October 17, 2003
Greetings!
This website is dedicated to all boosters and supporters of UNLV athletics. The following information will help you understand some basic rules and policies about the NCAA, recruiting and student-athlete employment. The information contained on this page is also contained in the Rebel Right-of-Way brochure. This site does not include all applicable provisions of NCAA legislation and may be subject to additional official interpretations when its application to specific situations is not readily apparent. This information should be considered only as a guide to foster a general understanding of NCAA rules, with the aim of avoiding involvement in a violation of NCAA legislation which might result in the loss of an individual's eligibility or disciplinary action against UNLV.
Test Yourself on NCAA Rules Regarding Contact with Recruitable High School and Junior College Prospects.
Q: What is a recruit or a prospective student-athlete?
A: Often referred to as a recruit, a prospective student-athlete or prospect, is any individual who has begun classes in the ninth grade. A prospective student-athlete remains a prospect even after signing a National Letter of Intent to attend UNLV. Both UNLV and the prospect continue to be governed by NCAA recruiting legislation until:
(a) the prospect reports for regular squad practice.
(b) the Director of Admissions certifies that the prospect is officially registered and enrolled at the institution on the opening day of classes.
(c) the prospect attends a class or classes in any regular term as a full-time student.
Q: What constitutes recruitment?
A: Recruitment is any solicitation of the prospect or the prospect's family for the purpose of securing the prospect's enrollment and eventual participation in UNLV athletics.
Q: Who is permitted to recruit for UNLV?
A: Only UNLV coaches who have passed the NCAA Coaches Certification Examination may be involved in the recruiting process. It is not permissible for recruiting contacts to be made by representatives of athletic interests. This No Contact Rule prohibits letters, telephone calls and face-to-face contact on or off the UNLV campus by representatives of athletic interests [e.g. boosters].
Q: Who is a Representative of Athletic Interests?
A: An individual is considered a representative of athletic interests or booster if:
1. The individual has ever been a member of any athletic booster support group.
2. The individual has ever contributed moneys/cash to UNLV athletics, including the purchase of season tickets for any sport.
3. The individual has ever helped to arrange employment of enrolled student-athletes during the summer or semester break.
4. The individual has ever promoted the athletic programs at UNLV.
5. The individual has ever been involved in the UNLV athletic program.
Q: How do you know if you are a booster?
According to NCAA rules, once an individual is identified as a booster, he or she retains that status forever.
UNLV is ultimately responsible for the actions of all representatives of athletic interests in relation to NCAA and University rules. A booster may be of assistance to a particular sport program by forwarding any information on outstanding prospects in his or her locale to the appropriate UNLV coach. A booster may continue to maintain established relationships with family friends or neighbors even when these may involve prospects. However, such contacts may not be made for recruiting purposes, encouraging enrollment at UNLV or initiated by UNLV coaching staff members, and such relationships may never include benefits that were never provided prior to the student reaching prospect status.
Q: Can a booster employ a prospect?
Yes. A booster may contact a prospect regarding a summer job prior to his or her enrollment at UNLV provided such contact is after the prospect has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend UNLV. Employment of a prospect may not begin until after the prospect has graduated from high school. Prior to contacting the prospect, a booster must make the NCAA Compliance Office aware of his or her interest in employing a prospect that has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend UNLV. You can reach this office by calling (702) 895-1314.
Q: Can a booster have any other type of contact with a prospect?
No. A Booster may not make any contact, including telephone calls or letters, to a prospect or the prospect's family, on or off campus. If a coach is with a prospect at an athletic event, an individual should avoid approaching the coach until the prospect and his or her family members have departed. If a prospect contacts you regarding our athletic programs, please have the prospect contact the appropriate UNLV coaching staff member.
A booster may NOT:
1. Pay or offer to pay registration fees or other costs related to attendance of summer sports camps for a prospect.
2. Be directly or indirectly involved in making arrangements for a prospect, the prospect's relatives or friends to receive money, financial aid or an equivalent inducement. Such arrangements are not permitted even if similar financial aid, benefits or inducements are available to prospective students in general.
3. Contact student-athletes attending another four-year institution regarding possible transfer to UNLV. Should a student-athlete from another institution contact you regarding transferring to UNLV, please direct all inquiries to our athletic department.
Q: How much do you know about NCAA rules regarding a booster's involvement with a prospect's official visit to campus?
To start, a booster may not make contact with a prospect or the prospect's relatives during an official visit. This No Contact Rule includes interactions in the dressing room and contact at an institution's athletic event. It is also not permissible for a booster to assist in arranging an official visit to UNLV.
Q: Can a booster entertain a prospect on his or her visit to campus?
A: No. A booster may not entertain a prospect, relatives or friends during an official visit. In addition, it is not permissible to make UNLV athletic tickets available for use by a prospect during an official visit. Admission to UNLV contests by prospects on a visit must be facilitated through the UNLV Athletic Department.
Q: Can a booster give any type of cash or gift to a prospect?
A: No. A booster may not provide cash, an automobile or any type of gift to a student-host or prospect for use during a prospect's official visit.
Q: Can a booster do any recruiting activities?
A: A booster may provide the coach of a prospect with the names of UNLV coaches and direct inquiries about any of the athletic programs toward the appropriate UNLV coach. A booster may not contact the prospect's coach, principal or counselor for the purpose of evaluating a prospect. In addition, it is not permissible to pick up game films or transcripts from the prospect's school to be used by UNLV.
Q: Can a booster attend high school or junior college athletic competitions on his or her own initiative?
A: Yes, but it is not permissible to contact any prospects at the contest.
Q. Can a booster provide complimentary tickets to any coaches?
A: No. A booster may not entertain high school, preparatory or junior college coaches in any location. It is not permissible to provide a prospect's coach with tickets to any UNLV contests. Coaches may obtain two complimentary admissions through a pass list administered by the UNLV Athletic Department. A booster may not reimburse a coach of a prospect for expenses incurred in transporting a prospect to visit UNLV's campus.
The 13 Rules to Live By: Do's and Don'ts!
1. A booster may not provide a student-athlete with any extra benefits or special arrangements such as expense money, movie passes, free meals at restaurants or free or reduced housing arrangements.
2. A booster may not provide preferential treatment or discounted professional services (e.g. legal, medical) because of a student-athlete's athletics reputation or payback potential as a professional athlete.
3. A booster may contribute funds to finance a scholarship for a particular sport or team position, however, it is not permissible to finance a scholarship for a particular prospect.
4. A booster may not provide use of long distance services free of charge to student-athletes.
5. A booster may not pay for or provide typing or tutorial services for course-related projects or reports.
6. A booster may provide student-athletes with an occasional meal at the booster's home provided he or she does not provide or arrange for transportation and the activity is approved in advance by the athlete's head coach.
7. A booster may not pay a student-athlete's expenses or loan an automobile to the student-athlete for use to any destination, for any reason including personal reasons or to receive an athletics-related award.
8. A booster may not provide the family or friends of student-athletes with transportation or housing expenses to visit an enrolled student-athlete or attend an away-from-home contest.
9. A booster may not provide a student-athlete with an award or gift for his or her athletics participation, even after the student-athlete's graduation and exhaustion of eligibility.
10. A booster may not employ a student-athlete or use his or her picture or name for the purpose of directly advertising, recommending or promoting a commercial product or service.
11. A booster may employ student-athletes during the summer, regardless of any institutional financial aid the student-athlete may be receiving. However, the rate of compensation must be consistent with the rate in this area for like services and may only be for work actually performed.
12. A booster may have student-athletes speak at charitable or educational functions. However, it is not permissible to provide an honorarium for any speaking engagement. In addition, the student-athlete must receive prior approval through the athletic department.
13. A booster may employ a student-athlete during the academic year. However, the implications from such employment vary for each student and each sport. Before employing a student-athlete during the academic year, ask before you act by calling the Assistant Athletics Director of NCAA Compliance at (702) 895-1314 or e-mail inquiries to: etoliver@ccmail.nevada.edu
Ready for a test?
1. It is permissible for institutional faculty/staff or boosters to provide copy or facsimile services to student-athletes only under the following conditions:
a). copies or facsimiles are directly related to academics
b). in case of family emergency
c). a coach has approved the service
d). none of the above
e). a and b only
2. The following persons are permitted to provide occasional car transportation to student-athletes:
a). coaches, academic advisors and athletic department staff
b). boosters, instructors and sport information personnel
c). former student-athletes, former coaches and boosters
d). anyone can provide student-athletes occasional car transportation
3. Student-athletes may be provided an occasional home-cooked meal by an institutional staff member or booster provided:
a). the meal is provided in the home and not at a restaurant.
b). the meal does not exceed $450.00
c). a booster provides the meal and attends
d). it is never permissible for a home meal to be provided to student-athletes by an institutional staff member or booster
4. Institutional staff members may loan a student-athlete money, provided it does not exceed $_______ and the student-athlete repays the loan within a one month time period.
a). $50.00
b). $100.00
c). $1,000.00
d). you may never loan a student-athlete money
5. Institutional staff members may provide a student-athlete with the following:
a). complimentary tickets to a professional sports event
b). complimentary tickets to movies, casino events and buffets
c). free or reduced typing services
d). a and b only
e). none of the above
6. It is permissible for institutional staff members to help arrange employment for a student-athlete.
a). true
b). false
7. Please define "bird-dog" or "runner":
8. Please define prospective student-athlete:
9. NCAA stands for:
10. UNLV belongs to what conference:
11. UNLV has approximately how many student-athletes:
12. List the schools in the MWC: .
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Answers!
1. d
2. a
3. a
4. d
5. e
6. a
7. A person who serves as the middle man between a sports agent and a student-athlete
8. Any student who has begun the ninth (9th) grade.
9. National Collegiate Athletics Association
10. Mountain West Conference
11. 375
12. UNLV, Air Force Academy, Colorado State, BYU, Utah, New Mexico, San Diego State & Wyoming
