|
Representative of Athletics Interest
VSU
Online Compliance Tools
Comprehensive list of permissible and impermissible
activities for Representatives of Athletics Interest
Institutional Guidelines
Entertainment and contact by representatives of the institution’s athletics interests during the official visit are confined to campus:
Complying with NCAA rules and regulations is vital for any Division II institution. It is the responsibility of Virginia State University to insure that all of its coaches, student-athletes, faculty and staff, alumni, donors, and friends adhere by NCAA regulations. Under these guidelines, alumni, donors, and friends are categorized as “representative of athletics interests” of Virginia State University.
This is a reference to some of the most important NCAA rules that apply to our athletics representatives. Please be aware that an uninformed or inappropriate interaction with a prospective or an enrolled student-athlete might jeopardize the student-athlete eligibility, the sport they represent, or Virginia State University.
Virginia State University, to the highest degree, appreciates your loyal support and continued interest in its athletics programs. As we strive for continued success and excellence in athletics, as well as academics, we must always seek the highest standard of ethical conduct. Your cooperation can be of assistance in accomplishing these goals.
If you should have any questions concerning your role as an athletics representative or your relationship with a prospective or enrolled student-athlete at Virginia State University, please direct your inquiry to:
Peggy Davis Tonnie Villanes
Director of Athletics OR Compliance Coordinator
20720 4th Avenue 20720 4th Avenue
Petersburg, VA 23806 Petersburg, VA 23806
804) 524-5030 (804) 524-5020
Fax: (804) 524-5763 Fax: (804) 524-5763
pdavis@vsu.edu
Information You Should Know:
Representative of Athletics Interests
You are a “Representative of Athletics Interest” if you have at any time:
Participated in or is a member of an agency or organization promoting Virginia State University intercollegiate athletics program.
- Made financial contributions to Virginia State University athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of Virginia State University.
- Been requested by the athletics department staff to assist in the recruitment of Prospective Student-Athletes (PSA).
- Assisted or is assisting in providing benefits to enrolled student-athletes (SA).
- Involved in promoting Virginia State University athletics program.
Once an individual is identified as an athletics representative, the person retains that identity indefinitely.
Prospective Student-Athlete (PSA)
A prospective student-athlete (PSA) is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade. 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.
Recruiting
Any solicitation of a prospect or a prospect’s relatives [or legal guardian(s)] by an institutional staff member or by a representative of the institution’s athletics interests for the purpose of securing the prospect’s enrollment and ultimate participation in the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program.
Recruited PSA - Actions by staff members or athletics representatives that cause a PSA to become a recruited PSA are:
- Providing the prospect with an official visit.
- Arranged in-person, off-campus encounter with the prospect or the prospect’s parent(s), relatives or legal guardian(s).
- Initiating or arranging a telephone contact with the prospect, the prospect’s relative’s or legal guardian(s) on more than one occasion for the purpose of recruitment.
Contacts
A “contact” is any face-to-face encounter between a PSA or the PSA’s parents or legal guardians and an institutional staff member or athletics representative during which any dialogue occurs in excess of an exchange of a greeting.
Authorized Staff Members- All in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts with a prospect or the prospect’s relatives or legal guardians shall be made only by authorized athletics department staff members. Such off-campus contact by representatives of Virginia State University’s athletics interest is prohibited.
The following are additional restrictions that apply to athletics representatives:
Observing Prospect’s Contest. An athletics representative may view a prospect’s athletics contest on his or her own initiative, subject to the understanding that the athletics representative may not contact the prospect on such occasions.
- Evaluation of Prospect. An athletics representative may not contact a prospect coach, principal or counselor in an attempt to evaluate the prospect.
- Visiting Prospect’s Institution. An athletics representative may not visit a prospect’s educational institution to pick up film/videotape or transcripts pertaining to the evaluation of the prospect’s academic eligibility or athletics ability.
- It is not permissible for an athletics representative to make telephone calls to a prospect.
Offers and Inducements
Virginia State University staff members or any representative of its athletics interest shall not be involved, directly or indirectly, in making arrangements for or giving or offering to give any financial aid or other benefits to the prospect or the prospect’s relatives or friends.
Entertainment
Confined to campus.
Extra-Benefit
An “extra-benefit” is the receipt of any special arrangement by an institutional employee or an athletics representative to provide a SA or PSA, or their relatives or friends, with a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation. Examples of “extra-benefits” include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Providing gifts, free or reduced-cost services;
- Providing a loan or arranging or co-signing for a loan;
- Providing the use of an automobile;
- Providing rent free or reduced-rent housing;
- Exchanging any item of value for complimentary admission;
- Providing use of a phone credit card number to make phone calls;
- Arranging discounts on travel;
- Employing relatives or friends of a PSA as an inducement for the enrollment of a PSA.
Sports Camps and Clinics
Virginia State University’s sports camp or instructional clinic shall be any camp or clinic that is owned or operated by Virginia State University or an employee of Virginia State University athletics department, either on or off its campus.
Payment of expenses. A representative of Virginia State University’s athletics interests may not pay a prospect’s expenses to attend Virginia State University’s sports camp or clinic.
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 representative 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, Virginia State University faculty members are permitted to engage in in-person contact with PSAs, but only on Virginia State University campus.
2. A PSA remains a PSA even after he or she signs a National Letter of Intent of financial aid agreement to attend the University. The PSA does not lose his or her PSA status until the start of classes at Virginia State University or the beginning of official team practice, whichever occurs first.
3. Do not do anything for a PSA or a SA without specific authorization from Virginia State University's Athletic Department.
4. The prohibition of contact with a PSA is not intended to relate to unavoidable incidental contacts with PSAs by athletics representative. It is understood that the athletics representatives may from time to time have contact with the 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 courtesy. In other words, if you meet a junior or senior high or junior college student-athlete during your normal course of business of social activity, there is no violation, as long you do not discuss Virginia 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 representative are reminded that NCAA rules regarding SAs remain in effect throughout the entire
year, including the summer break.
What are the consequences?
Virginia State University is responsible for the actions of its boosters. If a booster provides an impermissble benefit to a prospect, a student-athlete, or a relative or friend of a prospect or a student-athlete, Virginia State University may be subject to penalties, even if the student-athlete has completed his/her elegibility for intercollegiate competition. A booster who provides an impermissible benefit may be disassociated from the university's athletics programs. Disassociation results in a loss of all benefits or privileges offered by the Department of Athletics and may involve other penalties as appropriate.
|
