Northwestern State University would like to thank you for your continued support for Demon Athletics. Your contributions are absolutely necessary to the financial and social support of NSU Athletics.  No one appreciates your assistance more than the student-athletes, coaches and staff.

Many Demons Unlimited Foundaation (DUF) members do not realize they have acquired the title of "athletic representative" or "booster" along with membership. Also, all university employees are "athletic representatives" under NCAA guidelines. For many years, universities have faced penalties by the NCAA resulting from the good intentions of an athletic representative. As a representative of Northwestern State University, you have an obligation to ensure the integrity of its athletics program. To assist you in this endeavor, we have compiled the information below as a guide to NCAA rules and regulations.

The information is intended to provide DUF members and friends of Northwestern State with a basic understanding of NCAA rules and regulations concerning the role of athletic representatives within the athletic department. While this brochure does not include all applicable provisions, it does include the most common situations encountered by alumni and friends as well as the most important rules governing these situations.

If a question arises that is not covered in the information below, please do not hesitate to contact  Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations and Compliance Director Dustin Eubanks.


Who is a representative of athletic interests?
You are a "Representative of Athletics Interest" if you have:

• Participated in or been a member of Demons Unlimited Foundation (DUF) or any other groups/organizations that have promoted NSU athletics;
• Made a donation of any kind to the NSU Athletics Dempartment, including individual sport programs and/or booster clubs;
• Assisted or have been requested (by a NSU Athletics Department staff member) to assist in the recruitment of a prospective student-athlete;
• Assisted in providing approved benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families;
• Been involved otherwise in promoting, NSU athletics.

One an individual/group is identified as "Representative of Athletics Interest," that identity is retained indefinitely, although contributions and support to NSU has ceased.

NSU is ultimately responsible fo all actions by its Boosters in relation to NCAA rules. Therefore, please be aware of the following:

• An Athletics representative may speak to a prospective student-athlete via telephone only if the student-athlete initiates the conversation and the call is not for recruiting purposes (example: asking about Natchitoches or NSU Academics). All questions about th athletics program should be referred to the athletics department staff. A ll other electronic communication with prospects such as email, social media .. is prohibited.
• An athletics representative may view a prospective student-athlete's athletics contest on his or her own initiative but may not contact the prospective student-athlete on such occasions.
• An athletics representative may not contact a prospective student athlete's coach, principal or counselor in an attempt to evaluate the prospective student-athlete.
• An athletics representative may not visit a prospective student-athlete's educational institution to pick up video or transcripts pertaining to the evaluation of the prospective student-athlete's academic eligibility or athletic ability.
• Recruiting is any solicitation of a prospect of the prospect's family members by an institutional staff member for the purpose of securing the prospect's enrollment and ultimate participation in the athletic program. Representative of athletics interest can make recommendations to coaches on recruiting individuals, but cannot be involved in the actual recruitment of a prospect. Leave recruiting to the coaches.
• An official visit to a member institution by a prospective student-athlete is a visit financed, whole or in part, by the member institution. A representative of athletics interests cannot have contact with a prospect attending NSU on an official visit.
• Limited contact with a prospect who is an established family friend is permitted as long as the contact is not coordinated by NSU and is not made for recruiting purposes,

As a Representative of Athletic Interest, you may:

• Provide any benefit or service to a student-athlete that is demonstrated to be generally available on the same basis to the entire student body.
• Employment of a student-athlete is permissible provided the student-athlete is paid for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with other employees in similar jobs.
• A student-athlete or entire team may be provided occasional meals under the following conditions:
  • The meal may only be provided in an individual's home, or on campus
  • Meals must be restricted to infrequent and special occasions
  • Reasonable local transportation to the meal may be provided by the representative who is providing the meal in his/her home or by institutional staff members.

As a Representative of Athletic Interest, you may not:

• Arrange employment for a prospect's family members
• Provide gifts or equipment; provide a loan, or arrange or co-sign for a loan
• Provide cash or like items; any tangible items, including merchandise
• Provide free or reduced-cost services, rentals, housing, or purchases of any type; provide use of an institution's athletic equipment (i.e. high school all-star game)
• Sponsoring of or arranging for an awards banquet for high school, preparatory school, or two-year college athletes by an institution or a representative of athletic interests
• Provide "extra benefits" to a prospect, current student-athlete, and their family members
• Pay expensed for academic services (i.e. tutoring, test prep, etc.) to assist in the completion of eligibility requirements.

Transfer Prospective Student-Athletes
As a representative of athletic interests, you are not permitted to contact any student-athlete or family member/guardian of a student-athlete for the purposes of recruiting and /or to determine the possibility of transferring to NSU if the student-athlete has been enrolled at another institution.. The same rules that apply to freshman prospective student-athletes apply to transfers.

Who is a Prospective Student-Athlete?
NCAA rules stipulate that a prospective student athlete is a person who has started classes for the ninth grade regardless of his/her athletic ability and/or participation. Any benefit or financial assistance from an institution prior to the ninth grade makes the student a prospect. This rule also applies to student-athletes enrolled at other universities, both two and four year institutions.

Who is an Enrolled Student-Athlete?
An enrolled student-athlete is an individual whose enrollment was solicited by a member of the athletics staff or representatives of athletics interests with a view toward the student's ultimate participation in athletics at the institution. Any other student becomes a student-athlete once the student reports to a team that is under the jurisdiction of the athletics department.

Permissible Recruiters
All in-person, on, and off campus recruiting contacts with a prospect or the prospect's family members or legal guardian(s) shall be made only by authorized institutional staff members. Such contact or correspondence by representative of athletics interest are prohibited except in the following situations:

• Established Family Friend or Neighbor
• Unavoidable Incidental Contact