What is a Booster?
Help Protect the Nest An Informational Guide for Fans & Supporters 2014-15 Fall 2014
2013-14 Accomplishments
5 FGCU athletic teams won the regular-season ASun Championship, with the women’s basketball team claiming the A-Sun title and advancing to the NCAA tournament.
FGCU had 2 swimmers, Emma Svensson and Kira Toussaint, place in the NCAA championships helping FGCU finish 32nd in the nation.
FGCU studentathletes had an overall 3.30 cumulative GPA for the 2013-14 academic year.
Kelly Perzanowski was the first Cross Country runner in FGCU history to win an A-Sun Championship.
Eagles Fan We thank you for being the most loyal fans, spectators, and supporters. As an FGCU season ticket holder, an alumnus or a member of any of our booster organizations, you are by NCAA definition a representative of FGCU’s athletics interests. As such, FGCU may be held responsible and be penalized for your actions that violate NCAA rules. Once you have become a representative with athletics interest, you retain that status forever. The NCAA has strictly limited the role you may take with regard to prospects and student-athletes. The penalties for breaking those rules, whether by accident or intentional, can be severe. Any infraction will jeopardize a prospect or student-athlete’s opportunity to attend and compete for FGCU no matter how minor it may seem. In addition, you might expose FGCU to NCAA sanctions, and you could be disassociated from the program. FGCU Athletics values your continued support. Please comply with these and other NCAA rules even if you do not agree with them. The best message you can take from this information is WHEN IN DOUBT, ASK BEFORE YOU ACT! The rules are expansive and cover a wide variety of topics. Please do not hesitate to contact the Compliance Office at 239.590.7573 or by email at [email protected] or visit the NEW Compliance Website at fgcuathletics.com.
Page 2
Help Protect the Nest
What is a Booster?
If a violation occurs, it may jeopardize a student-athlete’s eligibility for intercollegiate competition, jeopardize a school’s
NCAA Bylaw 13.02.14 defines "booster" as: A booster or "representative of the institution's athletics interests" is an individual, independent agency, corporate entity (e.g., apparel or equipment manufacturer) or other organization who is known (or who 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 program The NCAA stipulates that once an individual has been identified as a "representative" of Florida Gulf Coast University’s athletics programs he or she retains this status forever. This is true even if the individual no longer contributes to the athletics program.
membership status with the NCAA or cause a booster to
Do’s and Don'ts Boosters Cannot:
lose access to all
-Contact a prospect or their family during a visit to campus
booster benefits.
-Contact a prospect by telephone, email, Internet or letter -Provide gifts or free or reduced cost services to a prospect or their relatives -Employ relatives or friends of the prospect as an inducement for the prospect’s enrollment in athletics at a specific university
-Provide transportation for the prospect or their relatives -Be involved in making arrangements for the prospect or the prospect’s family to receive money or any kind of financial aid Boosters Can: -Notify coaching staff about noteworthy prospect in the area -Attend athletic contests or other events where prospects may compete, provided that there is no contact -Continue already existing relationships with prospective student-athletes and their family members
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Extra Benefits What is an Extra Benefit? An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of the institution's athletics interests to provide a student-athlete or the student-athlete's relative or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Receipt of a benefit by student-athletes or their relatives or friends is not a violation of NCAA legislation if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution's students or their relatives or friends or to a particular segment of the student body (e.g., international students, minority students) determined on a basis unrelated to athletics ability. Boosters may not provide the following to a student-athlete or a student-athlete’s friends, relatives or guardians: • Tickets to college or professional sporting events • A special discount, payment arrangement or credit on a purchase or service • Cash or loan or signing or co-signing of a loan • Transportation, payment of expense or loan of any automobile
FGCU men’s tennis player Jordi Vives was the first men’s tennis player in
• Benefits or gifts based upon the student-athlete’s athletic performance
FGCU history to
• Free or reduced rent or housing
advance to the
Boosters are permitted to:
NCAA Division I
• Make contributions to university programs and other gift-in-kind arrangements • Attend university athletic events and show student athletes you support their hard work and dedication to the university
Championship
Involvement with High School Programs A representative of an institution’s athletics interest may provide funding to benefit a high school athletics program located in the community provided: 1. The representative acts independently of the institution; 2. The funds are distributed through channels established by the high school or the organization conducting the fundraising activity; and 3. The funds are not earmarked directly for a specific prospective student-athlete
and advance to the round of 32.
Page 4
Frequently Asked Questions Q. When does an individual become a prospect? A. A prospect is any student who has entered in the ninth grade (7th grade for men’s basketball camps and clinics) and above, including in prep schools, junior colleges, and individuals who have officially withdrawn from four-year institutions. In addition, a student who has not yet started the specified grade may become a prospect if FGCU or a booster provides the student, or their family, with any benefit not provided to other students or the general public. Q. Can a booster call or correspond with prospects once they have committed to FGCU for the purpose of congratulating them? A. No. Even after committing to FGCU he/she is still considered a prospect and contact rules continue to apply.
Alex Massé Director of Compliance [email protected]
Andrea Miller Compliance Coordinator [email protected]
10501 FGCU Blvd S Fort Myers, FL 33965 239.590.7573 phone 239.590.7014 fax
Q. Can a booster interact with a prospect through a social networking site( Face book, Twitter, etc.)? A. No. A booster should not have any type of interaction with a prospect through social networking sites or chat rooms. Q. Is it permissible for a booster to provide transportation to or from campus or free admission to an athletics event on or off FGCU’s campus to prospects, their families or friends? A. No. This is an impermissible benefit and would jeopardize their eligibility. Q. Is it permissible for a booster to give a student-athlete Christmas and/or birthday presents? A. No. A representative of athletics interest (booster) is not permitted to provide prospects with gifts or services that would be considered extra benefits. Q. May a booster pay student-athletes for lessons in the student-athlete’s sport? A. Yes, provided:
www.fgcuathletics.com
1. No FGCU athletic facilities are used during the lesson 2. The student-athlete is compensated at the going rate Q. What action should a person with athletics interest (booster) take, if he/she becomes aware of a rules violation? A. The person with athletics interest (booster) should contact the Compliance Office to discuss the potential violation. If the person with athletics interest would like to remain anonymous, he/she can contact the compliance office without providing any information.
2013-14 Accomplishments
5 FGCU athletic teams won the regular-season ASun Championship, with the women’s basketball team claiming the A-Sun title and advancing to the NCAA tournament.
FGCU had 2 swimmers, Emma Svensson and Kira Toussaint, place in the NCAA championships helping FGCU finish 32nd in the nation.
FGCU studentathletes had an overall 3.30 cumulative GPA for the 2013-14 academic year.
Kelly Perzanowski was the first Cross Country runner in FGCU history to win an A-Sun Championship.
Eagles Fan We thank you for being the most loyal fans, spectators, and supporters. As an FGCU season ticket holder, an alumnus or a member of any of our booster organizations, you are by NCAA definition a representative of FGCU’s athletics interests. As such, FGCU may be held responsible and be penalized for your actions that violate NCAA rules. Once you have become a representative with athletics interest, you retain that status forever. The NCAA has strictly limited the role you may take with regard to prospects and student-athletes. The penalties for breaking those rules, whether by accident or intentional, can be severe. Any infraction will jeopardize a prospect or student-athlete’s opportunity to attend and compete for FGCU no matter how minor it may seem. In addition, you might expose FGCU to NCAA sanctions, and you could be disassociated from the program. FGCU Athletics values your continued support. Please comply with these and other NCAA rules even if you do not agree with them. The best message you can take from this information is WHEN IN DOUBT, ASK BEFORE YOU ACT! The rules are expansive and cover a wide variety of topics. Please do not hesitate to contact the Compliance Office at 239.590.7573 or by email at [email protected] or visit the NEW Compliance Website at fgcuathletics.com.
Page 2
Help Protect the Nest
What is a Booster?
If a violation occurs, it may jeopardize a student-athlete’s eligibility for intercollegiate competition, jeopardize a school’s
NCAA Bylaw 13.02.14 defines "booster" as: A booster or "representative of the institution's athletics interests" is an individual, independent agency, corporate entity (e.g., apparel or equipment manufacturer) or other organization who is known (or who 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 program The NCAA stipulates that once an individual has been identified as a "representative" of Florida Gulf Coast University’s athletics programs he or she retains this status forever. This is true even if the individual no longer contributes to the athletics program.
membership status with the NCAA or cause a booster to
Do’s and Don'ts Boosters Cannot:
lose access to all
-Contact a prospect or their family during a visit to campus
booster benefits.
-Contact a prospect by telephone, email, Internet or letter -Provide gifts or free or reduced cost services to a prospect or their relatives -Employ relatives or friends of the prospect as an inducement for the prospect’s enrollment in athletics at a specific university
-Provide transportation for the prospect or their relatives -Be involved in making arrangements for the prospect or the prospect’s family to receive money or any kind of financial aid Boosters Can: -Notify coaching staff about noteworthy prospect in the area -Attend athletic contests or other events where prospects may compete, provided that there is no contact -Continue already existing relationships with prospective student-athletes and their family members
Page 3
Extra Benefits What is an Extra Benefit? An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of the institution's athletics interests to provide a student-athlete or the student-athlete's relative or friend a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Receipt of a benefit by student-athletes or their relatives or friends is not a violation of NCAA legislation if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution's students or their relatives or friends or to a particular segment of the student body (e.g., international students, minority students) determined on a basis unrelated to athletics ability. Boosters may not provide the following to a student-athlete or a student-athlete’s friends, relatives or guardians: • Tickets to college or professional sporting events • A special discount, payment arrangement or credit on a purchase or service • Cash or loan or signing or co-signing of a loan • Transportation, payment of expense or loan of any automobile
FGCU men’s tennis player Jordi Vives was the first men’s tennis player in
• Benefits or gifts based upon the student-athlete’s athletic performance
FGCU history to
• Free or reduced rent or housing
advance to the
Boosters are permitted to:
NCAA Division I
• Make contributions to university programs and other gift-in-kind arrangements • Attend university athletic events and show student athletes you support their hard work and dedication to the university
Championship
Involvement with High School Programs A representative of an institution’s athletics interest may provide funding to benefit a high school athletics program located in the community provided: 1. The representative acts independently of the institution; 2. The funds are distributed through channels established by the high school or the organization conducting the fundraising activity; and 3. The funds are not earmarked directly for a specific prospective student-athlete
and advance to the round of 32.
Page 4
Frequently Asked Questions Q. When does an individual become a prospect? A. A prospect is any student who has entered in the ninth grade (7th grade for men’s basketball camps and clinics) and above, including in prep schools, junior colleges, and individuals who have officially withdrawn from four-year institutions. In addition, a student who has not yet started the specified grade may become a prospect if FGCU or a booster provides the student, or their family, with any benefit not provided to other students or the general public. Q. Can a booster call or correspond with prospects once they have committed to FGCU for the purpose of congratulating them? A. No. Even after committing to FGCU he/she is still considered a prospect and contact rules continue to apply.
Alex Massé Director of Compliance [email protected]
Andrea Miller Compliance Coordinator [email protected]
10501 FGCU Blvd S Fort Myers, FL 33965 239.590.7573 phone 239.590.7014 fax
Q. Can a booster interact with a prospect through a social networking site( Face book, Twitter, etc.)? A. No. A booster should not have any type of interaction with a prospect through social networking sites or chat rooms. Q. Is it permissible for a booster to provide transportation to or from campus or free admission to an athletics event on or off FGCU’s campus to prospects, their families or friends? A. No. This is an impermissible benefit and would jeopardize their eligibility. Q. Is it permissible for a booster to give a student-athlete Christmas and/or birthday presents? A. No. A representative of athletics interest (booster) is not permitted to provide prospects with gifts or services that would be considered extra benefits. Q. May a booster pay student-athletes for lessons in the student-athlete’s sport? A. Yes, provided:
www.fgcuathletics.com
1. No FGCU athletic facilities are used during the lesson 2. The student-athlete is compensated at the going rate Q. What action should a person with athletics interest (booster) take, if he/she becomes aware of a rules violation? A. The person with athletics interest (booster) should contact the Compliance Office to discuss the potential violation. If the person with athletics interest would like to remain anonymous, he/she can contact the compliance office without providing any information.
