The University of Georgia, as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), is responsible for insuring that its coaches, student-athletes, faculty and staff, donors, boosters, former students, fans and friends abide by SEC and NCAA regulations.
These links are a good reference to the many NCAA rules, which apply to our boosters, former students, fans and friends of the University and local merchants. Since all applicable situations cannot be covered on this site, please feel free to call if you have any questions.
BOOSTER INVOLVEMENT IN RECRUITING
The University of Georgia is responsible for insuring that its various constituencies (e.g. University staff and faculty, student-athletes, alumni and friends) abide by NCAA rules and regulations. Under those rules, all alumni and friends of the University are categorized as “representatives of The University of Georgia’s athletics interests.” The compliance office is responsible for insuring information pertaining to NCAA rules is available to boosters.
NCAA Bylaw 13.01.5.1 states: “In Division I, representatives of an institution’s athletics interest (as defined in 13.02.12) are prohibited from making gin person, on- or off-campus recruiting contacts, or written or telephonic communications with a prospect or the prospect’s relatives or legal guardians.”
BASIC POINTS TO KNOW
- A representative of UGA is prohibited from making in-person on- or off-campus recruiting contact with a prospective student-athlete (PSA) and his or her parents and/or legal guardians.
- LIMITED EXCEPTION: A representative may have contact with a PSA in regard to permissible pre-enrollment activities such as summer employment arrangements, provided the PSA has already signed a NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT and the institution is aware that the representative is making these contacts in regard to employment.
- A UGA representative is prohibited from writing or telephoning a PSA and his or her family members and/or legal guardians.
- LIMITED EXCEPTION: A representative may have a telephone conversation with a PSA ONLY if the prospect initiates the call. The telephone call may not be pre-arranged by a UGA staff member and the representative is not permitted to have a recruiting conversation by may exhibit normal civility. The representative must refer any questions about UGA to an appropriate UGA staff member.
- A representative is prohibited from contacting a PSA’s coach, principal or counselor in an attempt to recruit or evaluate the prospect.
- LIMITED EXCEPTION: NCAA rules do not preclude a representative from viewing a PSA’s contest on his/her own initiative, subject to the understanding that the representative may not contact the PSA or report back to UGA coaches.
EXTENDING OFFERS AND INDUCEMENTS
A staff member or representative of UGA’s athletics interests may not offer or provide any benefits to a prospect or the prospect’s relatives or friends other than those expressly permitted by NCAA legislation. Specifically prohibited financial aid, benefits and arrangements include, but are not limited to:
1. Arrangement of employment for a prospect’s relatives;
2. Gifts of clothing or equipment;
3. Cosigning of loans;
4. Loans to relatives or friends;
5. Cash or like items;
6. Any tangible items, including merchandise;
7. Free or reduced-cost services, rentals or purchases;
8. Free or reduced-cost housing;
9. Use of institution’s athletics equipment;
10. Sponsorship of, or arrangement for, an awards banquet for high school or two-year college athletes by an institution, its boosters or its alumni groups or booster clubs;
11. The presentation of award to prospects for outstanding athletics accomplishments.
