Are you a Xavier Booster? Xavier Athletics appreciates all of the support we receive from Musketeer fans around the world, but please keep in mind a couple of NCAA rules regarding your role as a booster. The NCAA has specific rules regarding boosters interaction with both current and prospective student-athletes. Many of these are detailed in various documents published by the NCAA, but this handout is meant as a quick reference to define who is a booster and what he/she may do to continue to support Xavier University. NCAA Definition A “representative of the institution’s athletics interests” or “booster” is an individual, independent agency, corporate entity (e.g., apparel or equipment manufacturer) or other organization who is known (or should have been known) by a member of the institution’s executive or athletics administration to: (a) Have participated in or to be a member of an agency or organization promoting the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program’ (b) Have made financial contributions to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of that institution; (c) Be assisting or to have been requested (by the athletics department staff) to assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes; (d) Be assisting or to have assisted in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes or their families; or (e) Have been involved otherwise in promoting the institution’s athletics programs. This means you are a Booster if you (not an exhaustive list):
Are a former student-athlete at Xavier;
Have donated to the athletic program or one of its clubs (All for One Club, etc.)
Have employed a student-athlete or helped arrange the employment of a student-athlete
Are a current or former Xavier athletic department employee
Have purchased season tickets for any Xavier sport
Have ever been involved in any way in promoting the Xavier University athletics program
Once a Booster, Always a Booster. If you meet the definition of a booster at Xavier, you retain that identity indefinitely. Consequences of Boosters violating NCAA Rules Under NCAA rules, Xavier University is responsible for the actions of its boosters. Therefore, it is also our responsibility to make you aware of the consequences for violating BIG EAST and/or NCAA rules. Boosters found in violation of those rules are subject to losing benefits and privileges (in addition to the penalties the University may face), including disassociation and loss of season ticket purchases.
Do’s and Don’ts for Boosters DO's
You may forward information about a prospective student-athlete to the appropriate coaches.
You may have contact with a prospective student-athlete regarding permissible pre-enrollment activities such as summer employment, provided the prospect has signed a National Letter of Intent and the Compliance Office is aware that you are making these contacts in regard to employment.
You may have a telephone conversation with a prospect only if the prospect initiates the call. Such a call may not be pre-arranged by an institutional staff member and you are not permitted to have a recruiting conversation, but may exhibit normal civility. You must refer any questions about athletics programs to an athletics department staff member or coach.
You may view a prospect's contest at your own initiative provided you do not contact the prospect or his/her relatives. In addition, you may not contact a prospect's coach, principal or counselor in an attempt to evaluate the prospect.
You may continue established family relationships with friends and neighbors, as long as these relationships were started prior to the prospect entering the ninth grade. Any contacts with prospects of these families are permitted as long as they are not made for recruiting purposes or encouraged by Xavier University coaches.
DON'Ts
You may not become involved in making arrangements to receive money or financial aid of any kind for a prospect or his/her relatives.
You may not make contact with a prospect and his/her relatives while the prospect is on campus for an official or unofficial recruiting visit.
You may not transport, pay or arrange for payment of transportation costs for a prospect and his/her relatives or friends to visit campus (or elsewhere).
You may not pay or arrange for payment of summer camp registration fees for a prospect.
You may not provide or promise anything to a prospect or his/her relatives without prior approval from the Compliance Office.
You may not interact with a prospect via social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, etc.), including tagging a prospect in a Facebook post or tweeting/retweting, direct messaging or using a prospect’s Twitter handle in a tweet.