What Alumni, Friends, and Fans of Edinboro University Should Know About the NCAA Rules and Regulations?
Please read this pamphlet to find out how Edinboro University's student-athlete's eligibility
might depend on you.
One of the 14 universities in Pennsylvania's State System of High Education, Edinboro University is committed to affirmative action for all persons in its educational programs, activities, and employment practices.
Thank you for supporting Edinboro University Athletics
After reading this pamphlet it may seem that Edinboro University boosters and alumni are prevented from any involvement with prospective and enrolled student-athletes.
Here are some activities that are permissible:
For the PROSPECTIVE student-athlete, a booster may...
Contact a prospect for the purpose of arranging summer employment after he or she has signed a National Letter of Intent.
Provide the Edinboro University athletic office with names or newspaper clippings or talented prospective student-athletes in your area.
For the ENROLLED student-athlete, a booster may...
Have contact with enrolled student-athlete while on campus.
Invite a student-athlete or an entire team to your home for a meal. The meal, which may be catered, should be limited to infrequent or special occasions (Thanksgiving, birthdays, etc.). Remember, however, the student-athlete must provide his or her own transportation.
Invite an entire team, which will be visiting your city for an away athletic contest, over for dinner. Student athletes are allowed certain benefits as a team that they are not permitted as individuals.
Remember...
...as a representative of athletic interests, you are responsible for making Edinboro University's athletic office aware of any infractions of the NCAA you know have occurred. Even if the violation was unintentional, the eligibility of a prospect or enrolled student-athlete could be in jeopardy. Please contact Bruce R. Baumgartner, athletic director at 814-832-1823, or Todd Jay, associate athletic director at 814-732-1835 with any questions or information you may have.
ONCE A BOOSTER... always a booster. According to the NCAA, once an individual has been identified as an "athletic representative," he or she retains this identity forever, even if that person no longer contributes to the athletic programs.
Edinboro University's reputation is one of upholding the highest degree of academic and athletic integrity. This tradition can only continue if alumni, boosters and friends of the University are well informed about the NCAA rules and regulations for "Representatives of Athletic Interests."
Did you know that you are considered a representative of Edinboro University just by being a graduate, friend or fan of the University? The NCAA has explicit guidelines for what representatives of athletic interests "traditionally known as boosters," can and cannot do. Edinboro University's Athletic Department is providing you with this pamphlet to answer any questions you may have about your role in the recruitment and treatment of student-athletes. Please take the time to read the following information. By assisting the University in NCAA rules compliance, you are not only adding to the integrity of Edinboro University athletics, but also protecting the eligibility of our student-athletes.
Representatives of athletic interests
You are a representative of athletic interest if you:
Participate in or have been a member of any of Edinboro University's booster groups, such as the Annual Athletic Fund, Fighting Scots Booster, Sox Harrison, Curly Halmi, and Hall of Fame boards.
Make or have made a donation to any Edinboro University athletic programs.
Provided or have arranged summer employment for enrolled student-athletes.
Have been involved in promoting Edinboro University athletics in any way.
Are the parent(s) of an enrolled student-athlete?
Recruiting and the prospective student-athlete
The Definitions You Must Know:
A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT-ATHLETE is any student who has started classes for the ninth grade. The NCAA, however does not have a minimum age limit. As a result, a student of any age who is contracted for recruitment purposes becomes a prospect.
RECRUITING is defined as any solicitation of a prospect or prospect's family by an institutional staff of by a representative of the institution's athletic interests for the purpose of securing the prospect's enrollment and ultimate participation in the institutions intercollegiate athletic program.
A CONTACT is any face-to-face encounter between a prospect, or a prospect's parent or legal guardian, and a University staff member or representative of athletic interest during which any dialogue occurs in excess of an exchange of a greeting.
The Rules to Remember:
Only coaches and University staff members can be involved in the recruiting process.
All boosters, alumni, friends and other "representatives of athletic interests" who are not employed by the University are prohibited from making contact (in person, by phone, by fax, or by letter) with a prospective student-athlete or his or her family for the purpose of encouraging participation in the Edinboro University athletic program. Alumni may be called by a prospect to discuss the University generally, but not to talk about the Athletic Department.
An impermissible contact, even if unintentional, could subject Edinboro University to severe penalties imposed by the NCAA. Prospects can lose their eligibility because of recruiting violation.
A prospective student-athlete remains a prospect even after he or she has signed a National Letter of Intent or financial aid tender to Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. The prospect does not lose this prospect status until the start of classes at the University of until the beginning of official team practice prior to classes.
The enrolled student-athlete
The Definitions You Must Know:
AN ENROLLED STUDENT-ATHLETE is a student who presently is participating in athletics or has completed his/her eligibility but is still enrolled at the institution.
AN EXTRA BENEFIT is any special gift of arrangement provided to an enrolled student-athlete or a student-athlete's relative or friend which is not available to the general student body of that institution. Extra benefit legislation may also apply to gifts or arrangements (other than legitimate jobs) subsequent to the student-athlete's graduation.
The Rules to Remember:
Representatives of athletics interests cannot provide an "extra benefit" or special arrangements to an enrolled student-athlete that is not available to all other students at the University.
If a student-athlete accepts any benefit based on his/her athletic ability, that athlete will lose all eligibility for intercollegiate athletic participation. If the student-athlete has completed eligibility, the institution is still responsible and may receive penalties applied to the sport program. Additionally, the booster or representative involved would be forced to
disassociate from the University's athletics program.
Offers and inducements
The Definitions You Must Know:
SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED FINANCIAL AID, BENEFITS, AND ARRANGEMENTS include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) An employment arrangement for student athlete's or prospect's relative.
(b) Gift of clothing or equipment
(c) Co-signing of loans
(d) Providing loans to a student-athlete's or prospect's relatives or friends.
(e) Cash or like items
(f) Any tangible items, including merchandise
(g) Free or reduced-cost services, rental or purchase of any type
(h) Free or reduced-cost housing
Rule to Remember:
An institution's staff member or any representatives of its athletics interest shall not be involved, directly or indirectly in making arrangements to give any financial aid or benefit to the prospect's relatives or friends, other than expressly permitted by the NCAA regulations.
Are on-campus groups also considered boosters?
Parents of enrolled student-athletes are considered representatives of athletics interest. Therefore they may not be involved in the recruiting process on or off campus. If parents of a prospect should contact you with questions about your son's or daughter's experience at Edinboro University, you should the questions to any of the University's recruiters. If you are an Edinboro graduate, you may discuss educational experiences at Edinboro, but you may not discuss athletics.
Faculty and staff members are not permitted to recruit off campus. They may have on-
campus contact with prospects in all sports. Faculty and staff members may not telephone a prospect until the summer following his or her junior year.
Spouse or coach or staff member may make contact with a prospect on campus. Additionally, he or she may make an off-campus contact, within a 30-mile radius of the institution's main campus, during a prospect's official visit. The spouse may not, however, have any written correspondence (follow-up letter after visit, etc.) with a prospect.
Board of Governors/Regents may not make on or off-campus recruiting contacts with prospects.
Enrolled student-athletes and other enrolled students are not considered to be boosters as long as any recruiting contact with a prospect is incidental and does not occur at the direction of a member of the Athletic Department. Enrolled student-athletes may not participate in telephone calls to prospects at the direction of a coaching staff member or financed by an Edinboro representative of athletics interest. Enrolled student-athletes may, however, receive telephone calls at the expense of the prospective student-athlete at any time, including prior to June 15 immediately preceding the prospective student-athlete's junior year, provided there is no direct or indirect involvement by athletics department staff.
