2015 Nebraska Volleyball Media Guide | Page 14

COMPLIANCE INFORMATION/GUIDELINES FOR FANS The University of Nebraska Athletic Department takes great pride in abiding by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Big Ten Conference rules and guidelines that govern Division I competition. For the benefit of the many alumni, fans and booster club members who are so active in supporting and assisting the Huskers throughout the year, we would like to remind everyone of a few definitions and rules that apply to all athletic representatives and boosters. NCAA Principles Institutional Control It is the responsibility of the University of Nebraska to control its intercollegiate athletic program in compliance with the rules and regulations of the NCAA. Responsibility The University of Nebraska’s responsibility for the conduct of its program includes responsibility for the actions of its staff members and for the actions of any other individual, booster or organization engaged in activities promoting the athletic interests of the institution. Compliance The University of Nebraska must monitor its program to assure compliance and to identify and report to the NCAA instances in which compliance has not been achieved. An institution found to have violated NCAA rules is subject to disciplinary and corrective actions as determined by the NCAA. Question and Answers for Fans, Boosters, Alumni and Representatives of Athletic Interests Q: What is a booster? A: Someone who belongs to a University of Nebraska athletic booster club; promotes or makes financial donations to the athletic department or a specific Husker team; assists in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes; employs, gives benefits to, or provides services to a student-athlete, a prospective student-athlete or the relative/friends of either. REPRESENTATIVE OF ATHLETIC INTERESTS (I.E., BOOSTERS), NCAA BYLAW 13 Q: What is a Prospective Student-Athlete? A: A prospective student-athlete is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade or above, including students in prep schools and junior colleges as well as students who have officially withdrawn from a four-year institution and plan to transfer to another institution. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective student-athlete if the institution or a Nebraska booster provides the individual or the individual’s relatives or friends with any financial assistance or benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students in general. A good rule of thumb is to treat ALL STUDENTS as prospects. Q: What is a Student-Athlete? A: A student-athlete is a student whose enrollment was solicited by a member of the Nebraska athletic staff or other representative of athletic interests with a view toward the student’s ultimate participation in the intercollegiate athletic program. Q: What is a contact? A: Contact is ANY face-to-face encounter between a prospect, or the prospect’s parent or legal guardian, and a Nebraska staff member or athletic representative during which any dialogue occurs. Q: What is recruiting? A: Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospect or a prospect’s family member (or guardian) by an institutional staff member or by athletic representative of the institution, for the purpose of securing the prospect’s enrollment and ultimate participation in Nebraska’s intercollegiate athletic program. 12 2015 NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL Guidelines Q: What is a Booster? A: Someone who belongs to a University of Nebraska athletic booster club; promotes or makes financial donations to the athletic department or a specific Husker team; assists in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes; employs, gives benefits to, or provi des services to a student-athlete, a prospective student-athlete or the relative/friends of either. REPRESENTATIVE OF ATHLETIC INTERESTS (I.E., BOOSTERS), NCAA BYLAW 13 Q: What constitutes impermissible contact by a Booster? A: Phone calls to prospects (9th to 12th grade) and their relatives placed for recruiting purposes (questions about the athletic program at UNL must be directed to the coach); writing, paging, text messages or instant messages to a prospect to encourage UNL attendance; contact with a prospect at a high school or club contest; contact with a prospect or his/her coach, principal, or counselor to evaluate the prospect; visiting the prospect’s educational institution to pick up videotape or transcripts for evaluation purposes; contacting a prospect to congratulate him/her for signing a National Letter of Intent to attend UNL; giving anything of value to a prospect to induce him/her to attend UNL; contact of any kind while the prospect is on the UNL campus for an official or unofficial visit. RECRUITING CONTACTS, NCAA BYLAW 13 Q: What are the rules of employment for a student-athlete? A: A student-athlete may be employed during the academic year or summer vacation period; receive compensation equal to the going rate for similar services in the locale; receive compensation only for work performed; receive benefits provided to all other employees; teach sport-related individual skill instruction or fee-for-lesson sessions. A student-athlete may not conduct personal sport camps or promote, market, advertise or endorse a commercial business or product. Only benefits that are authorized by NCAA legislation shall be provided to and accepted by a student-athlete. It is not permissible for a student-athlete to receive a benefit that is the result of a “special” arrangement by an institutional employee, booster, employer or fan. EMPLOYMENT, NCAA BYLAW 12 Q: What are non-permissible benefits? A: Free or reduced-fee housing/rent including the use of vacation or seasonal homes; free or reduced-fee meals; loans or cash advances in pay or salary; tuition costs or school supply expenses; gifts or presents of any type regardless of the occasion or purpose; use of telephone for long distance or use of telephone cards and cell phones; free use of any motor vehicle, boat or recreational vehicle; free use of services (i.e., automobile repair, hair care, laundry, copying, faxing, etc.); free or reduced-fee memberships at golf courses, health clubs, etc. (This list is not exhaustive. Only benefits that are authorized by NCAA legislation shall be provided to and accepted by a student-athlete. It is not permissible for a student-athlete to receive a benefit that is the result of a “special” arrangement by an institutional employee, booster, employer or fan.) BENEFITS AND PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT, NCAA BYLAW 16 Q: What type of promotional activities may the student-athlete be permitted to participate? A: Charitable, educational or non-profit promotions and events with requested approval from the Athletic Compliance Office prior to the event. Q: What types of promotional activities are not permissible? A: Any fundraising activity that supports a high school organization or group that assists prospective-aged students; use of his/her name or picture; or appear to promote or market a commercial business or product. PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES, NCAA BYLAW 12 For further information regarding NCAA Guidelines for Athletic Representatives, please contact the athletic compliance office at [phone] or 1-[phone]. Inquiries may also be mailed to: Athletic Compliance Office, One Memorial Stadium, P.O. Box 880219, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0219. Questions can also be faxed to [phone] or emailed to [email protected].