Booster Information

Are you considered an athletic representative of Fordham University?

Under NCAA rules, a representative of an institution's athletic interests, or "booster", is any individual that has ever:

• Joined the institution booster organizations
• Contributed to the athletic department or its booster organization
• Assisted in recruiting prospects
• Provided benefits (e.g. summer jobs) to enrolled student-athletes
• Otherwise promoted the institution's athletic program.

A prospective student-athlete, commonly referred to as a "prospect", is ANY student who has started classes for the ninth grade.

NOTE: Once a person becomes a booster, he or she remains as such FOREVER!!

Booster Involvement with Student-Athletes

Boosters' Role in Recruiting
Involvement with Current Student-Athletes
Frequently Asked Questions
What Can You Do?

Boosters' Role in Recruiting

NCAA legislation mandates that boosters are NOT allowed to be involved in any of the recruiting process. The areas that are restricted include the items listed below and apply to the prospect, prospect's parents/legal guardian, and relatives.

NOTE: Keep in mind that a prospective student-athlete is anyone that has started classes in the ninth grade!

Contacts - Boosters may NOT make in-person recruiting contacts with a prospect or his/her relatives at any site. (On or Off Campus) This includes phone calls and emails.

Gifts - Any gifts (e.g., clothing, special discounts, tickets to events, loans or arrangement of loans, or any other items) to prospects or their relatives is prohibited. Providing transportation to a prospect, prospect's relatives or friends is strictly prohibited.

Evaluation - A booster may NOT pick up transcripts, film, or any other information pertaining to the prospect's ability. Boosters may observe a prospect's contest, but may have no contact with the prospect or their relatives, coach, principal or counselor.

Employment - Before the completion of a prospect's senior year in high school any such employment by or arranged through a booster is prohibited. Upon graduation a prospect can be employed as long as the compensation is for work actually performed and at the rate commensurate with experience. (provided that they have signed the National Letter of Intent and the Compliance Office is aware of the employment)

Pre-existing Relationships - As an athletic representative, it is permissible to continue established friendships with families who have prospects or enrolled student-athletes (e.g., backyard barbecues, picnics). You simply CANNOT encourage a prospect's participation in Fordham athletics or provide benefits to a student-athlete.

If you know of a student-athlete that you feel Fordham University should know about, please provide the coach with this information and allow them to do ALL of the recruitment of that prospective student-athlete. This helps to ensure that the student-athlete's future eligibility and your involvement with Fordham University Intercollegiate Athletic Department are NOT questioned.

Involvement with Current Student-Athletes

• A booster may NOT provide a student-athlete with any benefit or special arrangement.
• A booster may NOT pay or arrange for payment of room, board, or any type of transportation for a student-athlete.
• A booster may NOT provide room, board, or transportation costs for family or friends of a currently enrolled student-athlete to visit campus or attends an athletics contest, home or away.
• A booster may NOT entertain student-athletes or their family. (Exception: NCAA rules do allow for institutional staff member or representative of athletics interest to provide student-athlete with an occasional meal, provided the meal is served at your home and NOT a restaurant. This does NOT include family and friends of the student-athlete.) This must be cleared through the Office of Athletic Compliance.
• A booster may NOT provide awards or gifts to a student-athlete for any reason.
• A booster may NOT pay a student-athlete for speaking engagements. The name, picture or appearance of a student-athlete can NOT be used to promote sales, or advertise the use of a commercial product or service.
• A booster may NOT provide any type of payment of expense or loan for an automobile to a student-athlete to return home or to any other location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: May a booster attend a public event (e.g., high school awards banquet or dinner) at which prospects are in attendance?

A: Yes, but contact with a prospect may NOT be prearranged by an athletics department staff member, and no attempt may be made to recruit the prospect.

Q: Is it permissible for a booster to employ or use the name or picture of an enrolled student-athlete to directly or indirectly advertise, recommend or promote the sale or use of a commercial product or service of any kind?

A: NO!

Q: Is it permissible for a booster to provide an enrolled student-athlete with professional services (for which a fee would normally be charged) for personal reasons?

A: No. Professional services provided at a fee less than the normal rate or at no expense to a student-athlete are to be considered extra benefits.

Q: When does a prospect become considered a student-athlete?

A: A prospect becomes a student-athlete when he or she reports for regular squad practice or attends classes in any regular term.

What Can You Do?

As a booster, if you know of a student-athlete that would like to be a part of Fordham University, please forward that information to the appropriate coach and allow them to make all contacts. Please do NOT compromise yourself, the student-athlete or Fordham University by acting inappropriately.

Things Boosters May NOT Do:

Have face to face contact with prospects or their parents, legal guardian(s), or relatives to encourage them to enroll at an institution.

Telephone or write to prospects or their parents, legal guardians(s), or relatives to encourage them to enroll at an institution.

Pick up films or transcripts relating to a prospect at the recruit's high school or junior college.

Contact a prospect's counselor, principal, or coach in an attempt to evaluate the recruit.

Things Boosters May Do:

If a booster is an established friend or neighbor of a prospect, he/she may have contact with the recruit as long as they do NOT try to recruit the prospect on behalf of an institution and such contacts are NOT made at the direction of an institution's coaching staff.

Once a recruit has signed a National Letter of Intent, or signed an institution's written offer of financial aid and/or admission, a booster may have contact with the recruit to discuss summer job arrangements.

A booster may have incidental contact with a prospect, i.e. NOT prearranged by the athletics department, with a prospect as long as no recruitment and only normal civility occurs. Any contact made at the prospect's practice or game is NOT considered incidental and is prohibited.

Speak to a prospect via telephone only if the prospect initiates the conversation and the call is NOT for recruiting purposes. A prospect's questions about athletics must be referred to the athletics department. View a prospect's athletic contest on his or her own initiative, but the booster may still NOT have contact with the prospect.

Team Banquets/Gatherings for Alumni

Team banquets/gatherings (e.g., a preseason kickoff alumni dinner or alumni day) involving student-athletes, alumni, head coaches, and administrators are permissible, provided the following:

Should there be a decision to serve alcohol at these events, access to and consumption of alcohol shall be strictly prohibited for student-athletes.

Prospective student-athletes on official visits shall NOT be permitted to be in attendance.