The Eagle Flyer
The Eagle Flyer Information for Eagle Fans and Supporters to Protect the Nest! Inside this issue:
Winter 2017
Boosters & Extra Benefits in NCAA News
2
Extra Benefits Reminder
What if I Know of a Violation?
2
Head Coach Responsibility
3
NCAA Bylaw 16.02.3 Extra Benefits are any special arrangements by an institutional employee or representative of the institution’s athletics interests to provide a student-athlete (or their relative/friend) a benefit that is not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Receipt of this type of benefit by student-athletes or their family/friends is not a violation if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is also generally available to all the institution’s students or their friends/family.
Unethical Conduct
3
Memorabilia & Fundraising
4
The FGCU Compliance Office is dedicated to protecting the eligibility of student-athletes and integrity of the department to operate within ASUN, CCSA, and NCAA rules. If you have any questions about your involvement with FGCU Athletics, we request you ask us before you act!
Boosters or fans may not provide extra benefits to prospective studentathletes, current student-athletes, or their families. If an extra benefit is given, the athlete’s eligibility and the booster’s association with the school are at risk, and the school may be subject to NCAA sanctions. Examples of extra benefits include loans or cosigning a loan, transportation, free or reduced-cost services, gifts, use of a car, and complimentary tickets and other forms of entertainment. If the student-athlete receives an extra benefit not authorized by NCAA legislation, the individual is ineligible in all sports. NCAA Bylaw 16.01.1 Eligibility Effect of Violation. A student-athlete shall not receive any extra benefit. Receipt by a student-athlete of an award, benefit, or expense allowance not authorized by NCAA legislation renders the student-athlete ineligible for athletics competition in the sport for which the improper award, benefit, or expense was received.
Transferring Booster Benefits The provision of extra benefits also extends to transferring them to a student-athlete, their parents, and relatives at no cost. An example would be if a booster has purchased access to a suite or tickets to a preferred area for an athletics venue. The booster may not provide that access to the suite/ game area to the student-athlete or their family at no charge. While the intention of such gestures is good-natured, FGCU Athletics and it’s supporters must maintain practices consistent with NCAA rules and guidelines.
Page 2
Boosters & Extra Benefits in NCAA News Educational Expenses Current Student-Athletes
Fall 2016 Student-Athlete Average GPA (compared to 3.05 Average of FGCU Undergraduates)
A Susquehanna University booster recently provided an impermissible benefit to a student-athlete. The booster paid $14,860 for educational expenses, which in NCAA bylaws, is a violation. The student-athlete was unaware of this infraction and continued to play for the team although he was technically ineligible. While the committee found the student-athlete had no knowledge of the payment, it noted that the booster made the payment at the request of the student-athlete’s mother. The penalties for this violation included:
Two years of probation and a vacation of wins in which the student-athlete competed while ineligible.
A one-year postseason ban. The school permanently disassociated the booster who paid the expenses on the student-athlete's behalf.
Suite Tickets
Student-Athletes signed professional contracts in 2016
Combined conference regular season and tournament titles in Division I as a member of the ASUN Conference & CCSA
In regards to boosters transferring suite access to other individuals, a school recently came under fire after a men's ice hockey player’s parents impermissibly attended a game in a suite owned by a booster. The parents had planned to purchase their own tickets, but that afternoon, they got a call from a family friend who was a booster of the school. The booster invited the couple to attend the contest in his suite. These tickets were valued at $100 each. The student-athlete was unaware that his parents used booster’s suites tickets until the compliance office contacted him regarding the violation. Penalties included:
Student-athlete donation to charity for the value of the benefit ($200).
All suite owners were required to attend a compliance education meeting.
What if I Know of a Violation? Please contact the FGCU Athletics Compliance Office as soon as possible. Do NOT try to investigate the potential violation or determine if a violation occurred.
Page 3
Head Coach Responsibility An institution's head coach is presumed to be responsible for the actions of all institutional staff members who report to the head coach. An institution's head coach shall promote an atmosphere of compliance within his or her program and shall monitor the activities of all institutional staff members involved with the program. As a booster, it is important to understand that anything that happens under a head coach’s watch is attributed to them.
Unethical Conduct
Did you know?
FGCU is 1 of only 12 schools with 20+ wins in both Men’s and Women’s Basketball as of February 20th. FGCU raised a record of $577,000 at Night at the Nest this year!
NCAA Bylaw 10.1 Unethical conduct by a prospective or enrolled student-athlete or a current or former institutional staff member may include, but is not limited to, the following:
Refusal to furnish information relevant to an investigation of a possible violation of an NCAA regulation when requested to do so;
Knowing involvement in offering or providing a prospective or an enrolled student-athlete an improper inducement, extra benefit, or improper financial aid;
Knowingly furnishing or knowingly influencing others to furnish the NCAA or the individual's institution false or misleading information concerning an individual's involvement in or knowledge of matters relevant to a possible violation of an NCAA regulation;
Receipt of benefits by an institutional staff member for facilitating or arranging a meeting between a student-athlete and an agent, financial advisor, or a representative of an agent or advisor;
Knowing involvement in providing a banned substance or impermissible supplement to student-athletes, or knowingly providing medications to student-athletes;
Engaging in any athletics competition under an assumed name or with intent to otherwise deceive;
Failure to provide complete and accurate information to the NCAA, the NCAA Eligibility Center, or the institution's athletics department regarding an individual's amateur status.
Page 4
Memorabilia and Fundraising NCAA Bylaw 13.15.1 states that an institution, or a representative of its athletics interests, shall not offer, provide, or arrange financial assistance, directly or indirectly, to pay (in whole or in part) the costs of a prospective student-athlete's educational or other expenses for any period prior to his or her enrollment or so the prospect can obtain a postgraduate education. This prohibition applies to all prospects, including those who have signed a National Letter of Intent or an institutional offer of admission or financial aid.
Any athletic representative cannot donate FGCU memorabilia to any organization for the purpose of being auctioned to raise funds to provide financial assistance to high school students to attend collegiate institutions.
Boosters may contribute to a non-athletics organization that includes prospective student-athletes and non-prospects (e.g., YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs), provided the assistance is not earmarked for a particular prospective student-athlete and is offered in conjunction with the organization’s regular fund-raising activities.
Boosters may provide funding to benefit a high school athletics
Compliance Staff Alex Masse Assistant AD for Compliance (239) 590-7375 [email protected]
Theresa Barsanti
program located in the community in which the representative lives in if: (a) The representative acts independently of the institution; (b) The funds are distributed through channels established by the high school or the organization conducting the fundraising activity; and (c) The funds are not earmarked directly for a specific prospective student-athlete.
Compliance Coordinator (239) 745-4359 [email protected]
Compliance Hotline Email [email protected]
Twitter @FGCU_Compliance
NCAA Bylaw 13.15.1 also prohibits an institution and its representatives from sponsoring a table, providing memorabilia, or otherwise providing institutional support in conjunction with a banquet or other function that will directly or indirectly benefit prospective student-athletes (e.g., awards banquet conducted by a sports foundation, high school athletics banquet). Therefore, if a sports foundation provides benefits to prospects (e.g., scholarships, donations to high school athletics programs), it would not be permissible for an institution to provide memorabilia or sponsor a table at any of the foundation's functions. Any type of institutional support in conjunction with such functions would, at a minimum, indirectly benefit prospective student-athletes.
Winter 2017
Boosters & Extra Benefits in NCAA News
2
Extra Benefits Reminder
What if I Know of a Violation?
2
Head Coach Responsibility
3
NCAA Bylaw 16.02.3 Extra Benefits are any special arrangements by an institutional employee or representative of the institution’s athletics interests to provide a student-athlete (or their relative/friend) a benefit that is not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Receipt of this type of benefit by student-athletes or their family/friends is not a violation if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is also generally available to all the institution’s students or their friends/family.
Unethical Conduct
3
Memorabilia & Fundraising
4
The FGCU Compliance Office is dedicated to protecting the eligibility of student-athletes and integrity of the department to operate within ASUN, CCSA, and NCAA rules. If you have any questions about your involvement with FGCU Athletics, we request you ask us before you act!
Boosters or fans may not provide extra benefits to prospective studentathletes, current student-athletes, or their families. If an extra benefit is given, the athlete’s eligibility and the booster’s association with the school are at risk, and the school may be subject to NCAA sanctions. Examples of extra benefits include loans or cosigning a loan, transportation, free or reduced-cost services, gifts, use of a car, and complimentary tickets and other forms of entertainment. If the student-athlete receives an extra benefit not authorized by NCAA legislation, the individual is ineligible in all sports. NCAA Bylaw 16.01.1 Eligibility Effect of Violation. A student-athlete shall not receive any extra benefit. Receipt by a student-athlete of an award, benefit, or expense allowance not authorized by NCAA legislation renders the student-athlete ineligible for athletics competition in the sport for which the improper award, benefit, or expense was received.
Transferring Booster Benefits The provision of extra benefits also extends to transferring them to a student-athlete, their parents, and relatives at no cost. An example would be if a booster has purchased access to a suite or tickets to a preferred area for an athletics venue. The booster may not provide that access to the suite/ game area to the student-athlete or their family at no charge. While the intention of such gestures is good-natured, FGCU Athletics and it’s supporters must maintain practices consistent with NCAA rules and guidelines.
Page 2
Boosters & Extra Benefits in NCAA News Educational Expenses Current Student-Athletes
Fall 2016 Student-Athlete Average GPA (compared to 3.05 Average of FGCU Undergraduates)
A Susquehanna University booster recently provided an impermissible benefit to a student-athlete. The booster paid $14,860 for educational expenses, which in NCAA bylaws, is a violation. The student-athlete was unaware of this infraction and continued to play for the team although he was technically ineligible. While the committee found the student-athlete had no knowledge of the payment, it noted that the booster made the payment at the request of the student-athlete’s mother. The penalties for this violation included:
Two years of probation and a vacation of wins in which the student-athlete competed while ineligible.
A one-year postseason ban. The school permanently disassociated the booster who paid the expenses on the student-athlete's behalf.
Suite Tickets
Student-Athletes signed professional contracts in 2016
Combined conference regular season and tournament titles in Division I as a member of the ASUN Conference & CCSA
In regards to boosters transferring suite access to other individuals, a school recently came under fire after a men's ice hockey player’s parents impermissibly attended a game in a suite owned by a booster. The parents had planned to purchase their own tickets, but that afternoon, they got a call from a family friend who was a booster of the school. The booster invited the couple to attend the contest in his suite. These tickets were valued at $100 each. The student-athlete was unaware that his parents used booster’s suites tickets until the compliance office contacted him regarding the violation. Penalties included:
Student-athlete donation to charity for the value of the benefit ($200).
All suite owners were required to attend a compliance education meeting.
What if I Know of a Violation? Please contact the FGCU Athletics Compliance Office as soon as possible. Do NOT try to investigate the potential violation or determine if a violation occurred.
Page 3
Head Coach Responsibility An institution's head coach is presumed to be responsible for the actions of all institutional staff members who report to the head coach. An institution's head coach shall promote an atmosphere of compliance within his or her program and shall monitor the activities of all institutional staff members involved with the program. As a booster, it is important to understand that anything that happens under a head coach’s watch is attributed to them.
Unethical Conduct
Did you know?
FGCU is 1 of only 12 schools with 20+ wins in both Men’s and Women’s Basketball as of February 20th. FGCU raised a record of $577,000 at Night at the Nest this year!
NCAA Bylaw 10.1 Unethical conduct by a prospective or enrolled student-athlete or a current or former institutional staff member may include, but is not limited to, the following:
Refusal to furnish information relevant to an investigation of a possible violation of an NCAA regulation when requested to do so;
Knowing involvement in offering or providing a prospective or an enrolled student-athlete an improper inducement, extra benefit, or improper financial aid;
Knowingly furnishing or knowingly influencing others to furnish the NCAA or the individual's institution false or misleading information concerning an individual's involvement in or knowledge of matters relevant to a possible violation of an NCAA regulation;
Receipt of benefits by an institutional staff member for facilitating or arranging a meeting between a student-athlete and an agent, financial advisor, or a representative of an agent or advisor;
Knowing involvement in providing a banned substance or impermissible supplement to student-athletes, or knowingly providing medications to student-athletes;
Engaging in any athletics competition under an assumed name or with intent to otherwise deceive;
Failure to provide complete and accurate information to the NCAA, the NCAA Eligibility Center, or the institution's athletics department regarding an individual's amateur status.
Page 4
Memorabilia and Fundraising NCAA Bylaw 13.15.1 states that an institution, or a representative of its athletics interests, shall not offer, provide, or arrange financial assistance, directly or indirectly, to pay (in whole or in part) the costs of a prospective student-athlete's educational or other expenses for any period prior to his or her enrollment or so the prospect can obtain a postgraduate education. This prohibition applies to all prospects, including those who have signed a National Letter of Intent or an institutional offer of admission or financial aid.
Any athletic representative cannot donate FGCU memorabilia to any organization for the purpose of being auctioned to raise funds to provide financial assistance to high school students to attend collegiate institutions.
Boosters may contribute to a non-athletics organization that includes prospective student-athletes and non-prospects (e.g., YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs), provided the assistance is not earmarked for a particular prospective student-athlete and is offered in conjunction with the organization’s regular fund-raising activities.
Boosters may provide funding to benefit a high school athletics
Compliance Staff Alex Masse Assistant AD for Compliance (239) 590-7375 [email protected]
Theresa Barsanti
program located in the community in which the representative lives in if: (a) The representative acts independently of the institution; (b) The funds are distributed through channels established by the high school or the organization conducting the fundraising activity; and (c) The funds are not earmarked directly for a specific prospective student-athlete.
Compliance Coordinator (239) 745-4359 [email protected]
Compliance Hotline Email [email protected]
Twitter @FGCU_Compliance
NCAA Bylaw 13.15.1 also prohibits an institution and its representatives from sponsoring a table, providing memorabilia, or otherwise providing institutional support in conjunction with a banquet or other function that will directly or indirectly benefit prospective student-athletes (e.g., awards banquet conducted by a sports foundation, high school athletics banquet). Therefore, if a sports foundation provides benefits to prospects (e.g., scholarships, donations to high school athletics programs), it would not be permissible for an institution to provide memorabilia or sponsor a table at any of the foundation's functions. Any type of institutional support in conjunction with such functions would, at a minimum, indirectly benefit prospective student-athletes.
