Recruiting Rules For Dummies

Who is a booster?
You are an athletic representative of a University if you are:
-An alumni
- A fan
- A donor

Once you become an athletic representative, you remain one indefinitely.

Representatives of athletics interests are subject to NCAA regulations and both the representative and all colleges are subject to penalties for any violation of NCAA rules by athletic representatives or their support organization.

Who is a prospect?
A prospect is a student in the ninth grade or above, including students in prep schools and junior colleges and individuals who have officially withdrawn from four-year schools. Any student not yet in the ninth grade becomes a prospect if an institution provides him/her with any financial aid or other benefits that are not generally provided to prospective students. A prospect remains one until reporting for practice or attending classes.

What contact is allowed?
An athletic representative may not contact a prospect or his/her parents in person, by telephone or in writing. Contact may not be made with a prospect or his/her parents on or off the campus. There is an exception if the representative had a relationship with the prospect prior to him/her becoming a prospect and the contact is not for recruiting purposes or initiated or arranged by the recruiting school.

What if a prospect calls you?
An athletic representative may have a telephone conversation with a prospect ONLY if the prospect initiates the call. The call may not be prearranged by an institutional staff member and the athletic representative may NOT have a recruiting conversation, but may exhibit normal civility. The athletic representative must refer any questions about the University's athletic program to the Athletic Department. You may answer questions about the school involved in the recruiting that do not involve athletics. The same goes for in-person contact. The contact cannot happen at the prospect's school or the site of the school's games.

Can I contact coaches about prospects?
Yes. An athletic representative may not, however, get involved in the actual evaluation of the talent of a prospect. In other words, an athletic representative may not contact a prospect's coach, principal, or counselor nor visit the prospect's educational institution to pick up film or transcripts pertaining to the evaluation of the prospect's athletic or academic abilities. In addition, an athletic representative cannot contact the prospect for purposes of soliciting the prospect's enrollment at the school and ultimate participation in athletics.