1 -Email attachments may be in color, but the attachment must not be
Created September 2015 Forms of Electronic Correspondence
Email (and Facsimile)
Prospective Student-athlete's (PSA's) Sport
Prior to Commitment to the Institution
Men's Basketball
Permissible after the June 15 following a PSA’s sophomore year in high school. Must be private between sender and recipient.
Men's Ice Hockey
Permissible after the January 1 of a PSA’s sophomore year in high school. Must be private between sender and recipient.
Football, Cross Country/Track and Field and Swimming and Diving All Other Sports
Men's Basketball
Institutional Camp or Clinic Logistical Issues
After Written Commitment
Permissible prior to the first date to provide recruiting materials to a PSA provided the information relates solely to logistical issues.
Permissible
Permissible after the September 1 of a PSA’s junior year in high school. Must be private between sender and recipient.
Permissible after the June 15 following a PSA’s sophomore year in high school. Must be private between sender and recipient. Permissible prior to the first date to provide recruiting materials to a PSA provided the information relates solely to logistical issues.
Men's Ice Hockey
Permissible after the January 1 of a PSA’s sophomore year in high school. Must be private between sender and recipient.
Football, Cross Country/Track and Field and Swimming and Diving
Not a permissible form of electronic correspondence. Institutional staff member may not use a mobile messaging app (WhatsApp or Kik) to communicate with a PSA before signing NLI.
Not a permissible form of electronic correspondence prior to a PSA's commitment to the institution.
All Other Sports
Permissible after September 1 of a PSA’s junior year in high school. Must be private between sender and recipient.
Permissible prior to the first date to provide recruiting materials to a PSA provided the information relates solely to logistical issues.
Text and Instant Messaging
Permissible
-Email attachments may be in color, but the attachment must not be created for recruiting purposes. This attachment must include general information. -An institutional staff member may not instruct a PSA to sign-up for updates via text messages for any microblogs (Twitter, Tumblr). 1
All Sports, Including Football, Cross Country/Track and Field, and Swimming and Diving
Permissible o Friend/Follow the Social Media Profile of a PSA prior to the first date to provide recruiting materials to a PSA provided the automaticallygenerated electronic notification is not edited and no additional communications to the PSA is included. o An athletics department staff member may send correspondence (when correspondence is permissible in that sport) to a PSA using equivalent functions available on social media Impermissible o Commenting on the Social Media Post of a PSA. o Reposting (e.g., Sharing or Retweeting) the Social Media Post of a PSA o Reposting (e.g., Sharing or Retweeting) the Social media Post of a PSA with a Comment Directed Toward the PSA. o Endorsing (e.g., Liking or Favoriting) the Social Media Post of a PSA. o Associating (e.g., Tagging or Mentioning) the Profile of a PSA in a Social Media Post. After Written Commitment, the above mentioned electronic correspondence is permitted.
Can an athletics department staff member send correspondence (when correspondence is permissible in that sport) to a PSA using equivalent functions available on social media? o Yes, using a service that permits a private message between the sender and recipient in a manner comparable to traditional email (e.g, Twitter Direct Message, Facebook Messenger, Instagram Direct Message). Audio/video clips included in the message cannot be created for recruiting purposes and must fit within specific category of institutionally produced audio/video material expressly permitted under the recruiting material legislation that may be provided via email attachment or hyperlink.
An institutional staff member may not publically reference the name, nickname or other personally identifiable information (e.g., address) of a PSA, other than to confirm recruitment of the PSA.
In Facebook, is there a difference between “liking” the profile of a PSA’s team, coach, or recruiting service and “liking” posts generated by a PSA’s team, coach, or recruiting service? (See Below) o Unlike personal profile pages, in order to follow the public profile of a business or entity, one must “like” the page. Therefore, it is permissible to “like a business or entity’s public profile in order to become a follower, however “liking” specific posts on the business or entity’s page is not permissible. 2
“Like” vs “Like”
Web Township High School
An institutional athletics department staff member may publicly post generic information on a social networking website including locations visited. An institutional staff member may not make comments about a specific PSA, coach, high school or athletics facility that is primarily used by PSA are not permissible. An institutional staff member may post messages to the social media profile of a prospect’s coach that is unrelated to athletics (e.g. Happy Birthday). However, it is not permissible for an athletics department staff member to post messages to the social media profile of a prospect’s coach that are athletically related (e.g. good luck in tonight’s game). Please reference ALL applicable NCAA legislation on LSDBi including, but not limited to:
13.1.6.2 (f) Practice or Competition Site. 13.4.1 Recruiting Materials and Electronic Correspondence -- General Rule. 13.4.1.1 Exception -- Men's Basketball. 13.4.1.2 Exception—Men’s Ice Hockey. 13.4.1.4 Electronic Correspondence—General Rule. 13.4.1.4.1 Exception—Cross Country/Track and Field, Football, and Swimming and Diving 13.4.1.4.1.1 Exception--Electronic Transmissions After Commitment -- Cross Country/Track and Field, Football and Swimming and Diving. 13.4.1.4.1.2 Exception -- Electronic Correspondence in Conjunction With Official Visit -- Cross Country/Track and Field, Football and Swimming and Diving. 13.4.1.5 Other Recruiting Materials. 13.4.1.6 Responding to Prospective Student-Athlete's Request. 13.10.2.1 Comments Before Commitment. 13.10.2.4 Prospective Student-Athlete’s Visit.
March 14, 2007 Official Interp- Content of Athletics Department Staff Members’ Personal Web Sites and Nonathletics Institutional Web Sites . September 9, 2013 Staff Interpretation- Use of Service or Software that Converts Electronic Mail into a Text Message—Sports Other Than Basketball. December 5, 2013 Staff Interpretation- “Friend” or “Follow” Requests on a Social Networking Site. July 28, 2015 Educational Column- Electronic Correspondence, Social Media and Recruiting. Proposal 2013-25-A Recruiting—Initial Date for Communication and InPerson Contact. Proposal 2013-26 Recruiting- Initial Date for Communication-No Limits on Communication- Sports Other than Basketball, Cross Country/Track and Field, Football, and Swimming and Diving. Proposal 2013-27- Recruiting Materials and Electronic Correspondence.
Please remember to ask your compliance office before you act!
3
Email (and Facsimile)
Prospective Student-athlete's (PSA's) Sport
Prior to Commitment to the Institution
Men's Basketball
Permissible after the June 15 following a PSA’s sophomore year in high school. Must be private between sender and recipient.
Men's Ice Hockey
Permissible after the January 1 of a PSA’s sophomore year in high school. Must be private between sender and recipient.
Football, Cross Country/Track and Field and Swimming and Diving All Other Sports
Men's Basketball
Institutional Camp or Clinic Logistical Issues
After Written Commitment
Permissible prior to the first date to provide recruiting materials to a PSA provided the information relates solely to logistical issues.
Permissible
Permissible after the September 1 of a PSA’s junior year in high school. Must be private between sender and recipient.
Permissible after the June 15 following a PSA’s sophomore year in high school. Must be private between sender and recipient. Permissible prior to the first date to provide recruiting materials to a PSA provided the information relates solely to logistical issues.
Men's Ice Hockey
Permissible after the January 1 of a PSA’s sophomore year in high school. Must be private between sender and recipient.
Football, Cross Country/Track and Field and Swimming and Diving
Not a permissible form of electronic correspondence. Institutional staff member may not use a mobile messaging app (WhatsApp or Kik) to communicate with a PSA before signing NLI.
Not a permissible form of electronic correspondence prior to a PSA's commitment to the institution.
All Other Sports
Permissible after September 1 of a PSA’s junior year in high school. Must be private between sender and recipient.
Permissible prior to the first date to provide recruiting materials to a PSA provided the information relates solely to logistical issues.
Text and Instant Messaging
Permissible
-Email attachments may be in color, but the attachment must not be created for recruiting purposes. This attachment must include general information. -An institutional staff member may not instruct a PSA to sign-up for updates via text messages for any microblogs (Twitter, Tumblr). 1
All Sports, Including Football, Cross Country/Track and Field, and Swimming and Diving
Permissible o Friend/Follow the Social Media Profile of a PSA prior to the first date to provide recruiting materials to a PSA provided the automaticallygenerated electronic notification is not edited and no additional communications to the PSA is included. o An athletics department staff member may send correspondence (when correspondence is permissible in that sport) to a PSA using equivalent functions available on social media Impermissible o Commenting on the Social Media Post of a PSA. o Reposting (e.g., Sharing or Retweeting) the Social Media Post of a PSA o Reposting (e.g., Sharing or Retweeting) the Social media Post of a PSA with a Comment Directed Toward the PSA. o Endorsing (e.g., Liking or Favoriting) the Social Media Post of a PSA. o Associating (e.g., Tagging or Mentioning) the Profile of a PSA in a Social Media Post. After Written Commitment, the above mentioned electronic correspondence is permitted.
Can an athletics department staff member send correspondence (when correspondence is permissible in that sport) to a PSA using equivalent functions available on social media? o Yes, using a service that permits a private message between the sender and recipient in a manner comparable to traditional email (e.g, Twitter Direct Message, Facebook Messenger, Instagram Direct Message). Audio/video clips included in the message cannot be created for recruiting purposes and must fit within specific category of institutionally produced audio/video material expressly permitted under the recruiting material legislation that may be provided via email attachment or hyperlink.
An institutional staff member may not publically reference the name, nickname or other personally identifiable information (e.g., address) of a PSA, other than to confirm recruitment of the PSA.
In Facebook, is there a difference between “liking” the profile of a PSA’s team, coach, or recruiting service and “liking” posts generated by a PSA’s team, coach, or recruiting service? (See Below) o Unlike personal profile pages, in order to follow the public profile of a business or entity, one must “like” the page. Therefore, it is permissible to “like a business or entity’s public profile in order to become a follower, however “liking” specific posts on the business or entity’s page is not permissible. 2
“Like” vs “Like”
Web Township High School
An institutional athletics department staff member may publicly post generic information on a social networking website including locations visited. An institutional staff member may not make comments about a specific PSA, coach, high school or athletics facility that is primarily used by PSA are not permissible. An institutional staff member may post messages to the social media profile of a prospect’s coach that is unrelated to athletics (e.g. Happy Birthday). However, it is not permissible for an athletics department staff member to post messages to the social media profile of a prospect’s coach that are athletically related (e.g. good luck in tonight’s game). Please reference ALL applicable NCAA legislation on LSDBi including, but not limited to:
13.1.6.2 (f) Practice or Competition Site. 13.4.1 Recruiting Materials and Electronic Correspondence -- General Rule. 13.4.1.1 Exception -- Men's Basketball. 13.4.1.2 Exception—Men’s Ice Hockey. 13.4.1.4 Electronic Correspondence—General Rule. 13.4.1.4.1 Exception—Cross Country/Track and Field, Football, and Swimming and Diving 13.4.1.4.1.1 Exception--Electronic Transmissions After Commitment -- Cross Country/Track and Field, Football and Swimming and Diving. 13.4.1.4.1.2 Exception -- Electronic Correspondence in Conjunction With Official Visit -- Cross Country/Track and Field, Football and Swimming and Diving. 13.4.1.5 Other Recruiting Materials. 13.4.1.6 Responding to Prospective Student-Athlete's Request. 13.10.2.1 Comments Before Commitment. 13.10.2.4 Prospective Student-Athlete’s Visit.
March 14, 2007 Official Interp- Content of Athletics Department Staff Members’ Personal Web Sites and Nonathletics Institutional Web Sites . September 9, 2013 Staff Interpretation- Use of Service or Software that Converts Electronic Mail into a Text Message—Sports Other Than Basketball. December 5, 2013 Staff Interpretation- “Friend” or “Follow” Requests on a Social Networking Site. July 28, 2015 Educational Column- Electronic Correspondence, Social Media and Recruiting. Proposal 2013-25-A Recruiting—Initial Date for Communication and InPerson Contact. Proposal 2013-26 Recruiting- Initial Date for Communication-No Limits on Communication- Sports Other than Basketball, Cross Country/Track and Field, Football, and Swimming and Diving. Proposal 2013-27- Recruiting Materials and Electronic Correspondence.
Please remember to ask your compliance office before you act!
3
