Dear Wolfpackers, Parents and Friends:


NC State has a rich history of success in intercollegiate athletics. And we are on an upward trend toward even greater success because we have an outstanding team of coaches, student-athletes and the support of thousands of loyal Wolfpackers and fans. However, NCAA rules infractions can threaten any athletics program. Today, more than ever, we have to be vigilant to ensure that we comply with the complex set of rules that govern intercollegiate athletics. This special newsletter that we have published deals with rules that apply to Wolfpack Club members (‘boosters’), parents of student-athletes, and friends of Wolfpack athletics. I greatly encourage you to take a few minutes to read this material. We don’t ever want to jeopardize the hardearned success our teams enjoy because of an oversight of the NCAA rules. We will always strive for excellence with integrity. In closing, I want to emphasize that your awareness of the rules and compliance is vital in helping us achieve excellence. If you have any questions, please contact our Compliance staff. Thanks for your continued great support.

Go Pack!

Lee Fowler
Director of Athletics

 

Guidelines for Alumni and Friends of NC State Athletics

Key Definitions Extra Benefits
The Recruiting Process Frequently Asked Questions
Employment Consequences of Booster Violations
Six Key Rules to Remember Charitable Requests

 

Key Definitions

Prospect: A prospective student-athlete is any student who has started classes for the ninth grade.

Enrolled Student-Athlete: An enrolled student-athlete is a student who is presently participating in athletics or has completed his or her eligibility but is still enrolled at the University.

Representative of Athletics Interests: You are a representative of athletics interests if you:

Are or have been a member of the Wolfpack Club.
Have made a donation to any of NC State's athletic programs.
Currently employ or have previously provided or helped arrange employment for enrolled student-athletes.
Are the parent or legal guardian of an enrolled student-athlete.
Once someone obtains the status of "representative of athletics interest," they keep that distinction for life.

Extra Benefit: An extra benefit is any special gift or arrangement provided to an enrolled student-athlete or to a student-athlete's relative or friend, which is not available to the general student body.

Recruiting Contact: A recruiting contact is any face-to-face encounter between a prospect or a prospect's parent or legal guardian and a University staff member or athletics representative during which any dialogue occurs in excess of a normal greeting.

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The Recruiting Process

Only coaches and university staff members may be involved in the recruiting process.

You may NOT:

Make in-person recruiting contacts with a prospect or his or her parents or legal guardians.
Write or telephone a prospect or his or her parents or legal guardians.
Contact a coach, principal, or counselor to evaluate a prospect.
Visit a prospect's school to pick up a transcript or video to evaluate the prospect's academic or athletic ability.

You MAY:

Identify outstanding student-athletes that our coaches would be interested in. Do this by sending newspaper clippings or calling our coaches-they'll take it from there.
Continue to have normal contact with any neighbor, relative, or family friend, so long as you do not engage in the recruitment of the prospect.

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Extra Benefits

It is not permissible to provide extra benefits to prospects or enrolled student-athletes, or their relatives and friends. This means that you may NOT:

 

Provide meals, clothes, tickets, or other items with tangible value.
Provide transportation.
Provide gifts or services of any kind.
Provide cash or loans, regardless of amount.
Sign or co-sign notes or loans for them.

You MAY:

Provide a meal to a student-athlete or an entire team, provided the meal takes place at your home and is restricted to special and infrequent occasions.

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Employment

Current Student-Athletes: Representatives of athletics interests are allowed to employ or assist in securing the employment of current student-athletes, but a few stipulations exist:

Student-Athletes must complete paperwork with the Compliance Office prior to beginning work.

Money earned must be for actual work performed, and at the same rate that any non-student-athlete would make.

Prospective Student-Athletes: A prospect may be employed only after he or she has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend NC State. The same provisions regarding employment of current student-athletes then apply.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are you a "booster" (representative of the institution’s athletics interests)?
 

A: Yes, if you:

  • are or have ever been a member of an agency or organization promoting NC State’s Athletics Program;
  • have ever made a donation to the NC State Athletics Program or to the Wolfpack Club;
  • are or have ever been requested by the athletic staff to assist in recruiting prospects;
  • are or have ever assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families; or
  • are or have ever been involved otherwise in the promotion of the NC State Athletics Program. (NCAA Bylaw 13.02.13)
Q: May I contact high school coaches or guidance counselors directly regarding a student-athlete?
 

A: No; Such contact would constitute recruiting.

Q: May I attend a high school game? May I speak with a prospect's parents?
 

A: Yes, you may attend a high-school game. However, it is not permissible to have contact with a prospect's parents for the purposes of recruiting the prospect.

Q: What if I am a friend of the family, a relative, or a neighbor of a prospect?
 

A: The rule does not preclude you from having normal contact with friends, relatives, or neighbors. However, contact for the purpose of recruiting is not permissible.

Q: May I provide a meal for our student-athletes or an entire team at my home?
 

A: Yes; it is permissible to provide a meal in your home. Be sure to coordinate either with the head coach or the compliance staff. All meals must be pre-approved by our staff.
Q: Once an individual has been identified as a "booster", how long does he or she retain this identity?
 

A: Forever. (NCAA Bylaw 13.02.13.1)
Q: Is NC State responsible for the acts of its boosters and booster support groups?
 

A: Yes. Boosters are governed by the same NCAA and institutional rules and regulations as those placed upon all institutional athletics staff members.
Q: Who is considered a "prospect" (prospective student-athlete)?
 

A: "A prospective student-athlete ("prospect") is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. In addition, a student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective student-athlete if the institution provides such an individual (or the individual’s relatives or friends) any financial assistance or other benefits that the institution does not provide to prospective students generally." (NCAA Bylaw 13.02.10)

 

 
Q: How long is a prospective student-athlete considered a prospect?
 

A: A prospective student-athlete remains a prospect even after signing a National Letter Intent to attend an institution, and both the institution and the prospect continue to be governed by NCAA recruiting legislation until: (a) the prospect reports for regular squad practice; (b) the registrar or director of admissions certifies that the prospect is officially registered and enrolled at the institution on the opening day of classes; or (c) the prospect attends a class or classes in any regular term.
Q: What is the definition of a contact?
 

A: A contact is any face-to-face encounter between a prospective student-athlete, the prospect’s parents or legal guardian(s) and an institutional staff member or athletics representative during which any dialogue occurs in excess of an exchange of a greeting. Additionally, any face-to-face encounter which is prearranged or that takes place on the grounds of the prospect’s educational institution or at the site of organized competition or practice involving the prospect or the team the prospect represents shall be considered a contact, regardless of the conversation which occurs. (NCAA Bylaws 13.02.3, 13.1.7)
Q: Is the contact rule applicable to established family friends or neighbors?
 

A: No. However, it must be understood that such contacts are not made for recruiting purposes and are not initiated by the institution’s coaching staff members. (NCAA Bylaw 13.1.2.4)
Q If only NC State coaches and athletic department or institutional staff members may recruit a prospect by telephone, in writing, or in person, how may a booster help?
 

A: A booster may:

  • attend as many athletic contests as you desire to evaluate talent; (NCAA Bylaw 13.1.2.4)
  • call, write, or send newspaper articles to the NC State coaching staff regarding outstanding student- athletes in his/her area;
  • and feel free to offer assistance to members of the NC State coaching staff who are recruiting in his/her community.
Q: As a booster, if I attend a prospect’s athletic event, may I talk to the prospect’s coach after the event?
 

A: No. A booster may not contact the coach, the prospect or family members, the principal or counselor in an attempt to evaluate a prospect. (NCAA Bylaw 13.1.2.4 c)

Q: As a booster may I visit the prospect’s school to pick up transcripts or videotape/film to send to a college coach?
 

A: No. A booster may not visit the prospect’s school to pick up transcripts or videotapes/film pertaining to the evaluation of the prospect’s academic or athletic ability. (NCAA Bylaw 13.1.2.4 d)
Q: What if a booster attends an athletic event and finds himself/herself sitting next to the parents of the prospect?
 

A: Do not initiate conversation with the relatives. If conversation is initiated with the booster, respond in a civil manner but do not discuss the NC State Athletics Program with them. If they ask questions about the program, remind them that the NCAA prohibits a booster from discussing the program with them. Encourage the family to contact the NC State Athletic Department directly.
Q: May a booster attend a public event (e.g., high school awards banquet or dinner) at which prospects are in attendance?
 

A: Yes, BUT any contact with a prospect may not be prearranged by an athletics department staff member, and no attempt may be made to recruit the prospect.
Q: May a prospect call a booster?
 

A: Yes. A booster may have a telephone conversation with a prospect only if the prospect initiates the call. The telephone call may not be prearranged by an institutional staff member, and the booster is not permitted to have a recruiting conversation with the prospect but may exhibit normal civility. The booster must refer any questions about the institution’s athletics program to the athletics department staff. (NCAA Bylaws 13.1.3.5.1.1, 13.1.2.4 a)
Q: During the recruitment of a prospect or prior to a prospect’s enrollment, may a booster be involved directly or indirectly in making arrangements for a prospect, the prospect’s relatives or friends to receive money, financial aid or equivalent inducements regardless if similar financial aid, benefits or arrangements are available to prospective students in general, their relatives or friends? (NCAA Bylaws 13.2.1)
 

A: No. Other types of inducements that are prohibited include, but are not limited to: (NCAA Bylaw 13.2.1.1)

  • the use of an automobile;
  • signing or cosigning a note for a loan;
  • special discounts or payment arrangements on loan;
  • cash or tangible items (e.g., clothes, cars, jewelry, stereo equipment , even a soft drink);
  • the promise of employment after college;
  • an employment arrangement for a prospect’s relatives or friend;
  • purchase of items or services from a prospect or the prospect’s family at inflated prices;
  • free or reduced -cost housing arrangements;
  • free or reduced-cost services or rentals of any type;
  • the promise of financial aid for post graduate education (NCAA Bylaw 13.16.1);
  • the promise to pay or arrange payment of transportation costs incurred by relatives or friends of prospective student-athletes (NCAA Bylaw 13.6.2.8);
  • the use of NC State’s athletic equipment (e.g., for a high school all-star game); or
  • sponsorship of or arrangement for an awards banquet for high school , prep school or two year college athletes by an institution, boosters, or its alumni groups or booster clubs.
Q: May boosters entertain relatives and friends of a prospective student-athlete at any site off- campus?
 

A: No.

Q: May a booster make a contact with a prospect and/or his or her guardian during an official or unofficial visit to campus?
 

A: No. (NCAA Bylaw 13.01.4, 13.6.7.1)
Q: Is it permissible for a booster to be involved in the on-campus entertainment of a prospect and/or his or her guardian during an official or unofficial visit?
 

A: No. (NCAA Bylaws 13.6.7.1)
Q: Is it permissible for a booster to reimburse the coach of a prospect for expenses incurred in transporting a prospect to visit the campus?
 

A: No.
Q: Is it permissible for a booster to entertain high school, prep school or junior college coaches at any location?
 

A: No. However the NC State Athletic Department may provide coaches with complimentary tickets to home athletics contests. (NCAA Bylaw 13.8.1)
Q: Is it permissible for a booster to pay costs incurred by an athletics talent scout in studying or recruiting a prospect?
 

A: No. (NCAA Bylaw 13.1.2.8)
Q: Is it permissible for a booster to provide free admission to NC State’s away contests to prospects, their relatives, or friends?
 

A: No. (NCAA Bylaw 13.2.1)
Q: Is it permissible for a booster to pay in whole or in part the registration fees for summer sports camps?
 

A: No. (NCAA Bylaw 13.2.1)
Q: What if a booster hears that a junior college athlete or an athlete enrolled in another four year institution is unhappy and would like to transfer?
 

A: A booster may not contact an enrolled student-athlete at another institution for the purpose of encouraging transfer to NC State University and participation in our athletic program. The booster may give this information to the appropriate NC State coaching staff.

Q: How may faculty members, either boosters or non boosters, can be involved in the recruiting process of a prospect?
 

A: Faculty members are not permitted to recruit off-campus except for a luncheon, dinner or brunch at the home of a faculty member during a prospect’s official visit to campus. Faculty may have on-campus contact with prospects. They may write prospects. At the request of a coach, faculty may telephone prospects in accordance with applicable one per week limitation and the dates an institution may place telephone calls to prospects after they have signed a National Letter of Intent with NC State.

Q: Are boosters prohibited from any contact with prospects?
 

A: The NCAA Interpretations Committee has determined that this regulation was not intended to relate to an unavoidable contact between a prospect and a booster, it being understood that such a contact (a) is not prearranged by the booster or an athletics department staff member; (b) does not take place on the grounds of the prospect’s educational institution or at the sites of organized practice or competition involving the prospect or the prospect’s team; (c) is not for the purpose of recruiting the prospect, and (d) involves only normal civility. Contacts between a prospect and booster relating to summer employment subsequent to the prospect’s signing of the National Letter of Intent are the exception. (NCAA Bylaw 13.1.2.2 h)
NCAA RULES REGARDING CONTACTS WITH CURRENTLY ENROLLED STUDENT-ATHLETES
Q: A faculty member who is a Wolfpack Club member will be out of town and unable to use his basketball tickets for an upcoming game. Two student-athletes are in one of his classes. May the faculty member give the tickets to the student-athletes for this particular game?
 

A: No. This would be considered an "extra benefit." An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or booster to provide a student-athlete or the student athlete’s relative(s) or friends a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. (NCAA Bylaw 16.12.2.1) Examples of special arrangements or extra benefits include, but are not limited to (NCAA Bylaw 16.11.2.1, 16.11.2.2, 16.11.2.3):

  • the use of an automobile;
  • the purchase of meals at restaurants by boosters;
  • special discounts or payment arrangement or credit on a purchase such as airline tickets, clothing, or a service such as laundry or dry cleaning;
  • the use of a booster’s telephone or credit card for personal calls without charge or at a reduced cost;
  • services from commercial agencies without charge or at reduced rate (e.g., movie tickets from a movie theater, the use of a car from a car dealer);
  • a loan of money;
  • a guarantee of bond;
  • signing or cosigning a note with an outside agency to arrange a loan; or
  • giving a student-athlete tickets to an athletic, institution, or community event.
Q: Is it permissible for a booster to expend funds to entertain student-athletes and friends?
 

A: No. (NCAA Bylaw 16.11.2.2.3)
Q: Is it permissible for a booster to provide summer employment for student-athletes?
 

A: Yes. HOWEVER, compensation must be paid only for work actually performed and at a rate commensurate with the going rate in that locality for service of like character. (NCAA Bylaw 12.4.1)
Q: Is it permissible for a booster to employ a student-athlete during the academic year?
 

A: Yes. NCAA Bylaw 15.2.7 allows for student-athletes to take employment on- or off- campus during the academic year. However, student-athletes must receive approval from NC State Athletics before employment commences.

Q: Is it permissible for a booster to employ or use the name or picture of a student-athlete to directly advertise, recommend or promote sales or use of a commercial product or service of any kind?
 

A: No. The use of a student-athlete’s name or picture in this manner affects the student-athlete’s amateur status and eligibility to compete in intercollegiate athletics. (NCAA Bylaw 12.5.2)
Q: Is it permissible for a booster to pay or provide the actual and necessary expenses (room, board and transportation costs) incurred by friends or relatives to visit a student athlete?
 

A: No. (NCAA Bylaw 16.11.2.1)
Q: Is it permissible for a booster to provide any payment of expenses or the loan of an automobile for a student -athlete to return home or any other location for any personal reason or to receive an award?
 

A: No. (NCAA Bylaw 16.11.2.3)
Q: Is it permissible for a booster to provide gifts or awards to a student-athlete for his or her athletics performance?
 

A: No. All awards must conform to NCAA awards legislation and must be approved by the institution. (NCAA Bylaw 16.1.4)
Q: Is it permissible for a booster club to finance a banquet for a NC State athletics team?
 

A: Yes. One time per year an institution’s athletics booster club may finance an intercollegiate team’s transportation expenses to a recognition banquet, provided all expenses are paid through the institution’s athletics department, the location of the event is not more than 100 miles from the campus and no tangible award is provided to members of the team. (NCAA Bylaw 16.1.6.1)
Q: Is it permissible for a booster to provide an honorarium to a student-athlete for a speaking engagement?
 

A: No. Student-athletes may receive only necessary travel expenses when speaking to educational or charitable groups. All speaking engagements must be approved in advance by the NC State Athletic Department. (NCAA Bylaw 16.11.2.3)
Q: Is it permissible for a booster to permit the use of a telephone or credit card and/or pay for long distance telephone calls?
 

A: No. It is not permissible to allow a student-athlete to use a telephone or credit card for personal reasons without charge or at a reduced cost. (NCAA Bylaw 16.11.2.2.2)
Q: Is it permissible for a booster to provide student-athletes with professional services without charge or at a reduced cost?
 

A: No. Professional services provided at less than normal or at no expenses to a student-athlete are considered extra benefits. (NCAA Bylaw 16.11.2.1)

Q: Is it permissible for a booster to have a student-athlete or team over to his/her home for a meal?
 

A: Yes. A student-athlete or a team may receive an occasional family home meal from a NC State staff member or booster provided: (NCAA Bylaw 16.11.1.12) Please complete the attached form(Occasional Meal Form) and fax it to 919-515-6306 PRIOR to the meal for approval.

(a) the meal is in an individual’s home, not a restaurant;

(b) meals must be restricted to infrequent and special occasions;

(c) NC State staff members may provide transportation to student-athletes to attend the meal. Boosters may not provide transportation to student-athletes to attend the meal unless the meal is at that booster’s home.

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Consequences to Athletics Representatives for NCAA Violations


Revocation or Withholding Privileges
NCAA member institutions are required to notify athletics representatives of consequences regarding rules violations. Any athletically related benefit or privilege may be withheld or revoked if the individual has engaged in conduct that is determined to be a violation of NCAA rules or regulations, regardless of whether such violation results in sanctions. A benefit or privilege may include, but is not limited to, any athletically related benefit received from an agreement between the athletics representative and the institution, such as ticket privileges. The revocation of ticket privileges may result in an individual being denied admittance to any University athletics event.

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Six Key Rules to Remember

1. Only coaches and athletics department staff members are permitted to be involved in the recruiting process.

     

    Alumni, friends, and other athletics representatives who are not employed by the University are not permitted to contact a PSA (or members of the PSA’s family) by letter, telephone, or in-person (on or off-campus) for the purpose of soliciting their participation in the athletics program. For recruiting purposes, NC State University faculty members are permitted to engage in in-person contact with PSAs, but only on the University campus. If an athletics representative recognizes a talented athlete, please contact an athletics staff member or coach.

2. A PSA remains a PSA even after he or she signs a National Letter of Intent or financial aid agreement to attend the University.

     

    The PSA does not lose his or her PSA status until the start of classes at NC State University or the beginning of official team practice, whichever occurs first.

3. DON’T DO ANYTHING FOR A PSA OR A SA WITHOUT SPECIFIC AUTHORIZATION FROM THE NC STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT.

4. The prohibition of contact with a PSA is not intended to relate to unavoidable incidental contacts with PSAs by athletics representatives.

     

    It is understood that the athletics representatives may from time to time have contact with PSAs and/or their family members. Such contact is permissible so long as it is not made for the purpose of recruitment of the PSA, and involves only normal civility. In other words, if you meet a junior or senior high school or junior college student-athlete during your normal course of business or social activity, there is no violation as long as you do not discuss about NC State University athletics. If you are attending an alumni or athletics event and find yourself speaking with parents of a PSA, do not discuss the athletics program and excuse yourself from the discussion in an appropriate manner.

5. If a SA accepts any extra-benefits based on his or her status as an athlete or because of athletic skill, the SA will lose all eligibility for intercollegiate athletics participation.

6. Athletics representatives are reminded that NCAA rules regarding SAs remain in effect throughout the entire year, including the summer break.

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CHARITABLE REQUESTS

TICKETS:
To request tickets for a non-conference football or basketball game, fill out the Charitable Request Form and send a letter on your organization’s letterhead with the following information:

1. The date of the event (if they are to be used in an auction or raffle).

2. An address to send the tickets to.

3. An email address and/or a phone number that you can be reached at with any questions.

4. The number of tickets requested.

a. Please do not put “as many as you can give” or “between this number and that number.” Include an exact number and if we aren’t able to accommodate that number, we will contact you with the number of tickets we can provide.

5. How the tickets are going to be used.

a. It is recommended that the letter and Charitable Request Form be sent ahead of time, separate from the item, so that we may ensure the request is approved by the NC State Compliance Office. Preference would be to have a prepaid label included to expedite the return of the item. If you are unable to get a prepaid label, please send a check or money order with the amount of the return postage made out to NC State University.

Note: We receive many requests for tickets and they are distributed on a first come first served basis. Priority is given to those organizations that include all the required information. Any missing information will result in your request being delayed and possibly not fulfilled if there are no more tickets available by the time all necessary information is received.

AUTOGRAPHS:
If you are looking to have an item autographed by NC State coaches and/or student-athletes please submit the following:

1. A letter on your organization’s letterhead with the following information:

a. The date of the event (if is to be used in an auction or raffle).
b. How the item is going to be used.
c. An email address and/or a phone number that you can be reached at with any questions.
d. An address for where the item should be sent.

2. The Charitable Request Form filled out.

a. It is recommended that the letter and Charitable Request Form be sent ahead of time, separate from the item, so that we may ensure the request is approved by the NC State Compliance Office.

3. The item that you would like autographed. (Multiple items, e.g. basketball and football, may go on a single form).

4. Return postage to have the item sent back to you.

a. It is preferred to have a prepaid label included to expedite the return of the item. If you are unable to get a prepaid label, please send a check or money order with the amount of the return postage made out to NC State University.

It is recommended that balls to be autographed have white panels. They are easier to sign and look better when on display.

Note: If you are local, meaning you are within driving distance to drop off and pick up the item, please allow at least 2 weeks to have the item signed. If you are not local, please allow 3-5 weeks to have the item signed and sent back to you. (Allow an additional 1-2 weeks if your request comes in towards the middle or end of that sports season.)

PERMISSIBLE USES OF AUTOGRAPHED MEMORABILIA:
NCAA rules restrict the manner in which items bearing the likeness of coaches or current student-athletes’ and/or their signatures are used. Please note that recipient of such items,

May:
1. Sell the item to benefit a non-profit organization (see below for restrictions).

May NOT:
1. Sell the item for personal profit.
2. Sell the item to benefit a non-profit organization that benefits prospect-aged individuals or groups (defined as ninth grade and above).
3. Allow the item to be used in any manner that would promote or endorse a commercial product or entity.

Please send all requests to Demar Bonnemere at NC State University, Campus Box 8507, Raleigh, NC 27695. Letters and forms can be faxed to 919-515-1619. If you have any additional questions, please call Demar Bonnemere at 919-515-4505.

Thank you for your careful attention to the use of the item(s) you were provided.


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