Transcript Representatives of Athletic Interest: Boosters

Brevard College
Athletics
&
Representatives of our Athletics
Interests
Definition of a Booster
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Representative of Athletics (Booster)
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Alumni of Brevard College
Employed as faculty/staff member or coach at BC
Active or former member of the Tornado Club
Contributed to the Athletics Dept. or Tornado Club
Assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes
or their families
– Assisted or have been requested by the athletics staff to
assist in the recruitment of PSAs
– Been otherwise involved in the BC athletic program (e.g.
volunteer)
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Once identified as a booster, that individual will
retain the identity of a Brevard College Booster
indefinitely
NCAA Regulations for
Boosters
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The NCAA has limited the role a booster may take with
regard to recruits and student athletes
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Brevard College is held responsible for any action taken
by a booster relating to a PSA or current student-athlete
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Penalties for violations are severe for Boosters, PSA’s,
and current student-athletes
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Any violation may jeopardize a young person’s
opportunity to attend and compete for BC
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BC will be exposed to NCAA sanctions and Booster could
be disassociated from the BC athletics program
Extra Benefit Definition
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An extra benefit is any award, gift, benefit or expense provided to a
currently enrolled student-athlete that is not allowed by NCAA rules
and regulations
A student-athlete may not receive any benefit that is not available to
other members of the student body at BC
This prohibition extends to a student-athlete’s family and friends. An
extra benefit cannot be extended to another on behalf of the
student-athlete.
Examples
Gifts
Food/Beverages
Clothing
Transportation
Loans
Ownership or use of automobiles
Use of automatic cash machines
Low interest or interest free loans
Telephone credit card/charge accounts
Stereo equipment
Booster:
Impermissible Activities
Impermissible Activities
1. Cannot contact prospects directly or contact high school
coaches or guidance counselors to get information concerning
prospective student athletes
2. Cannot contact prospect’s family or friends and promote the BC
athletic program
3. A prospect or a BC student-athlete could not receive any room,
board or living expenses from you at anytime
- Including the summer prior to enrollment or over break
4. Cannot arrange financial assistance for a prospect, their families,
and/or friends
5. Cannot provide transportation to prospects/student-athlete, their
families, and/or friends
Booster Issues in the News
(September 2010)
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9.13.2010
– MTSU starting quarterback Dwight Dasher accepted a
$1,500 loan from a booster.
– Dasher received a four-game suspension and was required
to repay the loan.
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9.9.2010
– Princeton University booster provided a tennis studentathlete with tuition and room and board.
– This student-athlete was a family friend of the booster but
the relationship was determined to be due to the studentathlete’s athletic ability.
– Princeton must vacate all match wins in which the tennis
student-athlete participated, institution received public
reprimand
NCAA Division II
Secondary Infraction Case
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SA Reinstatement Case ID: 34065
Secondary Case ID: 39773
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Division: II
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Sport(s): Women's Basketball
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Bylaw(s): 13.01.5 Recruiting by Representatives of Athletics Interests. 13.1.3.5.2 Representatives of
Athletics Interests.
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Facts:
During the 2009 spring semester, a representative of the institution's athletics interests had
impermissible telephone contact with a prospective student-athlete (PSA). Specifically, April 24, 2009,
the head women's basketball coach contacted the PSA to make her an offer and was informed by her
father that a representative of the institution's athletics interests (booster) had called the PSA a few
days earlier. The violation was immediately reported and investigated.
Institutional Action:
The coach will not be allowed to contact the PSA until May 4, 2009 (forfeiting one contact week). The
athletics director will be administering a compliance educational session May 15, 2009, to the board of
trustees concerning what boosters may do and what they may not do.
Enforcement Action:
No further action. However, please note that the PSA is ineligible for intercollegiate competition at the
institution until her eligibility is restored by the NCAA student-athlete reinstatement staff.
NCAA Division II
Secondary Infraction Case
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Secondary Case ID: 31046
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Division: II
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Sport(s): Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer
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Bylaw(s): 16.11.2.1 General Rule.16.5.1 Permissible.
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Facts:
The institution's soccer team had a team gathering on August 9, 2006, which included current SAs and
their parents. The parents were allowed to eat at the team gathering, but the parents were not
charged for the meal. The head men's and women's soccer coach did not think about charging the
parents for the meal. The violation was discovered when the head soccer coach asked about getting
reimbursed for the team meal. Throughout the course of many conversations regarding who attended
the team gathering and who ate the meal, it was discovered that the parents of the current SAs did not
pay for the meal.
Institutional Action:
Repayment of the value of the meal will be made to a charity by each of the SAs involved (under $100
per SA). Copies of the checks to the charities or receipts from the charities will be obtained and kept on
file at the institution. A rules education session was conducted with the soccer staff which focused on
extra benefits. The bylaw will be a topic of discussion for future rules education meetings with all
coaches. All occasional meals or team gatherings must be approved by the compliance director prior to
them occurring. A letter of admonishment was sent to the head soccer coach.
NCAA Division II
Secondary Infraction Case
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Secondary Case ID: 41734
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Division: II
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Sport(s): Baseball, Men's Wrestling
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Bylaw(s): 16.11.1.4 Occasional Meals.
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Facts:
A representative of the institution's athletics interests (booster), whose wife is a member of the
institution's infirmary staff, provided a meal for two SAs at a restaurant. The booster learned of two SAs
who were confined to their dorm room with the flu so he offered to bring food to the SAs. The SAs
gave the booster money for the food, but the booster decided to pay for it himself and returned the
money to the SAs. At that time, the booster did not realize the students were SAs.
Institutional Action:
Institution will conduct an education session about extra benefits and boosters with SAs and coaches.
Institution will send a letter to the booster explaining the rule and the violation. Additionally, each of
the SAs will send $6.00 to a charity of their choice and will provide a copy of the receipt to the athletic
department.
NCAA Division II
Secondary Infraction Case
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Secondary Case ID: 31811
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Division: II
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Sport(s): Men's Basketball
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Bylaw(s): 16.11.2.1 General Rule. 16.5.2.1 Housing Benefits.
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Facts:
During the 2006 summer session, the financial aid office coordinator permitted a men's basketball
student-athlete (SA) to live at her house for a couple of months. The SA was living in the residence hall
at the start of the summer session as he was attending summer school. The SA subsequently was
informed that his scholarship only included tuition and not room and board. When the financial aid
office coordinator requested that the SA vacate his dorm room, she offered to allow him to reside at
her house for the summer inasmuch as the SA was an out-of-state resident.
Institutional Action:
The institution is not seeking reinstatement of eligibility for the SA as he has been removed from the
men's basketball program for numerous university violations unrelated to this incident. The SA's
residence hall charge would have been $765 but he vacated the hall early and was given a credit of
$555. Based upon this credit, the institution has determined that the value of the SA's "extra benefit"
should be $555. The financial aid office coordinator has resigned from her position from the institution.
The SA has been dismissed from the team for unrelated issues. Due to the resignation and dismissal,
the institution has no way to discipline the SA or the financial aid office coordinator. The assistant
athletic director for compliance has reviewed the bylaw with the financial aid officer. The assistant
athletic for compliance will meet with each of the teams and coaches to review the bylaw and the
definition of an "extra benefit".
Permissible Activities
BC Athletics Boosters
Booster:
Permissible Activities
Permissible Activities
1.
Identify outstanding potential student-athletes to the Brevard
College Coaching Staff
2.
Provide employment and internship opportunities for studentathletes after receiving approval from the Athletics Dept.
3.
Organize occasional meals for Brevard College student-athletes
and coaches after receiving approval from the Athletics Dept.
4.
Continue established friendships with friends and neighbors,
even those with prospect-aged children
5.
Ask the Brevard College Compliance Office if a specific situation
or scenario is a potential violation.
Four Question Test
for Boosters
1.
Did your relationship or benefit to a student-athlete or studentathlete’s parents develop as a result of the student-athlete’s
athletic participation?
2.
Did your relationship or benefit provided to the student-athlete or
student-athlete’s parents occur before the student-athlete enrolled
in the 9th grade (became a PSA)?
3.
Did your relationship with the student-athlete or student-athlete’s
parents occur before the student-athlete’s reputation as an
athlete?
4.
If you provided a benefit to a student-athlete or student-athlete’s
parents, was the benefit similar in nature today as it was before
the student-athlete became an athlete?
*If you answered, “yes” to the first question and “no” to any of the
other three questions, do not provide the benefit. If you have
already provided, contact the BC Compliance Office.*
NCAA’s Goal
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The NCAA’s goal is to limit extra benefits provided
to prospects and student-athletes.
If it is determined that you have an established
relationship with a student-athlete, you may
continue to provide occasional benefits, provided
they are similar in nature as before the studentathlete became an athlete.
The origin and duration of the relationship and the
consistency of benefits provided by you are key
factors in determining whether or not a violation
occurs.
Brevard College’s Goal
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To help a booster understand that if you provide extra
benefits, you may render a student-athlete ineligible to
compete and the team may have to forfeit contests in
which the student-athlete participated.
Good faith gestures or actions are appreciated, however
they may lead to a violation of NCAA rules and
regulations if they are not approved/documented
To inform out boosters to always “Ask Before You
Act”. Contact the Compliance Office to determine if a
benefit is permissible under NCAA rules and regulations.