Information for Representatives of Athletic Interest/ Boosters
Important Information
Am I a "Representative of Athletic Interests?" Yes, if you:
Are or ever have been a member of a particular sports support group at PC.
Have ever made a donation to Providence College's men's or women's athletic programs.
Have ever helped arrange or have provided summer employment for enrolled student- athletes.
Have ever assisted in providing any benefit to enrolled student-athletes or their families.
Have ever been involved in any way with the Providence College athletic program.
The NCAA stipulates that once you have become an "Athletic Representative" you retain that identity forever, even if you no longer contribute to the athletic program.
Important Information You Should Know
Who is a Prospective Student-Athlete?
A prospective student-athlete is a person who has begun classes for the ninth grade. However, it is possible for a younger student to be a prospect, so it is prudent that you treat ALL athletes as prospects.
Only coaches and athletic department staff members can be involved in the recruiting process. All "Athletic Representatives" who are not employed by the College are prohibited from contacting a prospective student-athlete or members of the prospect's family by the telephone, letter or in person (on or off campus) for the purpose of encouraging participation in the Providence College athletic program.
Extra Benefits for Prospective or Enrolled Student-Athletes
Providence College "Athletic Representatives" cannot provide an "extra benefit" or special arrangement to a prospect or to an enrolled student-athlete. Specific applications as they apply to the NCAA extra benefit rule to prospects and enrolled student-athletes, their relatives or friends, state that you:
May not:
Give them cash or loans in any amount.
Sign or co-sign a note with an outside agency to arrange a loan.
Give them gifts of any kind (e.g., birthday, Christmas, Valentine's Day) or free services (e.g., clothing, airline tickets, laundry, car repair, haircuts, meals in restaurants).
Provide use of an automobile or provide payment of automobile expenses.
provide them hospitality in your home other than for special occasions (e.g., Thanksgiving, birthday-i.e. non-athletic occasions).
Invite them to your summer home to go water skiing, sailing, etc.
Provide them transportation within or outside of the campus area (e.g., from the airport to campus, to summer job, etc.). The only exception is transportation to your home for an occasional meal. Your home must be within a 30-mile radius of the campus and it must be your own personal home. You may not provide transportation to another booster's home.
Entertain or contact a prospect or prospect's family on or off campus.
Provide rent-free or reduced-rent housing.
Provide a benefit connected with on or off campus housing (e.g., individual television sets or stereo equipment, specialized recreational facilities).
Provide tickets to an athletic, institutional or community event.
Provide guarantee of a bond.
Provide promise of financial aid for post- graduate education.
Provide promise to a prospect of employment after completion of their college education.
Allow a student-athlete or his or her friends or relatives use of your telephone to make free long distance calls.
Provide room, board, or transportation costs incurred by friends or family of an enrolled student-athlete to visit campus or attend an away athletic contest.
Provide an honorarium to a student-athlete for speaking to educational or charitable groups. All speaking engagements must be approved in advance by the Athletic Department.
Receipt of a benefit by a student-athlete or their relatives or friends, is not a violation of NCAA rules if it is demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution's students and their relatives or friends. Please check with the Compliance Coordinator for interpretations of the above-mentioned rules.
Please feel free to invite a team for dinner or to meet with a group of alumni in a city where they are competing. The NCAA permits student-athletes to receive special benefits, AS A TEAM, which they are not permitted to receive as individuals. Arrangements for such events must be made in advance with the head coach and/or Athletic Department.
NCAA Rules Regarding Employment of Prospective and Enrolled Student-Athletes
Do not employ relatives or friends of a prospect as an inducement for the enrollment of the prospect at Providence College.
Do not employ or arrange for the employment of a prospective or enrolled student-athlete without checking first with the Providence College Athletic Department. Stringent rules apply in these instances and written records must be kept regarding employment.
Do not provide transportation for prospects or student-athletes in your employ unless transportation is provided for all other employees. Please verify with the Athletic Department prior to allowing use of a vehicle.
Do not provide employment for student- athletes during the academic year without contacting Providence College's Athletic Department first. The NCAA has strict rules about the amount and source of outside funds received during the academic year. This could directly impact student-athletes' scholarships.
It is allowable to pay the student-athlete employed by you only for work actually performed at a rate commensurate with the going rate for similar services in the community and your own business.
Promotional Activities Regarding Student-Athletes
Please note that it is not permissible to use the name or picture of an enrolled student-athlete to directly advertise, recommend or promote sales or use of a commercial product or services of any kind. Even the sale of a picture of an enrolled student-athlete would jeopardize his/her eligibility.
Please be advised that there are additional rules regarding the use of a student-athlete's name, picture or appearance, as well as the athletic department providing institutional memorabilia to groups or organizations for fund raising activities. Questions pertaining to these areas should be forwarded to: Marketing/Promotions Office Providence College Alumni Hall Providence, RI 02918 (401) 865-2272.
Please...Your Help is needed
If you have knowledge of improprieties, intentional or unintentional, please let the Athletic Department know immediately so that we can take corrective action.
The integrity of our program is the foundation on which our success must be built. Your cooperation and assistance is critical. Thank you for being an important part of Providence College athletics.
