Boosters

Representatives of Athletics Interests (Booster):
Under NCAA rules a "representative of the institution's athletics interests (athletics representative/booster) is any individual who:

  • Made any type of contribution to Northwestern State University or its athletic program;
  • Joined a Northwestern State Athletics donor or booster club or any sport specific support group;
  • Provided benefits (e.g., summer jobs) to prospective or enrolled student-athletes or their families;
  • Assisted, in any manner, in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes;
  • Participated as a varsity athlete at Northwestern State University;
  • Is the parent or legal guardian of an enrolled student-athlete;
  • Promoted the athletics program in any way.

Once an individual is identified as a "Representative of the Institution's Athletics Interest," the person retains that identity indefinitely.

Contact:
Any face-to-face encounter between a prospect or his/her parents/legal guardians and an institutional staff member or booster during which any conversation in excess of a greeting occurs. Any face-to-face meeting that is prearranged and takes place on the prospect's campus or at the prospect's competition site is considered a contact regardless of the conversation that occurs.

Extra Benefit:
An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a booster to provide a student-athlete, or his/her friends or relatives, a benefit not authorized by the NCAA. The benefits a student-athlete may NOT receive include, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

  • money, special discount, payment arrangement or credit on a purchase (airline ticket, clothes) or service (laundry, typing);
  • free or reduced-cost professional services not available on the same basis to the general student body;
  • use of a telephone, pager or credit card for personal reasons without charge or at a reduced rate;
  • entertainment services (movie tickets, dinners, use of car) from commercial agencies (theaters, restaurants, car dealers) without charge or at reduced rates, or free or reduced-cost admission to professional athletics contests from professional sports organizations, unless such services are available to the student body in general;
  • guarantee of bond;
  • signing or cosigning a note with an outside agency to arrange a loan;
  • preferential treatment, benefits or services based on his/her athletics reputation or skill or pay-back potential as a future professional;
  • free or reduced-cost athletics equipment, supplies or clothing directly from a manufacturer or commercial enterprise;
  • free or reduced cost room and/or board;
  • payment or other compensation for work not performed or at unreasonable levels for the work performed;
  • employment arrangements for a student-athlete or prospect's relatives or friends;
  • payment of registration fees or other expenses to attend Northwestern State sports camps or clinic;
  • use of personal property (boats, summer homes, cars, computers, stereos);
  • holiday or birthday presents;
  • promise of employment after college graduation;
  • purchase of items or services from a prospect/student-athlete or their relatives at inflated prices; and
  • payment or arrangements for payment of transportation costs incurred by a student-athlete or prospect's relatives or friends; or
  • any items given because an individual is a student-athlete.

Prospect:
An individual who has either started classes for the ninth grade OR who has received any benefit from Northwestern State or a booster. Actions taken by athletic staff that cause an individual to become a prospective student-athlete include:

  • providing a prospect an expense-paid visit to a collegiate institution;
  • having an arranged in-person encounter with the individual;
  • initiating or arranging telephone contact with the individual or a member of his/her family; or
  • providing an individual (or his/her relatives or friends) any financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students generally (i.e. tickets to an athletic competition)

As a Representative of Athletics Interests, you are permitted to:

  • Notify coaches about prospects in your area that may be strong additions to the Demon team;
  • Attend high school or two-year college athletic contests or events where prospects may compete, but you may not contact the prospect or their relatives or guardians;
  • Continue existing friendships with families of prospects, but you may not attempt to recruit the prospect.
  • Engage in permissible pre-enrollment activities with a prospect, such as summer employment, provided the prospect has already signed a National Letter of Intent and the institution is aware and informed if these contacts are made.
  • Have a phone conversation with a prospect only if the prospect initiates the call. Such a call may not be pre-arranged by any institutional staff member or another representative of athletics interests. All questions regarding the intercollegiate athletics program must be referred to the proper Northwestern State Athletics staff member.

As a Representative of Athletics Interest, you are NOT permitted to:

  • Contact a prospect or his/her parents in person, by telephone or in writing (letters, instant message, message boards or email) for the purpose of recruiting the prospect. Contact may not be made with a prospect or his/her parents on or off the Northwestern State campus.
  • Approach a Northwestern State coach who is with a prospect. This places the coach in an uncomfortable situation because the coach is not able to introduce the booster to the prospect.
  • Have contact with student-athletes at institutions other than Northwestern State for the purpose of recruiting.
  • Have face-to-face contact with a prospect or his/her family with the purpose of recruiting him/her to Northwestern State.
  • Mail any materials to a prospect. This includes newspapers, clippings, press releases, media guides, posters, game programs, schedule cards, emails, etc.
  • Contact a prospect's counselor, principal or coach in order to evaluate a prospect. Additionally, a booster may not obtain videotapes or transcripts of the prospect at his/her high school or junior college.
  • Provide a prospect or his/her family or friends with any extra benefits. A booster may not provide extra benefits to current student-athletes.

Rules for Representatives of Athletics Interests Relating to CURRENT Student-Athletes

As a Representative of Athletics Interests, you are permitted to:

  • Provide an occasional family home meal to a student-athlete or an entire team. The meal must take place in the home, NOT a restaurant; however, the meal may be catered. Requests for these types of occasional meals must be PRIOR approved by the Compliance Services staff.
  • Employ a student-athlete under certain circumstances with prior approval from the Northwestern State Department of Athletics. Both the student-athlete and the employer must sign a written statement PRIOR to beginning any employment during the academic year. Student-athletes may be compensated only for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate in the area for similar services.

As a Representative of Athletics Interest, you are NOT permitted to:

  • Provide extra benefits to any student-athlete and his/her family.
  • Use the name or picture of a student-athlete to directly or indirectly advertise, recommend or promote the sale or use of a commercial product or service.
  • Provide an honorarium to a student-athlete who has been approved for a speaking engagement. Student-athletes may receive only necessary travel expenses for prior approved speaking engagements.
  • Provide free or reduced rate housing for a student athlete or his/her family, even on weekend visits. Additionally, student-athletes are specifically not allowed to house-sit for boosters.