A "representative of the institution's athletics interests" or booster is an individual, independent agency, corporate entity (e.g. apparel or equipment manufacturer) or other organization who is known (or who should have been known) by a member of the institution's executive or athletics administration to:
Have participated in or to be a member of an agency or organization promoting the institution's intercollegiate athletics program.
Have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of that institution.
Be assisting or to have been requested (by the athletics department staff) to assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes.
Be assisting or to have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families; or
Have been involved otherwise in promoting the institution's athletics program.
If you are currently involved or have previously engaged in any of the above in support of Greenville University Athletics, you are a booster, and we appreciate your commitment to our programs!
If you have any questions related to your role as a representative of athletics interests, please contact the Compliance Office. Ask before you act to ensure none of your actions jeopardizes a student-athlete’s eligibility or your association with Greenville University.Your Role in Recruiting
In Division III, there are ways in which Greenville Athletics staff may permissibly ask you to assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes. That said, please refrain from any contact with a PSA (or their parents/guardians) who is not a member of your family or who you do not have a pre-existing relationship with unrelated to their athletics recruitment unless asked by a Greenville Athletics staff member.
What Interactions with Prospective Student-Athletes are Permissible?
The following are generally considered to be permissible under NCAA bylaws:
Continuing to have contact with a family member or an established family friend or neighbor who is a prospect provided the relationship predates the ninth grade, was not developed out of athletics, and no recruiting occurs.
Attending a prospect’s game on your own initiative provided you do not have any contact with the prospect or their parents or guardians.
Notifying Greenville coaches about prospective student-athletes in your area.
Being involved with local, established youth sports clubs that may include prospects, provided no recruitment on behalf of Greenville occurs.
Extra Benefits
As a booster, you may not provide benefits to an enrolled student-athlete, a prospect or their family/friends, unless such benefits are generally available to the general student body. Examples of impermissible extra benefits include:
Providing transportation (e.g. train ticket) or use of an automobile
Cash, loans, or use of a credit card
Any tangible gifts, including birthday or holiday gifts
Free or discounted meals (outside of occasional meals approved by the compliance office)
Free or reduced cost housing for any length of time
Free or discounted goods or services (unless advertised and available to the general public)
Free or reduced admission/tickets to events or entertainment
Academic assistance of any kind (e.g. tutoring, assistance in completing coursework)
Occasional Meals
It is permissible for you to provide a meal to a student-athlete or team on infrequent or special occasions provided the meal is approved by the Compliance Office before the meal occurs. If you wish to host or provide an occasional meal, please contact the Compliance Office to ensure that all appropriate guidelines are followed and approved prior to the meal. Occasional meals may only be held at the individual’s home, on campus, or at a facility that is regularly used for home competition and may be catered. Reasonable local transportation may be provided to student-athletes to attend the meal only if it is held at the booster’s home.
At the Division III level, a booster may pay for or provide a meal to a student-athlete or team outside of the locale of the institution as long as the meal is in conjunction with, or en-route to or from, an away-from-home contest.
Employment of Student-Athletes
It is permissible for alumni and boosters to employ currently enrolled student-athletes provided the following are adhered to:
The student-athlete is paid only for work performed.
The student-athlete is paid at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for similar services.
You may not directly compensate a student-athlete for their name, image, likeness without exchange of consideration. If you decide to purchase a student-athletes autograph, gear, clinic, etc.., you must pay the market rate for those items.
You cannot individually enter into an endorsement deal with a student-athlete. If you have a business who wants to use a student-athletes NIL, it must follow all GU and NCAA policies. A business whose product conflicts with GU’s policy such as gambling and banned substances cannot enter into contracts with GU student-athletes.
You cannot communicate with, make contact with, or direct payments to a prospective student-athletes in high school or another university, directly or indirectly, in order to influences their decision to come or not come to GU or another institution.
