Boosters, Alumni, Faculty, and Fans

This sub-site is intended to highlight some pertinent NCAA rules for you as a representative of Holy Family University’s athletics interests.  It is impossible to cover every NCAA rule that impacts you.  However, if you ever have any questions about NCAA rules and regulations, please contact the Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance. 
 
Definition of a Representative of Athletics Interests:
In general, you are considered a representative of athletics interests (or a booster) if any of the following apply:

• You are the parent or legal guardian of an enrolled Holy Family University student-athlete
• You are a former student or fan of Holy Family University Athletics;
• You have participated in promoting the Tiger athletics program;
• You have assisted in the recruitment of prospects to Holy Family University;
• You have made any sort of financial contribution to Holy Family University Athletics.

 
Note: Once you trigger "booster status", you will always be considered a booster and held to NCAA rules.

Essential Information for Representatives of Athletics Interests:
Extra Benefits
Definition:  An extra benefit is any special arrangement to provide a student-athlete or student-athlete's relative, coach or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation.
 
Extra benefits for prospects are called offers or inducements and are prohibited. An institution's staff member or any representative of its athletics interests shall not be involved, directly or indirectly, in making arrangements for giving or offering to give any financial aid or other benefits to a prospect or to a prospect's relatives, coach or friends.
Examples of prohibited extra benefits include but are not limited to:
 

• Cash or loan in any amount
• Gift, clothing or equipment (i.e. holiday gift, birthday present, gift certificate)
• Special discount, payment arrangements or free or reduced cost services
• The purchase of a meal or service at a commercial establishment
• Free or reduced cost rent or housing
• Use of a car or other personal property (i.e. house)
• Promise of employment after graduation
• Employment for a prospect's friends or relatives
• Payment of registration fees for athletic camps

 
Recruiting
Definition:  Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospect or the prospect's family by an institutional staff member or by an institution's representative of athletics interests (i.e. booster) for the purpose of securing that prospect's enrollment and participation in the institution's intercollegiate athletics program
 
NCAA rules restrict the ways that boosters can be involved in the recruiting process.  Below is a breakdown of the do's and don'ts for boosters as it concerns recruiting.
 
Boosters Can:

• Notify the coaching staff of outstanding prospects in the area
• Continue to have normal contact with any neighbor, relative, or family friend that might be a prospect so long as you do not engage in the recruitment process
• Refer any and all recruiting questions to an athletic department staff member

 
Boosters Cannot:

• Write or call a prospect or his/her parents or legal guardians
• Contact a coach, high school principal, and/or counselor, to evaluate a prospect
• Visit a prospect's school to pick up a transcript or video to evaluate his/her academic or athletic ability or to provide to an athletics department staff member
• Provide extra benefits to prospects, enrolled college student-athletes or their relatives or friends (e.g. movie or event tickets, dinner, gift cards or special discounts)
• Meet with a prospect or his/her immediate family members off campus; or have any recruiting contact unless on the University campus at the direction of the athletics staff
• Pay for prospect's registration fees for athletics camps at any time

 
Booster FAQ's
1.     What if a prospect approaches/calls me with questions about playing for Holy Family?
 
You should not speak with him/her in excess of a friendly greeting and explaining that NCAA rules prohibit you from talking with them further.  You can tell them they will need to contact the coach and then take steps to end the conversation.
 
 
2.     What if a prospect knows I am a Holy Family University graduate and calls me with general questions about Holy Family?
 
If a prospect initiates a phone call to you, a booster, you may answer questions regarding various aspects of attending Holy Family University as long as NO discussion occurs regarding the Holy Family athletics program.  If a prospect asks about Holy Family athletics, you must refer him/her to the appropriate coaching staff member.
 
 
3.     May I provide anything to a recruit?
 
No. The NCAA's "extra benefit" rule (as defined above) prohibits you from providing any benefit to a prospect or his/her family or friends when the benefit is not available to the general public or all Holy Family University students (e.g. tickets to an athletic, institutional or community event).
 
 
4.     If I have family friends with a son or daughter who is a prospect, do the rules change my relationship with them?
 
Not necessarily. The rules are not meant to alter relationships that started for reasons unrelated to athletics, especially prior to an individual reaching such an age or status.  You may continue relationships with family friends who have a son or daughter of recruit-able age and is considered a prospect (e.g. backyard BBQs, picnics).  But, you cannot encourage the PSA's participation in Holy Family University athletics or provide benefits that you were not providing before he/she became a prospect.
 
 
5.     Do the extra benefit rules also apply to enrolled student-athletes and their families and friends?
 
Yes. You are not allowed to provide any benefit or special arrangement to an enrolled student- athlete (e.g. tickets to a sporting event or concert, a meal or snack, an award or gift for athletic performance, special discounts). Again, the rules are not meant to alter pre-existing relationships, but note that the benefits provided must be the type of benefits that you provided prior to the student-athlete's enrollment at Holy Family University.
 

Contacting the Compliance Office
Remember this is not a complete list of NCAA rules. Please contact a compliance staff member if you have any questions or before taking action that may be contrary to NCAA rules. 

Return to Compliance Main Page