UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
University of Miami Athletic Representative Rules Compliance Newsletter
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Greetings! The Compliance Office appreciates your support of the Miami Hurricanes. With the ever-changing rules in intercollegiate athletics, we wanted to send you this newsletter as a reminder of the regulations. This newsletter will deal with National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) rules and UM policies. While this document is not all inclusive, it will provide a sample of the type of compliance issues you may face as a booster of the University of Miami. These reminders should help guide you in your efforts and further ensure that Hurricane Athletics continues toward the ultimate goal of academic and athletics excellence. If you have a question about NCAA or ACC rules, please contact the Compliance Office at 305-284-2692.
Phone Call Reminders
Phone Calls
1
Occasional Meals
1
Definitions
2
Case File
2
FOR MORE INFORMATION University of Miami Compliance Office (305) 284-2692 hurricanesports.com
athleticscompliance@miami.edu
Boosters may not have communications, including phone calls, text messages, emails, and letters, with a prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete’s relatives or legal guardians. This extends to current student-athletes at other collegiate institutions. Boosters are permitted to answer a phone call from a prospective student-athlete if the prospect initiates the conversation and the call is not for recruiting purposes. All questions about the institution’s athletics program must be directed to the athletics department staff. Boosters are prohibited from having any recruiting involvement.
Change in Occasional Meal Policy The institution recently changed its policy regarding occasional meals provided by boosters to student-athletes. Effective immediately, boosters are no longer permitted to entertain student-athletes with an occasional meal and boosters are prohibited from hosting current University of Miami studentathletes in their homes or other locations. Boosters should not provide any type of food, drink, transportation, or other extra benefits to current studentathletes. An extra benefit is any special arrangement to provide
one or more student-athletes or their relatives or friends with a benefit not authorized by the NCAA. The receipt of such benefit will place the studentathlete’s eligibility in jeopardy. Examples of extra benefits are: A special discount, payment arrangement or credit on a purchase or service (e.g., dry cleaning, legal representation); Free or reduced-cost housing or storage;
David Reed Associate AD/Compliance
reed@miami.edu 305-284-2692
Transportation (an automobile, use of an automobile, or a ride); Services (e.g., movie tickets, dinners, use of a car) from commercial agencies (e.g., movie theaters, restaurants, car dealers) without charge or at reduced rates; and Cash, gift certificates, clothing, or other items with value.
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Definitions A prospect is: ANY student who has started 9th grade classes; however, a student who has not started classes for the 9th grade becomes a prospect if the institution provides the individual (or the individual’s relatives or friends) any financial assistance or any other extra benefits. A prospect remains a prospect even after he or she signs a Letter of Intent or financial aid agreement to attend the University. The prospect does
not lose his/her prospect status until the start of classes at University of Miami or the beginning of official team practice prior to the start of classes. A student-athlete is: A student who has: (a) Officially registered or enrolled in a minimum full-time program of studies and attends classes in any term of a four-year collegiate institution’s regular academic year (excluding summer); or
practice or competition at a fouryear collegiate institution that occurs before the beginning of any term; or (c) Officially registers, enrolls, and attends classes during the summer prior to initial enrollment while receiving institutional athletics aid. Remember: NCAA regulations apply to ALL student-athletes, not just those that were recruited or who received an athletics scholarship.
(b) Participates in a regular squad
Boosters
Extra Benefits
A booster is an individual who: 1) is a member of an organization that supports and promotes UM athletics; 2) has made any financial contributions to the athletics department (e.g. Hurricane Club); 3) has been involved in promoting UM’s athletics program; 4) has been a season ticket holder; or 5) provided benefits to enrolled studentathletes or their relatives or friends. Once an individual has been identified as a booster, he/she retains that status forever. This is true even if the person no longer contributes to UM’s athletics program.
If a student-athlete accepts any benefits or special consideration based on his or her status as an athlete or because of athletic skill, the student-athlete will lose all eligibility for intercollegiate athletic participation. Do not do anything for prospective or enrolled student-athletes without specific authorization from the UM Athletics Compliance Office. Representatives of athletics interest (boosters) are reminded that NCAA rules regarding enrolled student-athletes remain in effect throughout the entire year, including summer breaks. When student-athletes complete their final season of eligibility, the extra benefits prohibition still applies. The NCAA states that just because a student-athlete has exhausted his or her eligibility, he or she is not exempted from the extra benefit rules.
FROM THE NCAA CASE FILES: Boosters involvement in recruiting leads to NCAA sanctions. Case: Mississippi State University, Football In 2004, MSU officials met with the NCAA Committee on Infractions regarding allegations dating back to 1998. Violation: impermissible recruiting. Booster contacted two prospects by phone and in person multiple times. Violation: impermissible employment. Booster offered two prospects employment opportunities and paid above the going rate. Violation: impermissible transportation. A coach reimbursed a prospect’s grandmother for a car rental used to drive to campus. Sanctions: Four year probation, one year post-season ban, off-campus recruiting limitations, reduction in scholarships, reduction in number of official visits, and a two-year show cause for two coaches.