieved and taking appropriate corrective actions; and
Insuring that members of the institution's staff, student-athletes and other individuals or groups representing the institution's athletics interest comply with all applicable Association rules.
Representatives of Athletics Interests
A "representative of the institution's athletics interests" is anyone who is known (or should be known) by a member of the institution's executive or athletics administration to:
Be a member of or have participated in any organization promoting the institution's intercollegiate athletics program (i.e., booster club);
Have made any financial contribution to the institution's athletics program or to an athletic booster organization of the institution (i.e., season ticket holder);
Have helped arrange summer and/or vacation period employment for student-athletes or provided benefits to enrolled student-athletes; or
Have been involved, in any way, in the promotion of the University's athletics program.
Note: Once an individual is identified as a representative of the institution's athletics interests, the person retains that identity indefinitely.
A Booster's Guide to NCAA Rules
Rules Governing Contacts with Prospects
Note: A prospective student-athlete (prospect) is a person who has started classes for the ninth grade.
Do not telephone, write or make in-person contact (either on or off-campus) with a prospective student-athlete for the purpose of soliciting his or her participation in the athletics program.
Do not become directly or indirectly involved in making arrangements for a prospect, the prospect's relatives or friends to receive money or financial aid of any kind.
Do not provide any transportation to prospects, including transportation to campus to attend athletic events.
Do not contact a prospective student-athlete's coach, principal or counselor in an attempt to evaluate the prospect, and do not visit the prospect's educational institution to pick up films or transcripts.
Do not provide free tickets or tickets at a reduced cost to any University of Kentucky home or away event to prospects, their relatives or friends.
Do not pay or offer to pay registration fees for summer sports camps for a prospect.
Do feel free to attend high school and community college athletic events that you would usually attend. You simply cannot have any contact with the prospect or relatives of the prospect. Should the parents or a prospect as you questions, please direct their question to the appropriate coach at UK. If you have incidental contact with a prospect or relatives of the prospect, be sure to contact the compliance office.
Rules Governing Recruiting
Only coaches and athletics department staff members can be involved in the recruiting
process. All "athletics representatives" who are not employees of the University of Kentucky are prohibited from contacting a prospect by telephone, letter or in-person, on or off-campus, for the purpose of encouraging participation in athletics at UK.
It is not permissible for prospects, student-athletes or their relatives and friends to receive any extra benefits or special arrangements. Examples of extra benefits that you cannot provide to these individuals include, but are not limited to:
- Cash or loans in any amount
- Co-signing or arranging a loan
- Providing gifts or any kind (e.g., clothing, airline tickets, or holiday cards)
- Providing special discounts for goods and services
- Use of an automobile
As an athletics representative, you can continue friendships with families with whom you have had a previously established relationship, even after a member of that family becomes a prospect or enrolled student-athlete. You simply cannot encourage a prospect's participation in UK athletics or provide benefits to a student-athlete.
Rules Governing Benefits for Student-Athletes
Do not use the name or picture of a student-athlete to directly advertise, recommend or promote the sale or use of a commercial product or service of any kind.
Do not provide an honorarium to a student-athlete for a speaking engagement. When a student-athlete speaks to educational or charitable groups, actual and necessary travel expenses may be provided if approval is granted by the Compliance Office. Any requests for such an appearance must be made through the Compliance Office.
Do not provide gifts or awards to a student-athlete for his/her athletic performance. All awards must conform with award restrictions and must be approved by the UK Compliance Office.
It is permissible to invite a student-athlete to your home for an occasional meal, but please coordinate such activity with the UK Compliance Office.
If you want pictures or autographs of student-athletes, please attend pre-season events (e.g., Fan Day).
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.
Rules Governing Student-Athlete Employment
Do not provide employment to a prospective student-athlete or enrolled student-athlete without first obtaining approval from the UKAA Student Employment Office. This office can assist athletes in obtaining employment during permissible periods.
Do not employ a prospect prior to the completion of the prospect's senior year in high school.
Do not provide transportation for prospects or student-athletes in your employment unless such transportation is provided to all employees.
NCAA rules stipulate that compensation may be paid to a student-athlete only for work actually performed and a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for similar services.
Such compensation may not include any remuneration for value or utility that the student-athlete may have for the employer because of publicity, reputation, fame or personal following that he or she has obtained because of athletic ability.
Most Commonly Asked Questions
Q: Is the restriction on contacts with prospects 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 institution's coaching staff.
Q: May a booster attend a public event (e.g., high school awards banquet or dinner) at which prospects are in attendance?
A: Yes, but contact with a prospect or the prospect's family is not permissible.
Q: Is it permissible for a booster to employ or use the name or picture of an enrolled student-athlete to directly advertise, recommend or promote the sale or use of a commercial product or service of any kind?
A: No.
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: When does a prospect become considered a student-athlete?
A: A prospect remains a prospect even after signing a National Letter of Intent. A prospect does not become a UK student-athlete until he or she reports for regular squad practice or attends classes in any regular term.
REMEMBER, ASK BEFORE YOU ACT
